Expedition Cruising

Expeditions to Antarctica and Europe
Atlas Ocean Voyages, a leader in yacht expedition cruising, features six Antarctica 2026/2027 expedition itinerary options ranging from nine to eighteen nights for both variety and flexibility. Each offers a range of Always Included amenities onboard, such as fine wines, spirits, craft beers, and specialty coffees, gratuities for onboard staff and shore landings, along with sightseeing safaris by Zodiac. Expeditions to Antarctica feature a pre-expedition hotel night in either Buenos Aires or Punta Arenas, charter flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia or from Punta Arenas to King George Island, as well as an Atlas Immersive Experience in either Ushuaia or Punta Arenas before your cruise. The brand’s highly anticipated 2027 Europe season features 24 brand-new Epicurean and Cultural Expeditions across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, allowing guests to explore seven new ports by expedition yacht, spanning Germany, England, Greece, and the Netherlands. Additionally, the curated collection showcases over 25 overnight stays and more than 90 late departures – all designed to immerse travellers in the heart of marquee destinations and boutique ports. Culinary connoisseurs will delight in Atlas’s Epicurean Expeditions, pairing fine wines and cuisine with immersive exploration. Each voyage features renowned guest chefs, vintners, and gastronomic experts, leading both onboard tastings and curated shore experiences.

Swan Hellenic welcomes SH Minerva back
The cutting-edge expedition cruise ship SH Minerva, built in 2021 and launching the rebirth of the Swan Hellenic brand, returns to the fleet with a stunning 2025-2026 Antarctic season, followed by a first-ever Asia-Pacific season starting in March 2026, and extends the pioneering company’s discovery choices worldwide. The new in-depth explorations of the Asia-Pacific region include the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan, offering unforgettable experiences that range from primitive art, ancient rituals, and anthropology to historical WWII sites, wildlife, snorkelling, and watersports adventures. SH Minerva, the 5-star Polar Code 5 expedition cruise ship with an ice-strengthened hull, accommodates 152 guests in 76 spacious staterooms and suites, the majority with large balconies. Dining is a highlight, and guests can indulge in one of three dining venues – the main Swan Restaurant, the laid-back Club Lounge and the Pool Bar & Grill or try the 24-hour room service. The crew includes a team of 12 seasoned expedition guides, expert speakers and lecturers, for a total complement of 120 and 140, respectively, offering outstanding staff -to-guest ratios to deliver the highest standards of attentive personal service. Swan Hellenic’s all-inclusive fare takes care of pre-cruise hotel accommodations, all meals, select wine and beer, non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, complimentary Wi-Fi, crew gratuities, and a shore excursion or expedition activity at each port. Guests sailing on polar region expeditions also receive a complimentary branded parka as a keepsake.

Seabourn’s first-ever “Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition” voyage
Departing on August 17, 2027, this 94-day expedition will span 82° North to 66° South, covering more than 20,500 nautical miles aboard Seabourn Venture, and will feature remote destinations, rare wildlife and immersive expeditions from the High Arctic to Antarctica. This ultimate bucket-list voyage begins with an overnight stay in Reykjavik, Iceland, followed by a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, where guests will embark the ship. Over the course of the sailing, Seabourn Venture will offer 60 days of expedition experiences and visits to destinations across 14 countries and territories, including five days in Antarctica, three in South Georgia, and three in the Falkland Islands, as well as six days in the famed Northwest Passage and a new three-day experience to the remote and rarely-visited Ellesmere Island in the Arctic Archipelago. Additional highlights include 33 sea days; and crossings of the equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn. Between the poles, guests will also explore sun-drenched tropical islands and vibrant coastal regions across the Caribbean and South America, experiencing the full spectrum of the planet’s geography, from icy wilderness to equatorial warmth. The sailing concludes in Ushuaia, Argentina, with a post-cruise charter flight to Buenos Aires. The epic voyage offers incredible expedition experiences wrapped in Seabourn’s signature luxury style, enriched by conversations on the science, history, and ecology of each destination. Seabourn Venture’s 30,000 square feet of open deck space provides an ideal vantage point for witnessing the Northern Lights, a breathtaking possibility on this voyage.