Adventure travel is booming, with many expedition ships in the works, including a new Lindblad polar vessel

Adventure and expedition cruising is exploding, with more than 20 expedition ships now on order throughout the world.

The trend, predicted earlier this year by the industry organization CLIA, or Cruise Lines International Assn.), has developed as an increasing number of passengers request off-the-beaten-track sailing.

“Adventure travel is growing at a record pace and cruise expeditions are seeing the impact,” according to a CLIA report, which added that itineraries for destinations such as Antarctica regularly sell out.

Newly ordered ships include a Lindblad Expeditions ship, announced earlier this month, that will be headed to polar regions in 2020, and the new Celebrity Flora, designed for Ecuador’s Galapagos Island, which was announced Nov. 16 and is expected to launch in 2019.