Expedition Cruising Questions.

An expedition cruise is a small-ship voyage built around landings and wildlife rather than ports and entertainment. The itinerary follows ice, weather, and animal movement instead of a fixed schedule. Guests go ashore by Zodiac with naturalists and expedition guides, and most of the day is spent outside, observing, not aboard.

Expedition cruise fares generally start around $1,000 per person per night. A seven-night Galápagos voyage typically runs about $7,000 per person, with cabin category and cruise line moving that figure considerably. Fares usually include meals, Zodiac landings, and the expedition team. Flights and pre-cruise hotels are normally extra.

Antarctica expedition cruises run roughly $9,000 to $48,000 per person, depending on cruise line, cabin category, and itinerary. Crossing the Drake Passage by ship costs less than flying to King George Island, and voyages adding South Georgia or the Falklands sit at the higher end.

Most expedition fares include the cabin, all meals aboard, Zodiac landings, the expedition team and its lectures, and often a parka and loaned boots. Flights, pre-cruise hotel nights, transfers, travel insurance, and optional activities such as kayaking or camping are usually extra. Inclusions differ by cruise line, so we confirm them per voyage.

Yes, solo travel is common on expedition ships, and you do not always pay a supplement. Some ships have dedicated solo cabins, and cruise lines regularly release no-single-supplement departures. We track those sailings and can tell you which dates and ships let a solo traveler avoid the extra cost entirely.

The season runs from November to March, and each part of it looks different. November brings pristine ice and courtship, December and January bring the longest days and hatching chicks, and February and March bring the best whale watching and fledging penguins. The right month depends on what you most want to see.

No. The fare is the same as booking direct, because cruise lines pay advisors, not travelers. Glacial Expeditions charges no planning fee. Through Oasis Travel Network and Signature Travel Network we can also access unpublished fares, onboard credits, amenities, and no-single-supplement departures that are not offered to the public.

Twelve to eighteen months ahead is normal for Antarctica, the Arctic, and Galápagos, because the ships are small and the best cabins and dates sell first. Later bookings are possible, but choice narrows and airfare rises. If you are flexible on ship and date, closer-in opportunities do appear.

You need to be steady on your feet, not athletic. The usual demands are stepping into a moving Zodiac, walking on uneven snow, rock, or shingle, and handling cold and wind for a few hours. Activity levels vary by ship and itinerary, and we match the voyage to how much walking you want.

No visa is required for the continent itself, though travelers must meet the entry and transit requirements for the departure country, typically Argentina or Chile. See Antarctica.

Conditions vary from calm ("Drake Lake") to turbulent ("Drake Shake"). Ships utilize modern stabilizers, and proactive motion-sickness management is common. See sailing or flying the Drake.

A minimum distance of 5 metres (about 16 feet) must be always maintained. If a penguin approaches a stationary guest, it is permitted to remain, provided no contact is made. See responsible travel.

A landing involves stepping onto land for hiking or visiting sites. A Zodiac cruise is a water-based excursion for viewing icebergs, glaciers, and marine life from the boat. See shore landings and Zodiac cruising.

Satellite Wi-Fi is generally available but can be slow and intermittent. It is suitable for basic messaging and email rather than high-bandwidth activities.

To protect the environment, all clothing and gear must be vacuumed and boots disinfected in solution before and after every landing to prevent the introduction of non-native species. See responsible travel.

Yes, expedition ships in Antarctica carry a licensed physician and have a small clinic equipped to handle stabilization and minor emergencies.

Kayaking is usually an optional, pre-booked activity. It requires a basic level of fitness and is subject to weather and ice conditions. See kayaking.

Smaller vessels can navigate narrow channels like the Wrangell Narrows and Misty Fjords, providing closer access to glaciers and shorelines than large cruise ships. See Alaska.

Bear sightings are most frequent in July and August when salmon are spawning in the coastal streams. See when to go.

Expeditions typically bypass the high-traffic ports in favor of smaller wilderness areas and remote towns like Petersburg, Haines, or Wrangell. See Alaska's cruise ports.

Most Alaska expeditions provide waterproof boots and rain jackets, as the region is a temperate rainforest with frequent precipitation. See what to pack.

Certain itineraries include guided hikes on glacial moraines or the ice surface, depending on the stability and accessibility of the glacier.

Expect "Liquid Sunshine" — a mix of mist, light rain, and cool temperatures. The weather is what sustains the lush forests and massive ice fields of the region.

Many expeditions feature "Citizen Science" programs, such as water sampling or whale identification, which are highly engaging for families.

Vessels maintain a safe distance from the face of tidewater glaciers to avoid the waves created by calving ice while still allowing for a clear view and sound of the activity.