Expedition Cruising
Expedition cruises offer visits to out of the way destinations, which are off the beaten tourist track. Accompanied by an Expedition Team many landings ashore will be made by Zodiac landing craft and will appeal to the more adventurous and those who enjoy the natural world.
There are some experiences which words cannot adequately describe such as standing on a crest of an age old glacier, seeing a whale gracefully breach above the sea’s surface, watching a grizzly hunt for spawning salmon in the gushing Alaskan waters or stepping foot on remote tropical islands which are unscathed by the modern world – all this and much more is achievable during one of our expedition cruises which vary from a ‘usual’ cruise in that the itinerary is less defined. Although we set sail with an itinerary, it is the unscheduled events that often become the highlight of the journey and the places visited and the order in which this is achieved will vary depending on wildlife sightings and diversions such as following a whale that may appear at anytime.
For those who enjoy seeing and learning about the wonders of nature, be it birds, mammals, marine life, geology or botany, these cruises offer the perfect environment. In place of the customary Cruise Director and entertainment staff, our expedition cruises are managed by an Expedition Team; a well qualified team of naturalists who travel ashore with you and also provide informative talks onboard. These hand-picked experts are naturalists, historians and ecologists who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm during forays ashore and whilst onboard. They will supervise the daily programme and hold talks and briefings throughout the cruise. The expedition teams have one aim, to make your trip as enjoyable, relaxing and informative as possible.
Ancient & Natural Wonders of Central America
A voyage from Costa Rica to Guatemala including Nicaragua & El Salvador aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- San Jose / Puerto Caldera / Curu National Park / Tortuga Island / Palo Verde National Park / Granada / Leon / La Union / Acajutla / Puerto Quetzal / Antigua / Lake Atitlan
Central American Odyssey
A voyage from Guatemala to Costa Rica including El Salvador, Nicaragua & Panama aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Antigua / Puerto Quetzal / Acajutla / La Union / Leon / Granada / Palo Verde National Park / Curu National Park / Tortuga Island / Puerto Jimenez / Golfito / Chiriqui Gulf Marine Park / Panama Canal Transit / Colon / Bocas del Toro / Puerto Limon
Bird Quest
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
Bird Quest
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
Enchanted Islands
An island hopping voyage from Portsmouth to Aberdeen aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Isles of Scilly / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Iona / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Alaska's Inside Passage
An Expedition exploring the Alaskan Coast & Inside Passage aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Vancouver / British Columbia’s Inside Passage / Wrangell / Petersburg / Kupreanof Island / Endicott Arm / Tracy Arm / Chichagof Island / Hubbard Glacier / Tsaa Fjord / Kodiak Island / Homer / Katmai National Park / Seward / Seattle
Iceland, Greenland & the Total Solar Eclipse
A voyage from Aberdeen to Reykjavik including the Faroe Islands & Greenland aboard the MS Hebridean Sky with Guest Speaker Dallas Campbell
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / Kirkwall / Sudroy / Torshavn / Vestmanna / Seydisfjordur / Husavik / Hrisey Island / Akureyri / Scoresbysund / Stykkisholmur / Reykjavik
Northwest Passage - 2025 & 2026
An expedition in the Wake of Legendary Explorers aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Seattle / Seward / Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Islands / Pribilof Islands / Nome / Chukchi / Beaufort Seas / Northwest Passage / West Greenland / Kangerlussuaq
Borneo & Beyond
A journey from Singapore to Bali aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Singapore / Kuching / Muara / Kota Kinabalu / Sandakan / Derawan Islands / Sulawesi / Menumbar River / Pulau Birahbirahan / Samboja Lestari / Bali
Corals & Cultures of Indonesia & Papua New Guinea
An expedition from Bali to Papua New Guinea aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Bali / Satonda Island / Komodo Island / Pink Beach / Taka Bonerate National Park / Wakatobi National Marine Park / Banda Islands / Raja Ampat / Padaido Islands / Wewak & Sepik River / Garove Island / Rabaul / Singapore
Greenland & Beyond - 2026
An expedition along the Western Coast of Greenland, Newfoundland & Nova Scotia aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Kangerlussuaq / Sisimiut / Ilulissat / Disko Bay / Qeqertarsuaq / Fjords of Greenland / Qassiarsuk / Unartoq / St John’s / Saint Pierre / Miquelon / Cape Breton Island / Halifax
Melanesian Odyssey
An island hopping adventure from Papua New Guinea to Fiji including the Solomon Islands & Vanuatu aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Singapore / Rabaul / Marovo Lagoon / Tetepare Island / Honiara / Santa Ana / Nembao Village / Espiritu Santo Island / Port Havannah / Tanna Island / Lautoka
Tours at a glance
Tour Name | Departure Date | Ship | Tour Type | Itinerary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ancient & Natural Wonders of Central America | 707 FebruaryFeb 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
San Jose / Puerto Caldera / Curu National Park / Tortuga Island / Palo Verde National Park / Granada / Leon / La Union / Acajutla / Puerto Quetzal / Antigua / Lake Atitlan
|
Central American Odyssey | 1515 FebruaryFeb 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Antigua / Puerto Quetzal / Acajutla / La Union / Leon / Granada / Palo Verde National Park / Curu National Park / Tortuga Island / Puerto Jimenez / Golfito / Chiriqui Gulf Marine Park / Panama Canal Transit / Colon / Bocas del Toro / Puerto Limon
|
Bird Quest | 505 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
|
Bird Quest | 1414 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
|
Enchanted Islands | 1717 JuneJun 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Isles of Scilly / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Iona / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
|
Alaska's Inside Passage | 2222 JulyJul 2026 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Vancouver / British Columbia’s Inside Passage / Wrangell / Petersburg / Kupreanof Island / Endicott Arm / Tracy Arm / Chichagof Island / Hubbard Glacier / Tsaa Fjord / Kodiak Island / Homer / Katmai National Park / Seward / Seattle
|
Iceland, Greenland & the Total Solar Eclipse | 202 AugustAug 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / Kirkwall / Sudroy / Torshavn / Vestmanna / Seydisfjordur / Husavik / Hrisey Island / Akureyri / Scoresbysund / Stykkisholmur / Reykjavik
|
Northwest Passage - 2025 & 2026 | 505 AugustAug 2026 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Seattle / Seward / Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Islands / Pribilof Islands / Nome / Chukchi / Beaufort Seas / Northwest Passage / West Greenland / Kangerlussuaq
|
Borneo & Beyond | 606 AugustAug 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Singapore / Kuching / Muara / Kota Kinabalu / Sandakan / Derawan Islands / Sulawesi / Menumbar River / Pulau Birahbirahan / Samboja Lestari / Bali
|
Corals & Cultures of Indonesia & Papua New Guinea | 2222 AugustAug 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Bali / Satonda Island / Komodo Island / Pink Beach / Taka Bonerate National Park / Wakatobi National Marine Park / Banda Islands / Raja Ampat / Padaido Islands / Wewak & Sepik River / Garove Island / Rabaul / Singapore
|
Greenland & Beyond - 2026 | 303 SeptemberSep 2026 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Kangerlussuaq / Sisimiut / Ilulissat / Disko Bay / Qeqertarsuaq / Fjords of Greenland / Qassiarsuk / Unartoq / St John’s / Saint Pierre / Miquelon / Cape Breton Island / Halifax
|
Melanesian Odyssey | 606 SeptemberSep 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Singapore / Rabaul / Marovo Lagoon / Tetepare Island / Honiara / Santa Ana / Nembao Village / Espiritu Santo Island / Port Havannah / Tanna Island / Lautoka
|