The Classic Sailing Team’s top 2025 choices for sailors who love to snap! If you’re looking for photography sailing holidays that go beyond just ‘boats and water’, Classic Sailing has hand-picked our top voyages perfect for capturing wildlife, seascapes and life on deck. Whether it’s for the ‘Gram, the family photo album or your professional portfolio we have voyages that offer the perfect landscape, wildlife or sunset shot and much more!
Surely it’s just water and boats, right?
No way! Even a short voyage along a coastline can uncover an endless array of imagery for your family album or portfolio. The surface of the sea is ever changing. There’s an abundance of wildlife above and below. You don’t even need to look further than the ship itself ! From intricate hand carved lettering in the oak transom seat to the general pottering about of the deck crew to the decorative ropework.
The ships in our fleet are as varied as the destinations and sea areas they sail. If you’re interested in photographing landscapes and sunsets, the views from the deck of a tall ship are unbeatable! The variety of interesting and captivating subject matter on a Classic Sailing voyage is only limited by the skill of the photographer!
Adorama have a great article with ocean photography tips
What gear and how to look after it at sea
First off – ships on the sea can be pretty onerous places for delicate, expensive camera equipment! Due to the usually limited space on board, we recommend bringing your personal belongings in soft bags, rather than hard suitcases. Boats heel over as the tack and gybe along and big seas can throw your things (and you!) about a bit. That’s not to mention the affect the salty air and sea spray can have on delicate electrical equipment. With all that said, we can’t recommend you bring your best, most expensive camera equipment with you.
If you do have your heart set on seeing a photo from your voyage on the cover of NatGeo – please ensure you know how to clean and maintain your gear and look after it as best you can. You may be able to get cover on your holiday insurance but we suggest you check the small print that the cover includes photography equipment at sea.
Of course, you don’t need professional gear. We’ve seen some stunning photos taken on a disposable camera and most mobile phones these days produce better images than stand alone digital camera from the last 10 years. Whatever you choose to bring, we suggest keeping it in a padded, waterproof case when not in use, keep lens covers on while up on deck (remember to remove them when you shoot!), clean the lens and camera/phone regularly with a microfiber cloth. Also, bring extra memory storage and check what power facilities are available on the ship for battery charging – some vessels don’t allow guest phone/battery charging until you’re in port and hooked up to the mains. Some ships have 3 pin plugs and some have 2 pin. Some ships run on 12v and other run on various other systems. Make sure you know before you plug in.
Right – onto our voyage list!
Santa Maria Manuela – Photography Workshop Voyage – SM230825 V29
Sailing the Azores archipelago feels like stepping into another world. The volcanic islands rise from the deep Atlantic, surrounded by warm, wildlife-rich waters. With so much natural beauty all around, exploring the Azores by Tall Ship is a photographer’s paradise! And on this very special voyage aboard Santa Maria Manuela, you’ll be joined by professional, award winning photographer, Julien Carcano for a photography workshop!
Throughout the voyage, Julien will share his expertise in composition, light and framing, helping guests capture the essence of life on board and the stunning landscapes of the Azores. From the golden glow of dawn on the horizon to the impressive waterfalls of Flores and the grandiose caldera of Corvo, every moment will be an opportunity to perfect your craft.
You can take part with any type of camera, from DSLRs and compacts to smartphones, and you’ll have the opportunity to practice as you explore on board and on land. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or an enthusiast looking for new perspectives, this trip provides the perfect setting to develop your skills and create unforgettable images.
Highlights for photographers:
Photography workshops lead by award winning photographer, Julien Carcano
Rich marine life including whales and dolphins
Summer sunsets
Find out more and book your place on this voyage HERE
Morgenster & Eye of the Wind – Action Shots under Full Canvas
If you want fast-moving scenes, sails aloft, hands-on crewing, and powerful imagery from mast-tops or bowsprits, sailing aboard square riggers is the way to go. Capturing the full complexity of sailing these ships—ropes, sails, sea spray, and teamwork—is a challenge worth taking on. Luckily we have 2 beautiful square riggers here at Classic Sailing for you try – Morgenster and Eye of the Wind. Below we have included two very different sailing experiences but both will provide ample opportunity to capture maritime action shots, as well as plenty to do when your camera is packed away!
Morgenster – Crossing the English Channel – MS250625
Join Morgenster for a six-day adventure from the historic naval port of Brest to the renowned maritime town of Falmouth. This passage takes you across the English Channel, a route steeped in maritime history, offering a mix of offshore sailing, coastal navigation, and the satisfaction of making landfall in Cornwall.
Eye of the Wind – Crossing the Atlantic – EYE25/38
Set sail across the Atlantic aboard Eye of the Wind from Tenerife to Barbados with a possible stopover in the Cape Verde Islands. Embrace the uniquely exciting monotony of long-distance sailing, where the ocean becomes your world. Sail over 2600 nautical miles, get to grips with all aspects of sailing the ship, and form lasting friendships. Crossing an ocean is a once-in-a-lifetime experience so make sure you have your camera with you!
Highlights for photographers:
Crew portraits
Landscapes
Heritage in action
Action shots
Tecla – Wildlife and Seascapes – TC010725
To be honest, we could have chosen any of Tecla’s voyage to feature in this section! Tecla is famous for her expedition voyages, regularly sailing from one pole to the other, crossing the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans and sailing from frozen tundra’s to the tropics. The diversity of wildlife Tecla experiences in any given year is unbelievable!
Narrowing down to just one Tecla voyage was a real challenge, but we think Hawaii to Dutch Harbour offers a uniquely varied mix of wildlife encounters that change as the voyage unfolds. You might be greeted by brightly coloured Hawaiian honeycreepers and green turtles as you join the ship, follow the Laysan albatros and humpback whales as you head north, and being welcomed by a fanfare of barking Steller sea lions and the cries of bald eagles as you complete your adventure in Dutch Harbour.
Highlights for photographers:
Sailing vessels in action
Photograph albatrosses, shearwaters, and storm petrels
Track migrating humpback whales
Contrast tropical and subarctic light
Find out more and book your place on this voyage HERE
Grayhound – Life of the Party: Festival Snaps – GR080825
Accommodation aboard Grayhound for the three nights of the 2025 Festival du Chant de Marin in Paimpol. This is photography gold for anyone drawn to candid moments, costumes, characters, and music in motion. Grayhound will be moored up and acting as accommodation right in the thick of the action at Paimpol’s famed maritime festival. Expect tall ships, Breton dancers, and a thriving dockside scene with music day and night.
While this ‘voyage’ is accommodation only, you’ll be right in the heart of the action. Moored alongside the festival fleet—with the added benefit of a comfortable berth aboard a well-kept sailing lugger.
Highlights for photographers:
Lifestyle photography
French landscapes & festival atmosphere
Large gathering of heritage vessels
Unobtrusive Street Photography
Find out more and book your place on this voyage HERE
Missing the sailing aspect? You may also like to book the voyage from Douarnenez to Paimpol HERE
Sunbeam – Dramatic Landscapes & Calm Reflections SB160825
Photograph the light playing on smooth granite islands and quiet forested coves. Sunbeam’s August voyages in Sweden explore the Stockholm Archipelago—a newly named National Geographic ‘Best of the World 2025’ destination. Her traditional rig and historic lines offer photographic opportunities from aboard and ashore.
With long golden evenings and hundreds of forested islands to explore, the Stockholm Archipelago offers ever-changing horizons. In August, daylight lingers late—giving you more time to photograph mirror-still reflections, rocky shorelines, and white-tailed eagles gliding overhead. The quiet beauty of these sheltered waters is a world away from tourist crowds. A landscape photographers dream!
Highlights for photographers:
Long summer days offer lots of opportunities to capture late golden light.
Small remote islands, off the beaten tourist path.
Photograph white-tailed eagles & ospreys.
Shoot from sea and shore.
Find out more and book your place on this voyage HERE
Share your Snaps
Share your stories, feedback and photos with us – we love to see and hear all about your adventures! Not only does it brighten our day, your feedback genuinely helps us and our sailing partners improve our services. Your photo’s show fellow sailors what they might expect on their Classic Sailing Voyage. You’ll receive an email after your voyage inviting you to share your feedback and photos.
You can also tag us on your socials when you share your photos: #classicsailing @classic.sailing.
Be sure to join our mailing list – we occasionally run photo and writing competitions!
Speaking of; our friends at National Historic Ships UK are now accepting entries to their annual photography competition. This year’s theme is “Craft & Crew”
See their website here for more info on the National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition
