Can you talk about the growth of expedition cruising?
All indicators suggest 2025 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for the expedition cruise sector.
In late April and early May, we saw a significant increase in activity among expedition cruise operators – many offering ship visits, overnight stays and fam trips for travel trade partners.
AE Expeditions, for example, invested heavily in bringing over 100 travel advisors onboard.
We’re also seeing new players emerge: Panache Cruises, one of the fastest-growing cruise retailers in the UK, has just launched a dedicated sister brand focused entirely on expedition cruising. The market is buoyant and dynamic.
ECN will be publishing its biannual Industry Insights report at the end of 2025, with updated figures and trends.
“Arctic Season” is upon us – what are some trends and developments in this particular area?
A major development this year is the introduction of new regulations affecting ship-based tourism in Svalbard to conserve and protect wildlife, including limits on proximity to polar bears.
As a result, we hosted a webinar on this topic to discuss how members are working with the new restrictions – which they absolutely can – and are still expecting a strong season.
As well as advising on long lenses, members are communicating with clients on the diversity and exceptional marine wildlife viewing which include whales, walruses, and seals, migratory seabirds, rare flora and with dramatic landscapes as a backdrop.
Together with immersive experiences taking in local culture and history, Arctic voyages remain truly memorable and the evolving regulations are part of a broader commitment to sustainable tourism, which our members are actively embracing.
How are you pushing ECN and expedition cruising? Do you have any projects, events, training or other initiatives planned?
One of our most exciting developments is the launch of the Expedition Cruise Academy, an online training platform dedicated entirely to expedition cruising. In April, we introduced two membership options for travel advisors.
- Free membership provides access to 20-plus online courses about our expedition cruise operator members, offering a consistent, easy-to-navigate way to stay informed and educated.
- Premium membership includes expert-led content focused on destinations, sales guidance, ship and operator selection, and how to match the right expedition to the right client. This can be purchased individually or as a multi-user license for agencies looking to upskill their teams in this growing sector.
We’re also preparing for our second annual ECN Conference, which takes place on September 30 and October 1, 2025. It’s already shaping up to be even bigger than last year, with over 25 expedition cruise operators confirmed and more than 150 buyers registered.
Our ECN Awards will take place on September 30, recognising the best in the industry – nominations and voting are open until July 30.
In addition, we continue to run our popular Expert Webinar series, destination-specific bootcamps – including one on The Galapagos in June – and other educational events. I’d encourage anyone interested in expedition cruising to sign up on our website to stay informed about all upcoming opportunities.
For agents unsure exactly how to sell expedition cruise, what are your tips and what kind of clients should they be targeting?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting to sell this incredible style of travel is to take the time to really understand the destinations and the expedition cruising landscape.
Many of our operator members offer fantastic resources—webinars, online training platforms, and in-person sessions—which are all in addition to the tools available on the ECN website and our Expedition Cruise Academy.
Expedition cruising is, above all, destination-led. Advisors who invest time in learning about places like Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Galápagos will quickly see the value in that knowledge when speaking to clients.
In terms of who to target, expedition cruising appeals to a wide range of travellers, but those who get the most out of it tend to be active, curious, and well-travelled. It’s also a particularly great option for solo travellers — it’s safe, inclusive, and fosters a strong sense of community onboard.
Any other insights or any news agents should be aware of?
Expedition cruising is not only one of the most exciting and fast-growing sectors in travel, but it’s also commercially attractive: booking values are typically high and the commissions are often generous.
While the Polar Regions and the Galápagos remain iconic expedition cruise destinations, there’s a world of opportunity beyond them.
Many operators now offer itineraries in lesser-known but equally enriching locations: think the Amazon River in Peru, the Mekong for clients exploring Vietnam and Cambodia, or the Kimberley Coast in Western Australia for those on an extended tour Down Under. You’ll also find incredible expedition options in places like French Polynesia and the wider South Pacific.
Having just returned from an expedition-style voyage around the British Isles, I’m also reminded that you don’t always need to travel far to enjoy an immersive, expedition experience – this can be had be much closer to home than you might think.
In short: stay open to the possibilities. Your clients will thank you for it.
