Not every traveler is made for an expedition cruise. However, those who are looking for a connection with nature and aren’t afraid of a little discomfort could find themselves at the most extreme locations in the globe.
But what if you landed in the Arctic Circle on a whim?
That was the case for Katie McCay who said that after feeling overwhelmed at work, any trip sounded like a good idea. Thankfully, long-time friend Victoria Dixon was there with the idea to cross eight time zones from Melbourne, Australia, to embark on Aurora Expeditions’s Sylvia Earle for an Arctic exploration.
Expedition cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments in the cruise industry. It’s one of the few vacations where passengers can experience pristine wilderness face-to-face. According to an Aurora Expeditions spokesperson, the line estimates that by December 2025, “we will have tripled our capacity since 2019 with our three purpose-built ships.
We know that consumers are increasingly conscious about spending money with companies they know are operating ethically and sustainably, and this is also true for those they choose to travel with,” a spokesperson for the line told USA TODAY.
For many of the 58 passengers, boarding the Sylvia Earle was purposeful and intentional.
How are expedition itineraries created?
Aurora Expeditions product teams work two to three years in advance to design their programs, “with considerations including the popularity of destinations/voyages, market trends, scheduling logistics, port availability and more,” the spokesperson said.
Onboard Expedition Manager (and locker room DJ) Samantha Deer added that product teams will also rely on local guides for suggestions and insights into a new area.
While many of the passengers were content with the breathtaking views – which some described as “otherwordly” – quite a few had to adjust their expectations.
Throughout our Arctic expedition, the group was able to watch Arctic foxes, reindeer, seals, walruses, puffins, and even a pair of humpback whales, but not the emblematic polar bear. A testament that nothing is guaranteed in the outdoors.
What can passengers expect from an expedition cruise?
“Goood morning, passengers!” All passengers were treated to Whelan’s cheery wake-up calls every day of the voyage with a quick rundown of what to expect that day.
Travelers need to be ready to adjust and follow a schedule that’s subject to continuous changes.
“I’m looking at the ice charts right now, and our second excursion in Svalbard is at a place called Samarinbreen, which is (an expedition on a) Zodiac cruise in front of a glacier, but right now, it looks like there’s still fast ice at that end of the fjord,” Whelan explained. “We may either try and make a landing on fast ice, or we may not get in close, in which case I have to come up with an alternative, check around the area and see what’s another really fantastic place to go to and I’ll make that call. Ultimately, we may be going into a place in the wind direction, which may not be suitable for us to make the landing. So then we’ll change that and find a place with a different exposure.”
