Special offer: FREE upgrade plus bonus onboard benefits

#expeditioncruising .

Expedition Cruise Specialists, Swan Hellenic and ExpeditionCruising.com have joined forces to bring cruisers a special offer for a unique Melanesia sailing next March, but be quick.

Expedition cruising is not all about icebergs and penguins. The very nature of discovery is travelling to places that you never knew existed, and so it is with much of Melanesia.

The secret ceremonies of Ambryn, the James Michener stories from Espiritu Santo, and the isolated communities of Nendo and Santa Ana all hold their own unique charms and mysteries.

Aboard the state-of-the-art, 5-star, 152-guest expedition cruise ship, SH Minerva, you’ll enjoy these adventurous destinations in supreme comfort and luxury. In fact, if you book a lead-in Oceanview Stateroom before November 12, you’ll receive a FREE upgrade to the best available Balcony Stateroom

And a USD $500 per couple onboard credit. PLUS a $ 1,200-per-couple flight credit for the flight from Australia to Auckland.

This is on top of the normal inclusions of arrival transfer in Auckland, one night of stylish pre-cruise hotel accommodation, and a post-cruise charter flight from Honiara to Brisbane. 

For more information and booking, contact Expedition Cruise Specialists

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Slow Travel in Vietnam: Cruising the Red River and Halong Bay

From the limestone islands of Halong Bay to traditional villages along the Red River, a small-ship cruise offers a wonderfully unhurried look at northern Vietnam.

By Bev Malzard

Torrential! There really is no other word for the monsoon rain that hammered our ship for 20 minutes. Then, as suddenly as it arrived, it was gone. The air returned to its usual hot and steamy self, and the broad Red River settled into a silky expanse of water the colour of chicken gravy.

Kebschull to lead Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as Susset retires

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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has named Salika Kebschull managing director from 1 January 2027, succeeding Isolde Susset, who will retire after nearly 30 years with the company.

Kebschull joins on 1 November for a two-month handover. Her previous roles include senior positions at Hotel München Palace, Relais & Châteaux and Sea Cloud Cruises. Most recently, she advised international luxury hotels on strategy, sales and guest experience.

Susset helped expand Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ luxury expedition business and develop HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit. She has overseen the fleet as managing director since 2024.

“In Salika Kebschull, we are gaining an experienced leader who combines expertise in international luxury hospitality with sales and cruise experience,” TUI Cruises chief executive Wybcke Meier said.

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Swan Hellenic reports record growth as younger travellers broaden expedition market

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The operator says demand from younger guests and multigenerational groups is expanding opportunities for travel advisers, alongside strong polar and Asia-Pacific sales.

Swan Hellenic has reported record July revenue and an average guest age of 43, as the expedition cruise operator urges travel advisers to widen their customer base beyond retirees.

Leira Maldives yacht planned for 2027 launch

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The 45-metre vessel will carry up to 24 guests on seven- and 14-night cruises through the central atolls.

Maldivian operator 7 Degrees North plans to launch Leira, a 45-metre yacht, in 2027. The vessel will accommodate up to 24 guests in 14 suites and is designed for both leisure travellers and divers. Prebooking enquiries are open, but the operator says reservations and departure dates remain subject to confirmation.

Variety Cruises to launch Croatia and Montenegro itinerary in 2027

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Variety Cruises will launch a seven-night Croatia and Montenegro itinerary in April 2027, with weekly round-trip departures from Dubrovnik aboard the 34-passenger yacht M/Y Callisto.

New hybrid-electric Magellan Discoverer prepares for Antarctic debut [updated]

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UPDATE 28 Sept 2026: ASENAV says the 100-passenger Magellan Discoverer has completed sea trials off Chile, including tests of navigation, safety and technical systems. The PC6 vessel remains in final construction at Valdivia and is expected to receive its first passengers on 15 December.

Antarctica21’s new 96-passenger expedition ship is expected to reach Punta Arenas in late October ahead of its naming ceremony and inaugural Antarctic season.

The Chilean operator says Magellan Discoverer is nearing completion at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Punta Arenas on 25 October, undergo a naming ceremony in November and begin carrying passengers in December 2026.

HX flags financial uncertainty but reports strong booking growth

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Expedition cruise operator HX has sought to reassure travellers and the trade after its latest accounts warned that geopolitical and market pressures may create uncertainty over its ability to continue as a going concern.

HX Hold Co’s second-quarter financial statement said conflict in the Middle East, US tariff announcements and wider market uncertainty had affected near-term demand. These pressures “may cast significant doubt” on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

[updated] Brand new ship for Aranui Cruises to sail French Polynesia's southern islands

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UPDATE 28 September 2026: China’s Huanghai Shipbuilding delivered the 197-passenger Aranoa to Aranui Cruises on 28 September, with the handover confirmed publicly on 7 October. The 116-metre ship carries 48 TEU of cargo and 103 crew, with revenue service from Papeete scheduled for 2027.

Tahiti campaign puts small-ship cruising and remote islands in focus

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New international promotion highlights French Polynesia’s cruise options as Windstar and Aranui prepare to expand operations in 2027.

Tahiti Tourisme has launched A New Feeling Every Island, an international campaign promoting small-ship cruising to explore French Polynesia beyond its best-known resort islands.

andBeyond Amazon Explorer – A New Luxury River Expedition Vessel [updated]

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In yet another exciting addition to their South American portfolio, conservation-led luxury adventure company &Beyond has launched their latest project, a state-of-the-art river expedition yacht to be based in the Peruvian Amazon. Boasting the ultimate in modern design and technology, the &Beyond Amazon Explorer is currently under construction at the SIMA Shipyard in Iquitos, Peru, and is due to set sail on 29 September 2026.

Update: 20 per cent early-bird discount

Pandaw Cruises to Resume Irrawaddy Delta Expeditions After Six-Year Hiatus

River cruise operator Pandaw Cruises will resume expeditions in Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta in November, marking a return to the region after a six-year layup.

The company said its vessels RV Kanee Pandaw and RV Kha Byoo Pandaw sailed from Bagan to Yangon last month for dry docking and survey. Both ships have secured permissions to operate the delta route.