All the Fiords: The Ultimate Fiordland Experience
Comprehensive South Island fiord cruise with helicopter transfer
Discover the Islands of Japan
Budget-friendly island-hopping cruise for remote coasts, culture & scenery
Fiordland Explored: Doubtful & Dusky Sound Cruises
Focused Fiordland voyage featuring the most remote passages: Doubtful & Dusky Sound
Fiordland North & South Cruises
South Island expedition linking Fiordland highlights with remote coastal cruising
Japan's National Parks, Art & Culture Cruise
Immersive circumnavigation voyage blending national parks, art & cultural heritage
Marlborough Sounds Cruise
South Island cruise through sunny Marlborough Sounds’ coves, history & wildlife
New Zealand Coastal Odyssey Cruise
Comprehensive cruise from North to South Islands through fiords, wildlife & history
Sacred Japan & South Korea
Spiritual Japan cruise to sacred temples, shrines & cultural landmarks
Springtime Splendor in Japan Cruise
Spring sailing timed for cherry blossoms, gardens & cultural celebrations
Heritage Expeditions offers a rich dichotomy of experiences, from exploring a haven for rare, endemic flora and fauna on New Zealand small ship cruises to immersing yourself in some of the world’s oldest continuous cultural traditions on small ship Asia cruises. Learn about Heritage Expeditions’ conservation-driven origins and how to set sail in these Pacific regions.
Heritage Expeditions History
Heritage Expeditions was formed in 1984 with the goal of bridging tourism with conservation. Founders Rodney and Shirley Russ believed personal connections to fragile ecosystems inspire conservation more effectively than any environmental media could. Before co-founding Heritage Expeditions, Russ worked as a biologist with the New Zealand Wildlife Service. His work with endangered species inspired expeditions that maximize experience while minimizing impact.
Why Choose Heritage Expeditions
Choose Heritage Expeditions for a wide range of itineraries across New Zealand and Japan, each designed to deliver an intimate understanding of the ecosystems and cultural traditions unique to the region you visit. Travelers can expect to leave with expert-level familiarity by the end of their cruise.
Aboard small ship Heritage Explorer, spend multiple days focused on specialized corners of New Zealand’s coastline. Set sail on small ship Heritage Adventurer to enjoy a comprehensive journey spanning the full length of the country, from north to south.
During their Japan itineraries aboard Heritage Adventurer, Heritage Expeditions offers the unique experience of fully circumnavigating the country. Sail in comfort on a vessel offering trips for just 76% of her total capacity, ensuring guests never feel cramped during the multi-week voyage.
Two Purpose-built Expedition Vessels
Designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer caps her occupancy at 140, giving passengers the opportunity to spread out and mingle between stops. Built to withstand polar conditions with an ice class rating of 1A Super, guests experience some of the most stable sailing across the Pacific on her New Zealand and Asia itineraries.
Built in New Zealand, Heritage Explorer was crafted for small-group expedition cruising within the region’s fiords, a luxury larger ships can’t offer, due to their size. Carrying just 18 passengers, this ship features exceptionally fresh cuisine, often including fish caught the same day, along with ocean access via kayaks and Zodiacs (or swimming) and onboard experts who paint the full cultural and ecological picture of New Zealand throughout your itinerary.
Sustainability
Supporting nonprofits that protect the habitats Heritage Expeditions visits is central to the company’s values. A key pillar of these efforts focuses on bird conservation, reflecting the founders’ backgrounds as biologists and ornithologists, by funding BirdLife International’s work. A portion of their giving specifically focuses on supporting critically endangered avian species that otherwise receive little to no conservation support. To inform their environmental efforts, Heritage Expeditions holds active membership in a number of conservation organizations, including New Zealand’s Department of Conservation and Forest & Bird.
Heritage Expeditions also prioritizes the regions they visit by practicing intentional stewardship. When a ship anchors, this operator has already made a positive impact. Produce is purchased from locals, passengers are briefed on engaging with local customs and traditions respectfully, and the crew themselves are often locals.
Heritage Expeditions Itineraries
On Heritage Expeditions New Zealand itineraries, take a trip to the region's most unique features sailing Fiordland’s largest fiord, tracing the full length of New Zealand from Auckland to Fiordland, or discovering an intimacy with the Marlborough Sounds that many travelers may never experience.
Discover Japan’s unique natural landscapes and centuries-old cultural traditions on Heritage Expeditions’ Japan itineraries, which includes a short visit to South Korea's southeastern region.
