Pioneering New Zealand-based expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions has released the first wave of their 2025-26 season with a 20% Early Bird discount and news of a cruise industry first on one of its first five itineraries of the season.

The authentic small-ship expedition cruise operator is offering a 20% early booking discount for bookings made by 29 April 2024 on the first nine voyages of its 2025-26 season exploring exotic destinations well off the tourist route around the islands of Japan, Philippines and Indonesia and along Australia's Kimberley coast.

Commercial Director and Expedition Leader Aaron Russ said, "the family-owned and operated cruise company's maiden voyages in Japan and Kimberley in 2023 had been a tremendous success and the company was eager to return in 2025."

"People don't necessarily think of Japan as an expedition cruise destination, but Japan has some 6,852 islands - most of them wild and remote. Mix this with its futuristic cities, iconic gardens, wilderness and wildlife, ancient traditions and history, and world-renowned cuisine delivered in Heritage Expeditions unique style and you have an incredible expedition cruise experience," he said.

The industry-leading expedition cruise company is looking to add another industry first with a visit to Polilo Island in the Philippines on its Asian Island Odyssey voyage, an expedition cruise sailing from Taipei to Darwin.

"We expect to make cruise history as the first expedition ship to visit this remote tropical outpost," said Aaron. "It has the perfect mix of unexplored paradisiacal island, incredible wildlife both above and below the water and a fascinating conservation history."

All voyages are aboard the luxurious, 140-passenger flagship, Heritage Adventurer.

The first wave of Heritage Expeditions 2025-26 season includes:

Eternally Sacred Japan & South Korea

11 Days | 15-25 April & 28 May - 7 June 2025

Discover Japan's seamless blend of ancient customs and ultramodern living, culinary creativity, arts and gardens, as we small-ship expedition cruise from iconic cities to seldom visited remote coastlines between Tokyo and Osaka including Ulsan, South Korea on this unforgettable voyage of discovery.

Discover The Islands of Japan

12 Days | 24 April - 5 May & 4–15 May 2025

Combining a thrilling mix of culture, history and the natural world on this authentic expedition cruise which will see you exploring ancient castles, serenely beautiful gardens and opulent temples and shrines, alongside some of Japan's stunning natural landscapes sailing between Tokyo and Osaka, including Ulsan, South Korea on one all-inclusive voyage.

Japan's National Parks, Art & Culture

16 days | 14-29 May 2025

Set sail on an unforgettable circumnavigation of Japan's main island Honshu and exploration of its unspoiled wilderness, arts, culture and rich history. Highlights include Japan's smallest as well as one of its largest national parks, great gardens, thriving arts centres including iconic art island Naoshima, Hiroshima, South Korea's 'museum without walls' and more.

Asian Island Odyssey

19 days | 9-27 June 2025

Cruise through your bucket list on this ultimate island-hopping expedition sailing from Taipei, weaving through the remote tropical islands of Philippines and Indonesia to Darwin. Crossing both the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator discover rarely-visited islands as we swim with whale sharks, explore colourful coral reefs and white sand beaches and search primeval jungles for the critically endangered crested black macaque, the world's smallest primate the saucer-eyed tarsier and more on this authentic expedition adventure.

Kimberley Explorer

11 days | 27 June - 7 July, 12-22 August & 22 August - 1 September 2025

Discover a landscape like no other as we small ship expedition cruise and explore the untouched beauty of Australia's iconic Kimberley coast and experience its treasure trove of towering, fractured iron-tinged red cliffs, torrential waterfalls, azure waters, hidden coves and caves, secluded white sand beaches, magnificent reefs and rare and endangered wildlife with indigenous customs and connections to an ancient land and rich history.

Prices start from:

£9,545 per person on Eternally Sacred Japan & South Korea (11 days)

£7,995 per person on Discover the Islands of Japan (12 days)

£13,885 per person on Japan's National Parks, Art & Culture (16 days)

£12,675 per person on Asian Island Odyssey (19 days)

£6,795 per person on Kimberley Explorer (11 days) 

Prices quoted DO NOT INCLUDE THE 20% DISCOUNT and are based on two guests sharing a Deck 4 superior twin cabin, including all meals, house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, all shore excursions and activities, one night hotel accommodation (incl. dinner/breakfast), pre- and post-cruise transfers, programme of lectures by noted specialists. Note: Kimberley Explorer does not include one night hotel accommodation. 

For further information please visit: www.heritage-expeditions.com

For images of Heritage Adventurer please visit: Heritage Adventurer

For destination images, please visit: Destination Images

For more information, imagery or to arrange an interview please contact Debra Taylor at toucanmoon, debra@toucanmoon.com / +44 7956 852197

- ENDS -

About Heritage Expeditions

Every year Heritage Expeditions voyages with small groups of between 18 and 140 intrepid travellers to some of the most unique and remote islands, coasts and shorelines on earth aboard their expedition ships Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Explorer on voyages ranging from 5 – 29 days.

Founded in 1984 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, Heritage Expeditions is still proudly family-owned and operated. Contributing to conservation through experiential learning and providing funds for research and management, they are pioneers in environmentally-responsible expedition travel offering intimate group excursions to Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands, through the Pacific, Asia, Australia's Kimberley coast and around New Zealand on their purpose-built expedition ships.

Each expedition is meticulously planned and led by a team of botanists, ornithologists, naturalists and experts in their field, ensuring passengers maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.