Extreme Luxury

Want to go off the beaten track without roughing it? Luxury adventure cruises are booming right now. Nick Dalton looks at the wild voyages that take you out of your comfort zone in style

- Nick Dalton

It’s one thing seeing the giant tortoises of the Galápagos, or penguins in their thousands across Antarctica, or discovering new cultures in Southeast Asia, but it’s also nice to be able to cruise to off-the-beaten-track destinations in style and luxury. And it’s all very well exploring rainforests and rugged mountains, but you still want a hot bubble bath and a glass of Champagne when you return to your ship.

This is adventure cruising for the 21st century: exotic, far-flung destinations combined with exquisite ships. Gone are the days when a date with polar bears meant wearing your scruffs and living the simple life. The world is your oyster, with the choice of small yet glitzy expedition vessels or exquisite but still intimate more traditional cruise ships.

Viking Cruises has recently announced a series of new ocean cruises that will appeal to adventure-seeking travellers. They include In Search of the Northern Lights, which will transport guests to the far north during Norway’s winter, allowing them the greatest chances of seeing the aurora borealis. There’s also Alaska & the Inside Passage, where guests will sail into the wilds of the Great Frontier.