Expedition Cruises

Experience the extraordinary with a once in a lifetime luxury Expedition cruise. Embrace adventure on-board purpose-built luxury expedition ships to experience the most remote and untouched natural wonders on Planet Earth. SixStarCruises’ Expedition cruise packages are crafted entirely to your needs, planned to perfection to create the trip of a lifetime. From your preferred airline and luxury accommodation choices to transfers and desired sailings, every aspect of your trip is planned to the finest of details. Our luxury Expedition experts will use their personal experience to offer first-hand advice, support and guidance on curating your dream holiday and help you embark on a journey you’ll never forget.

WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH EXPEDITION?

Cruise

Expedition ships are smaller than traditional cruise ships, but still offer guests the traditional comforts of luxury cruises like spacious suites, fine dining and exceptional service. They are designed and built to navigate through smaller estuaries and shallower waters to get closer to wildlife and facilitate deeper exploration of remote destinations.

Hotels

Luxury accommodation and hotel options can be arranged for expedition trips as they usually would for traditional cruises and can be booked through your dedicated cruise concierge to curate your perfect trip.

Excursions

The highlight of an expedition cruise is the opportunity to experience unique natural environments and wildlife up close. Expeditions offer guests plenty of opportunities to truly immerse themselves in the natural surroundings through kayaking, submersibles, hikes, zodiacs, polar plunges, cultural experiences and much more.

Flexibility

Due to the remote nature of expedition cruising, there are high degrees of flexibility within itineraries. On-board experts and the ship crew will make impulse decisions throughout the voyage based on weather conditions and wildlife sightings to ensure guests make the most out of their trip.

Destinations

Galápagos Cruises

Antarctica Cruises

Arctic Cruises

Cruiselines

Atlas Cruises

Seabourn

AE Expeditions

Celebrity Cruises

Silversea

Scenic Ocean Cruises

Experiences

Polar Plunge

Zodiac Tours

Submersible Excursions

When cruising the Arctic or Antarctica, you will have the opportunity to partake in a polar plunge. This is an exhilarating and unique experience that involves jumping into the icy waters of the polar regions. This activity, often a highlight for adventurous travellers, combines the thrill of the extreme cold with the breathtaking beauty of these remote environments, creating lasting memories for those brave enough to take the leap.

Participants often enter the water one at a time, either by jumping in or using a ladder. The initial shock of the cold water can be intense, with temperatures usually hovering around freezing (0°C or 32°F).

Most participants stay in the water for only a few seconds to a minute, as the cold can be overwhelming. The experience of the cold shock response includes rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and a strong sensation of cold.

After the brief immersion, participants quickly exit the water, often helped by the support crew, and are provided with warm towels and blankets.

Zodiac excursions are a key highlight of any expedition cruise, offering an intimate and immersive way to explore the remote and pristine environments.

Zodiacs are used to explore coastlines, icebergs, and wildlife-rich areas. The small size and manoeuvrability of the Zodiacs allow them to get close to local wildlife without disturbing their natural behaviour.

Zodiacs also facilitate landings on remote shores and ice floes, providing opportunities for guided hikes, wildlife observation, and photography. Each Zodiac is typically accompanied by a knowledgeable guide or naturalist who provides insights into the local ecology, geology, and wildlife, enhancing the educational aspect of the excursion.

Some excursions focus on scenic cruising, offering spectacular views of glaciers, ice formations, and dramatic landscapes from the water.

Embarking on a submersible excursion during an expedition cruise is an unforgettable experience that takes you into the mysterious depths of the ocean, offering a unique perspective on the underwater world. Your adventure begins aboard the expedition cruise ship, where the excitement builds as the time for your submersible dive approaches. After a briefing by the expedition team, covering safety protocols, the marine environment, and what you might see, you’re guided to the submersible’s boarding area. The submersible itself is a marvel of engineering, often featuring a transparent, dome-shaped cockpit that provides nearly 360-degree views of the underwater world. Once you’ve reached the desired depth, typically ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand meters, the real exploration begins. The submersible moves slowly and gracefully, allowing you to take in the breath-taking sights. You might encounter schools of fish darting through the water, majestic rays gliding by, or even the eerie glow of bioluminescent creatures in the deeper, darker regions. The submersible’s pilot, often a marine biologist or experienced navigator, provides commentary, sharing insights about the ecosystem and the species you encounter.

Submersibles allow you to dive to depths that are otherwise inaccessible, even to advanced scuba divers. You can explore underwater landscapes, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and marine life at depths of several hundred meters.

The experience offers a close-up view of marine creatures in their natural habitats, often seeing species that are rarely, if ever, encountered by humans.

Submersibles provide a comfortable, pressurised environment, allowing you to stay dry and warm while experiencing the underwater world, which is especially appealing in colder waters.