At Clipper, it’s a philosophy for travel. It’s taking a cruise with 100 other travelers instead of 3000 other vacationers. For up-close and personal adventure cruising, look to the small ships of Clipper Cruise Line. Clipper cruise ships travel in secluded waters and shallow coves, allowing passengers close contact with nature and regional cultures. It’s an early-morning Zodiac cruise to seek out exotic birds, a quiet afternoon with the Sun Deck all to yourself.

It’s a twilight barbecue and cocktails on an outside deck while shore lights twinkle in the distance. It’s an evening of stargazing with the ship’s onboard naturalist to show you the constellations from a whole different perspective. On Clipper cruises, even remote areas are accessible because Clipper cruise ships carry landing craft for excursions to small islands and deserted beaches.

It’s being so close to the water, so close to the shore, you can see whales and wildlife from inside your cabin
Instead of entertainers, Clipper ships travel with teams of "enlighteners". On each Clipper cruise, naturalists, historians and other experts lead shore expeditions and offer informal lectures. Clipper cruise menus reflect regional influences and are prepared by chefs from some of America's most prestigious culinary institutes.
Clipper Destinations

Antarctica
There are a few variations of our Antarctica cruises that we offer on the Clipper Adventurer. Our passengers consistently tell us their Antarctic cruise is one of the highlights of all of their travel experiences. All departures are sold out months before sailing. Below 60º South latitude lies the immense "White Continent" of Antarctica, a land like no other in the geography and history of the world. Explore its ethereal icescapes and abundant wildlife during an expedition cruise aboard the 122-passenger Clipper Adventurer, a ship specifically constructed to navigate the waters of this remote environment. Ushuaia is your port of embarkation for the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, in the austral summer, the sun has emerged after the long winter night, and wildlife abounds. View colonies of penguins that stretch as far as the eye can see, thawed coves and waterways that host migrating whales, and seals basking on sun-lit beaches. You'll also explore the remote Falkland Islands, home to wildflowers and tundra grasses in full splendor.

Temples and Gardens of Ancient Japan
Immerse yourself in the myth and mystique of Japan and the serene beauty of South Korea on this incredible voyage aboard the comfortably elegant Clipper Odyssey. Sailing with fewer than 130 fellow passengers, discover Japan’s cultural legacy embodied in elegant gardens, ancient castles, and opulent temples and shrines. Explore historically significant places in Japan’s legendary Inland Sea that are set amidst beautiful natural landscapes. In South Korea, discover Kyongju — the “museum without walls” where history comes alive among tombs, temples, shrines, and pleasure gardens. Throughout this unique voyage, travel in the company of a distinguished group of onboard historians and naturalists, whose knowledge of the extraordinary places you visit will enhance your enjoyment.

Expedition From the Arctic Circle to the Norwegian Fjords
Explore the remote and wild Arctic landscapes of the Svalbard Archipelago and the fjords of coastal Norway during the brief summer season, when the islands and coastal valleys along our journey come alive with wildflowers and animal life. You’ll experience some of the most awesome scenery imaginable — towering mountains; waterfalls; narrow, majestic fjords; bird-covered islands; glacial valleys; and tundra stretching as far as the eye can see.

Navigating New Zealand’s North & South Islands
Explore New Zealand during the austral summer, venturing off the tourist path to experience North and South Islands’ breathtaking bays, abundant wildlife, spectacular national parks and nature reserves, and rich Maori culture during a cruise aboard the yachtlike Clipper Odyssey. Travel with fewer than 130 passengers, tying up in quaint towns and sparkling cities, and discovering secluded spots virtually untouched by tourism, where large ships could never venture. A distinguished group of experts will accompany you, enhancing your enjoyment of this fascinating region.

Bering Sea Expedition - From Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula to Northwest Alaska - 2006
Embark on a unique expeditionary voyage from Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula across the Bering Sea, following the scenic chain of the Aleutian Islands to Nome, Alaska. Explore seldom-visited sites steeped in history and exotic natural beauty. Discover the Kamchatka Peninsula, with its impressive backdrop of more than 300 volcanoes. Experience the area’s history during visits to Attu Island, where the only World War II battle that took place on North American soil occurred; and Kiska Island, home to a large Japanese naval base during World War II. Search for sea lions lazing along the coastlines of the Aleutian Islands; cruise through floating “rafts” of fulmars near Chagulak Island; marvel at the massive bird-filled cliffs of St. Matthew Island; and explore the tundra of St. Lawrence Island. Sail with fewer than 130 fellow passengers aboard the attractive and comfortable Clipper Odyssey, experiencing the advantages for which Clipper is recognized — exceptional, personalized service; superior comfort levels; fresh, made-to-order food prepared by master chefs; and friendly and obliging hospitality staff.
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Arctic Odyssey - Retracing the Routes of the Vikings - 2006
As modern-day explorers, follow in the wake of the fearless Vikings as they embarked on ancient ventures of discovery in the High Arctic. Cruising the same waters and shorelines as Erik the Red, explore the islands that fringe the Arctic Circle as they brim with life during their brief but brilliant summer. Many of these lands were first discovered and inhabited by intrepid Vikings, Irish monks, and Inuit hunters. Unlike these early explorers, however, you’ll cruise in the comfort and convenience of the intimate, 122-passenger Clipper Adventurer. Highly maneuverable, this expedition vessel eschews the crowded conditions and frenetic activities found on big cruise ships, navigating instead in remote wilderness areas and inlets where only a select few ships can sail. Visit tiny communities where people still work and play in traditional ways, and where the cries of seabirds, the day’s catch of fish, and the warmth of the summer sun define the daily routine.

World War II South Pacific Campaign - 2006
Begin your adventure with a stay in harbor-view rooms at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in cosmopolitan Sydney. Then fly to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and sail through the Coral Sea to the Solomon Islands, exploring the original landing site at Guadalcanal. Cruise Iron Bottom Sound between Guadalcanal and Savo, the site of constant naval actions in 1942/43. Visit Plum Pudding, where John F. Kennedy and his shipmates swam ashore after their PT109 was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in August 1943, and go ashore at Vella Lavella, where Colonel Gregory (“Pappy”) Boyington led the Black Sheep Squadron in downing 94 enemy aircraft during a scant 12 weeks of fierce combat.

Stars of the Southern Hemisphere - From the Fjords of New Zealand to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef –
Travel to New Zealand and Australia during the austral summer for an extraordinary expeditionary cruise. Enjoy two exciting precruise days in Queenstown before venturing off the tourist path for a voyage to the breathtaking fjords of New Zealand and the secluded islands that border Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, take advantage of the fact that our cruise coincides with the New Moon in the Southern Hemisphere; the darkness of the southern skies during this lunar cycle provides the perfect conditions for stargazing and viewing the Southern Constellations.

Treasures of the Adriatic, Featuring Dalmatia and Albania
This voyage along the coastlines of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Sicily, and Malta goes leagues beyond the typical European cruise to delve into the fascinating history and stunning scenery of southern Europe where it touches the Adriatic Sea. Visit Diocletian’s Palace in historic Split; wander through Dubrovnik’s old town of Stari Grad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; walk in the wake of Greek colonists and their Roman successors who left their imprints on Albania’s great colonial city of Butrint; and enjoy coastal views that rival those of the Amalfi coast. As you savor the inviting Mediterranean climate during a lovely time of year, relax in the comfort and convenience of your "floating hotel", experiencing the region’s soft breezes and colorful lifestyles free from frenetic crowds of summer tourists. Onboard historians and local experts enhance this extraordinary voyage with presentations and informal talks about these seldom-visited destinations along the Adriatic Sea.

World War II Italian Campaign - 2006
Discover historic sites that were witness to the dramatic events of World War II’s Italian Campaign during our unique cruise aboard the 122-passenger Clipper Adventurer. In July 1943, Allied forces waged a fierce battle against the Axis powers to win a toehold on the Italian peninsula. The invasion of Sicily — known as Operation HUSKY and led by British General Sir Harold Alexander and American General George Patton — was, and remains, the largest amphibious assault in history, involving landings over a 50-mile front. For 38 days, the Allies fought to drive the Axis forces across the Strait of Messina and on to the Italian mainland. With the successful conclusion of this first large-scale opposed landing on the European continent, the Allies achieved control of the Mediterranean and were in Italy to stay.

Ancient Viking Settlements - Expedition from Norway to Ireland
Retrace the course of the dauntless Viking explorers who once ruled the seas between Scandinavia and the British Isles, sailing their open longboats more than 1,200 years ago. Intriguing reminders of Norse rule will be evident throughout your voyage, particularly in the Stone Age ruins, local handicrafts, and names and dialects in the Orkney Islands. Savor some of the most remote and pristine scenery in the Northern Hemisphere — towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and jagged, bird-covered cliffs. Cruise alongside immense cliffs and outcroppings in sturdy Zodiac landing craft and go ashore in remote areas where no infrastructure exists, accompanied by the ship’s naturalists as they identify the many species of birds, seals, and whales that call these waters home.

South Pacific Islands, Featuring the Skies of the Southern Hemisphere & Leonid Meteor Showers
Exchange the cold winds of early winter for warm currents and gentle breezes as you discover idyllic environments in the pristine South Pacific. Arrive in Nouméa, capital of French-governed New Caledonia — nicknamed the “Island Closest to Paradise” — and set sail along a coastline dominated by towering mountains ringed by tropical forest. Observe the flora and fauna of Vanuatu while experiencing the cultures and traditions of ancient tribes who settled there. Enjoy relaxing days at sea, using the Clipper Odyssey’s Zodiac fleet to explore coral atolls, volcanic islands, and secluded beach environments. By day, swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters; at night, stargaze under the Southern Hemisphere’s brilliant constellations. You’ll sail during the spectacular 2006 Leonid meteor showers, as Earth crosses the orbit of comet Tempel-Tuttle. A distinguished group of experts — including an astronomer — accompanies you to enhance your voyage.