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Wildlife expedition cruising FAQs

There are so many questions that require answers before you head off on your first wildlife cruise, so we thought we’d help by answering a few before you even make a booking! This is not exhaustive by any means, but will help to set the scene and give you an insight into how things work.

Is it a cruise or a voyage?

Actually it’s a bit of both. The impression that the word ’cruise’ generally conjures up is one of a gigantic ship putting into an unsupecting foreign port, disgorging hundreds of passengers for a few hours to pay a brief visit to local places of interest, hit the shops, and then head back to the ship only to sit by the pool in the sun reading a book, while being waited on hand and foot! A voyage, on the other hand, suggests a certain amount of hardship to get somewhere or do something – as with Christopher Columbus’s voyage in 1492 to discover America, or Charles Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle.

Wildlife cruising is different. On an Oceans Worldwide trip you’ll be on a small vessel (anything from 16 to 128 passengers) – enough to be able to meet new people and get to know them during the trip, and to recognise most other passengers – not so many that every time you see a face it seems like a new one!

The vessels used for a wildlife cruise will often have been specially adapted for the conditions encountered, and refitted to accommodate paying guests – many were formerly scientific research vessels. On a wildlife cruise, there will be a full programme of illustrated talks and presentations covering a wide range of topics – from birds and mammals, to geography, history and astronomy. These will be presented by the experts and guides on board ship who play a major role in making your trip a special one.

So how does it start and what’s it like on board?

To begin with, you’ll probably be welcomed aboard with a glass of bubbly and a bite to eat! The crew will cast off and, once under way, you’ll have a chance to meet the captain and his officers. Departures are often in the late afternoon/early evening to allow you time to arrive. Many vessels have an open bridge policy, so you’re free to visit the bridge at any time of the day or night while sailing. It’s a fascinating insight to see how the ship’s course is plotted, conditions monitored, and a watch maintained around the clock.

What about the food?

Food on board is always plentiful and generally delicious. There’s a wide variety, and vegetarians are generally catered for – as long as you inform us in advance. Fresh fruit and salad is generally provided throughout the trip. As well as breakfast, a three-course lunch and dinner, cake and biscuits are usually served each afternoon, and tea, coffee and juice are available around the clock.

What are the weather and sea conditions going to be like?

Weather and sea conditions are highly variable, and there’s never any guarantee of good weather, whether you’re in the tropics or a polar region.

Are the days at sea boring?

Not at all! There’s usually a full programme of lectures, and in the evening there’s a film or a talk about the next day’s landing site(s) and the wildlife you can expect to see. Talks generally last 40-45 minutes and there’s plenty of time to get out on deck to see whatever’s around – there’s almost always something to see. Some ships maintain a round-the-clock wildlife watch and will call you up to the deck if there’s something really special to see.

How about the landings?

On a wildlife cruise the aim is to get off the vessel and explore as many different areas/as much as possible, so you can see and photograph the wildlife and learn about your surroundings from your expert guides. On reaching a landing site, final instructions are given on board ship; you then don a lifejacket while the Zodiac inflatables are lowered into the sea. Each Zodiac ferries 10-12 passengers ashore, and once on land you may spend anything from two to fours hours ashore. Of course this varies depending on the site, the conditions, and what there is to see. Where possible, two landings are made per day, and the ship may sail on to the second landing site over lunch. Landing sites vary greatly depending on the cruise. You’ll normally receive more information about these once you have made your booking. Which landing sites you visit may change depending on the weather conditions and other circumstances outside the control of the crew.

Do I need to be fit?

You don’t need to be super-fit, but you need to be in reasonable health – not least because many trips take place in remote areas without sophisticated medical facilities. Most shore excursions involve climbing in and out of a moving Zodiac (albeit with the assistance of a crew member), which calls for a certain degree of agility. As a result, these trips are not usually suitable for anyone with a mobility problem.

View our Antarctic cruising FAQs