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Adventure cruising means a lot of different things to a lot of different people; perhaps we’d better start with some basic definitions.
Adventure cruising is basically any cruise that goes to an off-the-beaten track destination, and then offers “soft adventure” activities to passengers once they get there. Adventure cruising has also been referred to as “expedition” cruising, in that it usually takes place on specially designed ships, such as those equipped to get through the Arctic ice, or those designed to navigate the waterways of the Amazon River.
Adventure cruises usually take place on ships heading for destinations such as; Antarctica, South America, Australia and New Zealand, Greenland, the Galapagos, and other places requiring long or difficult itineraries. The reason that these are the destinations most often considered the best locales for adventure cruises is because it is such places that lend themselves to shore experiences of a “soft adventure” nature.
When most people take a cruise on a large ship to Antarctica, they view the splendour of that continent usually from the relative safety of the ship itself, and there is nothing wrong with this. When an adventure cruiser takes a voyage to Antarctica however, they will expect to make an actual landing on that continent via zodiac raft. Adventure cruisers do things whilst in port such as hiking in the jungles of South America, or they might take a helicopter flight that will make a landing on a glacier in Antarctica so that they can disembark and walk around. They might even go ziplining or bungee jumping in New Zealand. While adventure cruising is normally considered “soft adventure,” some of the options offered can truly be anything but “soft.” On the contrary, they can be quite difficult and not for the faint hearted.
Adventure cruisers tend to be older people but they will be in a relatively physically fit condition. They are often very well travelled, and they like to interact with their surroundings rather than simply observe them. They often have lots of great stories to tell, and many of their travel experiences have been off the beaten track, such as a voyage with Semester at Sea or taking part in cultural exchanges and various service projects in the various countries they’ve visited. These type of travellers like the finer things in life, such as travelling on a luxurious vessel, but they also aren’t afraid to get themselves dirty hiking through the jungles of Peru. They also like to have new experiences, and are unafraid to try new things – as long as it’s nothing too crazy or outside of their comfort level - such as kayaking or riding the rapids in an inflatable raft.
Most adventure cruises take place on smaller ships, simply because it would be difficult to fill a large ship with these sorts of travellers. Also, smaller ships are able to get into some of the out-of-the-way ports these itineraries involve.
The cost of these cruises is generally much higher than for a more traditional itinerary to a more common destination, so the folks you see on these voyages are generally well off financially or are at least “comfortable” in that respect.
Everyone should try at least one “expedition” or “soft adventure” cruise in their lifetime, if for no other reason than to round out their travel experiences. While expedition cruising is not your typical cruise ship experience, it will be one that will leave an indelible impression that will colour your experiences for the rest of your lifetime.
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