The Ultimate Guide to Luxury + Expedition Cruises

Explora Journeys reimagines luxury cruising as a floating European resort—slow-paced, design-forward, and deeply relaxed. Built for travelers who typically avoid cruise ships, Explora pairs oversized oceanfront suites, flexible dining, and wellness-focused living with a philosophy that prioritizes time, space, and an effortless “Ocean State of Mind.”

Scenic Eclipse redefines expedition cruising as ultra-luxury exploration, blending superyacht design, helicopters, a submarine, and truly all-inclusive service. With under 230 guests, butler service in every suite, and access to places most ships can’t reach, Scenic delivers once-in-a-lifetime adventures without sacrificing comfort—or ambition.

Once the gold standard of intellectual travel, Swan Hellenic has been reinvented with sleek, design-forward ships and a renewed focus on culture, history, and science across the world’s most remote regions.

HX Expeditions is the expedition-focused evolution of Hurtigruten, built for travelers who value science, sustainability, and real exploration over traditional cruise fluff. With hybrid-powered ships, deep polar expertise, and a relaxed, purpose-driven onboard culture, HX delivers serious adventure without sacrificing comfort.

Discover why Seabourn is considered one of the world’s top ultra-luxury cruise lines, offering intimate ships, all-inclusive elegance, and expedition cruising.

Antarctica is one of the most epic destinations on Earth—but picking the right cruise line to get you there? That can feel like navigating through sea ice blindfolded. Two of the top contenders in the polar cruise space are Seabourn and Lindblad Expeditions (in partnership with National Geographic). Both deliver an unforgettable journey, but their style, vibe, and approach couldn’t be more different.

Antarctica cruises aren’t cheap—and that’s putting it mildly. With price tags often ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per person, it’s fair to wonder: what exactly are you paying for? Is it just the bragging rights of stepping onto the 7th continent? Or is there real value behind that premium fare?

Since its debut in 1994, Silversea Cruises has earned a reputation as one of the most refined and indulgent luxury cruise lines in the world. Known for pioneering all-inclusive cruising with butler service, complimentary in-suite minibars, and premium drinks, Silversea continues to evolve while staying true to its promise of exceptional comfort, service, and global exploration.

Antarctica—a continent of awe-inspiring icy landscapes, abundant wildlife, and untouched natural beauty—is one of the world’s last great frontiers. For travelers seeking an experience that blends adventure with indulgence, luxury cruise expeditions offer the perfect gateway to this remote wonderland.

We’re now more than a week into this Antarctic expedition—the one we dreamed up, opened to the world, and somehow turned into a full-blown bucket list trip with 20 legends from our travel fam.

Nine months after opening up registration for our very first group trip, and five days into the actual adventure, it finally happened: we stepped foot on our seventh continent.  Cue the celebratory penguin dance.

Seven months ago, we pulled a pretty wild move: we invited the entire world to join us on an expedition to our 30th country and our seventh continent—Antarctica.