# Glacial Expeditions > Glacial Expeditions is an independent luxury expedition-cruise travel advisory in Appleton, Wisconsin, founded in 2022. Glacial Expeditions helps travelers choose the right destination, ship, and experience for the way they want to explore. Chris Commisso (Expedition Expert) and Erika Commisso (Travel Experience Architect) have personally sailed 18 expedition ships and explored eight expedition regions. Erika Commisso holds the CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor and ASTA Verified Travel Advisor credentials. The advisory is IAATO accredited, works through the host agency Oasis Travel Network and the consortium Signature Travel Network, and is a corporate sponsor of Expedition Cruise Network. It is an ExplorEarth Approved Partner. ExplorEarth is an independent database of 500+ expedition and small-ship voyages that refers its members to Glacial Expeditions to book. Every trip is advisor-booked. There is no online checkout and no planning fee to the traveler; compensation comes from the cruise lines. The combined buying power of Oasis Travel Network and Signature Travel Network gives Glacial Expeditions access to published promotions and unpublished fares, onboard credits, amenities, and no-single-supplement departures. Contact: 920-659-2960 · chris@glacialexpeditions.com · erika@glacialexpeditions.com · 7005 N Purdy Parkway, Appleton, WI 54913 ## Destinations - [Destinations index](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations) - [Antarctica](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica) - [The Arctic](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic) - [Galápagos](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos) - [What a Galápagos expedition costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/cost) — vessel tiers, island flights and government fees - [Galápagos entry requirements](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/entry-requirements) — Transit Control Card, park fee, biosecurity - [Galápagos island-by-island guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/islands) — sites and signature wildlife per island - [Galápagos wildlife guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/wildlife) — species and National Park observation rules - [Galápagos snorkeling guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/snorkeling) — sites, water temperatures and wetsuits - [Galápagos with children](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/families) — ages, ships and family logistics - [Ecuador mainland add-ons](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/galapagos/ecuador-add-ons) — Quito, cloud forest, Andes and Amazon - [Churchill, Manitoba](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/churchill) — land-based Arctic: polar bears, beluga whales and the northern lights. - [Polar bear viewing in Churchill](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/churchill/polar-bears) — why the bears gather on Hudson Bay, and when to go. - [Beluga whales in Churchill](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/churchill/beluga-whales) — the summer estuary migration and how to meet it. - [Northern lights in Churchill](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/churchill/northern-lights) — under the auroral oval, roughly 300 active nights a year. - [Churchill tour operators compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/churchill/tour-operators) — who runs what, and who we book with. - [Greenland](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland) - [East vs West Greenland](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/east-vs-west) — choosing between the wild east coast and the culturally rich west coast. - [Scoresby Sund](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/scoresby-sund) — the largest fjord system on Earth, on Greenland's remote east coast. - [Northeast Greenland National Park](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/northeast-national-park) — the world's largest national park, 972,000 sq km. - [Best time to visit Greenland](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/best-time-to-visit) — cruise season, midnight sun versus northern lights, month by month. - [Greenland expedition costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/cost) — fares, charter flights and extras, reviewed September 2026. - [Ilulissat & Disko Bay](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/ilulissat) — the UNESCO ice fjord, Sermeq Kujalleq and Eqi Glacier. - [Greenland itineraries](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/itineraries) — west, east, south and High Arctic routes compared. - [Greenland wildlife](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/wildlife) — muskoxen, polar bears, whales and seabirds by region and season. - [Inuit culture in Greenland](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/culture) — the Kalaallit and Tunumiit, kaffemik, drum dance, etiquette and buying carvings legally. - [Greenland packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/packing-list) — layers, muck boots, insect protection and what ships lend you. - [Greenland expedition ships](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/ships) — ice class PC5/PC6, guest numbers, Zodiacs and helicopter operations. - [Greenland versus Iceland](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/greenland/vs-iceland) — access, ice, culture, cost and combining the two. - [Alaska](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska) - [Norway](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway) - [Norwegian coastal voyage: Bergen to Kirkenes](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/coastal-voyage) - [Norway to Svalbard: crossing the Barents Sea](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/svalbard-crossings) - [The Norwegian fjords: which ones ships enter](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/fjords) - [When to cruise Norway, season by season](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/best-time-to-visit) - [What a Norway cruise costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/cost) - [Norway cruise types compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/cruise-types) - [The Lofoten Islands: peaks, rorbuer and sea eagles](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/lofoten) - [Tromso, the Arctic gateway](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/tromso) - [Northern lights from a ship on the Norwegian coast](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/northern-lights) - [Winter whale watching in Norway](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/whale-watching) - [Sami culture in northern Norway](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/sami-culture) - [Norway packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/norway/packing-list) - [Patagonia](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia) - [The Chilean fjords: Glacier Alley and Pia Glacier](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/chilean-fjords) - [Cape Horn landings](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/cape-horn) - [Combining Patagonia with Antarctica](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/antarctica-combinations) - [When to cruise Patagonia](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/best-time-to-visit) - [What a Patagonia expedition costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/cost) - [Patagonia cruise types compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/cruise-types) - [Combining land and sea in Patagonia](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/land-and-sea) - [Torres del Paine guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/torres-del-paine) - [Perito Moreno glacier guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/perito-moreno) - [Puma tracking in Patagonia](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/pumas) - [Patagonia wildlife guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/wildlife) - [Patagonia packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/patagonia/packing-list) - [The Kimberley](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley) - [When to cruise the Kimberley](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/best-time-to-visit) - [Kimberley tides and Montgomery Reef](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/tides) - [The Horizontal Falls (Garaan-ngaddim) explained](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/horizontal-falls) - [Kimberley itineraries: Broome to Darwin](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/itineraries) - [What a Kimberley cruise costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/cost) - [Kimberley ships compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/ships) - [Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art: access and photography](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/rock-art) - [Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu) helicopter excursions](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/mitchell-falls) - [Kimberley wildlife and crocodile safety](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/wildlife) - [Broome and Darwin gateway guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/broome-and-darwin) - [Combining the Kimberley with wider Australian travel](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/australia-add-ons) - [Kimberley packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/kimberley/packing-list) - [Raja Ampat](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat) - [When to visit Raja Ampat](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/best-time-to-visit) - [The Coral Triangle explained](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/coral-triangle) - [Diving Raja Ampat: currents and certification](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/diving) - [Snorkelling Raja Ampat](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/snorkeling) - [Getting to Raja Ampat: flights and Sorong](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/getting-there) - [What a Raja Ampat cruise costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/cost) - [North vs south Raja Ampat](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/north-vs-south) - [Raja Ampat ships compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/ships) - [Wayag and the karst lagoons](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/wayag) - [Misool and the southern reefs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/misool) - [Raja Ampat wildlife and birds](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/wildlife) - [Cenderawasih Bay whale sharks](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/raja-ampat/cenderawasih-bay) - [The Amazon](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon) - [Best time to visit the Peruvian Amazon](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/best-time-to-visit) - [High water vs low water in the Amazon](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/high-water-low-water) - [Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/pacaya-samiria) - [Amazon wildlife guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/wildlife) - [Amazon birding guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/birding) - [What an Amazon river cruise costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/cost) - [Amazon riverboats compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/ships) - [Iquitos and Nauta: the Amazon gateway](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/iquitos) - [Amazon, Cusco and Machu Picchu](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/peru-combinations) - [The Amazon with children](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/families) - [Amazon packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/packing-list) - [Amazon versus Galápagos](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/amazon/vs-galapagos) - [Baja California](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/baja) - [New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/subantarctic-islands) - [French Polynesia](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/french-polynesia) - [Iceland](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/iceland) ## Planning - [Planning hub](https://glacialexpeditions.com/plan) - [What is an expedition cruise?](https://glacialexpeditions.com/plan/what-is-an-expedition-cruise) - [Solo expedition travel](https://glacialexpeditions.com/plan/solo-expedition-travel) - [Costs and what's included](https://glacialexpeditions.com/plan/costs) - [When to go: seasons by destination](https://glacialexpeditions.com/plan/when-to-go) - [Antarctica versus the Arctic](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/vs-arctic) - [First-time guide to Antarctica](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/first-time-guide) — seasons, gateways, voyage length and a typical day aboard - [Antarctica expedition ships](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/ships) — guest capacity, ice class and landing rights - [Antarctica cruise lines compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/cruise-lines) — operator categories, inclusions and who each suits - [Antarctica packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/packing-list) — what operators supply and what you must bring - [Antarctica photography guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/photography) — gear, cold-weather handling and Zodiac technique - [Antarctica for older travelers](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/older-travelers) — mobility, medical forms and evacuation cover - [South Georgia expedition guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/south-georgia) — king penguin colonies, biosecurity and voyage length - [Frequently asked questions](https://glacialexpeditions.com/faq) ## Ships and cruise lines - [Expedition cruise lines](https://glacialexpeditions.com/expedition-cruise-lines) - [Expedition travel journal](https://glacialexpeditions.com/journal) — a written entry after every voyage Chris and Erika sail - [Six expedition ships in four days: the CLIA Summit in Svalbard](https://glacialexpeditions.com/journal/svalbard-six-ships) — Erika's firsthand tours of the Sylvia Earle, SH Diana, Ocean Albatros, Le Lyrial, Ocean Explorer and World Voyager, July 2025 - [Expedition ships](https://glacialexpeditions.com/ships) - [Experiences](https://glacialexpeditions.com/experiences) ## About - [About Glacial Expeditions](https://glacialexpeditions.com/about) - [Responsible travel guidelines (IAATO)](https://glacialexpeditions.com/responsible-travel) - [Client reviews](https://glacialexpeditions.com/reviews) - [Sustainability, honestly](https://glacialexpeditions.com/sustainable-travel-impact) - [Chris Commisso](https://glacialexpeditions.com/about/chris-commisso) - [Erika Commisso](https://glacialexpeditions.com/about/erika-commisso) - [Where we've been](https://glacialexpeditions.com/about/where-weve-been) - [Press and features](https://glacialexpeditions.com/about/press) - [Contact](https://glacialexpeditions.com/contact) ## Antarctica Antarctica is reached almost entirely by small expedition ship. The season runs November through March (the austral summer); each month differs: November has untouched snow and penguin courtship plus the Snow Hill emperor window; December has nearly 24 hours of daylight; January is peak wildlife with chicks hatching; February and March are the best whale months, with March the quietest for ship traffic. Gateway ports are Ushuaia, Argentina for Drake Passage sailings, and Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, Chile for fly-cruises. The Drake Passage is roughly 600 miles and takes about two days each way; a two-hour charter flight to King George Island replaces it, saving about four days at higher cost and with real weather-delay risk. Typical 2026-27 planning costs per person: $9,000-$18,000 for a 10-12 day Antarctic Peninsula voyage; $13,400-$24,000+ for Weddell Sea and emperor penguin voyages; $20,000-$45,000+ for luxury ships, suites and South Georgia itineraries. Add roughly $1,500-$3,000 for flights to Ushuaia, plus pre-cruise hotel nights and insurance. Five itinerary shapes: Classic Antarctic Peninsula (10-12 days); Fly the Drake (6-8 days); Crossing the Antarctic Circle (13-14 days, south of 66 degrees); the Weddell Sea (12-14 days, tabular icebergs and Shackleton history, emperor access on select departures); South Georgia and the Falklands (18-21+ days, king penguins and elephant seals). IAATO permits a maximum of 100 people ashore at one landing site at a time. Ships of 100-200 guests can therefore put everyone ashore; ships above roughly 200 rotate groups, and ships above roughly 500 cannot land passengers at all. Port Lockroy, the world's southernmost post office, accepts only ships under 250 passengers. Emperor penguins are not coastal and are not seen on standard Peninsula voyages. Access means a dedicated Weddell Sea expedition on an ice-strengthened vessel, usually with a helicopter transfer to the sea ice at Snow Hill Island, in a narrow window from November to early December. Attempts are never guaranteed; ice conditions decide. Ten operators and typical Antarctic guest counts: Lindblad-National Geographic 100-150; Quark Expeditions 130-200; Aurora Expeditions about 130; Oceanwide Expeditions 100-170; HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) 250-500; Ponant 180-260; Silversea 140-270; Scenic 200-230; Antarctica21 70-100; Poseidon Expeditions 110-130. - [Antarctica expedition cruises](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/antarctica) ## The Arctic The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, spanning eight countries: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia and the United States. Roughly four million people live there, about 10% of them Indigenous. It has two separate travel seasons that do not overlap. Expedition cruising runs from late May to early September, when sea ice retreats enough for ships to navigate and the midnight sun gives continuous daylight (up to 30 days near the solstice, 187 days at the North Pole). Northern Lights travel runs from late September to late March, when there is darkness. No single trip delivers both. Main gateways are Longyearbyen in Svalbard, the northernmost town in the world, and Tromso in Arctic Norway. Main cruising regions are Svalbard, Arctic Norway, the Canadian Arctic (including the Northwest Passage) and Franz Josef Land. Greenland, Iceland and Alaska are covered separately. Arctic expedition cruising is governed by AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, not by IAATO, which governs Antarctica. There is no fixed 100-person landing cap in the Arctic; AECO sets wildlife approach distances, polar bear safety rules and community visit protocols. In Svalbard, shore parties are accompanied by armed polar bear guards. Svalbard offers the best polar bear odds of any accessible Arctic destination, though no operator guarantees a sighting; bears are usually seen at distance on pack ice. Other wildlife includes walrus, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic fox, beluga, bowhead and minke whales, and large colonies of puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and Arctic terns. There are no penguins in the Arctic; penguins live only in the Southern Hemisphere. Typical costs are $8,000 to $16,000 per person for an 8 to 12 day Svalbard voyage, $20,000 to $40,000 or more for luxury ships and suites, and $3,000 to $7,000 per person for a week-long land-based Northern Lights trip. Book 10 to 15 months ahead for July Svalbard departures and about 18 months ahead for Northwest Passage transits. Operators and typical Arctic guest counts: Lindblad-National Geographic 100-150; Quark Expeditions 130-200; Aurora Expeditions about 130; Oceanwide Expeditions 100-170; HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) 250-500; Ponant 180-260; Silversea 140-270; Poseidon Expeditions 110-130; Swan Hellenic 150-190. - [The Arctic](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic) - [Svalbard expedition cruises](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/svalbard) - [Seeing polar bears in the Arctic](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/polar-bears) - [When to visit the Arctic](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/best-time-to-visit) - [What an Arctic expedition costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/cost) - [Arctic wildlife guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/wildlife) - [Northern Lights for first-timers](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/northern-lights) - [Arctic itineraries compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/itineraries) - [Arctic expedition ships](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/ships) - [Longyearbyen guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/longyearbyen) - [The Northwest Passage](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/northwest-passage) - [Arctic packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/packing-list) - [Photographing the Northern Lights](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/arctic/aurora-photography) ## Galapagos The Galapagos Islands are open year-round and have two current-driven seasons rather than a best season and a closed season. The warm, wet season runs December to May with calm seas, water at 70 to 80F and peak terrestrial activity. The cool, dry garua season runs June to November with choppier seas, water at 65 to 75F and far richer marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales. The Galapagos National Park licenses every route and every naturalist guide. Vessels are capped at 100 passengers; most carry between 16 and 100. There are four route families: Western (Isabela and Fernandina, flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins), Eastern (Espanola and San Cristobal, waved albatross and all three booby species), Northern (Genovesa and Bartolome, seabird colonies and Pinnacle Rock), and Central and Southern (Santa Cruz and Floreana, giant tortoises and the Charles Darwin Research Station). Two mandatory government payments apply, both in cash: a $20 Transit Control Card bought at the Quito or Guayaquil airport before the island flight, and a $200 National Park entrance fee on arrival, $100 for children under 12. The park fee rose to $200 on 1 August 2024. Luggage is biosecurity-screened and sealed before departure. The Big 15 wildlife checklist cannot be completed on a single itinerary. The flightless cormorant and the Galapagos penguin occur only on the western islands, the Santa Fe land iguana only on Santa Fe, and the waved albatross is present on Espanola only from roughly April to December. Typical costs are $4,000 to $9,000 per person for a 7 or 8 night cruise, and $10,000 to $18,000 or more on luxury vessels, plus international flights to Quito or Guayaquil, a domestic flight to Baltra or San Cristobal, and about $220 per adult in government fees. Book 8 to 12 months ahead for holiday weeks, July and August, and for the small yachts. The Galapagos is the most accessible expedition destination: no ice, no ocean crossing, short walks on uneven lava rock, warm water, a fixed licensed itinerary, and half-price park fees for children under 12. It suits families and first-time expedition travelers well. ## Greenland Greenland expedition cruises split into two very different trips. East Greenland is the least visited coast: Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on Earth at roughly 38,000 square kilometres, basalt cliffs to 2,000 metres, grounded tabular icebergs, abundant musk oxen, a genuine chance of polar bears on the East Greenland Current drift ice, and one settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit, of about 350 people. West Greenland is populated and accessible: the UNESCO Ilulissat Icefjord, fed by Sermeq Kujalleq, the fastest and most active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, plus Disko Bay whales (humpback, fin, minke) and towns including Nuuk and Ilulissat. The season runs from late June through September. July and August bring the warmest weather and near-continuous daylight; late August and September add the returning Northern Lights, which makes September the strongest month for East Greenland because the inner fjords are accessible and Scoresby Sund has effectively no light pollution. Greenland is governed by AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, not IAATO. There are two Inuit language communities: Tunumiit oraasiat among the Tunumiit of the east coast, and Kalaallisut among the Kalaallit of the west. Most travelers spend $9,000 to $18,000 per person for an 8 to 12 day single-coast voyage; combined East and West voyages of 14 to 18 days reach $20,000 to $35,000 or more, with luxury vessels above these ranges. East coast fares run higher for structural reasons: the vessels able to work Scoresby Sund are smaller and ice-strengthened, the season is short, and several itineraries include a charter flight segment from Iceland. Ranges are 2026-27 planning estimates; Glacial Expeditions quotes live fares on specific departures. ## Iceland Iceland is the one destination Glacial Expeditions covers that is not primarily an expedition cruise. It is a sovereign European country with ordinary tourism infrastructure, and no membership body or permitting regime governs visitors. The central planning question is whether to drive the Ring Road or sail an Iceland circumnavigation. Glacial Expeditions has done both several times and prefers the Ring Road, because Iceland's best moments happen on the country's schedule and only a car lets a traveler respond to them. A cruise is the better choice for travelers who want to unpack once, avoid winter driving, reach the Westfjords easily, or combine Iceland with East Greenland in a single trip. The Ring Road, Route 1, is a paved loop of roughly 1,322 kilometres, about 821 miles, around the island. Seven to ten days is the realistic minimum to drive it without turning a landscape trip into a driving trip; most travelers go counterclockwise from Keflavik, taking the south coast first. Add days for the Westfjords, the Snaefellsnes peninsula or the highlands. An Iceland circumnavigation cruise runs 8 to 12 days, usually from Reykjavik, calling at Akureyri, Isafjordur, Seydisfjordur and Heimaey among others. Six regions: Reykjavik and the southwest, the gateway with the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon; the south coast, with the highest density of icons from Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss to Reynisfjara, Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach; the east fjords, the quietest stretch of the Ring Road; the north, with Akureyri, Lake Myvatn, Godafoss, Dettifoss and Husavik whale watching; the Westfjords, the most remote and least visited region, far easier by ship than by road; and the Snaefellsnes peninsula, often called Iceland in miniature. Two seasons give two different trips. Summer, roughly June to August, gives near-continuous daylight around the June solstice, open highland F-roads, puffins from about May to August, and the easiest driving, at the cost of crowds and peak prices. Winter, late September to March, gives the Northern Lights and natural ice caves in Vatnajokull, with short daylight and demanding road conditions. May and September are the shoulder months most often recommended; September adds the returning aurora. Highland F-roads open roughly late June to September, and a 4x4 is required by law on them. Costs are high by European standards. A 7 to 10-day self-drive runs roughly $1,100 per person at the budget end to $5,500 and above at the luxury end before international flights, with vehicles from about $60 to over $320 a day and lodging from about $35 to $260 or more a night. An Iceland circumnavigation cruise typically runs $5,000 to $10,000 per person, with luxury expedition vessels above that. Ranges are 2026-27 planning estimates. Iceland is also the main gateway to East Greenland: those expeditions usually sail or fly from Reykjavik or Akureyri, and pairing the two in one trip is the strongest single argument for choosing a ship over a car. Combined Iceland and East Greenland voyages are few and should be booked 12 to 18 months ahead. - [Driving Iceland's Ring Road: a ten-day itinerary](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/iceland/ring-road) — day-by-day Route 1 plan from Keflavik around the island to Reykjavik, balancing the icons with off-the-beaten-path stops - [Iceland by cruise or by Ring Road: an honest comparison](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/iceland/ring-road-vs-cruise) — the floating-hotel comfort of a circumnavigation versus the freedom of Route 1, with real costs, trade-offs and a side-by-side verdict from advisors who have done both ## Alaska Alaska is the most accessible destination Glacial Expeditions sells: no passport is required for US citizens on round-trip domestic sailings, there is no ocean crossing and no visa. The one distinction that matters more than any other is big ship versus expedition ship. A big-ship Alaska cruise carries 2,000 to 4,000 guests, calls at towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, and views glaciers from an open deck; it typically costs $1,500 to $4,000 per person for seven nights and is the best value in cold-weather cruising. An expedition ship carries 12 to 150 guests, spends its days in uninhabited bays and inlets, and puts guests ashore by skiff or kayak where there is no dock; it typically costs $6,000 to $15,000 per person for the same length. Both are legitimate. The big ship suits families, mixed-age groups, first-timers and value seekers; the expedition ship suits travelers who want wilderness and will pay several times more for access. Two main routes. The Inside Passage round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver is the classic seven-night sailing, calling at Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway in sheltered water. The one-way Gulf of Alaska route between Vancouver and Whittier or Seward adds Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord and connects to a Denali land tour. Expedition ships usually sail round-trip from Juneau or Sitka into Southeast Alaska. Main ports and what each is known for: Juneau for Mendenhall Glacier, the Mount Roberts Tramway and humpback whale watching; Ketchikan for Creek Street, the world's largest collection of standing totem poles and Misty Fjords flightseeing; Skagway for Klondike Gold Rush history and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, or for renting a car and driving about an hour to Carcross in the Yukon past Tormented Valley, Summit Lake, Tutshi Lake and Emerald Lake; Sitka for Russian heritage and the Alaska Raptor Center; Icy Strait Point, owned by the Huna Tlingit, for whale watching and the Hoonah cannery; Seward for Kenai Fjords day cruises and Exit Glacier; Haines for the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve; Whittier for Prince William Sound; Homer and Kodiak for bear-viewing flights. The season runs May through September and genuinely ends by early October. May is the driest and cheapest month with fewest ships, June has the longest days, July is warmest and busiest at peak prices, August is wettest but best for salmon runs and bear viewing, and September brings fall colour, the lowest fares and aurora potential on northern routes. Humpback whales and bald eagles are near-certain; orca, sea otters and sea lions are common; bears are reliable in August at salmon streams, usually via a flightseeing excursion; moose, caribou and Dall sheep require a land tour. The National Park Service limits the number of vessel entries into Glacier Bay National Park, so permits are finite and not every ship goes; many itineraries substitute Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm. Alaska has no expedition-cruise membership body of the kind that governs polar regions; operators work under US federal and state regulation. A Denali cruisetour pairs a one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing with three to five days inland by rail to Talkeetna, Denali and sometimes Fairbanks, typically adding $1,500 to $3,500 per person and turning a seven-night trip into ten to fourteen days. Shore excursions commonly add $500 to $1,500 per person. Book 9 to 12 months ahead for July sailings and cruisetours, and 12 to 18 months for expedition ships. - [Best time to visit Alaska](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/best-time-to-visit) — month-by-month weather, daylight, wildlife and pricing across the May-September season - [What an Alaska trip costs](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/cost) — big-ship, small-ship expedition and ultra-luxury fare ranges, Denali land tours and excursion budgets - [Alaska wildlife guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/wildlife) — humpbacks, orca, brown and black bears, eagles, otters, with locations, seasons and federal distance rules - [Alaska bear viewing](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/bear-viewing) — Katmai and Brooks Falls, Lake Clark, Anan Creek and Pack Creek, salmon-run timing and permit realities - [Glacier Bay National Park](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/glacier-bay) — NPS vessel permit limits, Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers, ranger boarding, marine wildlife - [Alaska itineraries](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/itineraries) — Inside Passage round-trips, one-way Gulf routes, wilderness expedition sailings and Aleutian voyages - [Alaska cruise ports guide](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/ports) — port-by-port, the three things worth doing in each of sixteen Alaska ports - [Skagway and the drive to Carcross](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/skagway) — renting a car in Skagway and driving the Klondike Highway into the Yukon on a full-day port call - [Big ship vs expedition cruise in Alaska](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/big-ship-vs-expedition) — our 62-guest and 458-guest Alaska sailings compared on access, activity, comfort and cost - [Alaska cruise lines compared](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/cruise-lines) — UnCruise, Lindblad, Seabourn, Silversea, Scenic and HX by guest count, activity level and inclusions - [Denali and Alaska land tours](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/denali-and-land-tours) — cruisetours, dome trains, park transit buses, backcountry lodges and how many days to allow - [Alaska packing list](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/packing-list) — the three-layer system, waterproof shells, boots, binoculars and what the ship loans - [Alaska excursions](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/alaska/shore-excursions) — Zodiac safaris, sea kayaking, bushwalking, floatplane bear trips and what is included in the fare ## Norway Three different products are all sold as a Norway cruise. A Hurtigruten or Havila coastal voyage is a working passenger and freight service between Bergen and Kirkenes, calling at more than thirty ports since 1893; ships are plain, some calls happen in the middle of the night, and legs can be booked port to port. A big-ship fjords cruise carries two to four thousand guests and makes day calls at Geiranger, Flam, Alesund and Bergen. An expedition ship carries 100 to 250 guests with naturalists and Zodiacs, and is the only one of the three that can continue north to Svalbard. The signature fjords are Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord, both UNESCO listed, plus Sognefjord (Norway's longest, over 200 km), Trollfjord in Lofoten (among the narrowest a ship can navigate) and the quieter Hardangerfjord near Bergen. Main ports are Bergen, Alesund, Trondheim, Bodo, the Lofoten Islands, Tromso at 69 degrees north, Honningsvag for North Cape, and Kirkenes. Norway has two separate seasons that never overlap. Late May to August brings the midnight sun, green fjords and the only window for Svalbard crossings. October to March brings the Northern Lights, plus orca and humpback whales gathering in the northern fjords around Tromso and Skjervoy from about November to January to feed on herring. Wildlife also includes white-tailed sea eagles, summer puffin colonies, semi-domesticated reindeer herded by Sami families, and musk oxen at Dovrefjell. Polar bears occur only on the Svalbard leg. Combined Norway and Svalbard voyages run 14 to 17 days between Bergen or Oslo and Longyearbyen, often via Bear Island. Mainland coastal Norway has no expedition-cruise governing body; AECO guidelines apply to the Svalbard portion of a crossing only. Planning estimates for 2026-27: coastal voyages $1,500 to $5,000 per person, big-ship fjord cruises $1,200 to $4,000, coastal expedition sailings $6,000 to $12,000, and Norway-Svalbard crossings $12,000 to $25,000 or more. Norway is expensive ashore, and excursions such as dog sledding, king crab safaris and the Flam Railway typically run $150 to $400 each. Book Svalbard crossings 12 to 18 months ahead, summer coastal and fjord sailings 8 to 12 months ahead, and winter aurora or whale departures 9 to 12 months ahead. ## Patagonia Patagonia cruising divides into three tiers. Australis runs four-night Cape Horn crossings between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas on Stella Australis and Ventus Australis, up to 200 guests, all-inclusive with meals, open bar and every excursion. Antarctica21 runs nine to eleven day Chilean fjords expeditions on Magellan Explorer and Magellan Discoverer, reaching the Aysen region and the Chonos Archipelago. Scenic runs fourteen to twenty-four day ultra-luxury voyages on the Polar Class 6 Scenic Eclipse ships, with helicopters and a submersible at extra cost, and the longest itineraries continue from the Chilean fjords into the Weddell Sea. Ponant and Silversea include Patagonian segments in wider South American voyages. The Australis crossing sails the Beagle Channel, Murray Channel and Strait of Magellan, attempting a landing at Cape Horn National Park, and visiting Wulaia Bay, Pia Glacier, Glacier Alley, Aguila Glacier, Ainsworth Bay, the Tucker Islets and Magdalena Island. The Cape Horn landing depends entirely on weather and is frequently not possible; no operator guarantees it. Boarding is in the evening on day one and arrival is early morning on the final day, so a five-day itinerary yields roughly three and a half touring days. Patagonia is the most sensible add-on to an Antarctic voyage because Ushuaia and Punta Arenas are the Antarctic gateway ports. The long-haul flights are already paid for, four to seven extra days cost far less than a separate trip, and arriving early builds a buffer against the flight delays that cause travelers to miss their ship. Note that Antarctic fly-cruises depart Punta Arenas while most sailing voyages depart Ushuaia, which determines which add-on fits. The season runs September to April, with November to February the peak for daylight and warmth, and March and April favoured for easing wind, autumn colour in the lenga forests and thinner crowds. Winter, May to August, sees most cruises and many trekking routes suspended. Patagonia has no expedition-cruise governing body; Chilean and Argentine national park services govern the protected areas. Land Patagonia is a separate half of the destination and no ship reaches it: Torres del Paine in Chile for the granite towers, guanacos and the most reliable wild puma tracking on Earth, and Los Glaciares in Argentina for the Perito Moreno glacier from El Calafate and Fitz Roy from El Chalten. Marine wildlife includes Magellanic penguins at Magdalena Island and Seno Otway roughly October to March, a small king penguin colony at Bahia Inutil, sea lions, elephant seals, Peale's dolphins and Andean condors. Planning estimates for 2026-27: an Australis four-night crossing $2,000 to $4,500 per person all-inclusive; a nine to eleven day Chilean fjords expedition $6,000 to $12,000; Scenic ultra-luxury from around $17,000 for fourteen to eighteen days, with Chilean fjords and Antarctica combinations well above $50,000; land travel $2,500 to $6,000 per person for a week. Book 9 to 12 months ahead for January and February and for any crossing that must align with a specific Antarctic departure, 12 months for peak Torres del Paine lodging, and 12 to 18 months for Scenic voyages and Antarctica combinations. ## The Kimberley The Kimberley cruise season is the dry, roughly April to September, and there is no wet-season cruising — cyclones and impassable conditions close the coast for the other half of the year. The trade within the season is water against whales: April and May follow the wet, so King George Falls and Mitchell Falls run hardest and the country is green; June brings the most settled weather and books first; July is peak with the fullest schedule of departures; August and September are drier and hotter, with humpback whales migrating along the coast and waterfalls at their lowest. The tides explain the destination. The Kimberley has one of the largest tidal ranges on Earth, exceeding ten metres in places, which creates the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay and makes Montgomery Reef appear to pour water off its edges as the sea drops. Itineraries are built around tide tables rather than distance, so two ships on the same route in the same week can see different things, and the specific sailing date matters more here than almost anywhere. Two operators define the coast. Coral Expeditions is the Australian pioneer with over thirty years of Kimberley experience, ships of 72 to 120 guests including Coral Adventurer, Coral Geographer and Coral Discoverer, ten-night Broome to Darwin voyages, and the Xplorer excursion tender that puts everyone ashore in one movement. Seabourn Pursuit is a purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition ship of around 264 guests, Polar Class 6, launched 2023, all-suite and all-inclusive, with 24 Zodiacs, kayaks and two submarines, running ten to eleven day expeditions. A third tier of small Australian vessels carrying 18 to 36 guests, including True North and the Kimberley Quest boats, offers the most intimate access at the cost of onboard comfort. There are no large cruise ships on this coast. Signature sites are the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, King George Falls at around eighty metres, Montgomery Reef, the Prince Regent River and King Cascade, rock art galleries at sites such as Ngula Jar Island in Vansittart Bay, the Second World War DC3 wreck on the salt flats, the Hunter River mangroves, Careening Bay with its 1820 HMS Mermaid boab, the Lacepede Islands, and Mitchell Falls by optional helicopter at additional cost. The rock art comprises two distinct traditions. Wandjina figures are large mouthless ancestral beings with haloed heads, painted and repainted by their custodians as a living practice. Gwion Gwion art, historically called Bradshaw art, shows fine elongated human figures in ochre and is considerably older; precise ages are contested. These sites sit on the country of the Wunambal Gaambera, Dambimangari and Balanggarra peoples among others, and access is by their permission, often with their guides. The Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners are godparents of Seabourn Pursuit. Photography rules vary by site. Wildlife is a secondary attraction: saltwater crocodiles are near-certain in the river systems and mangroves and are viewed from tenders, humpback whales migrate along the coast from roughly July to September, and green turtles, reef sharks, rays, sea eagles and major seabird rookeries on the Lacepede Islands round out the list. Swimming happens only where guides confirm it is safe, typically at freshwater plunge pools inland. Planning estimates for 2026-27: Coral Expeditions ten-night voyages from around $9,000 to $16,000 per person depending on cabin; Seabourn Pursuit ten to eleven day expeditions from around $9,500 and well beyond for larger suites; smaller Australian vessels often more per night, not less. Add domestic flights to Broome or Darwin, a night either side, and several hundred dollars per person for a Mitchell Falls helicopter flight. Book 12 to 18 months ahead: the season is only six months long, the coast supports few ships, and June and July sell first. ## The Amazon Amazon cruising in this context means the Peruvian Amazon, in the Loreto region, centred on the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Ships are riverboats of 8 to 42 guests, excursions are by skiff and kayak twice daily plus night outings, and the vessel returns to a mooring each night. The gateway is Iquitos, the largest city in the world with no road connection, reached by air from Lima; ships board at Nauta, a road transfer away, near the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers where the Amazon proper begins. The single most useful thing to understand is the annual flood cycle. In high water, roughly December to May, the forest floods and skiffs navigate among the canopy, reaching creeks and lakes that do not exist in other months; the navigable area is at its widest and the giant Victoria amazonica lily pads are at their best. In low water, roughly June to November, beaches emerge, jungle walking becomes possible on solid ground, fishing improves and wildlife concentrates along shrinking channels, though some creeks become unnavigable. Neither season is better; they suit different travelers. There is no closed season, rain falls in every month, and heat and humidity are constant. Pacaya-Samiria is a Peruvian protected area of roughly two million hectares, the largest protected area of seasonally flooded forest in the Amazon basin, sitting between the Marañón and Ucayali rivers upstream of their confluence. The entrance fee is normally included in the cruise fare. There is no IAATO, AECO or Galápagos-style permitting regime on this river. Three operators dominate. Aqua Expeditions is a Singapore-based operator running the purpose-built, design-led Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera, around 32 to 40 guests, all-inclusive, on 3, 4 or 7-night itineraries. Delfin Amazon Cruises is the Peruvian family-owned company behind Delfin I (8 to 12 guests, four suites, two with plunge pools, effectively a private charter), Delfin II (28 guests) and Delfin III (42 guests), all Relais and Châteaux; Delfin III was the first ship in the world to join Relais and Châteaux. Lindblad-National Geographic does not own Amazon ships: it charters Delfin II, which it has run since 2010, and Delfin III, adding certified photo instructors, naturalists, daily recaps and a Machu Picchu extension. The hardware is identical under either brand; the programme, guiding, cabin category names and price differ. Wildlife expectations should be set carefully, because the rainforest is dense and animals are dispersed and often high in the canopy: this is many species seen briefly rather than large mammals seen at length. Pink and grey river dolphins are near-certain, monk saki, squirrel, capuchin and howler monkeys are regular, three-toed sloths are common, and birding is the headline draw with macaws, toucans, hoatzin, horned screamers, kingfishers and hundreds more. Caiman are spotted on night skiff cruises. Piranha fishing is standard. Jaguars and giant otters exist but sightings are genuinely rare and should never be promised. Planning estimates for 2026-27: $4,000 to $9,000 per person for three or four nights, and $7,000 to $15,000 for seven nights, generally inclusive of excursions, meals and reserve fees and often drinks and laundry. Lindblad's ten-day Amazon and Machu Picchu package sits at the upper end. International flights to Lima and the Lima-Iquitos domestic leg are extra, though some operators bundle the domestic flights. Book 6 to 12 months ahead, 12 months for Delfin I or a top-deck suite. Because the cruise is short and the flights are long, most travelers should pair the river with Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Cusco is at high altitude and the Amazon near sea level, so itineraries usually run the river first or build in acclimatisation days. Brazil offers larger-scale journeys around Manaus and the Rio Negro on bigger or more basic vessels, and Ecuador a small number of riverboats on the Napo, but for a luxury small-ship Amazon cruise Peru is the answer. ## Baja California Baja California cruising means two coasts, not one. The Sea of Cortez, also called the Gulf of California, sits on the peninsula's east side: sheltered, island-filled and where the small ships spend most of the week, snorkelling, kayaking and hiking at Isla Espiritu Santo, Isla San Francisco and the Los Islotes sea lion colony. The islands and protected areas of the Gulf of California are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Pacific side, on the west, holds the gray whale calving lagoons, which are reached overland by coach and visited in small pangas run by licensed local operators under a Mexican permit system. No expedition ship overnights in the lagoons, and there is no IAATO or AECO equivalent here. Gray whale access should be described carefully. NOAA Fisheries estimated the eastern North Pacific population at 25,000 to 30,000 animals in 2016; after an Unusual Mortality Event from 2018 to 2023 its surveys put the population at roughly 11,700 to 14,200 in 2024/2025 and 15,930 to 20,530 in 2025/2026, with calf production low throughout (source: NOAA Fisheries, Gray Whale Population Abundance, checked September 2026). Operators have responded differently, some reducing or pausing lagoon visits. No gray whale encounter is guaranteed on any Baja itinerary. The two main operators are UnCruise Adventures, running the roughly 66-guest Safari Voyager on informal, activity-heavy weeks with alcohol and excursions in the fare, and Lindblad-National Geographic, running larger vessels including the roughly 100-guest National Geographic Venture with naturalists, certified photo instructors and researcher access. Ponant is the luxury alternative. Season runs roughly January to April: February is peak whale month, March balances whales, mobula rays and warming water, April has the best snorkelling. Whale sharks aggregate in Bahia de La Paz from autumn into spring. Water is cool in winter, around 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and wetsuits are provided. Planning estimate for 2026-27: $6,000 to $10,000 per person for seven or eight nights, with UnCruise typically the lower start. Gateways are San Jose del Cabo, La Paz and Loreto, all short direct flights from many US cities, which makes Baja the best-value expedition cruise Glacial Expeditions sells and the destination it recommends most often as a first expedition trip. Book 6 to 12 months ahead for February, March and family departures. ## Raja Ampat Raja Ampat is an archipelago of more than 1,500 islands off West Papua, Indonesia, at the centre of the Coral Triangle. Its name means Four Kings, after the main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool. It holds roughly three quarters of the world's known coral species and over 1,500 reef fish species, making it the most biodiverse marine environment documented anywhere; Cape Kri in the Dampier Strait holds the world record for fish species recorded on a single dive. Above water it is limestone karst, rainforest and birds of paradise, including Wilson's and red birds of paradise on Waigeo. Alfred Russel Wallace worked here in 1860. There is no polar-style governing body: the region is governed by Indonesian law, a network of marine protected areas and customary Papuan reef tenure, and visitors pay a Raja Ampat marine park conservation levy which some operators include in the fare. The most consequential planning question is diving versus snorkelling. The reefs are shallow and clear, so snorkellers see healthy coral, reef sharks, turtles and often manta rays, and every operator runs snorkel programmes. But some itineraries are dive-led: Swan Hellenic's dedicated dive programme requires PADI Advanced Open Water certification and includes equipment and permits, Aurora Expeditions has run dive programmes for over twenty years, and Aqua Blu accommodates divers and snorkellers on the same voyage. Certification requirements should be confirmed per departure rather than assumed. Four operators dominate. Aqua Expeditions runs Aqua Blu, a 15-suite luxury yacht carrying around 30 guests on seven-night North or South Raja Ampat itineraries round trip from Sorong, combinable into a fortnight. Aurora Expeditions runs the X-Bow ships Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle on longer voyages that often extend to Cenderawasih Bay. Swan Hellenic runs SH Minerva on ten to eleven-night West Papua voyages with a cultural emphasis and a certified dive programme. Coral Expeditions runs Australian-flagged 18-night voyages between Darwin and Sorong pairing Raja Ampat with the Spice Islands. Regionally, North Raja Ampat means the Dampier Strait, Waigeo, Cape Kri and manta cleaning stations near Arborek, plus the Wayag karst lagoons further north on longer itineraries. South Raja Ampat means Misool: quieter reefs many divers rate the finest in the archipelago, ancient rock art, Tomolol Cave and jellyfish lakes. Cenderawasih Bay, further east, is a separate region where whale sharks gather year round around traditional fishing platforms at Kwatisore. Few itineraries cover all three, and a seven-night voyage does north or south, not both. Season is broadly October to April for the calmest seas and best visibility, with December to March often the peak, though the water is warm year round. Operator schedules vary and should be checked: Aqua Blu's published seven-night departures sit in the December to February window, Swan Hellenic's ten-night Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay voyages are scheduled in April and May 2027, and Coral Expeditions' 18-night Darwin to Sorong voyages run in August and September because they cover the wider region. Schedules checked September 2026. Getting there is the hardest logistics of any destination Glacial Expeditions sells. The gateway is Sorong in West Papua, reached from North America by long-haul flight to Jakarta, Makassar or Manado plus one or two domestic connections; budget three travel days each way and a buffer night before embarkation. Planning estimate for 2026-27: $8,000 to $16,000 per person for a seven to eleven night voyage, with the luxury yachts at the upper end, plus flights, the marine park levy and crew gratuities that on some Indonesian yachts reach several hundred dollars per person. Book 12 to 18 months ahead, and earlier for dive-certified departures or specific regions. ## French Polynesia French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity of 118 islands in the South Pacific, spread across five archipelagos: the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a), the Tuamotu atolls (including Fakarava and Rangiroa), the Marquesas (including Nuku Hiva), and the less-visited Australs and Gambiers. The Society Islands are high volcanic islands with lagoons, towns and roads. The Tuamotus are low coral atolls defined by their passes, where tidal current concentrates fish and grey reef sharks; Fakarava is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Marquesas lie roughly 900 miles northeast of Tahiti, have little protective reef, and are reached only after real sea days. The marae complex at Taputapuatea on Raiatea is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is no polar-style governing body; IAATO and AECO are not relevant here. Chris and Erika Commisso have been to Tahiti twice and know Moorea and Bora Bora firsthand, and have not sailed a ship in French Polynesia. Glacial Expeditions states this plainly rather than implying sea time it does not have. Ships fall into three categories: small luxury ocean vessels running Society Islands and Tuamotus loops from Papeete, sailing vessels and yachts carrying fewer guests, and the working passenger-freighter service that supplies the Marquesas. Draft, tender operations and what the fare includes matter more than the star rating; excursions, diving, watersports and drinks are included on some vessels and charged on others. Glacial Expeditions does not publish fare ranges for French Polynesia because the spread between ship types is too wide to be useful, and quotes live pricing on specific departures instead. Sailing is year-round. May to October is the drier, cooler, most reliable and most expensive season; November to April is warmer and wetter with tropical cyclone risk, greener islands and quieter ships. Humpback whales are in Polynesian waters roughly July to November, having travelled north from Antarctic feeding grounds to breed and calve; in-water encounters, where permitted, are regulated and licensed with limits on group size and distance, and no sighting is guaranteed. Common marine wildlife includes blacktip and grey reef sharks, stingrays and eagle rays, green and hawksbill turtles, abundant reef fish and seabirds. Land wildlife is limited, with one standout exception: Bird Island (Motu Puarua) in the Tikehau atoll, a sanctuary islet about forty minutes by boat where thousands of Brown and Black Noddies, Red-footed Boobies and White Terns nest with no fear of people, and large Brown Land Crabs fill the marshy interior; visits go through responsible local operators under local regulation and the Polynesian rahui tradition. The gateway is Faaa International Airport at Papeete on Tahiti, served directly from the US West Coast and with connections from the Midwest and East Coast, Europe, New Zealand and Japan. Glacial Expeditions recommends a hotel night in Papeete before embarkation. Typical voyages run 7 to 14 nights, with Marquesas itineraries at the longer end, and ten to fourteen nights is the usual recommendation once flight time is counted. Book nine to eighteen months ahead for dry-season departures and longer for small sailing vessels and Marquesas voyages. ## New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are a UNESCO-protected wilderness accessible only by expedition ship. The Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland and Campbell groups — along with Australia's Macquarie Island — sit in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties, and are known for megaherbs, rare endemic penguins, and vast albatross colonies. Landings are strictly controlled by New Zealand's Department of Conservation and are restricted to Enderby Island and Campbell Island. No landings are permitted at the Snares, which are seen by Zodiac cruise. The permit is held by the operator, not the traveler. The season runs November to March. Access is restricted to small-scale expedition companies such as Heritage Expeditions, operating under strict environmental protocols. Glacial Expeditions has not sailed the Subantarctic Islands. This guide is built from research and from the operators we work with. - [Wildlife](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/subantarctic-islands/wildlife) - [Landings and permits](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/subantarctic-islands/landings-and-permits) - [Best time to visit](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/subantarctic-islands/best-time-to-visit) - [Ships and operators](https://glacialexpeditions.com/destinations/subantarctic-islands/ships-and-operators)