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Home | Cruise Guides | Cruise Lines

Expedition Cruise Lines

Expedition Cruise Lines Expedition lines provide a unique and enriching experience. Their cruise ships carry travelers to areas of the planet that often can be reached only by water. Venturing into Amazon jungles or breaking through Arctic ice, they offer glimpses of spectacular scenery. Depending on your destination, you can expect close-up views of fjords, mountains, islands, glaciers or wildlife.

Expedition and cultural ships vary greatly in size and offerings. Their accommodations and services range from limited to luxurious. When selecting a cruise, you can decide whether your priority is to see the world in style, with excellent dining and experienced guides, or simply to have an adventure aboard a modest vessel with basic bed and board. Some of the options to consider are:

  • Levels of service
  • Size and comfort of accommodations
  • Quality of dining experience
  • Equipment (Zodiacs; underwater camera or monitor)
  • Knowledge of guides and lecturers

Top Expedition Cruise Lines

Deluxe cruise experiences to worldwide destinations.  Read Entire Review
Operates the M/V Galapagos Explorer II, an ecotourism vessel that visits Galapagos National Park. The ship was constructed in 1990.  Read Entire Review
Built in 2002 and 2005 respectively, the ships M/V Mare Australis and M/V Via Australis visit locations between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, Chile.�  Read Entire Review
A U.S.-based firm with a Croatian owner, Elegant T & C owns two small ships, the 117-passenger Andrea and 64-passenger Monet, and markets oth...  Read Entire Review
Provides GreenTracks small-boat ecotours of the Amazon region.  Read Entire Review
This Alabama-based company offers nature travel and ecotours to destinations all over the world. Cruise destinations include Africa, Antarctica, ...  Read Entire Review
Sven-Olof Lindblad, son of Lars-Erik Lindblad who initiated expedition-style cruising in the mid-1960�s, operates a fleet of small ships in many ...  Read Entire Review
Mega-yacht Orion, built in 2003, offers trips to various points in Australia and the surrounding region.  Read Entire Review
Established in 1991, this fleet of polar-exploration vessels offers cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic regions.  Read Entire Review
This one-ship luxury cruise line visits destinations all over the world, including the polar regions, Africa and the Mediterranean.� �  Read Entire Review
Offers high-quality educational cruises on small ships to destinations around the world.  Read Entire Review
The British-owned Voyages of Discovery (All Leisure Group) operates a single ship for the British and American markets. Discovery World Cruises w...  Read Entire Review

Expedition Line Spotlight

Orion Expedition Cruises

Orion offers some of the most luxurious accommodations in the expedition category. Itineraries include trips to New Zealand, Tasmania, Antarctica and other destinations.  more »