Six Star Expeditions is tapping into one of travel’s biggest trends by expanding its expedition cruises beyond the polar regions, with new European itineraries scheduled for 2027. The company, which specialises in smaller vessels for unique, less-visited ports, was founded in 2009 and has voyaged to polar regions since then.
Expedition cruising surges globally
Expedition cruises are surging globally, with a 150 per cent increase in ship capacity scheduled by 2029. The expedition cruise market was valued at $8.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $18.7 billion by 2034.
While polar regions like Antarctica and the Arctic have long attracted travellers seeking adventure-driven voyages, cruise lines are increasingly responding to demand for expeditions in warmer climes, from the Mediterranean to North Africa and Asia. “Expedition cruises beyond the typical polar regions are becoming more popular as travellers seek more immersive experiences on land and at sea,” Marc Shoffman, The Independent’s Cruise Editor, said. “It provides a new way to explore unique aspects of well-known destinations.”
New European itineraries for 2027
Six Star is one such company embracing the burgeoning approach to travel. Its Atlas Ocean Voyages are mapped around culture, cuisine and history. With new ports in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and England in 2027, its European expeditions take you from the wine regions of Bordeaux to the canals of Amsterdam, or exploring Scotland’s Outer Hebrides by way of Norway.
Designed for every sort of traveller, from the adventurous to the more laidback, Six Star’s expeditions trade resort-style cruising for smaller vessels far beyond the usual ports of call. Think swapping silent discos for descending into 8,000-year-old lava caves in Iceland, pool parties for a safari experience in Tanzania’s Saadani National Park, and whistlestop city tours with paddleboarding among sea turtles in French Polynesia.
Experience and offerings
Six Star Expeditions officially launched this year, but the company has offered polar itineraries since its founding in 2009. “It is always good to choose a cruise line with a track record of expedition experience,” Shoffman advises. “This will ensure your trip will be well organised, and a luxury line can also ensure you get tailored and specialist service.”
Polar region voyages with Six Star involve spotting polar bears, penguins, and humpback whales, while cruising through rugged fjords, breathtaking sea ice and spectacular glaciers. The cruising line has been touring Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Antarctica and the Arctic for nearly two decades, with expert guides unlocking the polar regions’ spectacular wildlife, history and scenery.
Beyond the polar regions, small expedition ships are an increasingly popular alternative to floating resort cruises. Six Star Expeditions sets sail to some of Europe, Asia and North Africa’s most captivating warm-weather destinations, including the Mediterranean, Japan in spring, Cape Town, and Indonesia. For 2027, travellers can book the treasures of Japan and South Korea by sea, or spend nine days circumnavigating Sicily and its cuisine, history and volcanoes, before disembarking in Malta.
With UK summers now rivalling the heat of the Mediterranean, many holiday-makers are craving ‘coolcations’ closer to home. Six Star offers expedition cruises through Norway’s fjords and icy mountains to Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, from the Isle of Skye to the Isle of Lewis. Alternatively, discover the lively charm of Dublin, Cork and Galway with seven-night voyages from Iceland’s volcanic terrains, waterfalls and geothermal wonders. Over nine nights, Six Star’s London to Lisbon cruise takes you from Greenwich in London, past Saint Malo, a storied walled city in France, to Bilbao and its incredible food scene, onwards past Europe’s western shores to Lisbon.
Bookings are open for Six Star Expeditions 2027 voyages.
