Here is a unique twist on the traditional vacation my family and I embarked on a few months ago. Following the relentless insistence of my kids, we embarked on two cruises within a relatively short timeframe. One was aboard a typical gigantic cruise ship, while the other was a relatively smaller expedition voyage. Given the stark differences between these two experiences, I am more enamored of our less conventional expedition cruise journey.
Our first venture was aboard a world-renowned Royal Caribbean ship, which has the biggest cruise liners globally. While aboard, our family enjoyed fun activities and games, and the luxury of having everything planned out beforehand. Truly, cruising offers simplicity in planning and organizing vacations. However, despite the convenience, the behemoth cruise had its drawbacks. I found myself longing for something more intimate and adventurous.
So, two months later, I embarked on a different cruise experience, this time being a small-ship expedition to Iceland via National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. The intimate setting and adventurous spirit truly resonated with me and matched my preferences. We had all the conveniences we required without compromising on the thrill of the experience.
Unlike the megaship experience filled with repetitive activities and identical ocean views, the smaller ship offered more elusive and adventurous activities. We would spend hours at sea, spotting whales and engaging in informative lectures about Iceland. We also had easy access to two National Geographic photographers, authoritative experts on Icelandic folklore and climate specialists, all of whom were aboard the ship. Their knowledge and expertise enhanced our understanding of the Icelandic geography and culture.
During our seven-day journey, we made multiple port stops, something severely missing in our previous mega cruise, which offered only four excursions. With each stop, we had the opportunity to learn more about the country’s people and places, with all activities included in the base price. On our previous mega cruise, we had limited opportunities to experience the cultures and places we visited, unlike the intimate, informative interaction offered by the expedition cruise.
Our adventures were stimulating and surprisingly educational, contrary to the beach sit-downs and quick tours offered by our first mega cruise. We spent hours hiking snow-capped mountains and got to lay eyes on puffins during our small zodiac boat rides. All excursions were longer, and we were always accompanied by regional experts, imparting their knowledge throughout our adventures. We even learned how to safely drink water from a glacier – an experience that’s hard to beat!
Moreover, the smaller ship excursions also succeeded in engaging my kids. Unlike the megaships that house activities similar to those at home, such as video games or dodgeball, our expedition cruise packed more enriching activities for children. My kids participated in a Global Explorers program, where they embarked on various tasks, including answering questions about geography, asking navigation-related enquiries to the captain, and more. These tasks deeply engaged my kids in the adventure, something they missed on the bigger cruise.
Ultimately, although the expedition lacked the specialty restaurants, live performances, and casinos provided by the mega cruise, we didn’t miss these features. Instead, we enjoyed the intimacy of the smaller ship and our ventures into once-in-a-lifetime activities. By the end of the trip, we had even made lifelong friends!
In the future, we plan to replicate similar trips as we found this kind of traveling to resonate more with our adventurous spirits. While the bigger mega cruises can provide the luxury of pre-organized plans and grandeur, the thrill and intimate connections offered by the smaller ships are irreplaceable. As such, smaller, action-packed cruises continue to be our preferred choice.
