According to Cruise Trade News’ 2026 Annual Report, more than three quarters of respondents aged under 45 (88 per cent) say an expedition cruise appeals to them, with unique experiences (67 per cent) coming out on top as the best aspect of an adventure sailing.

It was no surprise to see the sector prove popular with UK consumers, considering that all of the Expedition Cruise Network’s operators – which includes Ponant, Atlas Ocean Voyages and HX Expeditions – saw sales rise in 2025, along with more than 62 per cent of trade professionals.

The fuel behind this sharp rise in demand for exploration travel is precisely what we’ve attempted to map in our latest Expedition Special. On page four you’ll find the latest updates from across the sector, and on page seven we join Sarah Holt on an adventure to the southernmost tip of South America. We chat with the guides who shape expeditions on page 13, and Swan Hellenic’s Luke Clarke offers an inside track on how to boost sales to West Africa on page 18.