Attention Bird Enthusiasts—These Cruises Are Tailored Just for You

In recent years, HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) has received acclaim for its commitment to sustainability in expedition cruising. Notably, HX was the first cruise line to prohibit heavy fuel and single-use plastics; it has also introduced the industry’s first battery-hybrid-powered vessels. Furthermore, Dr. Verena Meraldi, a biologist, made history as the first chief scientist appointed by a cruise line. This year, HX will donate over 1,500 cabins to scientists conducting field research, and passengers can participate in citizen-science initiatives, such as tracking wildlife sightings through eBird and iNaturalist.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that the National Audubon Society, the foremost nonprofit dedicated to bird conservation in America, announced an exclusive partnership with the expedition cruise line last week.

“Their environmentally friendly practices and dedication to conservation align perfectly with Audubon’s mission,” states Audon’s chief scientist, Dr. Chad Wilsey, to Dinogo. “This collaboration aims to engage more individuals in efforts to safeguard birds and their habitats.”

The partnership will launch this fall with a series of Audubon Voyages—ten sailings across five itineraries—taking birdwatching travelers to Antarctica, Alaska, and the Galápagos Islands. Each voyage will feature a trained ornithologist or a team of local naturalist guides, exploring diverse ecosystems for opportunities to encounter rare and endemic bird species.

Members of Audubon receive a 10% discount on special voyages and 5% off other cruises.

“Audubon Voyages enhance birdwatching experiences by providing expert knowledge and journeys through various ecosystems,” says Dr. Wilsey. “This enriches the experience for bird enthusiasts and fosters a deeper understanding of birds and their habitats.”

The initial itineraries will be launched in the following locations starting in October:

Galápagos Islands

There’s a reason Charles Darwin chose this area to study avian evolution: out of the 56 native bird species on the archipelago, an astonishing 45 are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else. The chain off Ecuador's coast is so vast that HX offers various itineraries. Join Audubon on “Nine of the Best Isles (Western and Northern Route)” on October 15 or December 10, 2024, or on the “In Darwin’s Footsteps (Eastern Route)” on November 6, 2024, January 15, 2025, or February 12, 2025. While aboard, watch the horizon and sea for feathered members of the Big 15, including the Galápagos penguin, blue-footed booby, and Galápagos flamingo. Prices for the Galápagos Audubon Voyages start at $7,476 per person.

Antarctica

The 22-day “In-Depth Antarctica & Patagonia Expedition Southbound” itinerary (October 20) departs from Valparaiso, Chile, tracing the rugged South American coastline, where you’ll have the opportunity to see birds like Andean condors, Austral pygmy owls, and Magellanic and Humboldt penguins. Midway through the journey, the scenery transforms as the ship crosses the often-turbulent Drake Passage and heads to Antarctica for Days 12 through 18, where you may spot gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins, along with seabirds such as skuas, petrels, and terns. Prices for this three-week expedition start at $14,973 per person.

Alternatively, the 16-day “Antarctica & Falkland Expedition” departs from Ushuaia, Argentina, on November 6 and December 14, 2024, offering chances to observe species like king and southern rockhopper penguins, along with endemic Falkland Islands species such as the Falkland steamer duck, named for its wings that resemble an old paddle-steamer ship when flapping on the water. Prices begin at $9,547 per person for this 16-day adventure.

Alaska

If you've ever explored Alaska before, you've likely navigated the Inside Passage or the Gulf of Alaska. The 18-day “Alaska and British Columbia Inside Passage, Bears and Aleutian Islands (Southbound)” takes a much more adventurous route, departing from Nome, crossing the Bering Sea, island-hopping through the Aleutians, making a stop at Katmai National Park, and then traveling through the Inside Passage to Vancouver.

Audubon Voyages on this route will set sail next year on July 7 and September 8. Given the vast distances covered, expect a diverse array of species, particularly seabirds such as tufted puffins, whiskered auklets, black-footed albatrosses, and the diminutive Kittlitz’s murrelets. For the most dedicated birders, this itinerary offers a chance to spot the ultra-rare McKay’s bunting, a resilient white songbird that only breeds on two isolated islands in the Bering Sea. Prices start at $8,648 per person.