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Set sail on an unforgettable journey to see some of the most magnificent creatures on the planet with a wildlife cruise. Drift along the waters of otherworldly landscapes, exploring untouched corners of the world and encountering remarkable animal inhabitants along the way.

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What is a Wildlife Cruise?


A wildlife cruise is a guided excursion aboard a boat or ship with a carefully curated itinerary, aiming to showcase a diverse array of animals and explore unique landscapes.

These cruises guarantee extraordinary wildlife encounters, such as observing giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands, spotting river dolphins and monkeys in the Amazon, or marvelling at humpback whales in Antarctica.

Along with up-close encounters with nature’s wonders, wildlife cruises feature experienced naturalists and expedition leaders who provide educational talks. These experts delve into the fascinating local wildlife species, intricate ecosystems, and ongoing conservation efforts in the destinations visited.

Compared to traditional large cruisers, wildlife cruises offer a more intimate and eco-friendly experience. Operating on smaller vessels, they have lower fuel consumption and produce fewer emissions, along with enjoying the flexibility to navigate off the beaten track, reaching lesser-explored areas.

Wildlife Destinations


Antarctica Cruises

Set sail on an Antarctica expedition cruise to discover the wild landscape of the ‘last continent’ in all of its glory. Discover a land of extremes, gliding by immense glaciers and icebergs, while coming across some of the rarest wildlife species on earth.

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Galapagos Island Cruises

Galapagos Island cruises offer the ultimate wildlife adventure. From extraordinary creatures that inspired Darwin, to enchanted lava tunnels and cloud forests, there are many spectacular things to see in this archipelago.

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Example Cruises


A whales tail at sunset

Cross the Antarctic Circle

Your journey starts in Ushuaia, where you’ll set off across the Drake Passage. Along the way, our expedition team will teach you crucial wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures, before providing an informative talk on Antarctica’s history, environment and wildlife.

As you reach the Antarctic Peninsula and Circle, ice sculptures will start to punctuate the frozen waters around you. Spend the next six days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and Circle.

Your expedition team will take you to investigate grounded icebergs, ice cliffs and pebbled beaches while pointing out penguins, seals and whales. Then become one of the fortunate few to cross the Antarctic Circle. Celebrate with a toast on the deck and watch the landscape and wildlife transform around you, with humpbacks, minkes and penguins often seen in this area at this time of year.

Boat near Iceberg

Antarctica, South Georgia, & Falklands

Seeking Antarctica cruises that offer a longer stay and the opportunity to see lesser-explored areas of the continent? An Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands adventure may be the perfect option for you. This 21-day adventure invites you on an epic journey through some of the world’s most underexplored landscapes.

Set off along the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, spotting icebergs and sea birds from the comfort of the vessel. After arriving in the Antarctic Peninsula, spend four days going on zodiac cruises and making landings to visit penguin rookeries, investigate historic huts and do a polar plunge into the wild waters of this fabled continent.

Then venture to the wild island of South Georgia, home to some of the largest congregations of wildlife on the planet. Set off searching for nesting penguins, seals and bird cliffs, before visiting one of the world’s largest king penguin colonies.

You’ll then set sail to the Falklands (Islas Malvinas) where you will find incredible, uninhabited islands home to incredible populations of bird species including the largest black-browed albatross colony on Earth. Here you can investigate sea cliffs and rugged coves to see sea lions, penguins, dolphins and seals.

Antarctica Express - Fly Cruise

Antarctica Express – Fly Cruise

The Antarctica Express is a spectacular cruise from South America to Antarctica. Beginning in Punta Arenas, you’ll board a flight to King George Island, where a zodiac awaits to transport you to your sleek vessel. Then you can spend the next four days hiking to penguin rookeries, taking zodiac cruises to see whales and spotting leopard seals and orcas. All the while, the thunderous sound of calving glaciers resonates around you.

Galapagos Seaman Journey

Galapagos Seaman Journey

From £1995 pp for 3 nights / £2650 pp for 4 nights / £4600 for 7 nights

The Seaman Journey offers a classic cruise to the Galapagos. The boutique first-class catamaran has an onboard bar headed by an experienced bartender who can whip up fresh cocktails for the 16 lucky guests staying in its spacious cabins.

Angel Galapagos

Angel Galapagos

From £2100 pp for 3 nights / £3300 for 4 nights / £5200 for 7 nights

Angel is a sleek Galapagos Island cruise vessel that was expertly designed in the Netherlands. It is one of the newest and most sought-after first-class yacht cruises in the archipelago. Up to 16 passengers can enjoy a plush stay on this vessel thanks to its airy suites, sleek convertible cabins and the excellent service provided by its 9-person crew.

EcoGalaxy II Galapagos

EcoGalaxy II Galapagos

From £2700 pp for 4 nights / £3400 pp for 5 nights

EcoGalaxy II also offers a wonderful cruise to the Galapagos islands. This first-class catamaran boasts the lowest fuel consumption of vessels of its kind and directly supports local schools, projects and foundations. EcoGalaxy II has 8 plush staterooms, each of which showcases a chic, contemporary aesthetic.

Sea Star Galapagos

Sea Star Galapagos

From £3500 pp for 4 nights / £4500 pp for 5 nights

Promising a unique and authentic experience, Sea Star is owned by a local Galapagueno family. This Galapagos cruise offers a charming and luxurious adventure for guests, with jacuzzis, a mini library, a video library and sun loungers. Snorkelling equipment and kayaks are also provided for water-based adventures.

Isabela II Galapagos

Isabela II Galapagos

From £3600 pp for 4 nights / £4800 pp for 6 nights

Isabela II is great for those wanting to experience a slightly larger Galapagos cruise whilst still enjoying personalised service. It caters to up to 40 passengers across its pristine, minimalist cabins. Onboard, passengers can enjoy various amenities including a library, bar, observation decks, dining room and game room. It is also carbon neutral and directly compensates for its carbon emissions. Additionally, it provides exclusive landings, allowing guests to enjoy having the islands entirely to themselves instead of sharing them with other tourists.

Infinity Galapagos

Infinity Galapagos

From £3100 pp for 3 nights / £4600 pp for 4 nights / £6900 for 7 nights

One of the most advanced Galapagos Island cruise vessels of its kind, Infinity is a chic motor yacht complete with a whirlpool spa, living room and dining area. Something that particularly sets it apart is that it has one of the best guide-to-passenger ratios in the archipelago. With two dedicated naturalist guides for just 20 passengers, guests can expect in-depth geographical and ecological insights throughout their voyage.

Top Wildlife Cruise Experiences


Penguins in Antarctica

Penguins in Antarctica

Witness the iconic Antarctic Penguin both from your boat, and when you step onto land for your daily adventures and exploration. There are 7 types of Penguin found in Antarctica; The Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, King, Macaroni, Rockhopper and of course Emperor Penguin. How many will you tick off the list on your wildlife cruise to Antarctica?

Amazon River dolphins

Amazon River dolphins

Found only in the Amazon, the ‘boto’ or Pink Dolphin is a must-see on your wildlife cruise. In south American culture this amazing creature holds almost mythical status, its distinct colour making for incredible sightings. A full Dolphin can grow up to 9 feet long and they are famously secretive, so spotting one on your wildlife adventure will be a real highlight.

Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Guests often tell us that seeing a Giant Tortoise is top of their wish-list on a Galapagos wildlife holiday. The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is the largest living species of its kind, living up to 177 years in some cases. These magnificent creatures have come to symbolise the conservation efforts of the Galapagos, and we ensure all our holidays benefit the ongoing work to protect this incredible species.

Eco-friendly wildlife cruises: Frequently Asked Questions


Please reach us at info@traveldifferently.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.

A green cruise has been carefully designed to minimise its environmental impact. Eco-friendly cruise vessels often feature advanced technologies like efficient waste management and onboard recycling systems.

Shore excursions tend to centre on conservation and cultural preservation, providing passengers with sustainable activities to engage in during their journey.

Whether it’s a nature river cruise through the Amazon or a wilderness cruise through Antarctica, these are high-demand adventures and you are best booking several months, sometimes a year, in advance.

This will give you enough time to not only secure your preferred cruise but also the best-suited flights and accommodations for your trip.

Those of all ages are usually welcome aboard a wildlife cruise with Travel Differently, but we will double check individual cruises.

Our customisable trips can be tailored to accommodate adults and children alike, ensuring everyone can join in and enjoy the adventure together.

Wilderness cruises along a river are rarely choppy and the chances of seasickness are much lower compared to ocean cruises. This is because the waters are often more sheltered than open seas, making them less affected by strong winds or rough waves. What’s more, river cruises tend to hug closer to the land and navigate within narrower channels, reducing exposure to open waters and minimising the effects of ocean swells and currents.

Why Book a Wilderness Cruise With Travel Differently?


Drawing of a tree

Cruise Greener

At Travel Differently, we are firm believers in the importance of taking a greener approach to travel in order to safeguard the very ecosystems and landscapes that we travel so far to see, especially amidst the climate emergency. Our eco cruises invite travellers to discover these spectacular corners of the world responsibly.

We exclusively collaborate with destinations, properties, and activities that prioritise protecting their local environment and ensure that all our trips are carbon offset at 150% of their calculated emissions to provide net-positive holidays.

Drawing of a compass

Cruise Slower

We ensure each nature cruise takes an environmentally conscious approach by travelling slower. Reducing the speed in this way reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the fuel efficiency of our vessels. Going slower also gives passengers more opportunity to soak up the unique wildlife and landscapes they encounter during their trip.

In fact, we are committed to offering trips lasting at least 12 days when flights are involved, and we actively encourage longer stays whenever feasible. By advocating for less frequent but more extensive explorations, we reduce emissions from air travel, alleviate the strain on tourist hotspots and distribute the economic benefits of tourism across a broader spectrum of society within the countries we visit.

Drawing of 2 hikers

Cruise Fairer

Travel Differently prioritises fairer cruising by using carbon offset schemes that not only benefit the environment but those living in the destination as well. Through these campaigns, we support local communities to reduce poverty, inequality, and reliance on fossil fuels.

Drawing of a bag

Cruise Better

Through environmental policies and dedication to social responsibility, Travel Differently encourages its clients to take a better approach to cruising.

As a 100% independent boutique tour operator, we prioritise personalised service and craft each trip to meet the unique needs, preferences and interests of our guests. With direct access to our founder, every traveller receives top-quality attention and is promised an adventure that is perfectly tailored to them.

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