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.
Bird Quest - 2026
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 - 2026
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
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
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
Island Hopping in the South Pacific
An expedition from Fiji to Tahiti discovering the islands & atolls of the South Pacific aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Fiji / Levuka Island / Fulaga / Nuku’alofa / Neiafu / Nuku Island / Niue / Rarotonga / Atiu / Aitutaki / Bora Bora / Papeete
Pearls of Polynesia
Island hopping in French Polynesia aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tahiti / Rangiroa / Manihi / Nuku Hiva / Hiva Oa / Tahuata / Fatu Hiva / Raroia / Motutunga / Tahanea / Fakarava /Tahiti
South Pacific Island Odyssey
An epic voyage across the South Pacific including the Pitcairn Islands & Easter Island aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tahiti / Tuamotu Islands / Aceton Group / Mangareva / Pitcairn Islands / Henderson Island / Ducie Island / Easter Island / Islas Salas y Gomez / Juan Fernandez Islands / San Antonio / Santiago
Patagonian Odyssey
An exploration of Patagonia & the Chilean Fjords from Ushuaia to Valparaiso aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Cape Horn / Chilean Fjords / Punta Arenas / Torres del Paine National Park. / Chiloe Island / Puerto Montt / Valdivia / Valparaiso / Santiago
Tour at a glance
Tour Name | Departure Date | Ship | Tour Type | Itinerary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bird Quest - 2026 | 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 - 2026 | 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 | 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 | 505 AugustAug 2026 | Hanseatic Inspiration | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Seattle / Seward / Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Islands / Pribilof Islands / Nome / Chukchi / Beaufort Seas / Northwest Passage / West Greenland / Kangerlussuaq
|
Greenland & Beyond - 2026 | 303 SeptemberSep 2026 | Hanseatic Inspiration | 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
|
Island Hopping in the South Pacific | 303 OctoberOct 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Fiji / Levuka Island / Fulaga / Nuku’alofa / Neiafu / Nuku Island / Niue / Rarotonga / Atiu / Aitutaki / Bora Bora / Papeete
|
Pearls of Polynesia | 1818 OctoberOct 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tahiti / Rangiroa / Manihi / Nuku Hiva / Hiva Oa / Tahuata / Fatu Hiva / Raroia / Motutunga / Tahanea / Fakarava /Tahiti
|
South Pacific Island Odyssey | 3030 OctoberOct 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tahiti / Tuamotu Islands / Aceton Group / Mangareva / Pitcairn Islands / Henderson Island / Ducie Island / Easter Island / Islas Salas y Gomez / Juan Fernandez Islands / San Antonio / Santiago
|
Patagonian Odyssey | 2121 NovemberNov 2026 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Cape Horn / Chilean Fjords / Punta Arenas / Torres del Paine National Park. / Chiloe Island / Puerto Montt / Valdivia / Valparaiso / Santiago
|