Demand for Expedition Cruising Is Rising Despite Affordability Concerns

Expedition cruise is no longer niche, but as awareness of the segment grows, so do challenging misconceptions — such as affordability and fitness level concerns.

This is according to Travel Market Report’s Outlook on Expedition Cruise, 2026, the latest research from TMR. In March and April, we interviewed over 700 travel advisors in the U.S. and Canada on the subject of expedition cruising. The findings were prepared in the new report by VIDEC Consultants, and the Outlook is presented by HX Expeditions.

The survey found that 72% — nearly three-quarters — of travel advisors are now selling expedition cruising. This is a significant jump from the 2025 Outlook on Expedition Cruise, in which 57% of advisors said they sold the segment.

This number is also expected to increase: 80% of advisors told TMR that they expected year-over-year sales growth for the segment in 2026. Last year, just over half of advisors predicted growth.

The increase in expedition cruise bookings appears to be driven, in part, by increased awareness. The downside, however, is that as more clients learn about the segment, not all of the information they learn is accurate. Over two-thirds (67%) of advisors said that cost was the main challenge in selling expedition cruises, and nearly three-quarters (74%) of advisors said the segment’s biggest misconception is that it’s only for the affluent. The second most common misconception, cited by 56% of respondents, is that expedition cruising requires a high level of physical fitness.

TMR has collected these insights and more in the latest Outlook, which can be accessed online here, for free, or via the TMR Training Page.