Some 75% of travel agent members of the Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) are expecting at least a 10% increase in expedition cruise bookings, according to its latest Insights Report.
The majority – 62% – have already seen a rise this year.
ECN CEO Akvile Marozaite said: “I’m delighted to find that the expedition cruise sector is growing and, importantly, growing through the trade in the ECN’s Insights Report 2025-2026.”
Where are customers going?
The polar regions remain the most popular, and Antarctica is the most sought-after and fastest-growing.
It is closely followed by the Arctic (including Greenland and Svalbard) and the Canadian High Arctic.
Demand is rising faster than availability, according to ECN’s findings, leading cruise lines to offer shorter itineraries and longer seasons to try to accommodate more passengers. Average load factors this year ranged from 87-93%.
There is also a growing appetite for warm weather destinations, including Africa (both east and west), the Galapagos, the Indian Ocean, the Amazon, Australia’s Kimberly region and Papua New Guinea, it found.
What motivates customers?
Wildlife is the main reason customers book an expedition cruise, followed by adventure, according to ECN’s report. Poseidon Expeditions offers a 19-day itinerary focused on South Georgia and the Falklands, a haven for wildlife photographers. Guests will encounter king penguins, elephant seals and fur seals. Prices start at £13,495 per person.
About 17% of expedition guests are solo travellers, according to ECN.
Akvile added: “With solo travellers averaging nearly a fifth of the number of passengers across our membership, it is clear that expedition cruise provides a socially engaging and safe setting for solo adventurers.
“Brands with solo-friendly policies will undoubtedly have a competitive advantage.”
What are the latest trends?
Fly-cruises are becoming increasingly popular in Antarctica, with more lines offering direct flights to the Antarctic Peninsula, saving two days’ travel and skipping the notorious Drake Passage sea crossing, which can be choppy.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions offers a 10-day ‘Sail and Fly the Drake Passage’ so guests only cruise it in one direction.
Customers fly directly to Puerto Natales, which is ideal for extending to Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Prices start at £10,150pp.
How much can you earn?
Expedition cruising can bring a significant bump in commission, with the average booking value per passenger topping £10,000 for some 42% of agents last year.
Earnings can be much higher with the luxury lines, such as Atlas Ocean Voyages, which offers an 18-night Antarctic voyage combining the Antarctic Peninsula with stops in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, a bird-watching paradise with over 220 recorded species, from £20,188pp.
Arctic cruises are generally more affordable, and the region is hugely popular. Silversea Expeditions offers a seven-day Svalbard expedition sailing round-trip from Longyearbyen on Silver Endeavour during the summer. The voyage includes hikes, Zodiac rides and glacier expeditions, with high chances of spotting polar bears, walruses and seals. It costs from £7,940pp.
