Travel Journal

Expedition cruising is all about stepping away from the usual tourist spots and getting a little closer to nature. You might not be too far from towns, but you often won’t see them.

We explored by Zodiac boats, which are small and super handy for reaching places like inlets, fjords, and bird sanctuaries. These boats let us get up close to seabird colonies, cliffs, glaciers, and even beaches where polar bears hang out. We also used them for swimming and snorkelling.

Instead of a typical Cruise Director and entertainment crew, we had an Expedition Team made up of experts like naturalists, historians, and ecologists. They shared their knowledge and enthusiasm during our landings and while we were on board. Plus, on a small ship, you often get to visit the Captain and crew on the Bridge to see how the journey’s going.

I joined a ‘soft’ expedition cruise on the MS Caledonian Sky, a three-star ship in the Noble Caledonia fleet, as we circled New Zealand. We set off from Dunedin and spent three nights on board, making our way to Stewart Island and through Resolution Bay, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound before arriving at Milford Sound.

With just 114 passengers, the ship felt intimate. Each cabin had portholes or balconies, and they were quite spacious at around 20-23 square metres.

The public areas were perfect for the number of guests. There was a large lounge with a bar, and the main dining room could seat everyone together. You could choose smaller tables for a quiet dinner or larger ones if you wanted to meet new people. There was also a library, an outside deck for meals in nice weather, an observation deck with sun loungers and a hot tub, plus a small hairdresser, fitness room, and even a doctor on board. The expedition team and crew made an effort to get to know everyone and understand what we were most interested in.

Every day, our excursions were well-organised by Zodiac. They offered activities at different difficulty levels—easy, moderate, and challenging—so we didn’t spend too much time waiting. Each outing had at least one expedition leader and often a local guide. If you wanted to explore on your own, you could do that too. The team was flexible with the plans, especially if we spotted interesting wildlife.

If you’re looking to enjoy a relaxed style of cruising—where you can unpack once while visiting various destinations—and want to get off the beaten path while learning from a talented team, this is a fantastic way to do it.