Heritage Expeditions
PremiumSee how Heritage Expeditions describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1New Zealand family company running expeditions since 1984, known for the Ross Sea and the Subantarctic Islands.
- 2Ice-class ships: Heritage Adventurer (1A Super, ex-Hanseatic) and Heritage Discoverer (1A, ex-Silver Explorer), plus the 18-guest yacht Heritage Explorer in New Zealand.
- 3Fares include a hotel night, transfers, all expedition excursions, lectures and house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
- 4From 2026-27: Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and Falklands from Ushuaia, and Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and British Isles voyages on Heritage Discoverer.
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise line90 days before departure (120 days for Antarctica; 60 days on Heritage Explorer)
Balance (75%) due 90 days before departure on Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Discoverer (120 days for Antarctica voyages) and 60 days before departure on Heritage Explorer. Travel insurance details must be supplied before final payment.
Applies to: All bookings (Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd Passage Contract)
If insurance details aren't provided when requested, Heritage may cancel the booking with no refund (Terms 9.3-9.4). Fares can rise for unforeseeable cost increases until 20 days before departure; over 10%, the guest may cancel with a full refund.
Deposit
Per cruise line25% non-refundable deposit
Non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total expedition price to confirm the booking. A booking form and confidential medical form are required for every passenger.
Applies to: All bookings (Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd Passage Contract; one set of terms for all markets)
Deposits are held by Heritage Security Ltd under a customer deposit agreement. Late payment: 1% interest a month plus collection costs of 15% (minimum US$50 / AUD 70 / NZD 80 / GBP 50 / EUR 50), and Heritage may cancel on the day of default.
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise line180+ days: US$750 pp admin fee (US$315 Heritage Explorer); 179-91 days: deposit lost; within 90 days: 100% (Antarctica 120 days; Heritage Explorer 60 days)
Written notice; effective the day Heritage receives it. More than 180 days before departure: full refund less an administration fee per person of US$750 (Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Discoverer) or US$315 (Heritage Explorer). 179-91 days: deposit forfeited (Antarctica: 179-121 days). Within 90 days (Heritage Explorer: 60 days; Antarctica: 120 days): total fare forfeited, and any unpaid balance is due immediately. Changing date, destination or cabin type after booking counts as a cancellation.
Applies to: All bookings (Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd Passage Contract)
Administration fees are also published as AUD 1,080 / NZD 1,160 / GBP 585 / EUR 715 (Adventurer and Discoverer) and AUD 440 / NZD 500 / GBP 250 / EUR 315 (Explorer). The Terms don't say what happens between 180 and 179 days; read as the deposit band. If Heritage cancels for too few bookings (up to 30 days out) the booking moves to another expedition or is refunded minus unrecoverable costs.
Onboard extras & packages
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Gratuities (standard rooms)
- Not included (no suggested amount published)Per cruise line
- Gratuities (suites)
- Not included (same as other cabins)Per cruise line
- Drink package
- House beer and wine included with lunch and dinner on Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Discoverer; other drinks extra. House drinks included on Heritage Explorer.Per cruise line
Sources differ
Heritage Expeditions' pages word the drinks inclusion differently. Some voyage pages call the trip an 'all-inclusive voyage' (Fiji, Samoa & Tonga; Japan), but the same pages' fare inclusions list only 'house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner' and the exclusions list drinks, laundry and gratuities. We show the fare inclusions and exclusions.Tropical Islands of Fiji, Samoa & Tonga voyage page South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Peninsula voyage page - Premium drink package
- Not included (bar drinks charged; prices not published). Suites include a minibar replenished daily.Per cruise line
- Soda package
- Included with lunch and dinner; otherwise extraPer cruise line
- Non-alcoholic package
- Not published by the cruise line
- Wi-Fi (basic)
- Not published by the cruise line
- Wi-Fi (premium)
- Not published by the cruise line
- Specialty dining package
- Not offered: all meals on board are included. Worsley and Heritage Suites add complimentary in-room dining.Per cruise line
- Specialty dining (avg per meal)
- Not applicable (no extra-charge dining)Per cruise line
- Fitness classes
- Gym on Heritage Discoverer; no fitness classes publishedPer cruise line
- Spa / thermal pass
- Heritage Discoverer: Wellness Centre with sauna and massage room and two outdoor Jacuzzis (treatment prices not published). Suites get a US$100 per person spa credit.Per cruise line
- Air program
- International and domestic flights are not included on Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Discoverer voyages. Heritage Explorer voyages to Stewart Island include charter flights and coach transfers from Invercargill.Per cruise line
- Other fees & perks
- Included: one pre-cruise hotel night (most voyages), transfers, all expedition shore excursions, lectures, and landing fees or 'local payment' where listed. Extra: kayaking (where offered), laundry, drinks outside meals, gratuities, flights, visas and travel insurance.Per cruise line
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- Tell Heritage at booking about any disability, assistance, special equipment or medical equipment; assistance is given only if Heritage agrees in writing. Per cruise line
- Wheelchairs & scooters
- Not all ship areas, ports or excursions are accessible; some landings are by tender or Zodiac, and some are wet. Heritage may require a fit companion and does not provide personal care. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- Ship's doctor and medical centre (not hospital-standard). Heritage may ask for proof of fitness to travel. Travel insurance covering evacuation is mandatory. Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing, service animals, guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Upgrade & suite ladder
entryMain Deck and Superior cabins (Heritage Adventurer, 22 m²); Superior Staterooms (Heritage Discoverer, 18 m²)
Per cruise lineHeritage Adventurer: 22 m² cabins with portholes (Main Deck) or panoramic windows (Superior), lounge and writing desk; triples and singles available. Heritage Discoverer: 18 m² Superior Staterooms with a picture window and queen or twin beds.
midSuperior Balcony Staterooms (Heritage Discoverer, 19-20 m²)
Per cruise line19-20 m² including a 1.5 m² French balcony, queen or twin beds, marble bathroom with shower (Heritage Discoverer). Heritage Adventurer has no balcony category below the suites.
topSuites: Navigator, Discovery, Worsley and Heritage (Heritage Discoverer, 37-67 m²); Worsley and Heritage (Heritage Adventurer, 22-44 m²)
Per cruise lineHeritage Discoverer suites 37-67 m² with balconies; Heritage Adventurer suites 22-44 m². All suites: minibar replenished daily and a US$100 per person spa credit. Worsley and Heritage Suites add complimentary in-room dining; Heritage Suites (and Worsley on Heritage Discoverer) add free laundry.
Loyalty program
Not published by the cruise line
None published. Heritage Expeditions has no sister brands on its own pages.
Military & veterans
We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Included on Ushuaia voyages: one pre-cruise hotel night, transfer to the ship and an airport transfer at the end.
Which ports: Varies by voyage; see each voyage page.
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Good to know
Travel insurance with evacuation cover is required
Per cruise lineEvery passenger must have comprehensive travel insurance, with medical, accident and repatriation/emergency evacuation cover of at least US$150,000 on Subantarctic voyages and US$250,000 on Antarctic voyages. Insurance details are due before final payment, or the booking can be cancelled without refund.
Pregnancy: not beyond 23 weeks
Per cruise lineHeritage Adventurer and Heritage Discoverer cannot carry guests who will be 24 weeks or more pregnant by the end of the cruise; up to 23 weeks a medical certificate of fitness to travel is required.
Ross Sea and Subantarctic specialist
Per cruise lineHeritage runs month-long Ross Sea voyages from New Zealand ('In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton', January-February) and New Zealand and Australian Subantarctic island voyages each southern summer, plus Antarctic Peninsula trips from Ushuaia on Heritage Discoverer.
Heritage Explorer is an 18-guest New Zealand yacht
Per cruise lineHeritage Explorer sails Fiordland, Stewart Island and the Marlborough Sounds with 18 guests in 10 cabins. Its fares include house drinks (and charter flights on Stewart Island trips), the balance is due 60 days before departure and the cancellation fee is lower.
Fares include a hotel night and transfers
Per cruise lineMost voyages include one pre-cruise hotel night with dinner and breakfast, transfers to the ship and all expedition shore excursions; Subantarctic voyages also include landing fees. Disembarkation can be delayed by weather, so don't book onward flights before noon.
Prices shown in US dollars
Per cruise lineThe website shows fares in USD; the Terms publish fees in USD, AUD, NZD, GBP and EUR. Heritage is a New Zealand company (Christchurch) and its contract is under New Zealand law.
Fleet
- Ships
- 3 ships: Heritage Adventurer (140 guests, built 1991, ex-Hanseatic), Heritage Discoverer (130 guests, built 1989, ex-Silver Explorer) and the yacht Heritage Explorer (18 guests, New Zealand only)Per cruise line
- Newest ship
- Heritage Discoverer (formerly Silver Explorer): first voyage November 2026 (Antarctic Peninsula preview), maiden 2027-28 season. No newbuild announced.Per cruise line
- Ship classes
- Heritage Adventurer: ice class 1A Super expedition ship (built 1991, Rauma; 140 guests), Heritage Discoverer: ice class 1A expedition ship (built 1989, Rauma; 130 guests, 12 suites with balconies), Heritage Explorer: 30 m New Zealand expedition yacht (18 guests, 10 cabins)
Where they sail
Last full review: 9 Oct 2026·Last updated: 9 Oct 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.