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Your next dream adventure found! 6 ways to set sail on an expedition cruise of a lifetime
Good Housekeeping's cruise expert on thrilling voyages to the ends of the earth
Imagine setting foot in Antarctica for the first time, discovering the starkly beautiful landscape of the ‘seventh continent’ and watching penguins waddle around on the ice, knowing you have a warm hotel bed to go back to, rather than a freezing cold tent?
Thanks to an exciting new generation of ships, it’s never been easier to venture into the planet’s most remote regions in five-star comfort, as you set sail on an expedition of a lifetime.
In many cases, expedition ships are bolstered by the sort of glamorous high-octane toys that would make James Bond proud, think mini-submarines and onboard helicopters. Plus, there’s usually the chance to go out on zodiac (inflatable boat) excursions, kayaking adventures and wildlife hikes.
The ultimate expedition cruise bucket list includes Antarctica and the Arctic, and the ships that sail here have Polar Class classifications with specially-strengthened hulls to help them withstand icy conditions.
Smaller expedition ships, especially those sailing in the Galapagos Islands, where numbers are tightly controlled, carry as few as 20 passengers, while bigger vessels will take up to 300.
But it’s not all about braving the cold. Warm water expedition cruises are turning up the heat in places like the Kimberley region of Australia and the islands of the South Pacific and Indonesia. The problem is, this kind of cruising doesn’t come cheap. Most expedition-style cruises will set you back at least £5,000pp because they’re fully all-inclusive (which means, in some cases, you get your own cold-weather kit to keep, too).
But then, how do you put a price on an experience of a lifetime? Find your next dream adventure with one of these 6 expedition cruise brands and set sail on a thrilling voyage to the ends of the earth...
Seabourn
The Fleet: Two expedition vessels, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, each equipped with two submersibles.
The Vibe: Upmarket exploration.
Food & Drink: Main dining venues are The Restaurant and The Colonnade buffet restaurant, while there’s al fresco dining at The Patio.
Voyages: Polar regions and other notable areas include the Kimberley in Australia, Northwest Passage and the Amazon.
Don't Miss: The Polar Plunge, when hardy souls brave the freezing Polar waters. Even if you don’t take the plunge yourself, it’s fun to watch, and all participants get a photo and certificate of their achievement.
Top Tip: Fresh sushi is served every evening in The Club, making it perfect for pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres. You’ll also get your own Helly Hansen PolarShield parka to keep and a WaterShield backpack.
Cost: £££££
Hurtigruten
The Fleet: There are nine coastal ships in the Hurtigruten fleet that transport goods, locals and tourists between the remote communities along Norway’s coast. The fleet includes the MS Richard With, named after Hurtigruten’s founder, and MS Vesteralen, one of the line’s oldest and smallest ships.
The Vibe: Part cruise, part working ship
Food & Drink: Hurtigruten is proud of its local roots and supports 70 Norwegian farms, bakeries and producers from across the country, by bringing their locally-caught seafood, award-winning cheeses and craft beers onboard for guests. The emphasis is on seasonal and sustainable food served in the ships’ main restaurant, a bistro-style dining haunt and fine-dining venue.
Voyages: Hurtigruten is known for its Coastal Express route between Bergen and Kirkenes, which accounts for most of its sailings. It also offers voyages to the Lofoten Islands and the Svalbard Archipelago in the Arctic Circle. Good Housekeeping Holidays offers a range of thrilling Hurtigruten sailings to destinations like Antarctica and Norway's Arctic region.
Don't Miss: Cruising along the beautiful Norwegian coast in winter, hunting for the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights with expert astronomer Tom Kerss and GH Holidays.
Top Tip: Hurtigruten make it easy to explore the tiny settlements that their ships stop at - just make sure you’re back on board in time!
Cost: ££££
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You can also enjoy a seven-night Antarctica wilderness cruise with Hurtigruten and GH Holidays with ice cruises and kayaking trips among the icebergs, where you might spot breaching whales and huddles of penguins.
If you want a taste of adventure a bit closer to home, GH Holidays and Hurtigruten are offering another wonderful Norway adventure where a team of onboard experts will help you hunt for the Aurora.
Silversea
The Fleet: Four expedition ships, Silver Cloud, Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind and Silver Origin, which is based year-round in the Galapagos Islands.
The Vibe: Luxurious adventures.
Food & Drink: A mouth-watering choice of venues serving everything from Italian to French with The Grill poolside restaurant, too.
Voyages: Polar regions, while others include the Galapagos, French Polynesia and Kimberley.
Don't Miss: The line-up of adventures on Zodiac trips, kayaking, group hikes and photography tours.
Top Tip: If you don’t want to sail the notorious Drake Passage (the stretch of water between the tip of South America and Antarctica), you can bypass it on one of Silversea’s Antarctica fly-cruise packages. You also get to keep your expedition jacket.
Cost: £££££
AE Expeditions
The Fleet: Two - Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle - with a third ship, Douglas Mawson, joining the fleet in December 2025. The ships, which hold 130 passengers on expedition sailings, are known for their distinctive X-bow design, which gives them more stability.
The Vibe: Aussie informality.
Food & Drink: Two main dining venues, one serving a la carte and buffet, the other being a new reservations-only restaurant, Tuscan Grill.
Voyages: Primarily the Polar regions, plus Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Don't Miss: Camping on the ice in Antarctica or snorkelling and scuba diving in the Polar regions.
Top Tip: The ships are unusual in that they have hydraulic viewing platforms which fold out from the bow, giving unobstructed views for guests.
Cost: £££££
Swan Hellenic
The Fleet: Three - the 158-passenger SH Minerva and SH Vega, plus the 192-passenger SH Diana.
The Vibe: Scandi boutique.
Food & Drink: Swan Hellenic prides itself on offering world-class cuisine with gourmet fare in the main Swan Restaurant, casual tapas plates in the Club Lounge and seasonal classics in the al fresco Pool Grill.
Voyages: Polar regions, but noted for its voyages along the African coast, plus Latin America, the Caribbean and Med.
Don't Miss: The pampering facilities including a sauna, open deck hot tub, infinity swimming pool, spa and beauty salon.
Top Tip: Couples looking for a wedding with a difference can tie the knot in one of Swan Hellenic’s expedition ship ceremonies.
Cost: £££££
HX Expeditions
The Fleet: Five ships including its largest and newest two expedition ships, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen. They carry 500 passengers when in Antarctica – the highest number allowed for ships which do landings.
The Vibe: Nordic heritage.
Food & Drink: There are three dining venues, with the Fredheim and Aune restaurants included in the fare and speciality Lindstrom fine-dining restaurant, carrying an extra charge (although it’s included for suite guests).
Voyages: Polar regions, including the Northwest Passage, plus Northern Europe, Norway, the British Isles and Galapagos islands.
Don't Miss: Getting involved with HX’s Citizen Science education programme by helping to collect data and support real-time research
Top Tip: Guests don’t need to bring expedition jackets as you’ll get your own one to keep, along with a backpack and water bottle.
Cost: £££££
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Want to set sail? Don’t miss our expert’s other must-read insider cruise guides:
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‘I tried a sleep retreat at a 5-star spa hotel’
The 9 best river cruises for a floating city break
The best spa hotels in the UK
