The Best Luxury Cruise Tours for Adventure

Some travellers really love a holiday that includes sunbeds, buffets, and the occasional stroll to a local market, for example, and then there are the people who want something a bit wilder - something that ticks a whole load of things off your bucket list all at once. 

If you’re in that second group, luxury adventure cruises are pretty much ideal for you - you get the excitement of being somewhere remote and exciting, but you also get the crisp sheets, luxury food, and a guide who really knows their stuff. Below are some of the best companies offering high-end cruise-style adventure that are all about comfort. Read on to find out more. 

Scandinavia Private Tours

Scandinavia Private Tours might not be the first name people think of when they hear ‘luxury cruise’, but they absolutely should be. This female-led, high-end operator specialises in private fjord cruises across Norway, where you get your own captain, your own executive-class vehicle transfers, and an itinerary that caters to whatever it is you feel like doing that day. 

Their VIP fjord cruises are small, quiet, and perfectly put-together, making them ideal for travellers who want the wow-factor of the Norwegian coastline without stepping onto a massive ship with 3,000 strangers. And they’re known for the personal touches, like champagne on deck, well-chosen viewpoints, private guides who know the region by heart, and the fact that everything is fully customisable. 

Quark Expeditions 

If your idea of adventure includes things like icebergs, penguins, and stark, alien landscapes, Quark Expeditions is essentially the gold standard for it. Their small expedition ships take travellers deep into the Arctic and Antarctic, often combining Zodiac landings, polar hikes, and wildlife encounters, all while you’ve got absolutely top-tier comfort on board. 

And despite the (very) wild destinations, the ships are well-designed, beautifully appointed, and led by experts who know everything there is to know about the area, and will be more than happy to fill you in. 

Hurtigruten Expeditions 

Hurtigruten Expeditions has been doing coastal voyages in Norway for more than one hundred years, but their expedition cruises take things to a whole other level, and from Greenland and Svalbard to Alaska and West Africa, their ships combine amazing Scandinavian design with serious environmental credentials. 

They’re ideal for travellers who want a truly varied itinerary, where you’ll have one day kayaking beside massive ice slabs followed by hiking through volcanic landscapes or sailing along remote Nordic archipelagos the next, for example. 

Lindblad Expeditions 

Lindblad operates in partnerships with National Geographic, and it shows, plus you’ll already know you’re in for a treat. Their adventure cruises come with naturalists, photographers, marine biologists, and the expert guides who love to explain about tectonic plates and so on, and do it without getting complicated. 

Whether you’re paddling through Alaskan fjords, spotting blue-footed boobies in the Gapalagos, or exploring Patagonia’s ice fields, there’s one thing for sure - the experience is going to be organised, well-thought-out, and massively educational without ever being dull. 

Ponant 

If you love a bit of French design, soft lighting, and food that you know just by looking at it that it’s going to be delicious, Ponant is definitely going to be your dream adventure cruise operator. They’ve got small luxury ships that explore the Arctic, Antarctica, and plenty of remote islands across the world, and they do it with a high level of elegance others just don’t usually manage to reach. 

You’ll get things like quiet spas, fine dining, heated decks, and cabins that look like boutique hotels, and you’ll get it all while travelling to places that are usually totally untouched. 

Silversea Expeditions 

Silversea has taken the idea of an expedition cruise and dressed it up in full luxury just for its guests. Their adventure itineraries include private butler service, along with spacious suites, excellent dining, and extraordinarily knowledgeable expedition guides. 

Their ships reach everywhere from the Northwest Passage to Papua New Guinea, but wherever you end up choosing, you’ll get the most beautiful landscapes outside, along with the most comfortable luxury inside. 

Secret Atlas 

Secret Atlas is absolutely perfect for travellers who want adventure but really don’t want the crowds that usually come with it. Their micro-expeditions take fewer than 12 guests into the Arctic, sailing around Svalbard on a small, comfortable boat that feels more like a private charter than a cruise. 

This is slow and peaceful and immersive, with plenty of clean air, stunning glaciers, and wildlife encounters that you’ll never forget. 

Aurora Expeditions 

Founded by an Australian mountaineer, Aurora Expeditions is there for travellers who want proper adventure with the option of comfort when the day is done. Their ships feature Zodiac excursions, kayaking, climbing, and sometimes even polar-pluge experiences for the very brave. 

Aurora are especially popular for their photography trips, where professionals help guests capture the landscapes around them in a simple but effective way, giving them the most perfect and unique souvenirs to take home with them. 

Oceanwide Expeditions 

Based in the Netherlands but specialising in the Polar regions, Oceanwide offers small ship adventures perfect for travellers who want a hands-on approach - their cruises are slightly more expedition than luxury, but the upgraded cabins and attentive onboard care really make it something special. 

The best part is the intimacy - smaller ships means more time ashore, more Zodiac trips, and more wildlife sightings without getting lost in the crowd and missing out. 

Seabourn Expeditions 

Seabourn takes luxury cruising to the top level it can get to (or so it feels), but when you add their expedition arm to things, you know you’re getting a heavy dose of adventure as well. Their ships boast fine dining, larger suites, attentive service, and all while still taking guests to the Polar regions and remote corners of the world. 

With this company you’ll find pretty much anything and everything you could ask for, from submarines to kayaks (depending on the shop), and it’s a fun reminder that adventure travel really does have to mean giving up comfort - far from it.