For decades the term “expedition cruise” conjured images of reinforced hulls crunching through Antarctic sea ice and scientists lecturing on polar ecology. Today’s small‑ship vessels still visit the poles, but the category has grown dramatically; purpose‑built expedition ships now ply tropical archipelagos, inland seas and remote coastlines and carry historians, cultural experts and oceanographers as often as glaciologists. The breadth of itineraries on sale for 2025‑26 shows how far expedition cruising has moved beyond its polar origins. Below is a roundup of key operators and the non‑polar destinations they are opening up.
Ponant – The French line’s fleet of small luxury ships continues to push boundaries. Ponant now includes a complimentary excursion in every port, ensuring guests can explore ashore with expert guides. In 2025 Le Commandant Charcot will break ice in the Arctic, but sister ship Le Soléal will sail far from the poles, visiting Indonesia’s Raja Ampat islands from Darwin in September. These voyages combine warm‑water wildlife with visits to small communities and UNESCO‑listed reefs.
Silversea – Known for polar expertise, Silversea is rapidly expanding its warm‑water portfolio. Its 2025‑26 schedule includes a 71‑day circumnavigation of South America and a 45‑day voyage around Australia, while Silver Wind will hug the west coast of Africa with calls in Takoradi, Abidjan and the Bijagos Islands. The big news is the line’s 140‑day world cruise for 2026. Departing Fort Lauderdale on 6 January 2026, Silver Dawn will visit 70 destinations in 37 countries and includes 26 ports that are new or have not been visited since 2020. Highlights include a 28‑day deep dive into French Polynesia and the South Pacific, a 21‑day semi‑circumnavigation of Australia with rarely visited stops such as Phillip Island, Esperance and Exmouth, and cultural immersions in Tunisia and other North African ports. These itineraries blend remote islands with historic trade routes and optional overland tours to Uzbekistan, Luxor and the Balkans.
Hapag‑Lloyd – The German company offers three luxury expedition ships with itineraries far beyond the poles. Its programme features exotic voyages to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Palau, plus two Amazon River expeditions on Hanseatic Nature and a cruise visiting seven Azores islands. These sailings emphasise cultural encounters and tropical biodiversity and show how expedition ships can operate in equatorial climates as easily as in icy seas.
Seabourn – For 2026‑27 the ultra‑luxury line will deploy both of its expedition vessels to remote corners of the globe. The recently launched Seabourn Venture is scheduled to visit 63 destinations across 12 countries. Her program mixes expedition voyages to Iceland, Greenland, Labrador and the British Isles with Antarctic sailings and a series of non‑expedition cruises across the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Iberian Peninsula that call on 34 destinations in eight countries. Sister ship Seabourn Pursuit will operate 10‑ to 22‑day expeditions that travel from the islands of the South Pacific to the Kimberley in north‑western Australia before continuing to Antarctica and South Georgia. Guests can even combine multiple voyages into an 82‑day Grand Expedition from Broome to Ushuaia departing 2 September 2026. Both ships carry 23‑person expedition teams and are equipped with submersibles, kayaks and world‑class science equipment.
Hurtigruten /HX – Long known for Norwegian coastal voyages, HX is also pioneering West African expedition routes. On its 13‑day small‑ship itineraries the 200‑passenger MS Spitsbergen sails from Dakar to the Cape Verde and Bissagos island chains. Guests explore Gorée Island’s UNESCO‑listed slave‑trade history, spot endemic birdlife and marine mammals on the volcanic Cape Verdes and spend four days in the Bissagos Islands, where cultural traditions and wildlife encounters include crocodiles, dolphins and manatees. These tropical expeditions show how HX is moving beyond its polar heritage.
Viking – Viking’s purpose‑built expedition ships are venturing far beyond Antarctica. The company recently announced that two new Great Lakes itineraries for 2026 are now open for booking. The 10‑day Great Lakes Treasures cruise will sail round‑trip from Milwaukee and introduce new ports such as Chicago and Canada’s Fathom Five National Marine Park and Benjamin Islands, while the 17‑day Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures itinerary between Toronto and Milwaukee visits Niagara Falls, Point Pelee National Park and transits the Welland Canal. These voyages underscore how expedition ships can deliver freshwater adventures closer to home.
Swan Hellenic – The cultural‑expedition specialist is sending its newest ship, SH Diana, up the west coast of South America through Valparaíso, Panama City and Acapulco, ending in New York City. The line has also partnered with wellness expert Deepak Chopra to offer Explore & Restore voyages that combine cultural exploration with holistic wellbeing.
Scenic – Scenic’s discovery yachts will sail to Australia, New Zealand, the Polynesian islands and the Pacific in 2024‑25, demonstrating how luxury expedition ships increasingly operate in tropical regions. On board, helicopters and submarines allow guests to get closer to reefs, rainforests and indigenous cultures.
Lindblad Expeditions – In addition to polar classics, Lindblad is curating voyages focused on food and history. Its new eight‑day Columbia and Snake Rivers Journey pairs Pacific Northwest landscapes with regional cuisine and wine tastings, while other itineraries explore the Amazon, the Galápagos and coastal Vietnam.
Expert View – Top Expedition Lines Expanding Beyond the Poles
Silversea – With its 140‑day world cruise in 2026, Silversea is clearly the industry leader in broadening the definition of an expedition cruise. The itinerary links 70 destinations on six continents, including a 28‑day immersion in the South Pacific and a semi‑circumnavigation of Australia, and weaves in cultural overland tours and bespoke events. Such breadth, combined with the line’s strong expedition heritage, makes Silversea a stand‑out choice for travellers who want to explore the world beyond the poles.
Seabourn – Deploying both Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit to 2026 itineraries that include Antarctica, the Kimberley, the South Pacific and even non‑expedition cruises in the Mediterranean, Seabourn offers an impressive balance of remote adventure and ultra‑luxury comforts. The option to combine voyages into an 82‑day Grand Expedition from Australia to Argentina in 2026 illustrates how the line is giving guests more ways to explore diverse regions in one trip.
Viking – While its expedition ships still visit Antarctica, Viking’s 2026 Great Lakes programme shows a commitment to warm‑weather exploration. The new Great Lakes Treasures and Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures itineraries will navigate the inland seas of North America, visiting national parks, waterfalls and major cities. Viking’s partnership with research institutions also brings oceanographic science to these voyages.
As expedition cruising evolves, travellers no longer have to choose between penguins and penguins. From the Amazon to the Azores and from Polynesia to the Great Lakes, the next generation of expedition ships offers immersive cultural, historical and environmental experiences in every corner of the globe.
