Plan

Planning an Expedition Cruise.

The questions worth answering before you book, in the order most people ask them.

Planning an expedition cruise means deciding four things: the region, the season, the ship, and the operator. Region and season together determine what wildlife you’ll see. Ship size determines how much time you spend ashore. Most travelers book twelve to eighteen months ahead, because small ships and solo cabins sell first.

Start here

What is an expedition cruise?
What these voyages are, and how a landing day differs from a port day.
Traditional cruising vs expedition cruising
Where the two overlap, and where they are genuinely different holidays.
Types of expedition cruising
Polar, tropical, river and coastal styles, and who each one suits.
Antarctica vs the Arctic
Penguins or polar bears — how the two polar regions differ, and how to choose.

Before you book

Costs and what's included
What the fare covers, what it never covers, and what moves the price.
When to go
How the month you sail changes the wildlife, the ice, and the light.
Travelling solo
Single supplements, solo cabins, and how to avoid paying extra.
First-time expedition travelers
The mistakes first-timers make most often, and what to do instead.

Getting ready

What to pack
What the ship supplies, and the layers you actually need to bring.
Warm-weather expedition cruising
Expedition travel beyond the ice, from the Galápagos to Raja Ampat.
Expedition cruise myths
Ten common misconceptions about cost, comfort, fitness, and fellow guests.

Why we answer these questions the way we do.

Every guide here comes out of trips we have taken ourselves. When you plan with us, you are talking to someone who has personally:

Felt the difference between a standard ocean cruise and a nimble, research-grade expedition vessel.
Worn the gear, so we can tell you which boots you need and which ones will just take up space in your luggage.
Navigated a rough Zodiac landing, and knows how much that should shape the itinerary you choose.
Compared the nuances between operators — the food, the lecture programs, the guiding styles — so we can match you to the one that fits.

How this started — the Alaska voyage that changed the business.

Travelling to the polar regions? Read our responsible travel guidelines before you book.

Quick questions? The expedition cruising FAQ answers the ones we hear most.

Written by your expedition advisors