Expedition Cruise Lines List
The main expedition cruise lines, what each is known for and where they sail.
Get Expedition Cruise QuotesThis expedition cruise lines list covers the companies most travelers in North America will meet when they start researching explorer cruises. It describes what each line is known for and where it sails, in plain terms, without star ratings. Fleets and itineraries change every season, so treat it as a starting map and let our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise confirm the current details for your dates.
| Expedition line | What it is known for | Typical regions |
|---|---|---|
| Lindblad Expeditions (with National Geographic) | A pioneer of modern expedition travel; naturalist-led voyages, photography and science programs; ice-class ships National Geographic Endurance and Resolution | Antarctica, Arctic, Alaska, Galápagos, Baja and beyond |
| HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) | Norwegian expedition heritage; hybrid-powered ships Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen; science center on board | Antarctica, Arctic Norway, Greenland, Alaska, Galápagos |
| Ponant | French small luxury expedition ships, including the polar-class Le Commandant Charcot | Polar regions, Kimberley, South Pacific, Europe |
| Quark Expeditions | A polar specialist; the ship Ultramarine carries helicopters for flightseeing and remote landings | Antarctica and the Arctic |
| Silversea (expeditions) | All-inclusive luxury expedition voyages, including Silver Endeavour in the polar regions and Silver Origin in the Galápagos | Polar regions, Galápagos, remote coastlines |
| Viking (Viking Expeditions) | Two sister ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, launched in 2022, each with an enclosed launch marina | Antarctica, the Arctic, the North American Great Lakes |
| Seabourn (expeditions) | Ultra-luxury expedition ships Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit with an expedition team and submarines | Polar regions, Kimberley, South Pacific, Amazon |
| Aurora Expeditions | Australian adventure-focused line with small ships such as Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle | Antarctica, Arctic, Kimberley and more |
| Coral Expeditions | Australian small-ship line best known for the Kimberley coast | Kimberley, Australia, Indonesia, South Pacific |
| UnCruise Adventures and Alaskan Dream Cruises | Small American-run ships focused on hands-on adventure and local culture | Alaska’s Inside Passage (UnCruise also sails other regions) |
Other names you may see include Atlas Ocean Voyages, Scenic (with its discovery yacht Scenic Eclipse), Swan Hellenic, Oceanwide Expeditions and Antarctica21. Each has its own style; the questions below work for all of them.
How to Read an Expedition Line’s Brochure
- Guest count and landing rotation. On a larger ship, groups take turns going ashore. Ask how many hours ashore a typical day allows.
- The team. Look for the number of naturalists and guides and their specialties, not just the word “expert.”
- Ice class. For polar voyages, a higher ice class gives the captain more options in ice. It does not guarantee a route.
- What is included. Parkas, boots, kayaking, flights to the gateway, hotel nights and gratuities vary widely between lines.
- Activities with limited places. Kayaking, camping or submarine dives are often by sign-up or extra charge.
Expedition lines tend to publish detailed day-by-day plans, then remind you that nature decides. That is honest, and it is worth taking seriously: a storm, fog or heavy ice can close a landing site. The best lines are the ones whose teams turn a change of plan into something memorable.
Compare Expedition Lines for Your Dates
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will line up the expedition ships sailing your region and explain the differences that matter.
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