I am founder and director of AdventureSmith Explorations, an award winning expedition cruise specialist with a focus on small ships and yachts exploring remote locations with expert naturalist guides.  I have traveled throughout the world working as a guide and later as a manager for small ship cruise lines and prominent ecotourism operators. As a recognized industry leader in small ship cruising, I have been featured on television shows such as Lonely Planet and Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures.  I am actively involved in the adventure niche of the cruise industry and have been a guest lecturer at the Seminar for Thematic Cruises and Ecological Tourism in the Sea of Cortez, Outside Magazine’s IATOS World Congress on Adventure Tourism in Chicago, the REI Travel Show in Seattle.  I am experienced in a wide range of disciplines relating to adventure travel, small ship cruising, guest services, guide and safety training, natural history interpretation, and the development of sustainable tourism. But enough about me.

I started Expedition Cruise News to provide travelers, travel agents and industry colleagues the latest  news and information about expedition cruises and the destinations in which expedition cruises cruise.  Expedition cruises, for purposes of this blog, are defined as cruises aboard small ships or yachts carrying no more than 150 passengers.  These vessels are specially designed to explore up close in remote locations around the world.  The hallmark of an expedition cruise, and how they differ from typical small ship cruises, is the ability to actively explore up close, away from the ship, in the company of trained naturalist guides and expedition leaders. Activities may include, but are not limited to walking, hiking, trekking, kayaking, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, heli-hiking, back country and cross country skiing, small craft excursions, small group tours and wilderness cruising.

Expedition cruises explore virtually every region of the world where water meets land.  From Antarctica to the Arctic, from South Pacific Islands to European Rivers, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.  Expedition ships are everywhere.  Learn about new cruises, ships, destinations and tours.  I’ll share traveler’s blogs that illustrate what expedition cruising is all about.  I’ll interview the movers and shakers in the expedition cruise industry.

I look forward to sharing my passion and knowledge of the small ship and yacht cruise industry. I am also eager to hear from all travelers who are passionate about expedition cruising. Let the dialog begin!