Top 10: Expedition cruises

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Small ship expedition cruising

Sailing to some of the most remote parts of the world, these small ship expedition cruises allow passengers to get closer to the action, says Jessica Pook

The Austral Islands: Specialising in cruising French Polynesia, Aranui Cruises will sail the Austral islands, an archipelago south of Tahiti, in 2022. The new 11-day cruise onboard Aranui 5 will visit four of the islands, including Raivavae, with its Bora Bora-like beaches, and Rapa, the most southerly inhabited island of French Polynesia. Passengers will also join villagers for traditional dances or watch Humpback Whales from August to October. The cruise costs from £4,271pp and includes accommodation, meals, and excursions. aranui.com Africa and the Ivory Coast: An 11-night wildlife and cultural discovery of Africa and the Ivory Coast with Crystal Cruises introduces guests to the wilderness and histories of Africa’s lesser-known western shores. Departing April 5, 2022, Crystal Endeavor will sail from Tema, Ghana to Dakar, Senegal, stopping at Takoradi in Ghana, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, Monrovia in Liberia, Freetown and Tokeh in Sierra Leone and Banjul in Gambia. Cruise-only prices start from £8,516pp for a Deluxe Suite. crystalcruises.co.uk Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Coral Expeditions has launched a series of new seven-night round-trip sailings onboard Coral Discoverer from Cairns, Australia. The nature-based expeditions will take small groups to explore the outer reefs and lesser-known islands of the Great Barrier Reef under the guidance of an expert team. Passengers will also have the chance to learn about indigenous culture in Cooktown and sip sundowners on uninhabited islands. Prices start from £3,743pp with sailings in 2022 and 2023. coralexpeditions.com

Raja Ampat and West Papua Islands:

Aurora Expeditions is hosting a 14-night itinerary to Raja Ampat and West Papua Islands in Indonesia from September 2022. Priced from £10,110pp, Sylvia Earle will transport passengers between the 1,500 tiny forested islands scattered throughout the archipelago. Passengers can dive and snorkel in rich coral reefs, go in search of over 500 species of bird and enjoy a melting pot of cultures. auroraexpeditions.co.uk Norwegian fjords: New cruise line Havila Voyages has designed its ships to be the most environmentally friendly vessels to operate along the Norwegian coastal route. The ships – one still to arrive this year and three more in 2022 – will be fitted with the world’s largest battery packs, meaning they can sail through fjords for up to four hours, quietly and emission free. During the voyage, the ships pass through four UNESCO Heritage sites, cross the Arctic circle twice and offer the chance to see the

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Northern lights or Midnight Sun. Departing December 2021, the six-day Voyage South from Kirkenes to Bergen costs from £568pp (cruise-only). havilavoyages.com Galapagos: Silversea off ers a seven-day all-inclusive cruise around the Galapagos Islands onboard Silver Origin, starting from £8,190pp, with a 10% early booking bonus. Fares includes all fl ights, a two-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Quito, an evening tour of Quito’s historic city highlights, overseas transfers between airport, hotel and ship; and guided Zodiac, land and sea tours to see the rich and diverse wildlife. The cruise departs from September 3 - 10, 2022. silversea.com Arctic: VIVA Cruises’ fi rst expedition ship, Seaventure, will be running new Arctic cruises from April to October 2022. One of the highlights is ‘Eternal Ice of the Arctic’ – a 24-day voyage from/to Bremerhaven (Germany), priced from £6,500pp and departing on June 16. Seaventure will sail through the Shetland Islands before making its way to Greenland. Passengers will have the chance to see icebergs as well as spot humpback, minke and fi n whales. viva-cruises.com Russia: Hurtigruten Expeditions’ new 17-day Expedition Cruise to the White Sea will sail north along the Norwegian coast, taking passengers to one of the least-visited parts of Russia. The itinerary combines modern-day Russian cities and historic ports with expedition landings to rarely visited villages. The expert team will off er an insight into the history and culture of the destinations. Priced from £5,592pp, MS Spitsbergen will depart Bergen, Norway, on October 6, 2022. hurtigruten.co.uk Amazon River, Peru: For something extra special, clients can charter their own expedition ship which has been custom-built to explore the Peruvian Amazon. Daily excursions conducted by naturalist guides include piranha fi shing, trekking into the dense jungle in search of Amazon monkeys and three-toed sloths and visiting Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Rates for a three-night private charter for up to 32 passengers onboard Aria Amazon start from £84,342. aquaexpeditions.com

Svalbard and Franz Josef Land:

Regent Holidays’ 14-day Longyearbyen & Franz Josef Land cruise onboard M/V Sea Spirit will explore some of the 191 islands that make up the Franz Josef Land Archipelago – 85% of which is glaciated. Highlights include passing icebergs, visiting Victorian expedition settlements and spotting narwhals. Departing July and August 2022, the trip is priced at £11,290pp. regent-holidays.co.uk