Adventure Cruising

Cruise passengers are getting younger and more adventurous. To reflect this, the main cruise lines are changing the activities they offer but for many this is not enough and cruises offering itineraries in the remoter parts of the world are becoming popular. Visit our Adventure Cruising page (see navigation bar above) to search specifically for this type of cruise.

LARGER CRUISE LINES
The larger cruise lines now offer more adventurous shore excursions specifically aimed at those who like to get active on holiday. Programmes now include more unusual options like cycling and water rafting in Europe, dog sledding, whale watching, rainforest hiking, go-karting, mountain biking and rock climbing in Alaska and snorkelling and scuba diving in the Caribbean. Some lines are now including the Arctic and Antarctic in their itineraries, notably Orient, Princess, Radisson and Silversea.

ADVENTURE CRUISING SPECIALISTS
Most ships in this sector are smaller ships able to sail where the larger ships cannot go, however there are a few exceptions. Many have transoms that fold down into sports platforms from which passengers can swim, windsurf, waterski, kayak, etc. and they will often have zodiacs (inflatable boats) to get closer to the action. The choice then becomes one between Soft Adventure or Expedition cruising and which part of the world you want to explore.

Soft Adventure Cruising
This category includes the increasing number of larger and more luxurious cruise ships that visit the Arctic and Antarctica and offer the opportunity to view the incredible landscapes in comfort.  It also includes the smaller up-close ships of lines like Cruise West and Clipper that offer a more detailed exploration of less harsh regions like Alaska and Mexico.

Expedition Cruising
If all that's not tough enough, try an expedition cruise around the Arctic, Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands with lines like Clipper and Quark Expeditions. Typically, an expedition cruise will visit more remote and inhospitable areas and feature excursions ashore aboard inflatable Zodiac landing crafts. Experts in geology, botany and wildlife accompany passengers ashore and lead guided walks.

Alaska & Bering Sea
Alaska is an ideal area for in close exploring by ship. - forested islands, waterfalls and calving glaciers. Further east and north, a few get to explore the Alaskan Peninsula and the Bering Sea where you will find the Aleutian Islands and the Eskimo settlements of the Russian Far East.

Antarctica
Here you will find fantastic natural beauty and abundant wildlife in one of the most forbidding places on earth. You can explore this incredible landscape up close on an expedition cruise or from the comfort of a larger cruise ship.

Arctic & Greenland
Explore lands abounding with wildlife, spectacular coastal fjords, glaciers and ice flows. You can visit the northern coast of Norway and Russia, the islands of Svalbard, the ice-fields of the Greenland coast or Baffin Island and even risk the Northwest Passage around the top of Canada.

South America
In South America you can explore the Galapagos Islands to view some of the most extraordinary wildlife on earth , the Chilean Lake District and cruise the Chilean Fjords and Straits of Magellan.

Pacific
The numerous and sometimes mountainous Pacific Islands of French Polynesia and Micronesia are little explored and offer fabulous diving and snorkelling opportunities.

West US/Mexico
Visit the tiny islands the Sea of Cortez, watch the whales off the coast of Baja California or explore the exotic jungles of Costa Rica and Panama.