Which expedition cruise lines are best for Indonesia and Raja Ampat?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 9 November 2026
These 12 expedition cruise lines sell a voyage in Indonesia on their own websites, read 9 November 2026. Each card gives what the line says about it, with the ship, voyage, length, price or number where it names one, then why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes.
Which expedition cruise lines are best for Indonesia and Raja Ampat?
12 expedition cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they sell a voyage in Indonesia; Natural World Safaris, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Cookson Adventures have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
Aqua Expeditions
- Best for
- Small ships in Indonesia and the Galapagos
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Indonesia on the 30-guest Aqua Blu: Bali and Komodo National Park on 7 nights from April to September, Ambon and the Spice Islands in October and November, Raja Ampat from December to February.
- Why choose them
- Runs a fleet of six vessels sailing 12 destinations, founded in 2007 by Francesco Galli Zugaro. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 11 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a private charter, which gives exclusive use of a whole vessel, its crew and all onboard spaces on any of its six ships.
- Not the fit if
- your plans may change late: cabin deposits become non-refundable from 120 days before departure and from 90 days the full payment is kept.
- Website
- aquaexpeditions.com
Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Best for
- All-inclusive ice-class yachts, sailing year-round
- Indonesia voyage
- Includes Komodo and the Spice Islands on Grand Voyages, such as 42 nights from Bali to Mombasa on Atlas Adventurer, 10 February 2029, from US$31,999 per guest.
- Why choose them
- Its three yachts, World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager, are Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B. Google: 4.0 out of 5 from 86 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Drake Express voyage, which includes a roundtrip private charter jet between Punta Arenas and King George Island.
- Not the fit if
- you use an electric wheelchair or scooter: only collapsible wheelchairs are accepted on board.
- Website
- atlasoceanvoyages.com
Cookson Adventures
- Best for
- Private superyacht expeditions planned from scratch
- Indonesia voyage
- Runs a 2027 Raja Ampat expedition aboard the phinisi Silolona with Silolona Sojourns, which it says helps reintroduce critically endangered leopard sharks.
- Why choose them
- Founded in 2009 by polar explorer Henry Cookson, it designs every trip as a private journey for one group. Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 13 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Private Client Manager to design a private yacht expedition, with helicopters, submersible dives or a professional photographer built in.
- Not the fit if
- your budget is under £150,000: it typically works with a minimum spend of £150,000 per journey.
- Money protection
- ATOL licence 12608 on certain bookings, such as flight-inclusive packages booked in the UK.
- Website
- cooksonadventures.com
Coral Expeditions
- Best for
- Small-ship cruises in the Kimberley and Indonesia
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands, 18 nights from Darwin to Sorong on Coral Geographer, 27 December to 14 January 2027.
- Why choose them
- Runs three ships, Coral Discoverer, Coral Geographer and Coral Adventurer, on departures such as the 10-night Kimberley Cruise from Broome to Darwin.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Kimberley departure between Broome and Darwin on Coral Geographer, Coral Adventurer or Coral Discoverer.
- Website
- coralexpeditions.com
EYOS Expeditions
- Best for
- Private expedition yacht charters worldwide
- Indonesia voyage
- Charters the phinisi yachts Lamima and Dunia Baru in Indonesia: Raja Ampat from October to April and Komodo from April to October.
- Why choose them
- Says it pioneered expedition yachting, defining the category in 2008.
- Ask for
- Ask for a book-by-cabin departure, such as Antarctica aboard Sherakhan on December 13-20, 2026, or a private charter planned around your own priorities.
- Not the fit if
- you need a guaranteed polar bear sighting: it says sightings in Svalbard can never be guaranteed.
- Website
- eyos-expeditions.com
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- Best for
- Bilingual PC6 expedition ships, pole to pole
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Expedition Molucca Islands, Raja Ampat and the Philippines, Darwin to Keelung (Taipei) on HANSEATIC spirit, 17 days from 22 May 2028, from €10,970 per person.
- Why choose them
- Its three HANSEATIC expedition ships, commissioned in May and October 2019 and May 2021, have PC6, which it says is the highest ice class for passenger ships.
- Ask for
- Ask for the cruises on its offers list where there is no or only a small surcharge for single occupancy of the cabin or suite.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair: guests who depend on one cannot travel in the Zodiacs.
- Money protection
- Insolvency cover with Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH for European customers; ABTOT ATOL Franchise, ATOL number 12926, for UK customers.
- Website
- hl-cruises.com
Heritage Expeditions
- Best for
- Ross Sea and Subantarctic expeditions
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Indonesian Explorer: Bali, Raja Ampat & Papua New Guinea, departing 7 October 2027.
- Why choose them
- Aims to keep a guide-to-client ratio of 1:12 on its expeditions.
- Ask for
- Ask for the 17 December 2026 Galapagos of the Southern Ocean voyage, which has a wildlife photography workshop with Nikon Ambassador Rachel Bigsby.
- Not the fit if
- you need a refundable deposit: the 25% deposit is non-refundable and on Antarctica voyages the full fare is lost within 120 days of departure.
- Money protection
- Deposits held by Heritage Security Ltd on behalf of Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd under a customer deposit agreement.
Natural World Safaris
- Best for
- Specialist-led wildlife voyages on partner ships
- Indonesia voyage
- Sells the Undiscovered Philippines & Indonesia Safari, a ship expedition through remote islands in search of whale sharks.
- Why choose them
- Has been planning wildlife travel since 2005 and has expertise across 40+ countries. Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 139 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.8 out of 5 from 88 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Svalbard Wildlife Safari, an intimate ship charter focused on polar bears, with its dates and price in writing.
- Not the fit if
- you might cancel within 89 days of departure: 100% of the entire cost is then payable.
- Money protection
- ATOL or Trust My Travel, included for UK and EU clients.
- Website
- naturalworldsafaris.com
Noble Caledonia
- Best for
- Small-ship voyages for mature travellers
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Borneo & Beyond, 19 nights on MS Island Sky from Singapore to Bali via the Derawan Islands and Sulawesi, from £11,995 per person, 31 July 2027.
- Why choose them
- Established in 1991, it owns MS Island Sky and MS Hebridean Sky, which carry 118 guests each. Trustpilot (whole company): 2.2 out of 5 from 24 reviews, newest 2 June 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for sole use of a twin cabin and the solo travellers' evening it hosts on board when numbers allow.
- Not the fit if
- you are travelling with children: it says travelling with children is not recommended and most of its ships have a minimum age of 15-18.
- Money protection
- ATOL for UK residents with air travel included; a bond with ABTA for UK bookings without air travel.
Ponant
- Best for
- Polar expeditions with French-style service
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Îles, villes et volcans d'Indonésie, 14 nights on Le Soléal from Singapore to Benoa.
- Why choose them
- Le Commandant Charcot is a hybrid electric ship running on LNG, which it says cuts CO2 by 25%, nitrogen oxides by 85% and fine particles by 95%. Google (whole company): 4.8 out of 5 from 699 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 644 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a departure with the single supplement waived, marked 'Voyageur Solo 0%', for a double cabin to yourself at no extra price.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children under 6, who are not accepted on expedition cruises (under 8 on Le Commandant Charcot).
- Website
- ponant.com
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive polar yachts with helicopters
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails Secrets of the Spice Islands & Komodo, Darwin to Denpasar, 13 days, 2028 season, from £12,537 per person.
- Why choose them
- Scenic Eclipse takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio.
- Ask for
- Ask for the fare on select voyages that includes a 30-minute helicopter flightseeing experience in Antarctica.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children: Scenic Eclipse sails with adult-only guests.
- Money protection
- ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member.
Swan Hellenic
- Best for
- Cultural expedition cruises on three ships
- Indonesia voyage
- Sails the Raja Ampat & Cenderawasih Bay Expedition, 10 to 11 nights round trip from Sorong, next departing 16 April 2027.
- Why choose them
- SH Minerva and SH Vega carry 152 guests each and SH Diana 192. Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 from 179 reviews, newest 28 October 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask which departures waive the single supplement for solo travellers.
- Not the fit if
- you might cancel within 60 days of departure: 100% of the cruise package price is charged.
- Money protection
- Insolvency bonding with ACTA (Cyprus) for cruise-only and flight-inclusive bookings.
- Website
- swanhellenic.com
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
4 of the 12 cards show a price for a voyage of this kind, with its currency and a date or season. Cookson Adventures, Coral Expeditions, Heritage Expeditions, Natural World Safaris and Ponant publish fares on their own websites without a date or currency on the pages read, so no figure is shown for them. Ask every line for a written quote with the departure date and what it includes.
Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?
7 of the 12 lines name a scheme, bond, licence or account that protects payments for some or all bookings; check the number with the scheme before you pay.
- Cookson Adventures: ATOL licence 12608 on certain bookings, such as flight-inclusive packages booked in the UK
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: Insolvency cover with Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH for European customers; ABTOT ATOL Franchise, ATOL number 12926, for UK customers
- Heritage Expeditions: Deposits held by Heritage Security Ltd on behalf of Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd under a customer deposit agreement
- Natural World Safaris: ATOL or Trust My Travel, included for UK and EU clients
- Noble Caledonia: ATOL for UK residents with air travel included; a bond with ABTA for UK bookings without air travel
- Scenic: ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member
- Swan Hellenic: Insolvency bonding with ACTA (Cyprus) for cruise-only and flight-inclusive bookings
Who to contact first
Start with the 3 lines on this page that publish both a voyage price and their cancellation terms on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates and the voyage you want.
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the fare includes, line by line: flights, hotel nights before and after, drinks, gratuities, excursions, kayaking or camping, parka and boots.
- The ship: passengers on board, ice class where it matters, the cabin and whether anything on board costs extra.
- The deposit, when the balance is due, what you lose if you cancel and what happens if ice or weather changes the route.
- Which scheme or licence protects your money, the travel insurance you need and the medical cover it must include.
Indonesia and Raja Ampat cruises: the questions people ask
What should I ask an expedition cruise line before booking?
What the fare includes, line by line; how many passengers the ship carries and how many go ashore at once; the deposit and what you lose if you cancel; the travel insurance and medical cover it requires; and which scheme protects your money.
Can I book with these lines directly?
Yes. Each card links the line's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes and the cancellation scale.
Do these lines all sell the same kind of voyage?
No. Each card names the voyage, ship or offer the line's own website gives; ship sizes, lengths, routes and prices differ, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.
Do I need travel insurance for an expedition cruise?
8 of the 12 lines set out on their own websites what insurance they ask for; many polar voyages require cover for medical evacuation. Ask each line for the cover it requires before you buy a policy.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
Natural World Safaris, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Cookson Adventures, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a line, not whether it fits your voyage; each card gives the rating and count, read 9 November 2026.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
4 of the 12: Natural World Safaris, Noble Caledonia, Ponant and Swan Hellenic. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 9 November 2026.
Which of these publish their cancellation terms?
6 of the 12: Aqua Expeditions, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Cookson Adventures, Heritage Expeditions, Natural World Safaris and Swan Hellenic. Ask each for the full scale in writing before you pay a deposit.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the line's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these lines chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel expedition cruise lines table, built from the expedition cruise lines ChatGPT names most often. On its own website it sells a voyage in Indonesia. A line is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
- Which expedition cruise lines are best for the Kimberley in Australia?
- What are the best small-ship expedition cruises for wildlife?
- Expedition Cruise Operator Index 2026: 12 Operators Scored on Published Fares, Ice Class and How Many Guests Can Actually Land
- Which expedition cruise lines have the best reviews?
Companies are added at each update. Want to be the company this page features?
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 9 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel expedition cruise lines table. Cards are in alphabetical order. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.