We’re delighted to share that Expedition Cruise Specialists has been named winner of the prestigious 2025 NTIA Escape People’s Choice Award. The winners were revealed at a glittering gala infront of over 1,200 guests at The Star in Brisbane on Saturday night (18 October 2025).
This recognition feels especially meaningful to us, as it comes directly from travellers who have highlighted their outstanding experiences with our team. Each day, we strive to deliver exceptional service and unforgettable journeys, and being nominated in this way is a true validation of our efforts.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate us, and to ATIA for their continued commitment to showcasing the value of booking with accredited tourism businesses.
Congratulations as well to all the other nominees and winners of the 2025 NTIA Awards - we’re proud to be in such great company.
Andrew Castles - General Manager
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About the NTIA Awards
The annual National Travel Industry Awards proudly recognises and celebrates excellence in the Australian travel industry, through a rigorous process which includes nominating, voting and judging candidates, culminating in the announcement of the winners at a Gala Awards Dinner.
Read below for details of our 2026/27 Earlybird Fares!
Yasawa Princess’s return to cruising the waters of the Maldives is drawing closer, and we’ve received a teaser as to what we can expect from the refurbished small ship upon her return. The operators of the 56-passenger vessel have provided us with a series of renders, showcasing a completely modernised vessel that delivers a real “WOW” factor.
Yasawa Princess operates 7 & 14-night sailings from Male, the capital of the Maldives, with a focus on uninhabited islands, sand cays, snorkelling, diving and beach relaxation. Withdrawn from service earlier this year to allow the refurbishment of the vessel to take place, the ship will resume operations on 10 November 2025, in time for the peak cruising season in the Maldives which lasts through to April.
As we can see from the renders supplied to us, the ship’s stylings have been elevated to an entirely new level and promises travellers the opportunity to explore the waters of the Maldives in style. You can check out some of the before and after photos below.
Refurbishments to the dining room have created a light and airy space. 'Old' above, 'New' below.
The sun deck now offers the opportunity for al fresco dining and relaxing afternoon drinks. 'Old' above, 'New' below.
Cruise fares for the 7-night cruise (departures between November 2025 & April 2026.) in a Lower Deck cabin are USD $1,995.00 per person, twin share, while the 14-night cruise is priced at USD $3,990.00 in the same cabin type. The rates are based on the ‘all-inclusive’ fares aboard the ship, which includes accommodations, meals, activities and standard alcohol during your stay aboard. Flights and pre / post cruise accommodations are not included in the fare.
Join the 56-passenger Yasawa Princess on a 14-night cruise discovering the 'Best of the Maldives' and make HUGE savings with our 2026/27 Earlybird Prices.
A limited number of cabins are available on this special offer when you book with Expedition Cruise Specialists by 30 January 2026.
Travel Dates
The special prices are available on the following 2026 / 27 cruise dates (14-night cruises):
09 November 2026
23 November 2026
07 December 2026
29 March 2027
12 April 2027
Earlybrid Prices
Twin Share
Lower Main Deck - USD $2,499 per person (normally USD $3,990)
A Deck - USD $2,785 per person (normally USD $4,395)
Bridge Deck - USD $3,275 per person (normally USD $5,190)
Single Traveller
Lower Main Deck - USD $3,232 per person (normally USD $5,124)
A Deck - USD $3,597 per person (normally USD $5,725)
Bridge Deck - USD $4,230 per person (normally USD $6,735)
To reserve your place aboard the refurbished Yasawa Princess, give the team at Expedition Cruise Specialists a call today on 1800 90 20 80 or fill in the form below for one of our experts contact you.
The renders were supplied by the operator of the Yasawa Princess, Deep Blue Holidays, on 07 September 2025. They are representative of the works to be completed, although some changes / amendments to the renders may be made during the actual refurbishment.
* Valid for new bookings only made from 11 September 2025 until 30 January 2026 or until withdrawn or sold out. Not combinable with any other promotion or offer. Please note that a limited number of cabins are available at Earlybird prices on each cruise. Prices are in United States Dollars.
It’s long been our Amazon Rainforest bucket list cruise, and now the Delfin I’s luxe status has been enhanced following a stunning refurb in early 2025.
Returning to service in Peru’s Pacaya Samiria National Reserve during April, the re-imagined Delfin I combines classical design with contemporary updates. Accommodating just eight expeditioners in four luxuriously-appointed, oversized suites, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime Amazon experience. Each Master Suite features a private panoramic terrace - while the two Deluxe Suites add a private whirlpool for real ‘WOW factor’. There’s also floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting the sights and sounds of the Amazon rainforest directly into your suite, ensuring an immersive connection with nature. You will also enjoy newly remodelled bathrooms, while your suite will be serviced three times each day to ensure you feel totally pampered.
On Delfin 1’s top deck, travellers can relax in a newly-designed lounge area, which comes complete with comfy sofas and a big screen tv, while panoramic windows are likely to draw your eyes to the rainforest views outside. You can enjoy handcrafted cocktails at the bar and stargaze under one of the clearest skies in the world. These thoughtful enhancements reflect Delfin’s commitment to creating elevated, small-group experiences while harmonising with the natural environment.
In the intimate dining room, you will embark on a culinary journey through Peru and the Amazon. In 2017, Delfin Amazon Cruises became the first cruise line in the world to be accepted into the prestigious Relais & Châteaux family. This recognition recognises not only Delfin’s culinary excellence but also a deep commitment to authenticity, sustainability, and unparalleled service. Delfin believes that every dish should tell a story, crafted by expert local chefs who work with seasonal produce to bring the region’s most extraordinary menus to life.
The chefs work closely with local producers, ensuring that every ingredient is fresh, sustainable, and deeply tied to the region. This philosophy extends beyond the kitchen - Delfin maintains its own seasonal garden in Iquitos, an educational initiative that teaches local children about sustainable farming and nutrition.
There’s also been stylish updates to the ship’s exterior, including an air-conditioned observation deck and observatory balconies. The vessel’s new solar panels generate clean energy, further advancing Delfin’s pledge to sustainability and stewardship of the Amazon.
Delfin 1 operates year-round three- and four-night cruises through the Upper Peruvian Amazon, where the Andes mountains yield to dense jungle. Spanning over 5 million acres, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is the largest protected flooded forest on Earth. During your cruise, you will be accompanied by naturalists and local guides as you visit untouched communities ashore or kayak through the rainforest. Comfortable skiffs get you up close and personal with wildlife including pink river dolphins, sloths and myriad birdlife.
We’re often asked by our travellers about the best time of year to experience the Peruvian Amazon. Keep in mind that The Amazon is warm and humid year-round, with daily temperatures typically averaging between a minimum 21°C (70°F) and maximum 33°C (95°F). However, the landscape transforms with the two distinct ‘water seasons’:
• High-water season (December to May) – 85% of the reserve is flooded, allowing deeper exploration by boat into hidden lagoons and forest canopies.
• Low-water season (June to November) – Water levels recede, revealing trails and riverbanks, ideal for walking excursions and wildlife sightings.
A Delfin 1 cruise through the Amazon Rainforest truly is an unforgettable adventure. Experiences like this don’t come cheap though, with the 3-night cruise starting at USD $5,000 per person and the 4-night cruise at USD $6,600 per person. It is important to keep in mind that you’re travelling in an intimate group of no more than four couples, enjoying luxurious surrounds, outstanding dining and incredible small group naturalist-led excursions. This is a travel experience that will live on in your memory forever.
If your budget simply cannot extend that far, the larger 44-passenger sister-ship Delfin III offers similar itineraries, priced at approximately 25% below Delfin 1 prices.
With the 2025 expedition season gearing up on Western Australia’s Kimberley Coast, one of our favourite small-ships, the 32-passenger Eco Abrolhos is debuting a new, refreshed look for her Lower Deck cabins.
Ideally suited to friends travelling together, those on a budget or even single travellers (due to the low single supplement), Lower Deck cabins offer a comfortable home-away-from-home as you experience the Kimberley Coast aboard a true small ship. The cabins feature upper and lower berths, a porthole, air-conditioning, and importantly, a private en suite.
Normally priced at $13,115 per person twin share, we’ve got a handful of cabins available on selected 2025 dates on offer at $11,500 per person, twin share or $12,500 for single travellers.
If you’re after a bit more space, there’s still a handful of Queen Staterooms and the ever-popular King Bed Deluxe Staterooms available across the 2025 Eco Abrolhos Kimberley Season, with some keen pricing on offer, so give our team today a call to find out the best deals currently on offer.
The Eco Abrolhos expedition itinerary takes all guests on a complete Kimberley journey – starting at Broome and finishing at Wyndham or vice versa. By visiting the key sites regularly, the Eco crew know the hotspots, where’s safe to swim, where the wildlife lives, the best fishing holes and where to find the largest variety of birdlife.
Their 13-night journeys are not just thrown together on the run. These expeditions are planned over 18 months in advance to correspond exactly with the best tides and moon phases for each voyage. The longer duration also enables Eco Abrolhos to set off on a spring tide (the largest tides) and finish 14 days later also on a spring tide. This planning is critical to provide the ship the greatest water depth (and assistance from the currents) to get into places like the Berkeley and King George rivers and provide guests the maximum “Wow factor” and water movement at iconic locations such as Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef, all of which are at the start or end of each expedition.
To find out more about Eco Abrolhos and her 2025 Kimberley Cruises, or to take advantage of these special prices, call the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80.
If an expedition cruise on the Amazon River takes pride of place on your travel bucket list you’ll have a lot of important decisions to make when researching and planning your adventure. So, check out our two-minute guide for answers to the top questions about cruising the Amazon River.
There are three key questions you will need to answer when working out which Amazon River cruise will best suit you:
· Which part of the Amazon to focus on?
· Which river ship to select?
· High or low water itineraries?
Here’s all the expert advice you need.
Which Part of the Amazon River to Cruise?
Did you know that the Amazon River and its tributaries flow for 6,437 kilometres through six countries before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean? That’s a lot of river to explore, however the best expedition and river ships concentrate on exploring three main areas of the Amazon region; In Peru, a section of the river near Iquitos, Brazil’s Amazon near Manaus, and the Napo River (a tributary of the Amazon) in Ecuador.
Whilst there is not a lot of difference between the scenery, flora and fauna and wildlife in each region, there are some considerations to make.
Firstly, the Brazilian Amazon River is the widest and most commercially developed. You’ll see lots of boat traffic and also be sharing the river with large cruise ships carrying thousands of travellers. Most Brazilian cruises depart from Manaus, a heaving city of more than two million, and expeditions often include stops in other local communities such as Santarem and Parintins. Brazilian Amazon itineraries are considered to place more emphasis on people and cultures than similar cruises in Peru or Ecuador, which tend to be very focused on nature and wildlife.
The major drawcard of a Brazilian Amazon cruise is the ‘Meeting of the Waters’, near Manaus, where two major tributaries - the light brown Solimoes River and the blackwater Negro River - come together and run alongside each other for several miles without merging.
The Peruvian section of the Amazon is quieter and less developed than the Brazilian section, and also has some of the most luxurious ships to choose from. Most options sail out of the small city of Iquitos (a short flight from Lima), or the nearby town of Nauta. There are no scheduled port stops on these cruises; instead the ships ply the tranquil waters of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, with the itinerary changing from trip to trip to take advantage of water levels and wildlife viewing opportunities. Of course, one of the great things about choosing an Amazon cruise in Peru is that you can easily combine your trip with visits to two of Peru’s other world famous sites; the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.
The third region where you can consider a cruise is Ecuador. A couple of operators run expeditions into Yasuni National Park, which is located on the Napo River, one of the tributaries of the Amazon River proper. Highlights of the cruise include fantastic wildlife viewing, including clay licks that attract thousands of colourful parrots and macaws. If this option is appealing to you, why not combine your Amazon cruise with an expedition in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands – speak to our expedition cruise specialists for more details!
Which Amazon River ships are best?
After you’ve chosen which part of the Amazon you want to concentrate on, it’s then a matter of choosing the best ship. But it can be hard to differentiate between all the various choices and that’s where the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists comes in.
We’ve done all the hard work for you and selected just the very best ships in each region. That means you can rest assured that you will be travelling with an experienced operator, with the best guides, relevant accreditations and safety standards and of course the highest quality ships. Here’s the river ships we recommend for Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.
The 16-passenger motor yacht Tucano was built in the tradition of the steamboats that navigated the Amazon in the late 19th century. Tucano is not a luxury vessel like some of its counterparts in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazon, and some of the cabins are larger than the others, but most travellers agree that the boat is comfortable and elegant. Tucano prides itself on offering the most authentic experience in the Brazilian Amazon and Rio Negro.
The Delfin fleet of three ships offers something for everyone. Our favourite is the intimate eight passenger Delfin I, check out those jaw-dropping cabins! The Delfin II and III are larger vessels, accommodating around 40 guests each and also provide an outstanding expeditions into the heart of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
The 32 passenger Aria Amazon was designed by famed Peruvian architect Jordi Puig. The word that best describes this ship is ‘style’. Aria Amazon features extremely generous dining and lounging areas, including an outdoor river facing jacuzzi. Floor to ceiling windows face the Amazon River in the ship’s 16 Design Suites, each measuring 23 square metres (250 square feet).
The latest addition to the Aqua Expeditions fleet is the stylish 40-passenger Aqua Nera, launched in 2020. Aboard the Aqua Nera, award-winning architects Noor Design crafts every space to perfection. The vessel’s 20 spacious Design Suites convey a sense of Amazon tranquility, while the social spaces showcase refined elegance with a touch of drama.
The 40-passenger Anakonda riverboat is the only luxury boutique Amazon cruise winding its way through Ecuador's 'El Oriente' Amazon region. Anakonda features an expansive observation deck complete with loungers and an outdoor Jacuzzi. A comfortable al fresco lounge offers panoramic views along the river and is an ideal spot for cocktails, relaxation, reading or simply enjoying the view. Anakonda's expert naturalist guides and special travel concierge go out of their way to ensure you a personalised cruise experience.
When to cruise the Amazon? High or Low Water Itineraries
The time of year you cruise the Amazon can have a large bearing on what you can expect to see. The reality is, that being in the rainforest you can expect regular rainfall, which is why we no longer call the two seasons the “wet” and the “dry”. Instead, we can look at the seasons as either “high water” (January to May) or “low water” (the rest of the year).
If travelling in the “high water” period, you can expect to see many birds and monkeys in the branches of the flowering trees lining the river banks, attracted by fruits and blooming flowers after the major tropical downpours. Given the landscapes may be flooded and quite wet, you might expect to spend less time hiking ashore during this period.
After the major tropical storms have subsided, the river waters again begin to subside, and the ‘low water season’ means travellers can expect to see the sandy beaches that line the Amazon, and enjoy plenty of opportunity to travel ashore with local guides to explore on foot.
