Expedition and adventure cruises

Why expedition cruising suits the adventurous traveller

Expedition cruises are built for places that are hard to reach: polar wilderness, remote island chains, wild coastlines and ancient sea routes. The ships are smaller, purpose-built for navigation in challenging conditions, and the focus is on the destination rather than the onboard resort. Voyages range from 6 nights to 64 nights, with a typical sailing running around 16 nights — long enough to go somewhere genuinely far-flung and spend real time there.

The overwhelming majority of sailings here are one-way itineraries, so each voyage is a point-to-point journey rather than a loop back to where you started. That is worth knowing when you plan: if you board in one port and disembark in another, a domestic flight or an international connection at the far end is part of the trip — and our team can book it alongside your cruise so nothing is left to chance.

Which expedition cruise lines sail these routes?

Silversea Cruises and Seabourn together account for almost all the sailings here, making these two lines the natural starting point for anyone comparing options. Celebrity Cruises also has expedition departures in the mix, sailing aboard the Celebrity Flora — a ship purpose-built for remote itineraries. All three lines sit firmly in the luxury end of the market, which means expedition travel does not mean roughing it: you are going somewhere remote on a ship that looks after you extremely well.

Silversea fare inclusions

Silversea offers butler-serviced suites on every sailing, with unlimited wines and spirits, exceptional dining, onboard gratuities and Wi-Fi included as standard. On expedition voyages, the All Inclusive Plus fare adds all landings and shore excursions, alongside a fully refundable deposit — worth considering if your travel plans are still forming.

Celebrity Cruises fare inclusions

Celebrity’s best-rate fare covers dining, entertainment and onboard activities, giving you the flexibility to add extras yourself. The All Inclusive fare bundles a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi into one price. At the top end, The Retreat fare includes premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation and exclusive lounge and sundeck access with dedicated personal service.

Expedition cruise ships: which vessels sail these itineraries?

The ships on these sailings are genuinely expedition-grade — smaller, ice-capable vessels designed to put you closer to the destination. Here are the named ships currently sailing these routes:

• Silver Wind (Silversea) — a smaller, intimate vessel well suited to ports that larger ships cannot enter.
• Silver Endeavour (Silversea) — Silversea’s dedicated polar expedition ship, built specifically for Arctic and Antarctic itineraries.
• Seabourn Pursuit (Seabourn) — Seabourn’s purpose-built expedition vessel, carrying a small number of guests into remote regions in considerable comfort.
• Celebrity Flora (Celebrity Cruises) — Celebrity’s dedicated expedition ship, designed for small-ship exploration.

Where do expedition cruises go?

Close to home — Australia and Polynesia

A handful of sailings explore Australian waters, with departures from Darwin and disembarkations at Broome — making the rugged Kimberley coast the centrepiece. If you live in the Northern Territory or Western Australia, this is a cruise you can reach without a long-haul flight; if you are flying in from another state, it is a domestic hop rather than an international journey. These one-way sailings finish at the far end, so a connection between Darwin and Broome (or in reverse) rounds out the trip. You can explore the full range of Australian cruise options separately.

Polynesia adds another cluster of sailings, with disembarkations at Papeete, Tahiti — remote island sailing at its most atmospheric.

The long haul — Norway, the British Isles and beyond

Norway and the British Isles are two of the strongest regions in this collection, each with a good spread of sailings. Norwegian itineraries take small expedition ships deep into fjords and along dramatic northern coastlines, departing from Longyearbyen among other ports. British Isles voyages explore the coastal and island fringes of the United Kingdom and beyond. Both regions involve an international flight from Australia — our team can build that into the booking, including hotels on either side and any transfers you need.

Transatlantic crossings are also well represented, with Lisbon as a key embarkation port. South America sailings finish at Valparaíso (Santiago), offering a natural gateway into Chile at the end of the voyage. Transpacific itineraries bridge the Pacific, useful if you want to combine the cruise with time in multiple regions.

Polar regions — Arctic and Antarctic

The Arctic is the single busiest region in this collection, and it is easy to see why: these are among the most remote and visually striking itineraries available anywhere. Sailings depart from Reykjavik and Longyearbyen, heading into high-latitude waters where wildlife and ice are the main attractions. The Antarctic Ocean sailings depart from King George Island, Antarctica — as far south as cruising goes — and typically embark via Puerto Williams, Chile.

Why expedition cruises? What makes them different?

A mainstream cruise ship visits busy ports with established infrastructure. An expedition ship goes to places those ships cannot: shallow bays, polar anchorages, wildlife coastlines and island groups with no commercial port at all. The guest-to-crew ratio is higher, the focus is on what is outside the ship rather than on the ship itself, and the itinerary is genuinely the point of the trip.

For travellers who have done the mainstream routes and want something that feels like a genuine journey — one with a real destination rather than a circuit of familiar cities — expedition cruising is the answer. Sailings here range in length from 6 to 64 nights, so whether you want a focused two-week voyage into Norwegian waters or an extended polar crossing, there is a shape that fits.

Are there any discounts on expedition cruises?

A number of sailings carry reduced fares — up to 42% off the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, though that figure applies to a single departure. Most reduced sailings are discounted by around 16%. It is worth checking individual voyages, as savings vary significantly from one departure to the next. Our last-minute Seabourn deals page is a good place to start if you have flexibility on timing.

Make it a complete holiday

Because the vast majority of these sailings depart from overseas — Iceland, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Antarctica and Chile — getting there is as much a part of the planning as the cruise itself. Cruise1st can book your international flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels, port transfers and any tours you want to add, all on a single booking. That means one point of contact, one itinerary and none of the back-and-forth of arranging each piece separately. Our Cruise1st Package option bundles the key elements together; alternatively, our Australian cruise experts can build something custom around exactly what you need.

Prices start from A$7,198 pp* — see individual sailings for current availability and fares.

Browse the full range of cruises or narrow your search by region. If Australian waters are your priority, our cruise around Australia page covers the full domestic picture. For something further afield, Carnival cruises to Australia, Princess Cruises around Australia in 2027 and cruises to Japan from Australia are among the most popular choices for Australian travellers.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.