Expedition cruise ship with sea lion on the beach

Photo: Tina Blum

Expedition Cruises & Wildlife Travel

Go farther. See more.

Expedition cruises are designed for travelers who want to experience a destination, not just sail past it.

Instead of building the trip around big ships, entertainment and traditional ports of call, expedition cruising is about exploration. Think Zodiac rides along wild coastlines, naturalists helping you spot wildlife, hikes in remote places, kayaking, photography and getting off the ship to see what’s out there.

I specialize in expedition and wildlife cruises, with a particular focus on National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.

Start Planning

What Is an Expedition Cruise?

An expedition cruise is a small-ship voyage designed around exploring the destination.

The ships are generally much smaller than traditional cruise ships, allowing them to reach places and waterways that large ships can’t. Days are shaped by the destination, wildlife, weather and local conditions.

You might spend a morning watching whales from a Zodiac, hike with a naturalist in the afternoon, and come back aboard to hear from an expert about what you just saw.

For travelers who love wildlife, nature, photography, science and learning about the places they visit, the experience can be completely different from a traditional cruise.

Where Can You Go on an Expedition Cruise?

Expedition ships travel to some of the most wildlife-rich and remote places on Earth.

Alaska

See glaciers, whales, bears, sea otters and some of North America’s most spectacular wilderness.

Baja California

Explore the Sea of Cortés and Baja Peninsula, known for whales, dolphins, sea lions and abundant marine life.

The Galápagos Islands

Walk among giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies, snorkel with sea turtles and sea lions, and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations.

Antarctica

Travel among icebergs and glaciers in search of penguins, seals, whales and some of the wildest landscapes on the planet.

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic

Explore dramatic coastlines, glaciers, remote communities and Arctic wildlife in places that are difficult to experience any other way.

And those are only a few possibilities. Expedition cruises travel throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and beyond.

Expedition ship viewed through branches in the Galápagos

Photo: Tina Blum

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is one of the names I specialize in most.

Lindblad has been pioneering expedition travel for decades, and today its voyages combine small expedition ships with teams of naturalists, photographers and other destination experts.

These aren’t cruises where the destination is simply the backdrop. The goal is to help you understand what you’re seeing.

Depending on the expedition, days might include Zodiac exploration, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, wildlife watching and photography. Expedition teams provide context along the way, and certified photo instructors travel on every departure to help guests capture what they experience.

For someone who grew up loving National Geographic, wildlife documentaries or simply wondering what it would be like to see these places in real life, this is a very different way to travel.

Is an Expedition Cruise Right for You?

You might love expedition cruising if you find yourself saying:

“I want to see wildlife.”
“I want to learn something while I travel.”
“I’d rather see a glacier than a waterslide.”
“I want to get off the ship and explore.”
“I want to visit places that are difficult to reach on my own.”
“I want experts around who can tell me what I’m looking at.”

You don’t have to be an extreme adventurer. Expedition cruising can be adventurous without requiring you to be an athlete, and many voyages offer different activity options so travelers can choose how they want to explore.

Why Book Your Expedition Cruise With Me?

I love the research that goes into finding the right expedition.

The ship matters. The itinerary matters. The time of year matters. And if wildlife is one of your priorities, when and where you go can make an enormous difference.

I can help you compare itineraries, ships, destinations and dates, and think through what you actually hope to experience on the trip.

I’m a certified National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions specialist, and wildlife and expedition travel are a major focus of my work as a travel advisor.

Tell me what you’ve been dreaming about seeing, whether that’s whales in Baja, bears in Alaska, sea lions in the Galápagos or penguins in Antarctica, and we can start there.

Start Planning