Which expedition cruise lines have the lowest-emission ships?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 9 November 2026
These 12 expedition cruise lines publish a lower-emission measure for their own ships 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 have the lowest-emission ships?
12 expedition cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they publish a lower-emission measure for their own ships; Atlas Ocean Voyages, Secret Atlas and Antarctica21 have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
Antarctica21
- Best for
- Flying over the Drake to Antarctica
- Emissions
- Says Magellan Discoverer, new for 2026-27, is South America's first hybrid-electric polar cruise ship, with battery storage and Azipod propulsion.
- Why choose them
- Says it pioneered the Antarctica fly-cruise programme in 2003, flying with DAP Airlines. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 75 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.0 out of 5 from 17 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise, its most popular itinerary, which flies from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
- Not the fit if
- travelling with children under 8: air-cruises take children aged 8 and above, sea voyages 12 and above.
- Published price
- From $15,995 USD per person in a double cabin on Magellan Explorer, Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise, 8 days, late November to early March. Read 9 November 2026.
- Enquiry
- antarctica21.com/book-a-call
Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Best for
- All-inclusive ice-class yachts, sailing year-round
- Emissions
- Lists hybrid power systems on its yachts, plus quiet hydro-jet or wind propulsion for wildlife viewing.
- 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.
- Published price
- From US$12,150 per guest, double occupancy, 11-night Antarctica voyage on World Navigator roundtrip from Ushuaia, 8 March 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- atlasoceanvoyages.com
G Adventures
- Best for
- Small-group travellers on one 128-passenger ship
- Emissions
- Says its new Expedition ship, introduced in 2026, is estimated to cut carbon footprint per person per day by 30 percent.
- Why choose them
- Its ship, the Expedition, carries a maximum of 128 passengers with 14 expedition guides, keeping a 10:1 guest to expert ratio. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 8 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.9 out of 5 from 17,485 reviews, newest 9 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a shared cabin with a same-sex roommate, so you travel alone without paying a single supplement.
- Not the fit if
- you cannot manage stairs: the Expedition has no elevator and Zodiac landings need good mobility.
- Enquiry
- gadventures.com/contact-us
Golden Galapagos
- Best for
- Small catamarans in the Galapagos
- Emissions
- Powers Monique with solar panels, lithium batteries and hybrid engines; it states a fleet-wide cut of 4,325 metric tons of emissions per year.
- Why choose them
- Its parent, Golden Experiences & Travel, achieved B Corporation certification in September 2025. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 49 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a single cabin on Petrel, Elite or Monique if you are travelling solo.
- Not the fit if
- you want flights in the fare: its rates exclude Galapagos flights and mandatory entrance fees.
- Published price
- USD 5,950 per person, double occupancy, 3-night Galapagos cruise on Eminence in a Golden Suite, a launch rate for 2027 travel. Read 9 November 2026.
Grands Espaces
- Best for
- Small-ship Spitsbergen and Greenland expeditions
- Emissions
- Sails Spitsbergen on the Captain Arctic, which it calls a solar-powered sailboat.
- Why choose them
- Keeps one guide for every 10 passengers on Zodiac outings. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 35 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a private charter of one of its ships with an adapted itinerary.
- Not the fit if
- you have reduced mobility: there is no lift on its ships.
- Published price
- From €10,900 per person, 8-day Spitsbergen voyage on Captain Arctic, 6 to 13 August 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
Polar Latitudes
- Best for
- Small polar ships with citizen science
- Emissions
- Says Ocean Albatros and Ocean Victory produce 60% less carbon emissions than other ships in the same class.
- Why choose them
- Publishes a passenger-to-staff ratio of 7:1 to 8:1 on every voyage. Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 7 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 from 189 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Solo Vista Stateroom on MV Discoverer, designed for solo travellers with no single supplement.
- Not the fit if
- you want to sail without travel insurance: it is mandatory at booking, with at least $150,000 USD cover for medical expenses and evacuation.
- Published price
- From $8,817 per person in U.S. dollars, Antarctic Peninsula: The Pure Expedition, 10 days/9 nights on Ocean Victory, Feb 4-13 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- polar-latitudes.com
Ponant
- Best for
- Polar expeditions with French-style service
- Emissions
- Uses no heavy fuel oil, fits diesel-electric engines with SCR catalysts and runs Le Commandant Charcot as a hybrid electric LNG ship, which it says cuts CO2 by 25%.
- 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).
- Published price
- From 9,720 € per person, double occupancy, Fjords et glaciers du Spitzberg, 7 nights on Le Lyrial round trip from Longyearbyen, 3 to 10 July 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- ponant.com
Royal Galapagos
- Best for
- Galapagos cruises on 16-guest family-owned yachts
- Emissions
- Says its boats run high-tech generators that consume minimal amounts of diesel fuel and that it offsets 1.5 tons of CO2 per guest.
- Why choose them
- Its seven Galapagos vessels carry 16 guests each, except Infinity with 20. Google: 2.9 out of 5 from 19 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 from 93 reviews, newest 30 October 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a private charter of a whole yacht for up to 20 guests, on itineraries of 4 to 15 days.
- Not the fit if
- you travel without insurance: it requires all visitors to have travel insurance.
Secret Atlas
- Best for
- 12 to 36 guest polar micro cruises
- Emissions
- Sails Aureum with hybrid propulsion; its vessels run on standard marine diesel rather than heavy fuels.
- Why choose them
- Publishes a 1:6 guide ratio in the Arctic and in Antarctica and South Georgia. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 82 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Antarctic Circle by Air departure, which replaces the Drake Passage crossing with a two-hour charter flight from Puerto Natales to King George Island.
- Not the fit if
- you might cancel late: the initial 30% deposit is never refunded and nothing is refunded less than 3 months before departure.
- Published price
- £9,500 / US$12,500 per person, Signature Twin/Double, Svalbard Spring Micro Cruise on Vikingfjord, 19-26 May 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- secretatlas.com
Swan Hellenic
- Best for
- Cultural expedition cruises on three ships
- Emissions
- Says its ships use 15%-30% less fuel than older vessels, cut NOX with SCRs and urea injection and hold position without dropping anchor.
- 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
Terra Nova Expeditions
- Best for
- Antarctica on a 98-guest ship, activities included
- Emissions
- Says its ship's refit added improved fuel efficiency systems, hybrid-ready infrastructure and onboard emissions monitoring; all voyages are carbon-offset.
- Why choose them
- Keeps its Antarctic expeditions to fewer than 100 guests, with Terra Nova Adventurer taking a maximum of 98.
- Ask for
- Ask for an open-air camping place early: it is included but limited to 30 guests per departure.
- Not the fit if
- you want to fly over the Drake Passage: every voyage leaves Ushuaia and crosses it by sea.
- Published price
- From $6,490 per person in US dollars, Classic Antarctica, 10 days on Terra Nova Adventurer, next departure December 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- terranova-expeditions.com
Viking
- Best for
- Large Polar Class ships with submarines
- Emissions
- Says its expedition ships exceed current EEDI requirements by nearly 38 percent, more than any other expedition ship.
- Why choose them
- Its expedition ships Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, launched in 2022, carry 378 guests each. Trustpilot (whole company): 1.7 out of 5 from 382 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a submarine dive: each submarine takes 6 guests and a pilot.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children: it lists no children under 18 on its ocean voyages; the pages read give no age rule for its expedition ships.
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
8 of the 12 cards show a price for a voyage, with its currency and a date or season. Royal Galapagos and Viking 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.
- Antarctica21
- Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Golden Galapagos
- Grands Espaces
- Polar Latitudes
- Ponant
- Secret Atlas
- Terra Nova Expeditions
Who to contact first
Start with the 4 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.
Lower-emission expedition ships: 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?
10 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?
Atlas Ocean Voyages, Secret Atlas and Antarctica21, 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?
7 of the 12: Antarctica21, G Adventures, Polar Latitudes, Ponant, Royal Galapagos, Swan Hellenic and Viking. 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: Atlas Ocean Voyages, G Adventures, Polar Latitudes, Secret Atlas, Swan Hellenic and Terra Nova Expeditions. 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 publishes a lower-emission measure for its own ships. 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 have the best reviews?
- Which expedition cruise lines have the best expedition teams and naturalists?
- Expedition Cruise Operator Index 2026: 12 Operators Scored on Published Fares, Ice Class and How Many Guests Can Actually Land
- What It's Actually Like Aboard an Expedition Cruise
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.