Don't book that luxury cruise just yet — expedition cruises are a better deal and they're filled with bucket-list opportunities

Cassandra BrooklynSep 17, 2023, 18:31 IST

Expedition cruises have allowed me to enjoy so many amazing views and experiences.Cassandra Brooklyn

As a frequent traveler, I prefer expedition cruises over luxury ones for many reasons.
Expedition cruises are smaller than traditional cruise ships and have stellar excursions.

My first cruise-ship experience was on one of those enormous luxury "big box" ships with thousands of people and it was complete with bad buffet food and very limited excursions.

It wasn't my style, and I thought that cruising just might not be for me. Then, I discovered expedition cruises in 2019.

I took my first expedition cruise with Adventure Canada, a Canadian-based adventure travel company. It was a 14-day trip that made several stops in Greenland before sailing to Arctic Canada, and the experience completely changed how I think about cruises.

After getting hooked on expedition cruises, I don't think I can ever go back to classic luxury ones. Here's why.

I prefer the more intimate experience expedition cruises offer.

The author holding a chunk of iceberg during a zodiac boat ride in the Arctic.Cassandra Brooklyn

The excursions are more exciting than what you typically find on luxury ships.

A zodiac boat after dropping off passengers from a Summer Solstice sunset tour in Scotland.Cassandra Brooklyn

The programming is more interesting to me, too.

A few of the dozens of puffins I saw during an ornithologist-led hike in Scotland.Cassandra Brooklyn

I like the opportunities to get up close and personal with nature on expedition cruises.

After snorkeling with sea lions and turtles, we were greeted by crabs above the water.Cassandra Brooklyn

Expedition cruises have more active adventures, too.

I spotted enormous antlers during a remote hike through the Canadian Arctic wilderness.Cassandra Brooklyn

Plus, I've found some expedition sailings cost about the same as really fancy cruises.

Hiking across lava in the Galapagos felt like being on the moon.Cassandra Brooklyn

I flew on Korean Air's giant Boeing 747 in economy from Seoul to New York. The big plane made the 13-hour trek much easier than expected.

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Don't book that luxury cruise just yet &mdash; expedition cruises are a better deal and they're filled with bucket-list opportunities