Zegrahm gets my highest recommendation… Zegrahm gets my highest recommendation possible. I recently returned from a 13-day Seychelles exploration and snorkel/dive adventure beginning in Zanzibar, visiting something like 9 Seychelles Atolls and islands for tons of daily snorkeling and diving, and finishing in Mahe where we departed from. This was absolutely the best cruise/group experience I have ever had on either land or sea. Zegrahm charters the boats and I was lucky enough to be on the Ponant ship, Le Bougainville, which is very posh, with a friendly and polite staff, an amazing french chef, good food, a nice spa, you name it. My bedroom was like a small luxury hotel and each room had a balcony so you could enjoy seaside and ocean views from your bed or balcony whenever you'd like. It was lovely. I especially appreciated coming back to such a haven after long days of sunshine, beach and snorkeling. Not only was the cruise ship and it's staff fantastic, but the Zegrahm staff were all wonderful. I sat and had dinner with many of them every day and they somehow remembered all our names (99 or so of us). They snorkeled and dove with us, pointing out fish and naming species, they went birding, they provided lectures in the mornings and evenings in their areas of expertise, because Zegrahm hires Marine Biologists, Anthropologists, and countless other individuals (with PhDs) to provide insight and lessons into the history and ecology of the places being visited and seen. At the conclusion of the trip - I didn't want it to end. I had made several like-minded friends for travel, was invited on future trips and exchanged information with almost everyone. We were a family by the end, both staff and customers. Hugs all around as we celebrated all we had seen together and promised to keep in touch. Zegrahm fosters that type of environment when you travel with them - and it was welcoming and especially enjoyable for a solo traveler like myself. These trips aren't cheap - but are worthwhile for all you see and do - most things you'd never be able to see on your own and certainly not with trained ecologists and marine science experts. I believe you get what you pay for. I was one of the youngest on board but there was a small group of about ten 30-40 year olds with the vast majority being probably 50-80. This isn't a sit on the boat all day-type thing. You are going to be waking up early, going out 2-3x a day and really seeing and doing things. You almost never have down time and you are always learning, seeing, talking and doing. It's expeditionary, not sedentary. It's fun and really enriching. The best way to know someone is doing a good job at this price point (think around $8-12k per person) is repeat customers and I met countless people who have done 6-12 of these expeditions with Zegrahm and knew the staff already. That's the absolute best recommendation you can get. I'll be booking with them again without any hesitation. Thank you to Brad, Murph, LJ, Merel, Steven, George, George K., Robin, Pepper, Lisa, Shirley, Gemma, Chris, Boli, Marcel, and anyone else who I forgot from this amazing trip. You all did a great job and made me feel like family!

Of course a bloke was not prepared for… Of course a bloke was not prepared for the experiences in Antarctica aboard the Zegrahm Antarctica 2018 Expedition . You just cannot be . Nor for the extraordinary team Zegrahm put together to look after and inform and ensure ever need of every passenger is met . Their intelligence, passion and everyday kindness was a credit to Zegrahm.

I have been on four expeditions I have been on four expeditions. Enjoyed all of them. Main reasons: 1. Highly informative. Top lecturers. 2. Very well travelled co-passengers. 3. Well appointed ship. Good food and service. Criticism 1. Quite expensive. 2. Too skewed toward USA clients. Eg. in the marketing material they always refer to departure from USA and not home. It makes non US clients as second hand citizens. Simple adjustments can expand their market.

Wonderful expeditions Wonderful expeditions. Just took our 8th trip. The staff of experts is superb. On all cruises there are multiple experts who are not only lecturers but participants. They are available and interactive 24/7. They not only inform but inspire. The trips are fun! The atmosphere is casual and the adventure is always first. The itineraries are never mundane. Ships comfortable and without being over the top. Cannot say enough about this great company.

Trips used to be better Trips used to be better - too many travelers who have done many trips with company - they get special treatment (private fishing w/zodiac and crew, invites to the staff dinner table, etc.), newbies are discounted or ignored. It is very 'clubby'. New staff are girlfriends of existing staff (PDA, lost sunglasses/earrings drama; one girlfriend was excellent, the other was marginal), existing staff 'forget' sunscreen and get burned/complained. Staff has become 'clubby' as well. Too bad, used to be a great experience, now it's way too much money for a marginal experience with the 'in crowd'. Felt like it was high school all over again with a gigantic price tag. Also the souvenir 'coffee table' book is now just a coffee table pamphlet....cheap.