From the Hebrides to Antarctica, Greenland to Indonesia, expedition cruising is becoming increasingly popular with travellers of all ages – but is it a sustainable way to travel?
It was explorer and tour operator, Lars-Eric Lindblad, who pioneered the concept of expedition cruising in the late 1960s. He believed that by showing people wild environments first-hand they would become a force for good in the preservation of the planet. The Swedish-American entrepreneur went on to build the first modern expedition passenger ship, the Lindblad Explorer, in 1969, which carried 104 travellers to Antarctica on the first voyage of its kind, and paved the way for sea travel to the hard-to-reach regions of the world.
Today, expedition cruises continue to take place on small passenger ships, typically carrying between 100 to 300 passengers. Led by an Expedition Leader and a team of scientists and naturalists, itineraries are built around immersive and interactive experiences in remote places such as Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland and the Kimberley in Australia. Exploratory excursions are typically on land and via inflatable power boat (Zodiac) tours. Other common activities include hiking and kayaking programmes.
On the ship, the team of experts – from marine biologists and geologists to historians and ornithologists – deliver presentations on the environments, cultures and wildlife they might come across during their trip. Unlike conventional cruises, the expedition experience has a huge focus on learning, rather than entertainment.
A small inflatable power boat (Zodiac) tour is just one way to get close to nature on an expedition cruise (Shutterstock)
Done right, expedition cruising is a wonderful, educational experience. With a spotlight on nature, and with the same expedition team guiding tours out in the field, guests are invited to immerse themselves in their surroundings. Excursions are conducted in small groups and feel bespoke, intimate and enriching. Plus, the learning element of the cruise can be a highly powerful tool in bringing awareness to both environmental and social issues around the world. Passengers often leave as ambassadors for the region they have come to know and love.
Understandably, such adventurous itineraries are attracting more and more travellers. Just 10 years ago, an estimated 40,000 people visited the Antarctic Peninsula annually. During the 2022-23 season, that number had more than doubled with over 100,000 people heading to the southernmost continent.
Marine pollution, black carbon deposits, coral reef destruction and the erosion of coastal regions are a few examples of the effects of cruise ships in fragile environments (Shutterstock)
A cruise ship, no matter the size, has an impact on the regions it visits. In 2011, a report from Cambridge University Press estimated the emissions from the average trip to Antarctica was 5.44 tonnes of CO2 per passenger – 70% of which was attributed to the cruise and 30% towards flying. With demand growing, cruise operators are building bigger ships with more amenities to suit a range of travellers – and with bigger ships comes increased environmental and climate impacts.
In Antarctica, for example, black carbon emitted from cruise ship exhausts is subsequently deposited onto the ice, absorbing heat and increasing snow melt. Marine pollution is another issue; a result of the ship’s grey water and sewage being discharged offshore. The destruction of coral reefs and the erosion of coastal regions through anchoring is also a common problem at regular cruise ship stops.
While the footprint of 100,000 travellers might seem like a relatively low impact compared to mass-tourism destinations, expedition cruise passengers tend to be concentrated around sensitive ecological areas. There is the added risk of inadvertently introducing invasive species to Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands such as South Georgia, carried ashore by passengers and crew.
Expedition cruises visit some of the world's most remote communities, but local people don't always see the benefits of tourism (Shutterstock)
Then there is the effect on communities. When an expedition cruise visits remote regions – such as the fishing villages of Indonesia, Aboriginal settlements in northern Australia and small, inhabited islands in the Pacific – cruise ship operators tend to liaise with port agents to ensure activities run smoothly. Sadly, this often means large sums of money are paid to authorities and tour operators rather than to communities – meaning those who host activities, entertain passengers and do the hard work to make the visit special, typically receive little income.
As Lars-Eric once hoped, expedition cruising can be a force for good – but only when it's done consciously and with the host environments and people in mind. Ultimately, the operator is responsible for engaging with the local communities to ensure they are the main beneficiaries from tourism, while building ships that run on cleaner energy is vital for the future. For now, however, there are small changes we can make as travellers to ensure we go with the most ethical expedition cruise operators. Here's what to look out for before booking an expedition cruise...
Some expedition vessels carry just 20 passengers while others carry over 350. The smaller the ship, the lighter the footprint, and your Zodiac experiences will be much more intimate. Opt for ships with 150 passengers or less such as the Sylvia Earle by Aurora Expeditions, which takes just 132 passengers. Even better, book with a local expedition operator such as Hebridean Adventures, rather than a big cruise company.
A more intimate and personal experience can be found on smaller vessels (Shutterstock)
Companies that include local producers in their supply chain are supporting local communities and reducing emissions (Shutterstock)
Consider operators that provide a transparent responsible travel policy online; addressing both environmental awareness and social impact. Peregrine Adventures, for example, has banned all single-use plastics on board and sources 90% of food from local producers, ensuring the hosts benefit from the ship’s visit. Bear in mind that if a company doesn’t have a sustainability policy or makes generalised statements about being sustainable without any specific examples, the chances are there is very little being done to protect environment and local people.
A sustainable on-board ethos is telling of a responsible company. For example, if the food served in the restaurant is locally sourced, you know that local people are providing produce to the ship, and in turn being paid for their work. Lindblad Expeditions buys in local ingredients where possible and has a strict policy of not serving threatened seafood species. Many expedition companies have banned single-use plastics – a basic example of sustainability on-board – but the next step is swapping buffets (and food waste) for seasonal, locally produced à la carte dining.
A sustainable on-board ethos speaks volumes about a responsible operator
Hurtigruten Expeditions are investing in newer, more energy-efficient vessels and renewable energy technology (Shutterstock)
Look out for the companies making way for a more sustainable operation. Hurtigruten Expeditions, for example, has launched hybrid-powered expedition vessels. For now, the technology doesn’t allow voyages to run completely on renewable energy but newer ships are more energy efficient at the very least. Importantly, there is movement in the right direction.
Today, expedition ships can range from basic to luxury. However, the more luxurious the ship, the more difficult it is to maintain a sustainability policy. Consider the importance of luxury when visiting remote regions, especially when most of your time will be spent off the ship. Intrepid Expeditions provides comfortable cabins and an impressively responsible operation that aligns with Intrepid's published climate commitment.
The best adventures don't need a luxury tag - consider small but comfortable vessels (Shutterstock)
Tours booked through community-run operators rather than big-name agents are more immersive, enriching and beneficial to local people (Shutterstock)
Choose to sail with operators who hire a local crew and invest in community-run activities – and you'll also enjoy a more immersive, enriching and beneficial experience. In addition, ask whether the operator shares supplies with villagers or makes practical donations – such as school equipment – to the host communities. At Ecoventura, an impressive 65% of the ship's crew hail from the Galapagos Islands, while the company works with Pack For A Purpose to deliver everything from stationary and calculators to art equipment to young children with disabilities and special needs in San Cristobal.
Get the very best of Wanderlust by signing up to our newsletters, full of travel inspiration, fun quizzes, exciting competitions and exclusive offers.