Discover the New Way to Experience Mediterranean Cruising

Dining on freshly caught fish while enjoying chilled rosé in a cove surrounded by private yachts playing in the clear waters off Sardinia, it was hard to believe I was aboard a sister ship to the one that navigated the famously turbulent Drake Passage and a blizzard with hurricane-force winds last year in Antarctica.

Rather than enduring the cold in search of penguins, whales, and seals, we were busy making pasta with an Italian chef, exploring local fish and produce markets, engaging in friendly cook-offs onboard, and tasting regional wines and dishes.

Welcome to the new era of expedition cruising.

While this sector has historically focused on voyages to colder, more isolated areas like the Arctic and Antarctica, that is evolving with the emergence of sleek, upscale expedition vessels that resemble luxury yachts, sailing in warmer waters for part of the year.

According to Mara Papatheodorou, our onboard culinary expert during a July ‘epicurean expedition’ in the Mediterranean with Atlas Ocean Voyages, what expedition sailings provide is "a deeper dive wherever you go." This American expedition cruise line was established in 2021.

Atlas is one of several expedition companies introducing new and enhanced sailings in regions like the Mediterranean, where instead of delving into glaciers, icebergs, and polar wildlife, they utilize similar equipment to immerse passengers in the beauty and richness of destinations such as Italy, Greece, Spain, and France—with a touch of elegance.

Expedition-style sailing in the Mediterranean

Our 12-day Mediterranean voyage on Atlas’s 196-passenger World Traveller commenced in Rome and concluded in Athens, a favored route for vessels of all sizes. However, apart from a brief stop in Barcelona, we encountered no other ships as we navigated the coasts of Italy, France, and Greece, visiting charming ports and islands such as Elba, Portovenere, Sicily, and Sardinia in Italy, along with Nice on the French Riviera, the Spanish Balearic island of Menorca, and the picturesque city of Chania on Crete.

While this journey was certainly not the extreme adventure typically associated with the term expedition, it provided a cozy, relaxed, and luxurious way to explore away from the crowds. Unlike the natural and wildlife experiences found on polar cruises, these sailings emphasize culinary and cultural immersion both on and off the ship. It’s worth noting that, unlike polar voyages—where excursions are included—these outings come at an additional cost.

In the port city of Sète in southeastern France, we enjoyed local oysters and tuna during a culinary walking tour, before stumbling upon a water jousting tournament along the main canal. This unique sport, originating in the 1600s, features participants standing on ladders extending from large rowboats, attempting to knock each other into the water as the local crowd cheers from the sidelines.

In Sicily, we visited one of the original Marsala wine houses located outside Trapani in the west, where this fortified Sicilian wine is crafted. Additionally, we participated in a chef-led tour of a neighborhood market in Messina on the island's northeastern tip, where the ship’s chef procured the region’s renowned sweet yellow tomatoes, prosciutto, and local cheeses to create a special appetizer for our dinner that evening.

On the Spanish island of Menorca, we traveled to the fishing village of Fornells, where some guests embarked on a food- and gin-themed walking tour. I seized the opportunity to enjoy the refreshing Mediterranean waters by joining a kayaking and snorkeling excursion among stunning underwater rock formations and caves.

Ultimately, the focus was primarily on food, with both onboard and offboard activities providing the deep dives into the rich history of the region’s celebrated cuisine and wines, as promised by Papatheodorou.

Papatheodorou, a culinary expert, editor, and television producer, served as our culinary guide. She enlightened us about the history of regional foods and wines while leading pasta-making classes with Marcello Zaccaria—who has been the executive chef at Academia Barilla since 2001—wine tastings with a Sicilian sommelier, and chocolate-making sessions with Julieta Davey, a Costa Rican chocolatier known for her sustainability efforts, affectionately called Mama Cacao.

While many cruise activities tend to consist of dull lectures meant to occupy time at sea, this was not the case with Atlas. Staying true to the educational essence of expedition cruising, the ship’s lectures, cooking classes, tastings, and discussions were engaging, entertaining, and enlightening. Who would have thought there was such an art to selecting the appropriate pasta size to match the sauce? Papatheodorou termed this the “cling factor.” Additionally, you can actually cook your pasta directly in the sauce instead of boiling it separately!

In addition to mastering dishes like traditional pesto pasta and aglio e olio, a delightful combination of pasta with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, guests engaged in friendly cook-offs to showcase their creativity by crafting the finest Greek salads and chocolate desserts using a selection of provided ingredients.

There’s nothing quite like a bit of healthy competition to foster connections and reveal the true personalities of your fellow travelers.

The increasing trend of polar ships diversifying beyond the Arctic routes.

Atlas, a recent player in the small-ship expedition sector, launched its culinary adventures in the Mediterranean last summer when its vessels were not operating in Antarctica or the Arctic Circle. With the introduction of a third ship last November, the company has broadened its warmer-water offerings to include cultural expeditions in South America, Morocco, and the Azores.

This trend is growing among both mainstream ultra-luxury lines like Viking and Seabourn, which have ventured into the expedition market, as well as more established polar adventure operators.

For instance, Aurora Expeditions, which has been providing Arctic and Antarctic cruises for over 30 years, will expand its offerings beyond polar regions in 2026, introducing immersive itineraries in destinations like Indonesia, Borneo, the Mediterranean, the British Isles, and the Atlantic Coast.

Similarly, Aqua Expeditions, which initially focused on luxury river cruises in the Amazon, has expanded to include river vessels in Southeast Asia and explorer yachts in the Galapagos and East Indonesia. They recently announced plans for a sixth ship—an explorer yacht set to cruise the Seychelles, Zanzibar, and Tanzania starting late 2025.

Like Atlas, Aurora Expedition ships are designed for the challenging polar environments. However, unlike the basic exploration and ice-breaking vessels of the past, which are not renowned for their luxurious accommodations or hotel-like amenities, these newer, sub-200 passenger expedition ships provide modern, upscale features such as spas, pools, and gourmet dining in a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. In essence, their refined nature adapts beautifully to the yacht-like ambiance of destinations like the Mediterranean.

One of the advantages of traveling with Atlas and Aurora is that most standard cabins are more spacious than those found on conventional cruise ships, featuring balconies, cozy sitting areas, and large showers. The public areas include glass-domed observation lounges offering panoramic views, outdoor grills by the pool for alfresco dining, and elegant lecture halls for engaging presentations.

Perhaps the greatest advantage is the ability to anchor and dock in locations that larger vessels cannot access.

Whether you refer to it as expedition cruising, immersive adventure, hybrid experiences, or expedition light, I believe it embodies the essence of small-ship cruising at its finest.