In May 2023 I had the opportunity to experience an Iceland circumnavigation expedition cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions. Each day was a new adventure, but there were a few standout takeaways that I observed:
1. Expedition cruises are great for multi-generational family vacations. During my sailing I saw a number of families with members ranging from toddlers up to retiree age! There were books and materials onboard for all reading levels and there were a range of excursion offerings for various mobility levels. On this cruise I learned that guests of all ages can enjoy expedition cruising.
2. Travelers don't have to be adventurous when sailing on an expedition cruise. I know that sounds contrary to the ‘perception’ of expedition cruising. However, during my sailing I learned that travelers can be nature lovers, science enthusiasts, or history/culture buffs and still enjoy the excursions and exploring different destination offerings. Each stop throughout my cruise offered a number of tours that included folklore, tradition, STEM, sociology, shopping, and more. Additionally, travelers can also be spa and tranquility aficionados and still enjoy an expedition cruise. When we returned to the ship the spa, pool, hot tubs, and sauna were always available for relaxation.
3. The myth that most cruise staterooms are small was debunked during my expedition cruise experience. Starting from the entry level stateroom, I discovered that all of the staterooms on the ship were more than spacious which made the cruising experience very comfortable. I also found the decor and design to be modern and contemporary giving travelers a luxurious cruising experience.
4. The cruise industry is constantly working towards implementing more sustainable efforts including culinary offerings. However, travelers that sail on an expedition cruise do not have to worry about whether their dietary needs will be met. For each meal I noted that there were offerings for all types of diets and the staff was open and accommodating to special dietary requests.
5. As with any type of expedition cruise, travelers do need to be flexible and understanding about changes. However, I loved the fact that on my sailing the team did their best to give us bonus surprises if changes had to be made. For example, we had the opportunity to experience multiple destinations on days that we may have only been scheduled for one stop. There were also a few times where we made short stops or detours to see marvelous works of nature which I thought was really cool.
My sailing with Hurtigruten Expeditions was an unforgettable experience. More than anything it reminded me that we as travel advisors must remain open minded and not fall victim to myths and traditional opinions of expedition cruising. If we remain open about the possibilities that our clients can experience with this bucket list type of cruising we may be able to qualify more clients for these amazing cruising experiences.
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