As the name implies, expedition cruising is a taste of exploration and adventure in off-the-beaten-path places. It's an experience more likely torn from the pages of National Geographic than Travel & Leisure. In fact, National Geographic, in partnership with expedition operator Lindblad Expeditions, is a prominent player in this niche.
So what is an expedition cruise and what is its appeal? How is it different from a riverboat cruise, or ocean cruise?
The voyages are more intimate
Expedition vessels, by definition, are small. They carry between 12 and 250 passengers. A smaller, more intimate ship is very appealing to a lot of people.
Remote Destinations
The expedition vessels go to destinations conventional cruise ships don’t: Antarctica, the Arctic, Galapagos, Greenland & Iceland, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
(A smaller vessel provides the opportunity to explore many areas not reachable by larger ships. Remote destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic, Raja Ampat in Indonesia, Borneo and Papua New Guinea don't have the traditional luxury hotel infrastructure. But an expedition cruise ship allows passengers to access those places without the need for a traditional hotel.)
The Expedition Team
In lieu of cruise director and staff, expedition ships are led by an Expedition leader and an Expedition team consisting of naturalists and science-oriented guest lecturers who give presentations on the politics, culture, history, geology, geography, biology, ecology or anthropology of their vessel's destinations. Some even employ photographers to help you take amazing pictures of the wildlife and scenery.
They’re focused on education and exploration
An expedition cruise satisfies your cultural and intellectual curiosity. The focus is usually on nature, wildlife and off-the-beaten-track experiences in remote areas, taking in views and sights not seen by many. Instead of a theater and shows, everyone gathers in the main lounge for cocktails before dinner to hear the recap of the day, see pictures taken by the Expedition Team that day, as well as footage from the diver on board. Learn what the expedition leader has planned for the next day. There's no midnight buffet, no entertainment shows.
Fluid Day-by-day Itinerary
Aboard an expedition ship, the day-to-day scheduling and ports stops are more fluid than in the daily programs of conventional cruise ships. This permits the flexibility of changing course or altering plans on a dime to take advantage of weather, sea conditions, wildlife sightings or any other serendipitous occurrence.
Zodiacs
One keystone of expedition cruising is the extensive use of Zodiac inflatable crafts instead of conventional tenders. Not only does this require more agility transferring to and from the ship, but often the destination is a beach or rocky shoreline lacking any sort of a pier, necessitating a "wet landing" (having to step into an ankle-deep water and wade few steps to shore.) Once ashore, groups are often divided up into smaller packs based on fitness level and interest.
Higher Cost
These once in a life time voyages tend to be pricey.
