5 Reasons to Take an Adventure Cruise

Are you one of those people who thinks they’re not a cruise person?  Do you think cruises are too boring and not active enough for you, and do you shudder at the idea of being cooped up on a floating city with a thousand other passengers for days?

I completely understand, and I share those same thoughts.  But I dare you to take a moment to learn about small-ship adventure cruises.  Read my Top 5 Reasons to Take an Adventure Cruise below, and tell me it doesn’t have you daydreaming about a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula to get face to face with Gentoo penguins, humpback whales and the most extreme icebergs you’ve ever seen.

 

 

1.  You get to go places others have only dreamed of.

Sometimes, the farthest corners of the earth can only be reached by sea, and an adventure cruise is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the most remote natural places on the planet.  Adventure cruise ships are much smaller
than commercial cruises, meaning they can access off-the-beaten-path ports and dock in natural areas that larger cruise ships cannot.  Smaller ships are able to get extremely close to colossal icebergs and giant whales in Antarctica, or navigate through secluded areas of earth’s most complex ecosystem on an Amazon cruise.

2.  Smaller ships mean a more intimate experience.

Small-ship voyages allow you to travel by sea in a more personal way.  You don’t feel as though you’re packed like sardines in a can, and you will get more personalized attention from the Expedition Leaders.  You have the ability to get to know the entire crew, from the captain to the chef, and hear their stories about the area.  A smaller ship lends itself to more opportunities for discussion and building friendships with passengers as well.

3.  On-board experts enhance your experience.

Small-ship adventure cruises feature on-board naturalists, scientists and historians to give you an expert’s perspective on the local ecology, biology, culture, history, and more.  These experts accompany you on your shore excursions to give you the most enriching and immersive experience in some of the most pristine, natural places on earth.  Having these experts on board allows you to continue the conversation after the shore excursion is over.

 

4.  These are not cookie-cutter tours, they are expeditions.

Adventure cruises are nothing like a spring break cruise to the Bahamas.  Rather, adventure cruises are expeditions, where every day is a new adventure.  These types of cruises have more of a go with the flow attitude, where a captain has the ability to make an unscheduled stop if a supreme wildlife viewing opportunity presents itself!  They also offer an array of equipment for exploring the coastline at close range and ashore, such as Zodiacs and kayaks for exploring Iceland’s glaciers.

5.  Greater respect for the environment.

The smaller ships used on Nat Hab’s selectively chosen adventure cruises have a smaller carbon footprint than mega commercial cruise ships.  They emit less CO2 and don’t damage coral reefs with their anchors and by dumping sewage in the wrong places the way larger ships do.  In addition, small-ship cruises are more about the local destinations than the voyage, and they provide greater benefit to local communities by encouraging guests to purchase items from locals such as crafts, food, and beverages.

Now that you can’t wait to go on an adventure cruise, here are three reasons to book an adventure cruise with Natural Habitat Adventures:

1.  Unbiased opinion

We understand that different people have different preferences and budgets, so we provide a wide variety of vessels, itineraries and price options that are sure to fit your needs.  Our experienced Adventure Specialists are unbiased and have collectively embarked on a great number of adventure cruises, and we take the time to get to know your needs and tastes.  Your satisfaction is our number one priority!

2.  Customer service and support

We offer the best services in travel support for increased peace of mind.  We have a full-service Air Travel Department who can swiftly navigate the complicated web of flight options and get you out of a jam and to your destination on time.  We offer exceptional travel insurance packages and a 24 hour emergency line that you can call for help with any urgent situation prior to or during your cruise.

3.  We are The Nature People

We pride ourselves in being the world’s foremost nature travel experts, and an adventure cruise to see orangutans in Borneo or remote islands in Papua New Guinea is just about as close to nature as you can get!  Outside magazine named us The World’s #1 Adventure Travel Outfitter because unlike other companies, the only trips we run are nature adventures, which is essential when you’re choosing a nature-focused adventure cruise.