Postcard Getaway

Explore the World’s Most Exciting Cruise Experiences in Places like the Arctic and in Deep-Sea Submarine Expeditions

Written by Kaelie Piscitello

Imagine standing on the deck of a powerful icebreaker, ploughing through the frozen Arctic Ocean, or plunging nearly 1,000 feet beneath the waves in a submarine, peering into the untouched world of the deep sea. Picture sailing through the heart of the Amazon, where pink dolphins swim beside the boat.

Sail along Namibia’s eerie Skeleton Coast, where shipwrecks and ghost towns whisper tales of the past. If you feel ready to trade the ordinary for the unexpected, these thrilling excursions will take you to the world’s wildest and most breathtaking destinations.

Polar Explorer Icebreaker in Lapland

The Polar Explorer Icebreaker in Lapland brings its voyagers to and around the North Pole, giving people a chance to experience life in Santa Land. Part of the fun involves swimming in the icy Arctic Ocean with a floatable dry suit. Children can swim, too, as long as they are taller than 125 centimeters. Tour the ship in sixteen languages and learn all about what life at sea can feel like.

This vessel, which holds up to 199 passengers, also offers the chance to walk on ice safely so people can take pictures in front of the ship and a gorgeous scenic backdrop. The journey lasts three hours, and passengers learn all about working on an icebreaker and its job.

Take this trip from three locations in Finland or Sweden and plan it between December and March when the excursions run.

Submarine Cruise

Travelers view Adventure-Life submarine cruises as luxury, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. These vessels can dive up to 984 feet deep and give people unparalleled views of the Ocean and its gorgeous sea life.

Travelers can easily customize their experiences by choosing between all-inclusive packages worldwide. Furthermore, passengers can dive from any continent, including Antarctica. They can also have expedition experiences traveling to the Amazon, Europe, the Northwest Passage, and the southern Pacific.

On board the ship that brings the travelers to their diving site, people can play board games in the game room, drink martinis in “the club,”  and dine in the Colonade. Each submarine holds seven passengers, including the driver. Three passengers sit on each side of the vessel to peer out into the ocean depths below.

They have special packages for solo travelers, combo sailings, and a “sail of the year” where the company has selected exceptional destinations and excursions.

Amazon River Cruise

Southwind Adventure’s expeditions offer a “natural history and wildlife” voyage, during which passengers can trek through the Amazon rainforest and other popular spots in Peru, including Lima.

The passengers take several tours throughout the Amazon River and have opportunities to swim with pink dolphins, meet nocturnal wildlife spread throughout the Amazon during night adventures, and fish for sharp-toothed pirana fish.

Guests can choose to stay in Marriott hotels or Amazonian vessels depending on their comfort levels and budget ranges.​​These trips take passengers all over South America to places like Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, and Argentina. The ships sail between April to December, and each voyage lasts 10 days.

Skeleton Coast in Namibia

The Skeleton Coast Cruise takes passengers from Cape Town, South Africa, all the way up the west coast of Africa through Namibia and Angola. People call it the “Skeleton Coast” or the “Gates of Hell” because of the many whale bones and shipwrecks littering it. This coast also has a large fishing industry and once had a huge whaling trade.

During the cruise, people can see many flamingos and rare trees like the Welwitschia mirabilis. In addition to shipwreck spots, the ship stops in a ghost town, Kolmanskop, and people can disembark the boat and explore. The voyage also takes its sailors to Tiger Island off the coast of Namibia. Travelers know Tiger Island for its ghost towns and gorgeous desert landscapes.

Antarctica

Taking a cruise to Antarctica has become a popular destination for adventurous travelers, and influencers often visit to post on their social media. However, Antarctica does not have an airport or any hotels, so everyone is not there for science visits by cruise ship.

Each excursion has a team of experts guiding the group, and they bring an educational flare to the journey. Everyone begins the journey from the southernmost tip of South America, called the “end of the world.”

During the voyage, many people go camping, do polar plunges, and kayak during the 2-3 hour periods when they can disembark from the ship. Of course, everyone loves to meet the penguins there too.

With Swoop Antarctica, tourists can choose from smaller voyages of up to 80 passengers to larger ships with up to 200. Most people go in December, January, and February. However, some will also go into the shoulder season in November and March. These trips to the most barren continent cost a pretty penny, so save up before planning a trip.