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Expedition Cruises

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Expedition cruises visit off-the-beaten-path ports and remote places of pristine natural beauty that offer unique opportunities to observe wildlife up close. Among the most popular destinations are the Arctic, Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands, though sailings are also available in many other regions around the world.

Itineraries emphasize adventure and exploration, often with naturalists, wildlife specialists and biologists aboard the ship. It's common to embark from your anchored ship into small yet sturdy motorized crafts like Zodiacs for shore landings. In Antarctica, for example, you might board a Zodiac and cruise amid icebergs to rocky beaches where penguins and lounging elephant seals await.

Expedition ships are small and often purpose-built for the regions they visit -- many have strengthened hulls designed for navigating ice-packed waters. A line may specialize exclusively in expedition cruising, or it may devote specific ships or itineraries to this more adventurous style of travel. Some companies have merged the exploratory aspects of expedition cruising with a luxurious onboard experience that includes superb dining, upscale accommodations and impeccable service.

Below are the cruise lines and ships that offer expedition-style cruises. Click any link for more information about that company or ship. The ship rating is based on a 6-star system, and you can view the ratings key here.

Cruise Line Ship Built Refurb. Passengers Rating
Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator 2021 198
World Traveller 2022 198
World Voyager 2023 198
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Flora 2019 100
Celebrity Xpedition 2001 2019 48
Celebrity Xploration 2017 16
HX Fram 2007 2022 250
MS Fridtjof Nansen 2020 530
MS Roald Amundsen 2019 530
Santa Cruz II 2002 2021 90
Spitsbergen 2009 2016 220
National Geographic-Lindblad National Geographic Endeavour II 2005 2016 96
National Geographic Endurance 2021 138
National Geographic Explorer 1982 2009 148
National Geographic Islander II 1989 2022 48
National Geographic Orion 2003 2013 102
National Geographic Quest 2017 100
National Geographic Resolution 2021 138
National Geographic Sea Bird 1982 2015 62
National Geographic Sea Lion 1982 2015 62
National Geographic Venture 2018 100
Ponant L'Austral 2011 264
Le Bellot 2020 184
Le Boreal 2010 264
Le Bougainville 2019 184
Le Champlain 2018 184
Le Commandant Charcot 2021 245
Le Dumont d'Urville 2019 184
Le Jacques Cartier 2020 184
Le Laperouse 2018 184
Le Lyrial 2015 244
Le Soleal 2013 264
Quark Expeditions Ocean Adventurer 1975 2017 128
Ultramarine 2020 199
World Explorer 2019 176
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Scenic Eclipse 2019 228
Scenic Eclipse II 2023 228
Seabourn Seabourn Pursuit 2023 264
Seabourn Venture 2022 264
Silversea Cruises Silver Cloud 1994 2017 254
Silver Endeavour 2021 220
Silver Origin 2020 100
Silver Wind 1995 2021 274
Viking Viking Octantis 2022 378
Viking Polaris 2022 378