Family-owned and -operated small-ship expedition cruise company, Heritage Expeditions, is celebrating the release of the second wave of their 2025-26 season onboard their flagship, the luxury 140-passenger vessel Heritage Adventurer, with a 20% Early Bird discount and inclusive flights on select voyages*.

The pioneering, authentic expedition cruise operator is offering a 20% Early Bird discount on its just released Indonesian Explorer, Discover the Secrets of Melanesia, Beyond Fiordland, Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific and Unseen Fiordland & Stewart Island voyages on bookings made by 31 July 2024. Indonesian Explorer has the added bonus of a post-cruise flight from Madang to Cairns included, while Discover the Secrets of Melanesia includes a pre-cruise flight from Cairns to Madang.

Heritage Expeditions Second Wave release also includes a 20% Early Bird discount on Heritage Suites* and a 15% discount on Worsley Suites* on its Galapagos of the Southern Ocean and Birding Down Under Subantarctic voyages, and iconic Ross Sea voyage into the heart of Antarctica In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton.

Commercial Director and Expedition Leader Aaron Russ said, "we are excited to announce another season of sharing the world's best-kept secrets with our intrepid travellers and to support the remote communities and conservation of the wild and remote places we visit."

"The Heritage Expeditions business model is based on the luxury of experience and making a difference through authentic expedition travel," said Aaron.

"Many of the opportunities and experiences on our voyages are exclusive to Heritage Expeditions, whether its joining Malaita's Kwaio people in a dance so sacred it can only be observed if you are invited to take part, such as on our Discover the Secrets of Melanesia voyage, or assisting leading penguin scientist Professor Steve Emslie collect samples at the world's largest and oldest Adelie penguin colony in Antarctica on our In the Wake of Scott and Shackleton expedition, these are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities."

The Second Wave of Heritage Expeditions 2025-26 season includes:

INDONESIAN EXPLORER + Madang to Cairns flight!

18 DAYS | 29 Sep - 16 Oct 2025 / Prices start from £9,795 per person (excl. discount)

Discover paradise on an authentic expedition cruise through Indonesia's remote and little known tropical islands and islets. Swim with whale sharks, walk with Komodo dragons, snorkel world famous Pink Beach, discover Jacques Cousteau's "underwater nirvana" Wakatobi National Park and explore the turquoise waters and rainbow corals of Raja Ampat as we traverse powdery white sand beaches and untamed jungles filled with fascinating wildlife.

DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF MELANESIA + Cairns to Madang flight!

17 DAYS | 15–31 Oct 2025 / Prices start from £9,250 per person (excl. discount)

Sail into a world few will ever experience where unique time-honoured traditions and elaborately costumed dancers welcome us into their world. Explore tropical island outposts and rarely-visited islands as we discover the rich history, iconic WWII sites, cultures (including the opportunity to join Malaita's Kwaio people in a sacred dance and observe the ancient Rom Dance on Ambrym Island), and wildlife of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

GALAPAGOS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

12 DAYS | 26 Nov - 7 Dec 2025 & 31 Dec 2025 - 11 Jan 2026 / Prices start from £7,675 per person (excl. discount)

Explore wildlife rich Macquarie Island as well as Campbell, Auckland Islands and the Snares on one of the most inspirational and informative expeditions into the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Long recognised for their rich biodiversity, the Subantarctic Islands lying to the south of New Zealand are UNESCO World Heritage sites and are home to a vast array of albatross, penguins, petrels, elephant seals and more. This places them in a select group of only 180 natural sites that have been designated as 'the most important and significant natural habitats' on the planet.

BIRDING DOWN UNDER

17 DAYS | 6–22 Dec 2025 / Prices start from £11,695 per person (excl. discount)

Don't be fooled by the name, while this voyage is undoubtedly a birder's paradise, it's also the ultimate Subantarctic adventure visiting all of New Zealand and Australia's Subantarctic Islands, the Chatham Islands and its remote outlying islands! Discover the 'Albatross Latitudes' and explore the world's most remote Subantarctic islands including Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie & Chatham Islands on this comprehensive 17-day expedition perfect for those interested in birds, history, wildlife.

BEYOND FIORDLAND: NEW ZEALAND'S WILDEST ISLANDS

12 DAYS | 21 Dec 2025 - 1 Jan 2026 / Prices start from £7,250 per person (excl. discount)

The ultimate Kiwi adventure - explore New Zealand's Subantarctic Auckland, Snares and Campbell Islands, the untamed wilderness of Fiordland's world famous ice-carved mountains, forests and fiords, encounter threatened native species flourishing on Ulva Island and explore the wilds of Stewart Island. This voyage combines remarkable wildlife encounters and observations as we explore remote parts of New Zealand's Southern region, an area known for its range of birdlife and jaw dropping scenery on a grand scale.

FORGOTTEN ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

8 DAYS | 21–28 Dec 2025 / Prices start from £4,495 per person (excl. discount)

Discover the wildlife rich and remote UNESCO World Heritage Sites of New Zealand's wild and remote Subantarctic Snares, Campbell and Auckland Islands and benefit from our 40 years of exploring our unique backyard. Timed to coincide with the flowering of the island's rightly famous megaherbs which paint the landscape vivid colours and when the wildlife returns to these rugged landscapes to breed, this voyage into the deep south is beyond compare.

UNSEEN FIORDLAND & STEWART ISLAND

6 DAYS | 27 Dec 2025 - 1 Jan 2026 / Prices start from £2,850 per person (excl. discount)

Combining two iconic, hard to reach Kiwi destinations Unseen Fiordland and Stewart Island provides an unforgettable adventure into the wilds of New Zealand. Accessible only by ship, experience the primordial majesty of Fiordland where clouds scud the ragged peaks of glacier-cleaved mountains streaked with waterfalls combined with the time-forgot rawness of wildlife-rich Stewart Island and predator-free native bird sanctuary Ulva Island - the only place in the world where the Kiwi bird is active during the day!

IN THE WAKE OF SCOTT & SHACKLETON

28 DAYS | 10 Jan - 6 Feb & 5 Feb - 4 Mar 2026 / Prices start from £24,250 per person (excl. discount)

Voyage into the heart of Antarctica, via the Subantarctic Islands, on an epic bucket list voyage steeped in history. Expeditions to Antarctica from New Zealand take you further south into the frozen continent than any sea route. Join our team of expert biologists, geologists and historians on a true bucket list expedition as we Zodiac cruise colossal ice shelves and icebergs, visit research stations, observe whales and seals, walk on the ice with emperor penguins and step inside the preserved historic huts of Shackleton and Scott.

The Second Wave of Heritage Expeditions 2025-26 Season is now on sale.

All prices quoted are based on triple share accommodation onboard Heritage Adventurer, all on board ship accommodation with meals, house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Zodiac excursions, guided nature tours, one night hotel accommodation (incl. dinner/breakfast), pre- and post-cruise transfers.

*T&Cs apply, new bookings only, excludes landing fees and optional extras, cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, limited availability or until sold out, when booked by 31 July 2024. Galapagos of the Southern Ocean, Birding Down Under and In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton save 15% off Worsley and 20% off Heritage Suites only.

Heritage Adventurer images:

https://files.heritage-expeditions.com/wl/?id=ylj6mdTBVynucig5elotKOLia9df1s8f

Destination images:

https://files.heritage-expeditions.com/wl/?id=HhPRHWVqtBTVe6CmVjDcDzfQMiiDuUSI

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

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.