About Heritage Expeditions

The trip to the Southern Fiords was truly the experience of a lifetime! My partner Chris and I were blown away by every moment. Tamzin and Lou, our expedition guides, were fantastic! Their passion and knowledge of the Fiordlands made the journey even more special. I had no idea of the rich European and Maori history in this area, and being able to witness it firsthand was incredible. The housekeeping team, Maia and Juanita, made sure we were always comfortable, and the meals were simply divine—fresh, delicious food at every turn. Jamie, our Captain, navigated with such finesse and kept us entertained with his great sense of humor. And Hamish, the engineer, worked tirelessly behind the scenes and even took on multiple roles, from first mate to zodiac driver. The whole experience was unforgettable, and I can’t thank the team enough for making it so extraordinary. Highly recommend!

I’ve just returned to Canada after an absolutely stupendous trip to the Kimberley region of Western Australia aboard the Heritage Adventurer. Everything from booking the trip to exiting the ship on our last day was first class and run like a well-oiled machine. The guides were informed, interesting, interested, enthusiastic, friendly, and made us guests feel like we were part of the ship family. Every day I wondered how they could top the daily activities, and the next day was another mind-blowing experience. The daily recaps were well-presented and always so interesting. We always knew what was coming up next - everything was very well organized. The camaraderie amongst the guides was obvious and that translated into a truly remarkable experience for me and the many other guests I met and befriended on board. The ship crew were always smiling and quickly learned our names and preferences. To a person, they were delightful and couldn’t have done more to ensure a fabulous experience for all. Great staff, lovely ship and absolutely amazing daily experiences. Wildlife, stunning landscapes, ancient art sites, and guides who explain in detail what we are seeing whether it’s insects, birds, rocks, whales, crocodiles, plants, fish and so much more. I came away with a much deeper appreciation for nature and how we humans are affected by and have an effect on nature. The cruise was ten days, but it felt like I had a month worth of experiences. I’d jump at the chance to explore any place with this company. I’m now hooked on the small ship cruise experience! Thank you Heritage Expeditions!

In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton: Ross Sea Antarctica “A Fantastic Voyage!”

It was a fantastic voyage! The weather was amazing, the ship was stable, all the staff were terrific, the lectures were really interesting the food was excellent & I met many wonderful fellow travellers, some of whom I am keeping in touch with. And now I am belatedly reading a book about the Antarctic explorers it means a lot more, having been to the area, seen the huts etc. So thank you very much for a memorable experience.

A Wild, Wonderful 10 Days in Fiordland. We had everything from high winds, high seas, heavy rain and hail mixed with sunshine, calm seas, rainbows and sunsets. The sounds and fiords with their huge mountains covered in ancient trees and bush are stunning, made even more magical with the rivers and many waterfalls. The wildlife that joined us on our adventure were penguins, dolphins and seals which were a treat to see. The many ocean going birds of Albatross and Petrel loved the conditions and escorted us on our ocean passages. Along the way we learnt the history of this amazing area. Pre European, Captain Cook and NZs first conservationist, Richard Henry. Ship wrecks, whaling, mining, sealers, lighthouses and power stations all contributed to this remote part of NZ which once had busy towns full of people. Who would have known that NZs first European house and ship were built here in Fiordland. A huge thank you goes out to our fantastic crew of Steve, Hamish, Glenda, Genevieve, Sebastian and Maia who made this a truly wonderful trip.

The Best of New Zealand: An Intimate Exploration Cruise of New Zealand's Islands “One of the greatest experiences of my life!”

“The expedition was one of the greatest experiences of my life. We journeyed to many incredible parts of Aotearoa that I wouldn't have otherwise sailed to, hiked, or photographed. I loved how the daily itinerary responded to the weather conditions and different abilities so that we could all have a meaningful time in each place. The vessel is stunning and the crew took excellent care of us, as did the expedition team. Getting to know them and our fellow adventurers was a special part of the trip. It still feels like a dream!”

Have just booked a trip later in the year and the service I had with the staff and Emma in particular has been wonderful. Thank you 😊

Our trip on Hertiage Explorer to the Southern Fiords was awesome. There was not one aspect that we could fault. The food, crew, expeditions ashore, fellow passengers and the knowledge of our guides was A+. We will definately book with you again - 2024 around the Bay of Islands.

I just returned home from the Sacred Japan trip, I highly recommend this expedition, everything was first class, the meals, the staff, the expedition guides and lecturers. We enjoyed amazing excursions at each port. I met many fellow passengers and enjoyed their company in the evenings. It was a wonderful experience and a great way to visit Japan.

Galapagos of the Southern Ocean: New Zealand and Australia's Subantarctic Islands “This was a Fantastic Trip - I Enjoyed Every Moment”

This was a fantastic trip! From the glorious king penguins, to the sweet young elephant seal pups with their huge eyes, to the breathtakingly beautiful albatrosses on Campbell Island, and the colourful megaherbs, I enjoyed every moment. The sub-Antarctic islands are all very different, with unique landscapes and characteristics that were wonderful to experience. It was great to watch the lectures on board the ship, and our guides were very knowledgeable, helpful, fun and organised. We were so spoiled with the delicious meals and almost endless choices on board as well! The ship became a very cozy, familiar place and I enjoyed meeting some wonderful guests and exploring or cruising around in Zodiacs together. This trip really was a photographer's paradise, the wildlife and landscapes were incredible. Thank you Heritage Expeditions, I hope to join you again in the future!

A travel company that makes expedition cruising available to remote places on earth. I had the opportunity to go on a trip to the South Pacific in April 2017. A truly remarkable and well organized expedition and for sure a company I will come back to for more of their trips.

I’ve just had a great trip in the Marlborough Sounds. Excellent staff who were fun and informative. The food was amazing thanks to the wonderful chef. Being able to get off and have walks on land or a swim was great. I would highly recommend this trip.

I had the trip of a lifetime, the boat, crew and expedition leaders were WORLD CLASS! We cruised from Papua New Guinea through the Solomon Islands (Melanesia) for two weeks. The wildlife was wonderful as the indigenous peoples were friendly - Cant wait to do another one of their trips. Thanks for everything!

Took the Feb 2024 28-day journey to Antarctica via NZ Sub Arctic Islands. Paid for deck 6 suite, expensive. Deck 3 had their potholes coved for a great part of the journey because of the rough seas, which are unavoidable. Choices to be made! I kept a journal, and what it boils down to is a great amount of time spent for very little time seeing penguins, huts which are in historically very cold areas. We got to spend 10 min. In each hut visited (we didn't get to all listed in the itinerary), with 6 minutes taken up by a guide talking...so 4 min on your own to look. We were ushered in small groups of 6. Plus, you are given a flash light to hold, which right away limits your ability to take a photo since you are NOT ALLOWED TO SET ANYTHING ON THE GROUND. That goes for the huts as well as anytime you may opt for the very few hikes (2) hikes off the ship. Those on board who were with a photography group were given priority with more information sessions. The nightly lectures were less than insightful. They were given by our guides who doubled as Zodiac drivers. Some were pretty good speakers others, not so much. The food was pretty good, not gourmet. Snacks were cookies provided all day. No protein snacks or healthy snacks. Wait, staff, mainly Asian were friendly and efficient. The rooms: clean, but some windows are rust streaked. Mine was fine on the 6th level. The bath rooms are probably one of the room' best features. The shower was great. Never any water issues. Forget individually controlling your room temp. Lower decks cold, and my room temp could vary by 10 degrees 68 to 78. I did not participate in the pool plunge or the Artic Polar sea plunge. I think some participated out of desperation to just DO something. Don't expect to visit all the places mentioned in the brochure. None of the individual counry Stations in Antarctica allow visitors. Make note of that. That is not make clear in the brochure. All staff members/guides were cheerful and helpful. The scenery was spectacular. You will get many pics of icebergs, rough seas and some cute penguins, and seals... along with abundant Snow Petrel and various Albatross species. If you have narrow feet, try and bring your own gumboots, theirs are for wide feet. Oh yeah, we had injuries on board, so be prepared.