Atlantic Islands Expedition Cruises

Luxury expedition cruises in these archipelagos give an unusual perspective to remote island groups, each with their own flora, fauna and cultural backgrounds, enabling you to explore desert landscapes, national parks, volcanic landscapes and more from your comfortable and luxurious home from home. You will see spectacular scenery as well as learning more about the culture and history of these amazing island groups.

Highlights of a Luxury Atlantic Islands Expedition Cruise

When you visit the remote islands of the Azores, you are exploring where few have been, and meeting very different people, quite cut off from the rest of the world. These Portuguese natives live in pretty towns and remote villages enjoying a gentle pace of life far removed from the frenetic buzz of Europe's cities, and visitors enjoy the beautiful scenery, white and black sand beaches (depending on the island), pretty lagoons and spectacular waterfalls, as well as great walking.

In the Canary Islands, you will find plenty of contrasts. The year-round warm and sunny weather in these Spanish islands has resulted in an extensive tourism infrastructure, but even on a busy island it is quite easy to escape the crowds and enjoy stunning scenery, great hiking, volcanic landscapes so once you are away from the southern parts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria you can enjoy a more authentic style of life.

The Cape Verde Islands offer something else again. Busy hotel developments on certain beaches give a commercialised impression, but once away from them the diverse mix of African and Portuguese cultures give these islands a style all their own, and each island has a distinct character, Beaches and desert dunes contrast with volcanic landscapes and lush valleys, with peaceful seaside valleys and welcoming local people.

The Bijagos islands off Guinea Bissau boast plenty of local wildlife including monkeys, hippos and crocodiles, and the forests and wetlands of the islands provide many ecosystems for this biodiversity. From a cultural point of view, the islands have a fascinating history. The local people are a distinct ethnic group with a culture and language of their own, and visitors enjoy their traditions and festivals.

The Small Ship Difference in the Atlantic Islands

Each island group is different, and within each group, some of the islands are more accessible than others. Visiting by ship enables you to explore widely, even where there is no tourism infrastructure, in a way that would be difficult if you were on a land-based visit.

Futhermore, expedition teams have a variety of skills and knowledge, and between them can help you enjoy the destination more fully, whether the flora and fauna, the geological history, or the culture and influences.

Some of the ports of call will be extremely unusual, and you will be welcomed by people unused to seeing passenger ships, and anxious to introduce you to their way of life.

Small group shore excursions, often by Zodiac, are designed to give you unique and close-up experiences such as meeting local people, learning about projects, and participating in cultural activities.

Luxury Small Ship Atlantic Islands Itineraries

Whilst sometimes you will find your expedition ship calls at one or more of these island groups on a longer itinerary, for example from Southern Africa to Europe, or from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe or to South America, you will also find itineraries that focus specifically on one island group, giving you a unique insight into the region, and an adventure that few others will have experienced.

Sometimes access is difficult, and the cruise line will help out with a charter flight. In other cases it is easy to fly into the main airport, but accessing the other islands would be difficult if you were not on a ship.

Luxury Expedition Cruise Lines That Visit the Atlantic Islands

Ponant has plenty of options focussed on specific island groups, as well as including the islands on longer voyages.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has a particular focus on the Azores, whilst Windstar have one of their smaller sailing ships based in the Canaries during the winter months. Look out also for Hapag Lloyd expeditions, and for calls on Silversea and Scenic.

Best Time to Cruise the Atlantic Islands

If the ship is there, that's the best time!