One of the highlights of this week’s TravelPulse Canada awards evening was seeing National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions recognized as Best Small Ship Cruise Line — a well-deserved honour for a company that truly understands expedition travel, education, and meaningful exploration.
I was fortunate to sit with the Lindblad team during the evening, and honestly, the award felt incredibly fitting.
Because expedition travel isn’t just about going somewhere remote.
It’s about how you experience it.
One of the biggest misconceptions I still hear is:
“Expedition cruising sounds too rough for me.”
And years ago, that may have been true for some ships.
But modern expedition cruising can look very different.
Think:
✨ beautifully designed expedition ships
✨ exceptional cuisine
✨ expert naturalists, biologists, and historians onboard
✨ zodiac landings beside glaciers and penguins
✨ photographers helping you capture incredible moments
✨ and access to places most travellers only dream about
Antarctica.
The Arctic.
Galápagos.
South Georgia.
The Norwegian fjords.
The real luxury isn’t only the ship.
It’s access.
Perspective.
Experience.
And choosing the right expedition line matters enormously.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve loved sharing some of my Antarctica moments recently — including a funny little “penguin traffic jam” video where everyone stopped to let a penguin casually wander past us like he owned the continent. ❤️
And honestly?
He did.
One of the most powerful things about Antarctica is realizing very quickly that it’s their world, not ours.
The wildlife isn’t staged.
The landscapes don’t feel real.
And there’s a humbling quality to expedition travel that stays with you long after you return home.
That’s also why I love working with expedition companies like Lindblad Expeditions, who combine:
✨ education
✨ conservation
✨ science
✨ exploration
✨ and exceptional guiding
into experiences that feel transformational rather than simply touristic.
Many of my expedition clients don’t think of themselves as “cruise people” at all.
They’re often:
❤️ wildlife lovers
❤️ hikers
❤️ photographers
❤️ history buffs
❤️ birders
❤️ lifelong learners
❤️ people fascinated by the natural world
And expedition cruising gives them access to places that would otherwise be nearly impossible to experience safely or comfortably.
One of the greatest joys of my work is helping people realize that adventure travel doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort — and that some of the most extraordinary places on earth are actually more accessible than they imagine.
And sometimes?
That adventure starts with simply stepping aside for a penguin.