Visit Antarctica, the Galápagos, and more on these adventure cruises.
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A cruise can be a thoroughly peaceful escape with days spent relaxing on deck, sipping cocktails at happy hour, and watching the waves roll by. However, a cruise can also be an active adventure involving exploration of natural environments, wildlife encounters, and an itinerary that shifts based on weather conditions. With travelers today seeking unique experiences, cultural immersion, and remote untouched destinations, adventure cruises and expeditions are increasingly popular. It’s important to note that these cruisers are not necessarily roughing it; many people enjoy luxurious amenities like butler service, five-course dinners, hot tubs, and spacious suites after a day of kayaking, hiking, or snorkeling.
Adventure cruises can satisfy a traveler’s curiosity, commitment to ecotourism, or desire for an active vacation. Well-equipped expedition ships might take them to Antarctica, to the Galápagos, or to inaccessible islands in the Arctic Circle. Along the journey, guests may kayak, hike through dense forests, or snorkel among vibrant fish and coral reefs. Onboard educational programs further enhance the experience on most adventure cruises.
The options are vast, with expedition itineraries and adventure-based activities even featured in the brochures of traditional cruise companies. Here are 13 adventure cruises for both newcomers and seasoned adventurers.
Adventures by Disney – Antarctica and Patagonia Expedition Cruise
This 12-day excursion begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and continues with a flight to Ushuaia, providing a chance to explore Tierra del Fuego or experience a ride on the End of the World train through Patagonia. Guests then board the ship for the 10-day cruise to Antarctica. Along the route, optional activities include a Zodiac cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, a stroll among penguins, a kayak experience, and a hike offering stunning hilltop vistas of Antarctica. The two-day crossing of the Drake Passage is a standout feature. Onboard, activities encompass wildlife viewing, naturalist presentations, photography tips, ship tours, games, movies, and a heated pool.
Adventures by Disney – Galápagos Islands Expedition Cruise
This 9-day excursion begins in Quito, Ecuador, and involves a flight to Baltra where guests transfer to their ship, Galápagos Legend. A hike and snorkeling adventure on Bartolome Island kickstart the journey, followed by a sail to South Plaza Island for a naturalist-guided morning wildlife walk among sea lions, iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. On Cristóbal Island, activities include hiking, a glass-bottom kayak cruise, and snorkeling. Visit Española, the oldest of the Galápagos Islands, home to green sea turtles, sea lions, and mockingbirds. Onboard, guests enjoy stargazing on the equator, Disney movies, and al fresco dining.
Lindblad and National Geographic – Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu
Starting in Lima, Peru, guests on this adventure head to Cusco for a drive to an Andean village followed by a train journey to Machu Picchu. Travelers spend a day exploring Machu Picchu, including hikes to the Sun Gate or Huayna Picchu. A train ride, followed by a flight to Lima, and then a drive to the riverside village of Nauta leads to the Delfin II for an unforgettable cruise of the Upper Amazon. For five days, guests explore the expansive Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, which boasts over five million acres of pristine jungle. Daily excursions by skiff or kayak and hikes (when conditions permit) reveal sloths, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. Guests also have a unique opportunity to engage with the ribereños, the river’s inhabitants.
Hurtigruten – Circumnavigating Svalbard: The Ultimate Expedition
The Svalbard Archipelago, located in the Arctic north of mainland Europe, represents one of the world’s largest untouched wilderness areas. The 12-day expedition begins with a flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen. There’s time to explore this remote frontier town before boarding the ship to cruise among huge glaciers, icebergs, and diverse wildlife. In eastern Svalbard, guests often spot the archipelago’s largest population of polar bears hunting seals with their cubs. Drifting ice and the frozen seascapes will determine the specific route, as the captain and expedition team adapt the itinerary based on conditions. Onboard amenities include hot tubs, a sauna, a gym, lectures from the expedition team, and advice from a professional photographer for capturing breathtaking landscape and wildlife photos.
UnCruise Adventures – Columbia River Cruise: Rivers of Adventure and Wine
From Portland, the ship heads to Astoria, home to its Victorian downtown and Fort Clatsop, where guests can delve into the landscape explored by Lewis and Clark. The ship then cruises upstream through Bonneville Dam locks to Multnomah Falls. A guided hike introduces travelers to the heart of the Columbia Gorge, alongside a tasting of wine from the Hood River Valley, concluding the day. On day five, guests explore the mouth of the Palouse River through kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and wildlife viewing. A guided whitewater rafting experience on the Deschutes includes a picnic lunch and a visit to Columbia Hills State Park. The next day’s hikes reward travelers with views of the river, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, and a farewell dinner before returning to Portland.
UnCruise Adventures – Belize Cruise: Wonders, Rivers, Reefs, and Mayan Culture
Adventurers embark on the Safari Voyager in Belize City for the seven-day cruise, heading to the Belize Barrier Reef and Ranguana Caye, a private island, for snorkeling, swimming, and paddle boarding. At Laughing Bird Caye National Park, guests can kayak or snorkel among angelfish, parrotfish, sea sponges, and vibrant coral before sailing towards Guatemala. A hike through a tropical rainforest reveals over 400 species of plants and animals. In Punta Gorda, guests visit a local market before exploring Mayan ruins. Additional activities include birdwatching skiff tours to spot black howler monkeys, deer, crocodiles, and over 300 bird species. The cruise concludes with a captain’s dinner prior to returning to Belize City.
Abercrombie & Kent – The Northwest Passage: From Greenland to the Bering Sea
This 24-day cruise artfully combines adventure and luxury, featuring private balconies, butler service, French-inspired cuisine, and afternoon tea, along with Zodiac trips, iceberg exploration, and wildlife encounters. It begins in Montreal, where guests discover the city before flying to Western Greenland to board the ship. The itinerary includes cruising through iceberg-strewn fjords, visiting Inuit villages, dog sledding, and exploring ancient huts. The ship then sails into the Canadian Arctic Archipelago of Nunavut, entering the Northwest Passage which features excursions including shore landings, whale sightings, and visits to historic towns. Opportunities arise in the Northwest Territories for tours of an Inuit town and witnessing the Smoking Hills, a rare geological phenomenon of cliffs that combust continuously. The adventure culminates with cruising through the Yukon Territory and Alaskan coast before disembarking in Nome.
Quark – Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands
The 12-day trip begins in Toronto with a flight to Resolute, Nunavut, where guests explore the town before boarding the expedition vessel Ultramarine, equipped with two helicopters and 20 Zodiacs. The following days are spent cruising among the remote islands of the Canadian High Arctic and navigating icy inlets, aiming to reach some of the planet’s most isolated regions: the seldom-visited Ellesmere Island and Axel Heiberg Island with its renowned fossil forest. Weather and ice conditions will dictate the route under the experienced guidance of a skilled Expedition Team. Days brim with Zodiac cruises, land excursions, sightseeing flights, educational programs, wildlife watching, and community visits. Wildlife sightings may include sea mammals, birds, polar bears, muskox, and perhaps even arctic wolves.
Adventure Canada – Newfoundland Circumnavigation
The 12-day expedition commences in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with an evening departure on the Ocean Endeavor, which is geared with 20 Zodiacs and advanced navigation technologies. As the ship cruises northeast, guests have the opportunity to witness icebergs, whales, seabirds, charming villages, and rugged shores. At L’Anse aux Meadows, travelers explore a reconstructed Viking habitation, gaining insight into the remnants of the Norse settlement. In Labrador, a visit to the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station reveals the history of the 1500s whalers. On the west coast, hikers venture through Gros Morne National Park, enjoying breathtaking views of Bonne Bay. The cruise navigates various bays, coves, and settlements in southern Newfoundland, concluding the journey with an enlightening visit to Saint-Pierre, an official French territory situated just off Newfoundland’s shores, before returning to St. John’s.
Viking Expeditions – Undiscovered Great Lakes: Thunder Bay to Milwaukee Expedition Cruise
The eight-day expedition spans the width of Lake Superior, starting in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Here, guests can engage with history at Fort William, which recreates a 19th-century fur trading post, while also hiking granite cliffs and discovering stunning Kakabeka Falls. In Duluth, Minnesota, options include a scenic railroad journey along Lake Superior’s North Shore or paddling down the St. Louis River. Guests explore the Apostle Islands of Wisconsin, offering kayaking opportunities through coniferous forests, dune bogs, lagoons, and sea caves. In Houghton, Michigan, the area’s rich 7,000-year copper mining history comes to life with a descent 370 feet into the Quincy Mine. Guests can opt for hiking to Hungarian Falls or kayaking among the abundant local birdlife. The expedition continues as the ship navigates through the Soo Locks in the St. Mary’s River, concluding with a memorable day on Mackinac Island before arriving in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
