Expeditions

5 OF THE BEST SUMMER EXPEDITIONS

Clockwise from bottom left (this page): Swan Hellenic expedition team; suite on Minerva; Zodiac trip; Scenic Eclipse

Expedition cruises often conjure up images of Antarctica in the depths of our winter season, but there are plenty of adventures to enjoy come summer, writes Sara ace eld

1ICELAND AND EASTERN GREENLAND SWAN HELLENIC

This venerable British brand relaunched in July 2020 as an expedition cruise line with plans for three new purpose-built ships. The first, Minerva, debuted last December and is followed by Vega in July on an Arctic summer season of voyages, marked by a sale with up to 70% off brochure fares for bookings before June 20. A 13-day round-trip voyage from Iceland’s capital Reykjavik goes to the country’s rarely visited Westfjords region, before sailing to Greenland’s remote east coast. Prices start at £4,559 per person (reduced from £10,669) for an August 18 departure and include pre-cruise overnight hotel stay, all meals on board, beverages and selected alcoholic drinks, gratuities and a shore excursion or expedition activity in each port. Flights extra (swanhellenic.com).

2ARCTIC IN DEPTH SCENIC

With dual onboard helicopters and a nine-person submarine, Scenic’s expeditionary ship Scenic Eclipse promises the very best in ultra-luxury exploration. Its 200 guests enjoy suites with butler service, 10 dining experiences and a spa. This sailing through the Svalbard archipelago starts with an overnight stay in Oslo before passengers join Scenic Eclipse in Longyearbyen for a 10-night voyage showcasing the Arctic’s icy beauty, as well as having the chance to spot polar bears and marine life including walruses, seals and whales. The 12-night package, which includes overnight stays in Oslo pre and post-voyage, departs on July 12, 2022, and July 1, 2023. Prices start from £8,922 per person, including flights, gratuities, drinks and selected shore excursions (scenic.co.uk).

3QUITO & GALAPAGOS CELEBRITY CRUISES

The Galapagos Islands are a bucket-list thrill thanks to wildlife that famously has no fear of humans. Visitors can swim with sea lions and penguins, walk among prehistoric-looking iguanas and watch as tiny birds hop around their feet. The trip starts with a two-night stay in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, and a tour through the Old Town’s cobbled streets, before flying to the Galapagos island of Baltra to join Celebrity Xpedition, which holds just 48 passengers. The 10-night trip, which includes overnight stays in Quito pre and post-voyage and a seven-night round-trip Southern Loop sailing from Baltra, departs on June 15, 2023. It costs from £5,528 per person, including Wi-Fi, drinks and gratuities. Flights extra (celebritycruises.com).

4ALASKA UNCRUISE ADVENTURES

American company UnCruise Adventures specialises in small ship exploration and this sailing on 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy promises a week of kayaking, hiking and biking trips, along with skiff tours to spot bears and moose or spy orcas and humpback whales. Guests explore lesser-known areas of Glacier Bay National Park and Chichagof Island, which reputedly has the highest number of bears per square mile on the planet. One-week round-trip voyages from Juneau depart every week next summer, with prices from approximately £5,000. Flights are extra, though drinks, activities and shore visits are included (uncruise.com).

5MEKONG RIVER VIKING

Capture the spirit of Indochina on this sailing with Viking Cruises that combines the colourful floating markets, rustic monasteries and fishing villages of Vietnam and Cambodia. The trip starts with two nights in the Vietnamese city of Hanoi and a three-night stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia – gateway to the ruined ancient city of Angkor. A one-week sailing on 80-passenger Viking Saigon departs Kampong Cham in Cambodia for the bustling Vietnamese metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, where guests disembark to spend the final two nights. The 14-night package departs on August 14, 2023, with prices from £4,895 per person, including flights, drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi (vikingrivercruises.co.uk). Clockwise from top left (this page): Celebrity Xpedition; hiking in Alaska; sea lion in the Galapagos; Angkor Wat; Yen Stream near Hanoi, Vietnam; Dawes Glacier, Alaska