A cruise can be a thoroughly peaceful escape with days spent relaxing on deck, sipping cocktails at happy hour, and watching the waves roll by. Or a cruise can be an active adventure with exploration of natural environments, wildlife encounters, and an itinerary that changes based on weather conditions. With travelers these days seeking new experiences, cultural immersion, and remote untouched destinations, adventure cruises and expeditions are trending. That's not to say that these cruisers are totally roughing it. Many return to butler service, five-course dinners, hot tubs, and spacious suites after a day of kayaking, hiking, or snorkeling.
Adventure cruises can satisfy a traveler's curiosity, commitment to ecotourism, or desire for an active vacation. Well-equipped expedition ships might take them to Antarctica, to the Galápagos, or to inaccessible islands in the Arctic Circle. Along the way, they may climb into kayaks or Zodiacs, hike through dense forests, or snorkel among tropical fish or coral reefs. Onboard educational programs enhance the experience on most adventure cruises.
The options are many, with expedition itineraries and adventure-based activities even showing up in the brochures of traditional luxury cruise companies. Here are 13 adventure cruises for both newbies and experienced adventurers.
This 12-day excursion begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and continues with a flight to Ushuaia and a chance to explore Tierra del Fuego or ride on the End of the World train through Patagonia. There, guests board the ship for the 10-day cruise to Antarctica. Along the way, optional activities include a Zodiac cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, a walk among penguins, a kayak experience, and a hike for stunning hilltop views of Antarctica. The two-day crossing of the Drake Passage is a highlight. Onboard, activities include wildlife viewing, naturalist presentations, photography tips, ship tours, games, movies, and a heated pool.
CREDIT: COURTESY OF ADVENTURES BY DISNEY
This 9-day excursion begins in Quito, Ecuador and continues with a flight to Baltra where guests board a panga boat that takes them to their ship, Galápagos Legend. A hike and snorkel on Bartolome Island begin the adventure, and the ship sails to South Plaza Island for a naturalist-guided morning wildlife walk among sea lions, iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. On Cristóbal Island, guests can hike, take a glass-bottom kayak cruise, and snorkel. Visit the oldest of the Galápagos Islands, Española, where green sea turtles, sea lions, and mockingbirds live. Onboard, guests enjoy stargazing on the equator, Disney movies, and al fresco dining.
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s, sightseeing flights, an education program, wildlife viewing, and community visits fill the days. Wildlife includes sea mammals, birds, polar bears, muskox, and possibly arctic wolves.
Adventure Canada - Newfoundland Circumnavigation
The 12-day trip begins in St. John's, capital of Newfoundland, with an evening departure of the Ocean Endeavor, equipped with 20 Zodiacs and advanced navigation equipment. Cruising northeast, the ship passes icebergs, whales, seabirds, picturesque villages, and rocky shores. At L'Anse aux Meadows, guests visit a reconstructed Viking habitation and learn about the remains of the Norse settlement. In Labrador, at the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station, they learn about the whalers of the 1500s. On the west coast, they hike through Gros Morne National Park for views of Bonne Bay. Cruise past the bays, coves, and communities of southern Newfoundland, and get close to wildlife in a Zodiac. Guests are welcomed by local leaders of the First Nations Miawpukek to learn about their community, and then stop in Saint-Pierre, an official territory of France just off the shores of Newfoundland, before returning to St. John's.
SOURCE : Travelandleisure
