This is a fast-growing market, with many new purpose-built expedition ships setting sail. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest cruise options, news and developments.

Ponant's Le Dumont D'Urville

Fast-track PONANT takes delivery of fourth ship in its Explorer series

Fast-expanding PONANT, the only French-owned cruise line, has taken delivery of Le Dumont-d’Urville, the fourth ship in the line’s Explorer series to arrive in the past 12 months. The ship, which left the port of Søvik in Norway for Bergen on 14 June ready to depart on her maiden cruise, brings the number of ships in

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MS Bard of Hurtigruten

A ship like no other … ​Hurtigruten introduces the world’s first electric explorer, MS Bard

Exploring some of the most pristine waters of the planet will become more eco-friendly than ever with of Hurtigruten’s silent, electric-powered and emission-free catamarans. The world leader in exploration travel has teamed up with the Norwegian startup Brim Explorer to create battery powered catamarans custom built for Polar water exploration. Arriving in spring of 2020,

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Hanseatic nature

HANSEATIC nature finally sets sail in search of adventure

HANSEATIC nature, the first of three identical ships in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new expedition class, is up and running on her inaugural cruise to the Hebrides, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands. She left Hamburg on Sunday and concludes the nine-day cruise in Bergen on 14 May. HANSEATIC nature, top of page, is a small, manoeuvrable

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Ponant Explorer vessel Le Bougainville

Right on time … Ponant takes delivery of Le Bougainville

Ponant’s expansion continues with the delivery of Le Bougainville, its eighth vessel and the third in its Explorers series. The ship, top of page, left Søvik in Norway as scheduled on 8 April bound for Spain where she sets sail on her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on

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HANSEATIC inspiration transportation

Hull and high water … Naked HANSEATIC inspiration starts 4,000-mile voyage to 5-star trasformation

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new expedition ship, HANSEATIC inspiration, has begun a 4,000-mile shipyard transfer in the next major step of its construction. The hull is being moved from the VARD Group’s Romanian site in Tulcea to its Langsten shipyard in Norway, via Istanbul and Gibraltar, for the interior work to be undertaken. Taking to the water

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Celebrity Xpedition makeover adds even more comfort to Galapagos Islands cruising

Celebrity Xpedition has emerged from a seven-day makeover in Panama with upgraded comforts for guests to explore the Galapagos Islands. She returned to service on 23 September with an array of enhancements across the 100-guest ship, such as redecorated staterooms, lounges and restaurants, and faster and more reliable Wi-Fi. Celebrity Xpedition boasts an array of enhancements

PONANT Winter 2019-2020 programme features new ships and exciting new destinations

PONANT’s Winter 2019-2020 programme features 114 departures, ranging from yacht cruises to polar and tropical expeditions, including 23 brand-new itineraries. New destinations include the Yucatán, bathing in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, and visits to Mayan sites now listed as World Heritage by UnescoThe treasures of the Red Sea from Egypt to Jordan

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Crystal Endeavour ‘breaks boundaries and expectations’ in her inaugural 2020-21 season

Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises has unveiled the inaugural season of itineraries for its newest globetrotting vessel, Crystal Endeavor, which it promises will “take travellers beyond their previous travel expectations”. Covering August of 2020 to January 2021, the luxury 20-,000-ton expedition yacht will sail voyages of 12 to 22 days, exploring the cultural and bio-diversity of Japan

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Seabourn makes “‘groundbreaking’ move into the expedition cruise market

It has been a year in the planning but today the secret was out as Seabourn announced a “groundbreaking” move into expedition market with two 23,000-ton ships. The line has signed a letter of intent with shipbuilders T.Mariotti and Damen for two luxury expedition vessels, with the first arriving in June 2021 and the second

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PONANT promises new and unique Antarctic adventures for 2019 – 2020

PONANT’s Antarctic season for 2019-2020 features more than 20 cruises with five different itineraries, one of them brand new. Le Soléal is one of four PONANT ships in Antartica for the 2019-20 season From November 2019 to March 2020 – the summer Southern Hemisphere’s summer – L’Austral, Le Boréal, Le Lyrial and Le Soléal will explore extraordinary landscapes and

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