Small Ships Cruises : Galapagos, Great Lakes, Africa

Penguins, polar bears and ice fields aren’t the only things guests can see from the bow of an expedition ship. Destinations like the Australian region of Kimberly, regions of West Africa and the Amazon are the new attractions. off the beaten path.

Here’s a rundown of where some of the expedition ships are sailing outside of the poles:

Lindblad Expedition Cruises

The Kimberleys and New Zealand is being introduced by Lindblad Expedition Cruises. Calling it Australia’s “best kept secret,” the line is offering 12-day Kimberly sailings in July with stops including the King George River and Falls and several coral reefs, including Ashmore Reef Marine Park and the Montgomery Reef. Lindblad will also visit northwest Australia and Indonesia, concluding in Bali. The voyage includes the Rowley Shoals with atoll-like reefs, the Montgomery Reef, Hunter River, King George River, and Falls before arriving in Indonesia for calls at Sawu Island and Komodo National Park. This year, a 16-day itinerary for New Zealand is also a new itinerary, departing from Auckland and ending in Milford with stops at the Bay of Islands and Great Barrier Island.

Hurtigruten

 Hurtigruten added three new year-round itineraries in the Galapagos. All will be offered on the 90-passenger Santa Cruz II. The itinerary additions include four to eight-night mixed cruises: a six-night Eastern Galapagos Islands itinerary, a four-night Northern Galapagos Islands cruise in the western Galapagos, and an eight-night cruise along the northern and western islands.

Africa and the Indian Ocean itineraries are in the works for Hurtigruten launching sailings to West Africa and the Cape Verde Islands. The itineraries will include coastal West Africa, Cape Verde, the Bissagos Islands and the Canary Islands.

Seabourn

The Amazon cruises will be aboard Seabourn Venture, Seabourn‘s first expedition ship. Sailings depart from ports in South American coastal cities such as Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro or Bridgetown, Barbados, but all cruises take guests into the heart of Brazil and Peru. The sailing durations range from 10 to 23 days and will conclude on April 7 when the ship embarks on a 24-day repositioning voyage to Portugal. Departure dates range from February 2023 through March 2025 aboard your choice of 7 different ships.

Silver Sea Cruises

Silver Seas Cruises has an expedition ship offering Africa and the Indian Ocean itineraries. The sailings range from 11 to 64 days, beginning at the southern tip of Cape Town and moving along the eastern coast. New voyages depart from Muscat, Oman, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2023 and Walvis Bay, Namibia, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Maputo, Mozambique and Dakar, Senegal, in 2024. A 64-night Grand Africa and Arabia Cruise is even offered in 2024 and 2025.

Viking Cruise Line

Viking Cruise Line launched two expedition ships within the past year, sailing the Great Lakes region. Viking Cruises currently has 9 sailings available to book to Great Lakes Cruises from $6,495 per person. Departure dates range from March 2023 through September 2024 aboard your choice of 2 different ships. Another two on-the-way ships will be joining the fleet soon. Viking Cruises currently has 59 sailings available to book to Canada/New England from $6,495 per person. Departure dates range from March 2023 through October 2025 aboard your choice of 8 different ships. Viking sails six itineraries between Toronto and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Duluth, Minnesota, Milwaukee, and New York. On the Sailing from Toronto to Duluth, the ship calls at Niagara Falls and major cities like Cleveland and Detroit, as well as Mackinac Island and Gregorian Bay,

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