The eight best wildlife cruises to book now

A cruise provides wildlife lovers the chance to witness extraordinary animals in their natural habitat - SuperBloom House Productions

I will never forget the moment, on a cruise excursion in Iceland in 2024, when a pair of humpback whales appeared next to our boat. As they dived, then flipped their tails out of the water before gliding away, the only sound I could hear was the gasps of my fellow passengers.

Encounters like these are why wildlife lovers turn to cruising – to see extraordinary animals in their natural habitat. Whether you snap a photo or simply watch in awe, it’s unforgettable.

Nature can’t be scheduled, and no sighting is ever guaranteed but some cruises offer better chances than others. Here are eight that bring you closer to those rare, magical moments you’ll never forget.

Find a cruise by type:

• Best for bear viewing
• Best for rainforest wildlife
• Best for the Big Five

Best for the Galápagos

Exploring Galápagos

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

Guests can enjoy activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling led by a team of experts

Key stops: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela

Departure port: Baltra

Duration: Nine nights

Ship: National Geographic Endeavour II

It’s a long way from anywhere – Ecuador is the closest country, 600 miles away – but with over 1,500 endemic species and over 7,500 other creatures, the Galápagos is one of the world’s ultimate wildlife destinations.

Blue-footed boobies, giant Galápagos tortoises, Darwin’s finches and almost no end of underwater wonders await, and one of the best ways of seeing them is via a cruise with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, which sets the standard that other cruise lines try to follow.

With strict Galápagos National Park regulations and biodiversity rules, you can trust Nat-Geo Lindblad to maximise every opportunity to witness wildlife up close. Kayak, paddle-board, snorkel and travel by zodiac and glass-bottom boats with a team of experts – many of whom are Galapagueños and offer an authentic connection to the region.

Insider tip

Itineraries are determined day by day with an early morning activity, a second in the afternoon and, if conditions allow, possibly a third or even fourth.

How to do it

A nine-night Exploring Galapagos cruise round-trip from Quito or Guayaquil costs from £4,368, departing January 30, 2026. Includes excursions, activities, park fees and permits. Excludes international flights.

Best for spectacular marine life

Raja Ampat Cruise

Aqua Expeditions

Aqua Expeditions explores the eastern Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat - Stevie Mann

Key stops: Wayag Islands, Kabui Bay, Dayang Island

Departure port: Sorong

Duration: Seven nights

Ship: Aqua Blu

Indonesia is the world’s centre of marine biodiversity and, on this cruise, guests can explore jellyfish lakes, uncharted mangrove forests, pristine coral reefs and more. The eastern Indonesian archipelago has over 1,500 islands and the forested islands have sheltered lagoons and bays – perfect for snorkelling the coral reefs and spotting reef sharks, manta rays, turtles and rare birds of paradise.

The region has microclimates, so the weather can differ from island to island and hour to hour. For this reason, trips are more organic than tied to an itinerary, but with so many different islands, caves, bays and tropical rainforests, there is always somewhere to explore.

The Aqua Expeditions yacht has chic Scandi styling, wooden flooring, soft accent lighting and just 15 cabins. Hot tubs and outdoor lounges add to the luxury hotel feel.

Insider tip

When booking, push the boat out and plump for a Category 2 suite or above, as the Category 3 suites are small and have fixed twin beds.

How to do it

A seven-night cruise around Raja Ampat in East Indonesia costs from £7,900pp departing February 21, 2026. Includes drinks, excursions and Wi-Fi. Excludes flights to Jakarta and a connecting flight to Sorong. (aquaexpeditions.com)

Best for bear viewing

Northern Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC)

It’s possible to add on a trip on board the Rocky Mountaineer train

Key stops: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier

Departure port: Vancouver (and Banff for the Rocky Mountaineer)

Duration: Seven nights

Ship: Seven Seas Explorer

If you Google cruises to Alaska, you’ll be snowed under with options – and many are excellent. But what sets this cruise apart from the competition is that there’s also the option of bolting on a Canadian train trip on the Rocky Mountaineer.

The train ride takes you from Banff to Vancouver, then it’s on to Alaska’s big hitters – Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and the Hubbard Glacier – before anchoring in Anchorage. Alaska is bear country – the state is home to all three species (black, brown and polar) – but it’s also home to moose, caribou, reindeer, orca, humpback and blue whales.

Regent offers complimentary unlimited excursions, so how about a rainforest canoe and nature trail one day, whale watching the next and a wilderness odyssey to spot bald eagles and brown bears the following day? It really is all there for the taking.

Insider tip

Seven Seas Explorer has a fantastic rear spa deck that’s reached via the changing rooms. It’s open to all, but often underused.

How to do it

A seven-night Northern Explorer cruise and Rocky Mountaineer experience costs from £7,218pp departing May 14, 2026. Includes unlimited drinks, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, gratuities and laundry service. Excludes flights.

Best for rainforest wildlife

Natural Costa Rica

Windstar

Star Pride is a premium but unpretentious ship that carries 312 passengers in all-suite rooms

Key stops: Curu Wildlife Reserve, Punta Leona, Puerto Jimenez

Departure port: Puerto Caldera

Duration: Seven nights

Ship: Star Pride

On a short walk during a recent trip to Costa Rica, I came very close to a toucan, a beautiful green snake, a morpho butterfly and a gang of busy leaf-cutter ants. Four incredible wildlife encounters in the space of around 30 seconds. Later on the same trip, I saw white-faced monkeys, a giant anteater, several tree frogs (I kept my distance), hummingbirds and so much more.

Costa Rica teems with wildlife and Windstar’s itinerary takes you to the right heart of the action. The only downside is that excursions often have wet landings (you step onto the beach rather than onto a dock or a pier), so it might not appeal to every traveller. Star Pride is a premium but unpretentious ship that carries 312 passengers in all-suite rooms.

Insider tip

One of the excursions offered is a rainforest walk in the Osa Peninsula in Puerto Jimenez, an unmissable area of Costa Rica. Book in advance to secure your spot.

How to do it

The eight-night Natural Costa Rica cruise from Puerto Caldera to Balboa costs from £3,599pp departing January 25, 2026. Includes return flights from the UK, overseas transfers, drinks, transfers, gratuities and Wi-Fi.

Best for Arctic animals

Reykjavik to Tromso

Silversea

Silver Endeavour’s luxury suites are a great place to enjoy the views of the Arctic - Santiago Chaer

Key stops: Husavik, Jan Mayen Island, Bear Island

Departure port: Reykjavik

Duration: Seven nights

Ship: Silver Endeavour

Husavik (Iceland) is known as the European capital of whale watching and it’s one of the unmissable stops on this Arctic expedition with Silversea Cruises. Humpback, minke and blue whales are often sighted here.

In the dark volcanic waters of the remote Jan Mayen island, there’s every chance you’ll see more whale action along with Atlantic puffins, northern fulmars and snow buntings. You can’t help but feel the elemental benefits of Iceland’s roaring waterfalls and its scenic fjords.

Silversea’s luxury expedition ship carries 220 guests in all-suite accommodation. Its ice-class hull and cutting-edge exploration technology ensure it easily navigates remote areas of the Arctic while shore excursions (included in the fare) with the team of excellent onboard experts maximise your chance of those once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters.

Insider tip

Silversea Endeavour offers the famous “polar plunge”, should you choose to dive into the icy Arctic waters. It’s not obligatory but when in Rome...

How to do it

A 12-night Reykjavik to Tromso voyage costs from £19,850pp departing on May 15, 2026. Includes flights, transfers, drinks, butler services, expedition gear, shore excursions and Wi-Fi.

Best for an intimate experience

A fresh perspective on Peru

A&K Sanctuary

The new Pure Amazon ship has space for 22 guests

Key stops: Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

Departure port: Nauta Port, Peru

Duration: Four nights

Ship: Pure Amazon

In the Peruvian Amazon, you’ll be very unlucky if you don’t encounter pink dolphins, sloths, toucans, turtles, howler monkeys (you’ll certainly hear them at night), Peruvian night monkeys, several breeds of frogs and piranha fish. And the best way of spotting any wildlife is on a specialist ship, so swerve the big names and big ships that promise Amazonian adventure and seek out something more intimate.

Pure Amazon is a new (launched in July 2024) river ship from A&K Sanctuary. With just 22 guests, it guarantees an intimate, focused experience while the 1-1 passenger to staff ratio ensures impeccable service.

Days typically involve morning and afternoon excursions through hidden waterways, as well as jungle walks, kayaking trips and piranha fishing excursions. Evenings, meanwhile, feature expert-led talks and stargazing sessions.

Insider tip

Don’t be put off by visiting the Amazon at the tail end of the wet season – you’ll have better access to the canopy, where the majority of the wildlife resides.

How to do it

A four-night cruise on Pure Amazon costs £4,025pp departing June 3, 2026. Includes transfers from Iquitos airport, drinks, laundry and Wi-Fi plus entrance to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Excludes international flights.

Best for Antarctica

Crossing the Circle via Falklands and South Georgia

Quark Expeditions

On this itinerary from Quark, you’ll have a chance to encounter the likes of albatross, dolphins, penguins, seals and seabirds - Michelle Sole

Key stops: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula

Departure port: Ushuaia

Duration: 22 nights

Ship: Ultramarine

This epic cruise is one of many Antarctic itineraries, but it includes all of the major highlights. First up, there’s the Falklands, home to albatross, dolphins, and five penguin species – the Gentoo, King, Magellanic, Rockhopper and Macaroni. On arrival in South Georgia, you’ll find 300,000 breeding king penguins, as well as 50 million seabirds and five million seals. And all that’s before you hit the Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle.

The Polar exploration ship, Ultramarine, is equipped with two helicopters to transport you to areas only accessible by air – another reason why Quark Expeditions beats the competition. Antarctic cruises often receive bad press for their potential environmental damage, so the other huge plus is Ultramarine’s power system converts waste into energy – which goes beyond all industry standards.

Insider tip

Every Quark Expeditions cruise has an online “what to pack” video to ensure you are properly prepared for all your animal encounters, so do take the time to watch it.

How to do it

A 22-night Epic Antarctica: Crossing the Circle via Falklands and South Georgia cruise costs from £27,893pp departing January 18, 2026. Includes drinks, specialist expedition leaders, charter flights from Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, and Wi-Fi. Excludes international flights.

Best for the Big Five

Zambezi Safari Cruise

CroisiEurope

The vibe on board a CroisiEurope Zambezi River cruise is relaxed and unpretentious - Lucas Schmitter

Key stops: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe

Departure port: Zambezi River

Duration: Eight nights

Ship: RV African Dream

Sharing poll position with the Galápagos, an African safari is arguably on every wildlife lover’s bucket list. With its potential to tick off the Big Five – elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and cape buffalo – plus a huge variety of colourful birds, including hornbills and hoopoes, a cruise and land tour is the perfect combination.

CroisiEurope’s safari cruises visit South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe and combine a four-day cruise on Lake Kariba with a four-day luxury lodge stay in Namibia, and land and water safaris in Chobe and Matusadona National Parks.

The vibe on board is relaxed and refreshingly unpretentious and, because the ship accommodates just 16 guests in eight suites, you’re sure to bond with your travelling companions over this exciting itinerary – which also includes overnights in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, as well as a lunch cruise on the Zambezi.

Insider tip

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a sundowner on the 360-degree wraparound sun deck.

How to do it

An eight-night Safari Cruise from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe costs from £5,700pp departing February 6, 2026. Includes drinks, domestic flight between Johannesburg and Kasane and excursions. Excludes international flights.

About our expert

Nicole Carmichael

Nicole first went on her first cruise in her 40s and has decades of experience travelling. She’s covered a number of cruises to a range of destinations and has written about everything from dating etiquette at sea to the world’s most extravagant cabins. She can often be found chatting to lost tourists across London, trying to convince cruise sceptics to take the plunge.

Telegraph Travel cruise expert, Nicole Carmichael

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