Fancy taking Viking’s 13-day Antarctic Explorer on the line’s newest ship, Octanis? That will be $15,000, please. Even sailings to more “affordable” expedition cruise destinations still come with hefty price tags, such as Hurtigruten’s 13-day Arctic Norway Frontier sailing, which starts from $5,711.
The good news? The world’s top expedition cruise experts say there are ways to slash the cost of expedition cruises.
Book a sailing on a ship with fewer bells and whistles.
Just because a ship has an infinity pool or it was launched at a glitzy ceremony attended by the latest social media influencers doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy a better cruise—but it does mean you’ll probably pay more.
“Always consider older or smaller expedition vessels,” says Sandra Tanner, an expedition cruise expert at About2cruise.co.uk. “While newer ships have more amenities, older expedition vessels provide the same wildlife experiences and have similar expert guides at 30 to 50 percent less cost. The core expedition experience remains largely the same.”
Not convinced? You can book an August sailing of Quark’s 15-day Three Arctic Islands Iceland, Greenland, and Spitsbergen on Ultramarine from $14,983. Opt to go on an identical sailing on the Ocean Explorer, a high-tech vessel with stabilising technology, the latest fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines, and a library (not all Quark ships have these), and your starting rate will be around $17,616.
Buddy up.
“Consider travelling with friends or family,” says Michelle van der Kroft at expedition cruise specialists Geographe Cruise and Travel. “With bigger groups, expedition cruise lines will often be able offer bonus discounts.”
Expedition cruise lines are eager to book big groups simply because they fill more cabins, and particularly on expedition cruises, which involve smaller ships, more empty cabins take a bigger chunk out of the bottom line. So if you want to book more than one cabin, ask about group discounts.
Ask to be matched with a roommate.
If you want to buddy up but don’t know anyone who can come with you to help avoid the single supplement, ask the cruise line or your travel advisor if they can match you with a fellow vacationer to be your roommate.
“If you’re a solo traveler, some expedition cruises offer 'willing-to-share' programs that match solo cruisers in a twin cabin to avoid the supplement,” says Laura Pedlar, expedition cruise expert and founder of cruiselifestyle.co.uk.
In some cases, you might be able to find a ship that offers a few single cabins, which would also get you out of paying a supplement. “[Those ships] can be rather limited, so booking early means a better chance of securing one,” Pedlar says.
Plan well in advance.
“Expedition cruises always bring out the best rate when they first release new season sailings,” says expedition cruise expert Bev Wills, founder of BevWillscruiseholidays.com.au.
New sailings are typically announced 18 to 24 months ahead, so brush up on the peak visitation periods for the destination you’re considering and then plan ahead accordingly.
“Expedition cruises typically take place during the warmer, calmer months depending on the destination—for example, April to October for Australia’s Kimberley region, and November to March for Antarctica. The pricing then gets incrementally higher closer to the sailing date.”
Opt for a repositioning cruise.
Typically, fares on repositioning cruises, when expedition cruise ships move from one region to another to start a new season, are 50–75% less than fares on standard sailings.
“There are limited services and staff onboard, and limited port stops, but wildlife sightings and scenery are still spectacular, and you’ll enjoy much lower prices,” Wills says.
Repositioning itineraries are usually novel. Anyone who’s done more than a handful of expedition cruises will probably have sailed around the Arctic, but how many people have sailed from the Arctic to the Antarctic, or from Canada to Greenland?
Be a bundler.
When it comes to expedition cruises, opting for a package that includes airfares or hotel nights can save you serious amounts of cash.
“Expedition cruises often offer bundled perks promotions—free airfares, hotel nights, or included excursions,” says Wills. “These promotions can mean huge savings, especially for remote destinations like the Galápagos or Arctic.”
Because so many travelers explore these regions as part of a package, hotels and regional airlines work closely with tour operators and pass on bulk discounts that travelers cannot access if they book everything independently.
For example, a return flight from Quito to San Cristobal, a popular departure point for cruises around the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, costs around $330 if purchased à la carte. Official cruise line packages might include that flight for free.
Choose a lower cabin.
On an expedition cruise, cabins are typically smaller than on standard cruise ships, no matter which deck you’re on. Even if you plunk down more cash for the plushest category with the largest windows, you’ll still spend most of your time on deck spotting the wildlife or admiring the scenery, which is why experts suggesting going low.
“Choosing a lower-deck cabin or an inside cabin with no windows can lead to considerable savings,” says Caroline O’Toole, head of cruise sales and development at jwttravel.ie.
Hurtigruten’s Savor the Northern Lights northbound sailing is a great example. One of its upper deck’s Arctic Superior suites starts at around $7,270 per person. But inside cabins on the middle deck start from a slightly less painful $5,707 per person.
Cabins located down near the water line are somewhat less susceptible to movement, too, which is a real consideration on expedition cruises, which often ply rough seas.
Make sure your chosen line provides gear.
Ask if your expedition cruise line provides accessories such as wet weather gear, rubber boots, and dry bags. For example, Quark Expeditions’ duvet-like 3-in-1 parkas, made by Canada Goose, are given to all guests at no extra cost. Off the ship, Canada Goose’s cheapest parka would cost you $1,156.
Sadly, not all expedition cruise lines are as generous with the free stuff. “Always find out from the cruise line if they provide expedition gear or offer a hire service,” says Pedlar. “You can save money on luggage as well as room in your suitcase if you are able to use a cruise line’s expedition clothing, like coats and boots. You’ll also avoid spending a fortune on clothing you may never wear again.”
Seek specialist savings.
If you’re wondering whether travel advisors who specialize in expedition cruising have the same access to perks and discounts as the agents who sell standard cruising, the answer is yes.
“This absolutely exists in the expedition world, though it works differently to mainstream cruising,” says Tanner. “Expedition specialists who consistently book with lines like Lindblad, Hurtigruten, or Quark often receive preferential rates, cabin upgrades, or onboard credits they can pass on."
These perks usually go to advisors who specialize in expedition travel rather than in general cruise vacations, so find an agent who focuses on expedition cruising. Examples of travel advisors who do lots of business with these types of trips are Expedition Cruise Specialists, Journeyscape, and Blue Ribbon Travel.
Avoid October (and maybe November and late March, too).
Finally, a word of warning. We all love saving money, but if you’re prone to seasickness, think twice before snapping up that ridiculously cheap October sailing to Antarctica that you spotted.
The savings can admittedly be huge. National Geographic Expeditions’ 22-day Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands and sailings in October and November start from around $19,000 per person, while sailings in February, when waters are calmer, start from a staggering $44,000.
“While the prices are lower, there is a reason: bad weather and rough seas,” says Eric J. Goldring, founder of Goldring Travel. “In addition, the wildlife will just be arriving or will have departed the areas. You might pay less, but you’ll receive far less value. Is that really saving money?”