As the cruise industry matures and cruisers look for new experiences, expedition cruising is emerging as one of the hottest niches. Many new builds are coming to market, purpose-built ships designed for a particular region, the Galapagos or Antarctica or Greenland, for example. And guests want a more luxurious feel to their adventure cruising.

“The most significant change we’ve seen in expedition-style cruising over the past decade is a trend toward nicer hardware. Gone are the days when most cabins had fixed twin beds and a dark, cramped lounge. As new builds and conversions enter the market, they overwhelmingly have larger cabins, a higher percentage of balcony suites, multiple dining venues, and spacious public areas that connect travelers with the environment,” said Shelley Fry, marketing and media manager, at Seattle-based Expedition Trips.

“The trend toward upscale accommodations means that travelers don’t have to sacrifice comfort to explore very remote regions by small ship, and that opens up expedition-style cruising to an entirely new market segment. This is exciting news for travel agents, not only because it’s a lucrative market, but also because they likely have clients who don’t consider themselves as ‘cruisers,’ but who would enjoy this style of travel.”

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