Expedition cruising is redefining the way we travel by sea. Unlike traditional cruises that focus on leisure, entertainment and tourist ports, expedition cruises are designed for discovery and immersion, taking passengers to the most remote and pristine corners of the planet.
From the polar ice fields of Antarctica to the stunning landscapes of The Kimberley, this style of cruising blends comfort with adventure, attracting modern travellers who seek more than just a holiday.
YOU Travel & Cruise are the leaders when it comes to booking an expedition cruise. Their customers and expert consultants share how YOU Travel made their ultimate expedition a reality.
Antarctic Cruise
Mike & Marg Grunsell
In 2023 Mike and Marg Grunsell travelled to Antarctica with Viking. Mike says they booked with YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa because “they have the expertise and ability to provide travel best suited to customers’ needs and pricing”.
Mike was happy to have a room in the ship’s central section – the most stable areas in rough weather.
He says: “Take advantage of everything that is on offer and push your personal boundaries. You will not regret it. I’d love to visit the Subantarctic Islands next on a ‘small’ expedition ship to enable access to the remoteness and various wildlife and flora on the islands.”
The Kimberley
Jeryl Bromley
Jeryl Bromley from YOU Travel & Cruise Waiheke recently cruised the Kimberley in Western Australia with Heritage Expeditions. The highlight for Jeryl was “seeing the Kimberley like no other way possible except by sea – the remoteness, all the various rock paintings in caves, the amazing rock formations and seeing wildlife such as crocodiles in their home territory was extraordinary. As was witnessing Montgomery Reef’s huge tidal range causing waterfalls to flow off the reef, and the Horizontal Falls – declared one of the wonders of nature by Sir David Attenborough.”
Heritage Expeditions is a favourite cruise line for Jeryl: “They do Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand superbly. Ponant is also excellent, especially the professionalism and breadth of experience of their Zodiac team in Antarctica. Oceania Cruises is my pick for ocean cruising as they have a huge range of itineraries to interesting destinations, and they keep introducing new ones. Holland America has a great onboard experience and lovely crew. When choosing the best suite/cabin for expedition cruising Jeryl recommends central cabins on the lower levels, especially when travelling to remote areas as this limits the movement of the ship when in your cabin.
“Carry a supply of seasickness medication just in case it is needed, especially the patches you put behind your ear that last three days.”
She is also a fan of layers when it comes to clothing: “Take a number of layers, tops and bottoms so you can adjust for the changing temperatures and conditions. Pack a waterproof phone case – it is invaluable for getting in and out of the Zodiacs and wet shore landings.”
Jeryl is currently planning a small group escorted tour for an expedition cruise in the Arctic. “So I will have been to both North and South Poles – and to hopefully see polar bears in the wild too!”
Great Lakes, USA
Nicola Preston & Chris Harrop
Directors of YOU Travel & Cruise Mairangi Bay, Nicola and Chris recently took the Viking expedition ship, Octantis, on the Great Lakes in North America, cruising from Milwaukee to Toronto.
Chris says, “Experiencing the amazing Great Lakes and the vast expanse of calm water during the journey while cruising on Lakes Michigan, Huron and Ontario was a stand-out experience.” He also enjoyed calling at Detroit, Chicago and Toronto with a visit to the historical Mackinac Island.”We just loved the onboard specialist wildlife experts,” says Chris. “We learnt a lot.”
The Viking shore excursions were also a highlight on the ship’s own large Zodiac boats. “The Octantis is one of Viking’s expedition ships that cruises the Antarctic and has its own submarine unit, which is quite amazing”.
Nicola and Chris love Viking and have a Viking ocean cruise already booked in Scandinavia. “But we also have a passion for all cruising brands.” says Chris. When expedition cruising, Chris recommends getting a room with a balcony to maximise best viewing, take advantage of all the shore activities that the itinerary offers, and to engage with any wildlife specialists on board. He says the value of booking through YOU Travel & Cruise is “you can enjoy the experiences of a seasoned and well-trained cruise professional who not only can give you the best professional advice when it comes to selecting the best cruise to suit you but can manage your booking during and after your cruise to ensure you get the best experience.”
Antarctica Adventure
Janette and Murray Jensen
In February 2025 Janette and Murray Jensen joined Aurora Expeditions in Ushuaia, Argentina, for their ‘Across the Antarctic Circle’ cruise.
“This cruise exceeded our expectations in every way,” they said. “The expedition team, the ship’s crew, the ship (Greg Mortimer), the activities, landings and lectures, food, cabin and the Antarctic environment were all exceptional”.
Their stand-out moments included the ship’s breaking through sheet ice; sea kayaking surrounded by icebergs, whales, seals and penguins in blue sea with blue skies; ice breaking in the sea kayaks; and doing the ‘polar plunge’.
Janette and Murray have only done two cruises to date: one was in Fiji with Blue Lagoon cruises, and the second in Antarctica with Aurora Expeditions. “Both cruises were booked through our agent, Kay, at YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem and were excellent. We had never cruised before so took the advice of our amazing YOU Travel & Cruise agent and our cabin was near perfect – centre of the ship with a balcony.”
Their suggestion for expedition cruising is, “Just do it! You will only regret the things that you don’t do, so give everything a go. Meet as many people as you can while onboard, you may make new lifelong friends. Listen to as many of the lectures onboard as you can, you will learn heaps. Do a little research before you leave on what interests you – the environment, wildlife, geology and history. Read some biographies from early explorers to the area as it gives more impact and ‘wow’ factor when you see what they had to cope with and how they overcame massive obstacles in very inhospitable environments.”
The Jensens used packing cubes that worked really well. “The cupboards for clothes were not very deep so packing cubes made it easy to keep clothes sorted and in place if it got a bit rough. Don’t overpack, Antarctica was not as cold as we had expected and onboard the ship was cosy and warm.”
Their next planned cruise is to Alaska. ”We like to be able to get off the ship and explore, see different wildlife and landscapes, and do some adventuring. I think Alaska would most likely tick those boxes for us.”
The Jensens say they will always book through YOU Travel. “As a YOU Travel & Cruise client, your agent will get to know you and learn your travel preferences. Our cruise to Antarctica was a perfect match for our travel style. If we had attempted to find and book a cruise ourselves, I doubt we would have got the right cruise for our needs.”
The Kimberley Cruise
Christine Ross
Christine Ross went on the Silversea Silver Explorer with her husband for a 10-night cruise around the Kimberley in July 2023. “This was our first Expedition Cruise – it was spectacular and the best cruise out of the 24 cruises we had been on.” To date, Christine has been on 25 cruises with Princess; they have also cruised on Holland America, Dream Cruises and P&O.
“Up until travelling with Silversea, my husband and I were very happy with our experiences on Princess Cruises and Holland America, but once experiencing the small ship cruise, we were sold on small ship cruising from then on.”
“The stand-out experiences on the expedition cruise were many. We had butler service, the food was magnificent – a mixture of amazing cuisine and also lots of local Australian Cuisine like crocodile, kangaroo just to name a few and the crayfish were fantastic and offered at quite a few lunches and dinners. The service from the crew was second to none and nothing was a problem for them.
“The expedition crew on the Zodiacs were so informative and we had some great times going out to see all of the scenery and wildlife. At no time did we feel unsafe and we were witness to some extraordinary scenery. We flew over the Bungle Bungles in a small plane and then witnessed Montgomery Reef raising out of the water at low tide and the spectacular waterfalls that flow over it. We were lucky enough to have a Silver Suite as our cabin. When choosing a Suite on an Expedition Ship I would suggest at least a Veranda Suite where you get floor to ceiling windows and doors which open to a Balcony.
Christine says the most important tip she can give for maximising your experience on an Expedition Ship is to attend the lectures they have on the region. “We found the lectures very informative and we were able to immerse ourselves into the region when we were on board the Zodiacs as we had a better understanding of the area”.
Christine also took a Christmas/ New Year cruise on Silversea Silver Nova for 16 nights: “We are now definitely sold on this type of intimate cruising. I think it is because we are now in our late 60s to mid 70s and we find it more relaxing and laid-back. I have also recently experienced Viking ocean cruising in New Zealand and I am sold on their product as well. Small ship cruising all the way for us now.”
As a consultant for YOU Travel & Cruise Manly, Christine always recommends booking your cruise though YOU Travel. “We have teams of enthusiastic, trained Travel and Cruise Specialists. We can help you with information on the cruise you are looking at and guide you with our knowledge of the cruise line and ship and suggest the best location on the ship for your cabin. We take the anxiety of looking after your own booking away from you and take care of all the details and your documentation. Not only do we do this but you have our 24/7 assistance from the time you set foot out your door from home until you arrive back there.”
South Pacific & NZ
Janelle Buchanan
In February, Janelle had the pleasure of experiencing the 15-day ‘Hidden Treasures of New Zealand and Vanuatu’ expedition with Ponant. “The journey was truly unforgettable not only for the luxurious ship, exceptional service, and five-star dining but for the opportunity to explore remote islands rarely visited by tourists.” A stand-out moment for Janelle was witnessing a sacred Rom dance on Ambrym Island in Vanuatu. “This deeply traditional ceremony was both powerful and moving.”
Viking is also a firm favourite across all categories (expedition, ocean, and river) for Janelle. “Their ships are beautifully designed in timeless Scandinavian style, and the onboard experience is consistently outstanding.”
As a consultant of YOU Travel & Cruise Ferrymead, Janelle says booking through YOU Travel ensures a seamless, personalised experience from start to finish. “With so many cruise lines and itineraries available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Our team offers expert guidance to help match you with the perfect cruise for your preferences and travel style. We also manage all aspects of your journey, giving you peace of mind and more time to simply enjoy your cruise.”
Contact a YOU Travel & Cruise specialist today on 0800 968 872 or visit youtravel.co.nz
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