Best cruise for people who hate cruises

Adventure cruises swap buffets and crowds for wildlife, remote destinations and unforgettable nature adventures.

I want to start by admitting something: I love cruises. Sometimes I like to lie in the sun, eat too much, and enjoy the ocean breeze without thinking too much about what I’m going to do next week. I unpacked and waited to be taken on my next adventure. But it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I know a lot of people who don't get stuck in a crowded pool, stand in line at the buffet, or buy a margarita at the bar while waiting for the next show to start. It doesn't matter. I have been on ships of all sizes, some cheap, some expensive, some carrying thousands of people, some carrying dozens of people. The great thing about cruising is that there's an experience for everyone… even for those who won't die on the cruise.

Meet Expedition Cruises

I had the great pleasure of recently taking a cruise around Baja California Sur National Geographic Startups in a Lindblad Expedition Cruising, it was like nothing I had ever done before. I've been on a few expedition cruises before (once on a very small ship and once on a larger, more luxurious ship), but neither was as focused on wildlife and nature experiences, neither had such a large and diverse staff of naturalists, nor did one have the photography focus that National Geographic is able to offer on a Lindblad expedition cruise.

How are expedition ships different from regular cruise ships? The most obvious difference is size. You're not cruising with 5,000 other people, or even 1,500, but with dozens to hundreds of people. National Geographic Startups There were only 100 passengers on board, and the cruise seemed mostly full, with a wide range of ages from teenagers to grandparents (not what I expected), including several multi-generational families, but everyone was adventurous, ready to learn, and eager to experience the next adventure. It is not the newest in the Lindblad fleet, nor is it the most advanced, but it is a nimble ship with good facilities.

Courtesy of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

Unlike some expedition cruises, there are few luxuries on board. adventure. The cabin was compact but not too small (my room had a small balcony for two chairs) and there was only room for another individual chair in the cabin, but there was plenty of storage space for our stuff. this Start a business There was no key card either (Linblad gives you a name tag to wear, not a key card); in fact, we didn't even lock our room during the day, even though it was locked while we slept. There's no pool (not even a hot tub), no spa or fitness center, and the meals are good but not delicious. There's plenty of local fish and produce on the menu – all very popular – and there's always a delicious dessert, but no caviar or foie gras. Alcoholic beverages (except some fine wines and spirits). There were no actual port calls, although we went ashore almost every day. During our week long cruise in Baja, the closest town to Cabo Pulmo was Cabo Pulmo, although we didn't actually go ashore there…we just boarded the Panga Boat to go whale watching. Most of our landings were on remote beaches and we didn't even go ashore every day.

What do you do all day?

With no port, shows, or onboard activities other than nightly debriefs and after-dinner science lectures, you may be wondering how to pass the time on these cruises and whether to get bored. These cruises are not for night owls as things start (and often end) very early. Breakfast starts at 7 o'clock and is finished at 8 o'clock or 8:30. Most of the time, the first tour is at 8:30 or 9 o'clock. This could be hiking or snorkeling. While we plan to stop and watch wildlife and nature interact, the best things we experience often happen by accident. One day we saw a rare fin whale swimming next to our boat, we saw rare and interesting birds on land and sea almost every day, and on our last night we sailed through a “super colony” of over 800 dolphins, including baby dolphins.

We skipped one major stop (a day trip to Boca de Soledad on the Pacific side of Baja) due to the massive decline in gray whale numbers, and at Cabo Pulmo National Park Take a small Phangka boat or use the same boat for a snorkeling trip to see humpback whales and other marine life. The excursion we planned was to swim with sea lions nearby espiritu santo island It didn't happen exactly as planned either. We had planned to go to Los Islotes which was packed with day trippers from Los Cabos. Instead, we sailed to a more remote island and swam with over a hundred juvenile California sea lions and the rarer Guadalupe seals in one of the most breathtaking snorkeling trips I've ever done in my life. Overall we usually had two experiences per day, usually in groups of 10 by Zodiac, but sometimes we were sailing to the next location so the captain would reposition the boat to make it easier to spot whales or dolphins. I'm not bored, but usually I'm asleep by ten o'clock.

Who is this trip suitable for?

If you want to visit more remote locations with a small group of tourists, consider taking an expedition cruise. You need to be adventurous and don't be disappointed by the lack of nighttime entertainment (unless your sense of enjoyment includes learning about the different types of coral). Your feet may be muddy or wet, so you'll need to be adept at wearing a wetsuit. But for the right traveler, and even for those more accustomed to chocolate buffets and umbrella drinks, this is an unforgettable experience.