About Adventure Cruises
Whether it’s aboard a paddle wheeler or a river boat, a river barge or yacht ship, adventure cruises can provide nonstop fun, education and entertainment during your cruise holiday. Adventure cruises may host a handful, an entire family or a group. Activities run the gamut from birding, nature walks, photography and swimming to snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and canoeing. Wildlife viewing and historical site tours may also be on the menu allowing the cruiser to get up close and personal with wildlife in the natural environment and historic sites, monuments, and memorials.
On the vast majority of adventure cruises, naturalists, historians and other professionals in the appropriate fields will guide the adventures and activities. The atmosphere on just about every adventure cruise is casual and they rarely exceed 150-200 passengers. An added benefit is the personal service, instruction and in most cases, an intimate setting.
Adventure Cruise Destinations
From cultural journeys and wildlife encounters to active adventures, adventure cruises come in all shapes and sizes, and just about any vessel can host these types of cruises. A small local cruise company can host a nature tour along lakes and rivers, while a larger cruise company can host an adventure cruise as far away as Africa. However, some of the most popular destinations for adventure cruises include Alaska, Mexico and the Pacific Northwest, the Amazon, Antarctica, the Caribbean, China, the East Coast, the Galapagos Islands, the Great Lakes, and Russia, to name a few.
Adventure Cruise Lines
A wide variety of cruise lines and tour companies are available that offer adventure and expedition itineraries. Some of more popular adventure cruise lines include Clipper Cruises, Cruise North Expeditions, Wilderness Travel, Quark Expeditions, Glacier Bay Cruises, Galapagos Cruises, Ecotour Expeditions, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, and Gap Adventures.
Adventure Cruise Advice
When shopping for an adventure cruise that suits your taste, style and budget, a great place to start is with a travel agent specializing in adventure cruises or expedition voyages. An adventure cruise travel agent can determine the best cruise for you depending on fitness level, needs and price range. Keep in mind that activity levels for adventure cruises vary, so passengers should be in good to very good health, depending on the voyages anticipated activity level. Additionally, passengers should also be experienced with moderate activity such as hiking, climbing, swimming, kayaking, etc.
Not too sure what to pack? Ports of call on adventure cruises may vary greatly in elevation and climate, so it’s best to pack a variety of clothing options from light and comfortable, to warm and protective.
There are many differences between adventure cruises and mainstream cruises, as you can see, but one of the major differences is the cost. Adventure cruises have limited itineraries and they are typically smaller in size than traditional cruises, so they are much more expensive. The good news is, the price typically includes shore excursions, comfortable accommodations and of course, onboard amenities.