Making New Friends on an Expedition Cruise

Calling all animal lovers!

In addition to witnessing extraordinary natural wonders, an expedition cruise offers a rare chance to admire incredible wildlife in their natural habitat. Whether it’s watching emperor penguins waddle the icescapes of Antarctica or observing grizzly bears as they feast on salmon in Alaska, some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife experiences await.

Get to know some of the many animals you may encounter on your expedition adventure.

Playful penguins

Set sail to extraordinary Antarctica to get up close to the continent’s most famous resident, the penguin. Living in colonies with populations larger than some cities, around twelve million penguins call Antarctica home. This includes eight of the world’s 17 species of penguins, including Adélie, chinstrap, gentoo, emperor and Magellanic penguins.

Fun Facts | Penguins

Habitat: Southern Hemisphere and the Galapagos Islands

Diet: Carnivore

Life Span: 6-30 years

Did you know… Emperor penguins are the largest breed of penguin, measuring around 115cm tall – the height of an average six-year-old!

Fierce Bears

If you want to witness a mighty bear in the wild, join an expedition to Alaska. With an estimated 30,000 bears, the vast majority of America’s brown and grizzly bears can be found in the Last Frontier. And if you venture to the glaciers further north, you may even be lucky enough to spot a polar bear!

Fun Facts | Grizzly Bears

Habitat: Northwestern North America

Diet: Omnivorous

Life Span: 25 years

Did you know… Grizzly bears can run at speeds of up to 56 kilometres an hour, over 10 kilometres faster than Usain Bolt!

Magnificent Whales

An expedition cruise offers the world’s best whale-watching opportunities. The cold waters of both Alaska and Antarctica are home to some of the most iconic whale species, like blue, humpback, minke and orcas. Throughout your expedition, you might see these gentle giants surfacing near your ship and even breaching dramatically out of the water.

Fun Facts | Humpback Whales

Habitat: Oceans worldwide

Diet: Carnivore

Life Span: 80-90 years

Did you know… Male humpback whales are famous for singing loud complex songs to their female counterparts, lasting up to 30 minutes long!

Bountiful birdlife

An expedition cruise is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Spot the legendary bald eagle and golden eagle in the skies above Alaska, while in Europe you can spot the continent’s largest bird of prey, the white-tailed eagle. In Antarctica, keep your eyes peeled for wandering albatrosses, cormorants and pink-faced sheathbills.

Fun Facts | Bald Eagle

Habitat: United States and Canada

Diet: Carnivore

Life Span: 20 years

Did you know… Bald eagles have vision five times better than the average human and can spot fish up to 1.6 kilometres away!

Slippery Seals

Thanks to a thick layer of blubber and fur, seals are well-equipped for Antarctica’s freezing conditions. In fact, six different seal species live in Antarctic waters: Ross, Weddell, crabeater, leopard, fur and elephant seals. However, it’s the bulbous body and deeply expressive eyes of the Weddell seal that’s most likely to capture your heart.

Fun Facts | Weddell Seal

Habitat: Antarctica and Southern Ocean

Diet: Carnivore

Life Span: 30 years

Did you know… As true seals, Weddell seals do not have outer ears, nor can they walk on all-fours, unlike fur seal species such as sea lions.

Loveable Sea Otters

Embark on an Alaskan expedition for the chance to see the much-beloved sea otter up close. With webbed feet, waterproof fur and excellent eyesight, sea otters live almost exclusively in the water, despite being a mammal with legs. Sea otters are most often seen floating on their backs on the sea surface, a sight likely to make you melt.

Fun Facts | Sea Otter

Habitat: North Pacific Ocean

Diet: Carnivore

Life Span: 10-20 years

Did you know… To keep from drifting apart while they snooze, sea otters often sleep holding paws.

Sly Arctic Foxes

Journey north to the Arctic Circle to spot an Arctic fox in the wild. These sly creatures are best known for their distinctive coat of white fur, the perfect camouflage in the snowy winters. Yet each spring the Arctic fox undergoes a fascinating transformation, shedding their white fur in favour of brown or grey to better match the rocks and plants of the summer tundra.

Fun Facts | Arctic Fox

Habitat: Arctic tundra

Diet: Omnivore

Life Span: 3-4 years

Did you know… Food can be scarce in the tundra, which is why Arctic foxes often follow polar bears to snack on their leftovers.

Striking Puffins

Found in Norway, Iceland and the British Islands, puffins are often nicknamed the ‘Clown of the Sea’ and it’s no wonder why. These seabirds boast a characteristic look of a black crown, grey cheek patches and a bright orange beak. Puffins are best spotted in the spring and summer, as they typically spend the colder months out at sea.

Fun Facts | Puffins

Habitat: North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans

Diet: Carnivore

Life Span: 20 years

Did you know… A puffin’s beak changes colour during the year, turning a dull grey colour in the winter to a vibrant orange in the spring.

Embrace once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters with Australia’s #1 Cruise Agency

Get up close and personal with extraordinary wildlife when choosing from the My Cruises Expedition Collection. Partnering exclusively with Hurtigruten, our Expedition Experts have selected the most extraordinary expedition itineraries, combining them with exclusive extras like flights, hotel stays and more.

Explore our collection of bucket list expedition cruise holidays today.