best arctic expedition cruises

9 of the best Arctic expedition cruises

Published 4th January 2024 in Travel Advice By Alex Loizou /adventure-news/travel-advice/best-arctic-cruises

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The Arctic is infused with an ethereal magic, an icy land at the top of the world where polar bears prowl, cliffs teem with seabirds, and remote Inuit communities eke out a living in extraordinarily tough conditions. Here are some of the best Arctic expedition cruises to book now.

During the Arctic summer, the most popular time to visit on an expedition cruise, the sun never dips below the horizon, while the winter darkness is tempered by the eerie sight of the Northern Lights dancing across the firmament. You will normally be sailing in remote and inaccessible areas, often far from human settlement, so a specialist expedition ship with an ice-strengthened hull is essential. You will occasionally see larger ships calling at the more southerly Arctic ports, but the overwhelming majority of ships operating here are small, usually under 500 passengers, with the top-end luxury lines carrying no more than 250 guests.

If this will be your first or only trip to the Arctic, we would always recommend a cruise to the Svalbard archipelago, high in the Norwegian Arctic. This is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears in the wild, along with walruses, whales, Arctic foxes, reindeer, puffins and more. Key turnaround ports include Longyearbyen (in Svalbard itself), Tromso and Reykjavik. There are occasionally cruises to Svalbard from the UK, though you'll normally still have to fly home.

Expeditions to Greenland and the Canadian Arctic will have more of a focus on the human side of the Arctic, visiting small Inuit communities at the edge of the ice cap, and you'll explore spectacular fjords scattered with icebergs. Iceland also features on many itineraries, a fascinating destination that lies just outside the Arctic Circle. If you want to see the Northern Lights then your options are limited, with Hurtigruten's winter voyages to northern Norway your best bet.

As you might have guessed by now, an Arctic expedition cruise is very different to a regular cruise: your itinerary can change at short notice depending on the position of the ice, the weather and wildlife sightings nearby, and you'll be going ashore in small zodiac boats, usually hopping out directly into the shallows on remote beaches. The ship's onboard expedition team will help you to understand more about your surroundings through engaging talks and lectures, and you'll be accompanied ashore by experienced naturalist guides.

Travelling to the Arctic is not cheap, and there are a number of different operators competing for your custom. With this in mind, we've put together this guide to the best expedition cruise lines visiting the Arctic.

Best Arctic expedition cruises to book now

1. silversea expeditions.

Silversea pioneered the luxury expedition cruise concept, and three of their ever-growing fleet of small ships currently ply the waters of the Arctic. Silver Cloud and the recently refurbished Silver Wind carry 260 guests and 274 guests respectively, though this is limited to 200 in the polar regions. Excitingly, they have recently been joined by 200-guest Silver Endeavour, orginally built for Crystal Cruises and one of the world's most advanced luxury expedition ships.

Reasons to choose Silversea include superb all-inclusive value, with everything from meals and alcoholic drinks to butler service and a professionally produced voyage DVD included in your fare. Itineraries include in-depth explorations of the Svalbard archipelago, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, Iceland and occasional transits of the Northwest Passage.

2. Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten are best known for their Norwegian Coastal Voyage service, ferrying passengers, cargo and mail up and down the craggy coast of Norway. They are one of the few cruise lines with ships in the Arctic during winter, when the Northern Lights are at their brightest.

Hurtigruten also have a growing fleet of specialist expedition ships under their new name HX (short for Hurtigruten Expeditions) with voyages to Svalbard and Greenland during summer. Hurtigruten's ships are some of the largest in the region, ranging from 318 up to 628 guests, so the number of landings each day will be more limited, but appealing fares offer a more affordable way to see the Arctic.

3. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

German cruise line Hapag-Lloyd have nearly three decades of experience in the polar regions, and a new chapter began in 2019 with the launch of two brand new expedition ships, Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration. A third new ship, Hanseatic Spirit, launched in 2021. Don't be put off if you don't speak German - Hanseatic Inspiration is operated as a bilingual ship, with all communications in both English and German.

The style on board is contemporary and Nordic-inspired, with innovations including glass-bottomed balconies, a deck track at the bow for wildlife viewing, and a water-level marina at the back of the ship. The expedition operation is top notch, and destinations include an extensive Greenland and Arctic Canada programme.

4. Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad's small ships are packed full of tools for exploration, including remote-controlled submarines, hydrophones and sea kayaks, while a prestigious tie-up means there is a National Geographic photographer on board every voyage.

Lindblad is a great choice for serious explorers looking for an intimate and informal atmosphere on board; although not ultra-luxurious, this is not a cheap cruise either, with your fare invested in high-end hardware rather than butler service and free-flowing Champagne. Itineraries range from shorter Svalbard sailings to extended Greenland, Canadian Arctic and Northeast Passage expeditions.

French cruise line Ponant have been making waves of late as they rolled out six stylish yachts , the Explorer class, with each ship carrying just 184 guests. The slightly older and slightly larger B oréal class yachts, which entered service between 2010 and 2015 and carry 264 guests, also operate in the Arctic , and offer the same combination of contemporary flair and technological innovation.

Even more exciting for polar explorers is Le Commandant Charcot , the world's first hybrid-powered luxury icebreaker, equipped with a PC6 class hull which allows her to travel into remote corners of Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and all the way to the North Pole itself!

Get your free Arctic guide

Our expedition cruising guide to the Arctic will tell you everything you need to know, including when to visit, what to see and how to get there.

6. Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions focus purely on the polar regions, with nearly 30 years' experience operating in this challenging environment.

Offering quite a choice of different ships and price points, we'd recommend travelling on World Explorer - launched in 2019, it's one of the fastest and finest in the Quark fleet - or Ultramarine, Quark's own ship equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and offering an amazing array of innovative excursions including heli-hikking, heli-biking, heli-kayaking and camping. Quark also offer an extensive range of itineraries: as well as the standard Svalbard and Greenland options.

Scenic's much-anticipated discovery yacht, Scenic Eclipse, launched in July 2019 to great fanfare. This sleek 228-guest vessel is arguably the most luxurious expedition ship currently at sea, with stylish interiors, an amazing 10 different dining options and gadgets including two helicopters and a submarine, with a second near-identical ship, Scenic Eclipse II , recently launched.

Scenic Eclipse is the first in a new generation of expedition vessels, for those who want all the trappings of an ultra-luxury cruise ship while travelling in remote and inaccessible regions of the world. An extensive Arctic programme includes Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland, along with transits of both the Northwest and Northeast Passage.

8. Seabourn

Seabourn Venture launched in 2022 and Pursuit in 2023, two new expedition ships, as Seabourn become the latest ultra-luxury line to enter the expedition market. Seabourn have already dipped their toe in with their expedition-style 'Ventures by Seabourn' programme in Antarctica and Alaska, which will stand them in good stead when it comes to operating in the polar regions.

The experience on board also promises to match the high standards Seabourn guests have come to expect, with personalised service, all-inclusive fares and chic interiors by designer Adam D. Tihany. Operating eye-catching itineraries to Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian Arctic, they are a superb option for longer sailings combining different regions of the Arctic.

9. AE Expeditions

Polar specialists AE Expeditions (part of Aurora Expeditions) offer something a little bit different, with an unusual array of Arctic activities including snorkelling, scuba diving, rock climbing and stand-up paddleboarding.

AE's focus is on immersive experiences and off-the-beaten-track exploration rather than onboard luxury, although their innovative ships, the Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle, represent a significant upgrade on their previous fleet in terms of hardware. These distinctive ships, with their revolutionary X-BOW design, offer a smoother sailing experience and reduced emissions, and explore destinations including Svalbard, Greenland and Canada.

Alex is Director of Sales & Marketing at Mundy Adventures, having worked with the company for 10 years and in travel for over 18 years. His most recent adventure was a cruise on Seabourn Venture and he has also sailed with Regent, Crystal, SeaDream, Tauck and Ponant. His favourite adventure destination is South America however he's also enjoyed adventures in Antarctica, the Western Mediterranean, Middle East, East Africa & Indian Ocean, India, Myanmar and South East Asia. When he’s not travelling he loves walking holidays; a favourite included a trek to Everest Base Camp.

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Arctic expedition cruises

Arctic Saga: Exploring Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen

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29 Apr - 12 May 2025 (13 Nights)

From £8,190 pp

Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway

7 May - 16 May 2025 (9 Nights)

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22-Day Scottish Isles, Iceland & Svalbard

8 May - 31 May 2025 (23 Nights)

From £18,884 pp

11 May - 20 May 2025 (9 Nights)

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From £7,480 pp

12-Day Spectacular Svalbard & Greenland

18 May - 31 May 2025 (13 Nights)

From £9,268 pp

20-Day Iceland, Greenland & Thhe Complete Svalbard Experienc

18 May - 8 Jun 2025 (21 Nights)

Spitsbergen Highlights: Journey into the Arctic Wilderness

19 May - 25 May 2025 (6 Nights)

From £6,040 pp

The Svalbard Line (2025)

Hurtigruten

20 May - 3 Jun 2025 (14 Nights)

From £4,152 pp

23 May - 1 Jun 2025 (9 Nights)

From £7,120 pp

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The Most Amazing Arctic Cruises

Fringing the world’s most northerly territories, the Arctic region is vast and diverse.

By Kim Ayling

Exploring the unchartered oceans of the Arctic is high on most travelers’ bucket lists, but up until recently, visits to the earth’s far-flung corners were reserved only for the hardiest of explorers. Nowadays, however, the impressive advancement of commercial ships means that the best Arctic cruises can travel to these remote shores.

Fringing the world’s most northerly territories, the Arctic region is vast and diverse, spanning from the furthest reaches of Russia and depths of Alaska across to Canada and Scandinavia. The cruising opportunities are equally as diverse, from short stints around Iceland’s glorious fjords to month-long adventures through the whole region – whatever your bucket list trip, you can bet there is a cruise liner that will fulfill it.

Of course, when visiting areas as pristine and as fragile as the Arctic, a meticulous level of responsibility is vital. All of the best Arctic cruises included below uphold strict environmental standards and are committed to protecting this precious corner of the world.

[See also: Explora Journeys CEO on Reshaping the Luxury Cruise Industry]

EYOS Expeditions

When it comes to luxury arctic cruises, EYOS Expeditions is setting a seriously high benchmark. Offering a mixture of cabin-only and private charter itineraries, the company is committed to taking its clients and customers off the beaten track to explore some of the world’s most remote destinations.

Flexibility, intimacy and utmost respect for the pristine natural environment are core to all EYOS journeys, with the team carefully crafting bespoke itineraries depending on guest interests – be it a love of wildlife or interest in scientific research. Potential Arctic cruises might include traveling through the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago or navigating Greenland’s majestic fjords.

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EYOS Expeditions’s Arctic cruises take place aboard a number of dramatic icebreaker superyachts, including the rugged Hanse Explorer . Fresh off a multi-million-dollar refit, the yacht has just seven cabins, as well as a saltwater Jacuzzi and a sauna.

Private charter from $200,000 per week, eyos-expeditions.com

Seabourn Arctic Cruises

Seabourn is an established favorite in the luxury cruise sphere, with its Arctic itineraries some of its best. Its newest ship, Seabourn Venture , was released this summer and fittingly, its first voyage was to the mystical Arctic region. The ultra-luxury vessel is equipped with 132 beautifully finished guest cabins and spacious public areas, as well as plenty of additional toys including a full fleet of kayaks and Zodiacs, and two custom submarines.

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Design to both delight and educate guests, Seabourn’s Expedition Team is made up of leaders in their field – from wilderness experts and scientists to historians and naturalists – who will be on hand to guide passengers through all the wondrous sights they encounter. There’s even an onboard classroom-style Discovery Center designed to host guests for educational workshops and activities.

Seabourn Venture’s 2023 scheduling includes a diverse line-up of Arctic cruises, including a 23-day Celtic Isles journey around the British Isles and Ireland before heading north to Iceland; tours through majestic Iceland, Greenland & the Northwest Passage; and voyages around Greenland and Iceland’s historic Viking territory.

Price dependent on itinerary, seabourn.com

[See also: The Best Cruise Suites to Sail the Seas in Luxury]

Scenic Cruises

Catering for up to just 228 guests, Scenic Cruises are comparably intimate, with a host of onboard amenities and experiences culminating in the ultimate luxury adventure. On board the flagship Scenic Eclipse vessel, travelers can indulge in no less than 10 dining destinations, a 5,920-sq-ft spa and dedicated butler service. For out-of-this-world experiences, there are also two helicopters, a submarine, and a fleet of Zodiacs and paddle boards..

Among its best Arctic cruises is the Norwegian Fjords & Lofoten Islands itinerary. Departing June 2024 from Leith, Scotland, the 12-day itinerary calls at the remote Shetland Isles before heading north to the dramatic coastlines of Norway. Here, the petite discovery yacht will follow in the path of the grand Viking ships of yesteryear and weave its way through the magnificent fjords of Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord. The wildlife spotting opportunities on this luxury Arctic cruise are exciting as you might expect, with the chance to encounter puffins, the white-tailed sea eagle, seals and dolphins.

From $12,070 per person, scenic.co.uk

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten has been navigating the Norwegian coastline for over 100 years, making it a safe bet for some of the best Arctic cruises in the world. Among the highlights of Hurtigruten’s Artic cruise portfolio is an epic 24-day adventure through Greenland and Iceland.

A round-trip from Reykjavik, the itinerary navigates around Iceland, skimming the Arctic Circle as you explore the country’s picturesque coastline. From here, the cruise heads west along the iconic Denmark Straight, where adventure awaits. Expect jaw-dropping scenery and wildlife sightings galore as you cruise journey to some of Greenland’s most dramatic locations, including the Ilulissat Ice Fjord, Disko Bay and the Vaigat Sound, all under the hauntingly beautiful light of the region’s 24-hour Midnight Sun.

Hosted aboard the hybrid-powered MS Fridtjof Nansen , high levels of luxury come as standard on this cruise. Guest cabins are suitably gorgeous with a chic Scandi-inspired design and an abundance of private space. Be sure to book a top-tier Expedition Suite for the most indulgent experience.

From $11,100 per person, hurtigruten.com

French cruise line Ponant is a recurring favorite when it comes to luxury cruises in beautiful settings. For the upcoming 2023 season, the company has revealed 10 Arctic itineraries aboard its flagship Le Commandant Charcot vessel, which has been specially equipped to navigate the region’s tricky conditions.

Of the 2023 journeys, one of the most thrilling is set to be The Geographic North Pole itinerary, which follows in the footsteps of the world’s great explorers in a brave adventure to the edges of the earth. While Ponant stresses that the itinerary is at the mercy of the natural conditions, the planned route begins at the remote Spitsbergen, before journeying north through the wild Artic Ocean to the Geographic North Pole – a point that few humans have ever encountered.

Onboard Le Commandant Charcot , guests can expect an unrivaled level of sophistication between expeditions, with 123 luxuriously appointed staterooms (some with their own terraces), a movie theater, shopping boutique, outdoor and indoor pools, and a plethora of dining and drinking destinations. In line with Ponant’s commitment to truly sustainable Arctic exploration, the ship also is one of the most environmentally advanced explorer vessels on the ocean today, running on a combination of electric power and liquified natural gas.

From $36,665, ponant.com

Abercrombie & Kent

Rounding off our guide to the best Arctic cruises is Abercrombie & Kent’s spectacular The Northwest Passage: Greenland to the Bering Sea itinerary. Taking passengers on a breathtaking 24-night exploration through some of the Arctic’s wildest regions, the tour starts with a charter flight from NYC to Greenland, before traversing around the country’s western coast en route to the majestic Canadian Arctic Archipelago, home to polar bears, whales and Arctic foxes.

The vast journey carries on through The Northwest Passage, stopping at Herschel Island on the tip of The Yukon Territory, which was once the heart of the whaling industry. Here guests will have the chance to glimpse grizzly bears, black bears and polar bears in their natural habitats, with a photography coach on hand to help get the perfect snap. Continuing into Alaska (where there might be northern lights spottings) the trip draws to a grand close in Nome.

Led by Abercrombie & Kent’s industry-leading expedition team, the itinerary will be hosted aboard the L’Austral. While her interiors are suitably glamorous, with smart suites, butler service, fine dining and plenty of amenities, the nimble ship is also tough, with a sturdy exterior primed for adverse weather conditions and a 1C ice class rating. She is also proudly one of the most environmentally friendly Arctic cruisers thanks to cutting-edge onboard technology, smart positioning and waste management.

From $37,127 per person, abercrombiekent.co.uk

[See also: The Best New Cruise Ship Journeys for 2022]

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• Review: Silversea Expeditions Arctic Cruise

Posted by David Porter on Thursday, September 26, 2024 · Leave a Comment  

Carol and I sailed with Silversea Expeditions on an Arctic cruise this summer, and here is our review.

But before we get started, this link will take you to day-by-day articles and photographs from our expedition. Be sure to check it out. You WON’T want to miss this.

Okay. Let’s get down to business…

Silversea Expeditions combines luxury cruising with adventurous exploration. Their small ships navigate to remote destinations, from icy polar regions to lush tropical islands.

On board, guests enjoy comfortable suites and gourmet dining. Expert guides lead excursions, offering insights into local wildlife, geology, and cultures. Zodiac boats allow close encounters with nature, while kayaking and hiking provide active options. Silversea’s commitment to sustainability ensures responsible travel.

Whether observing penguins in Antarctica or giant tortoises in the Galapagos, these voyages offer unique, immersive experiences in Earth’s most pristine environments.

Silversea Expeditions currently has four expedition ships sailing to remote regions of the world. So far, we’ve sailed on the Silver Origin in the Galapagos Islands, and this summer, we sailed on the world’s most luxurious expedition ship: the Silver Endeavour .

The Silversea Expeditions Silver Endeavour

The Silver Endeavour is Silversea’s newest expedition ship, purpose-built for polar exploration.

Launched in 2022, it features a PC6 ice-class rating, allowing access to remote Arctic and Antarctic regions. The vessel accommodates 220 guests in all-suite rooms with butler service. Onboard amenities include multiple dining venues, an observation lounge, and a spa. The ship has state-of-the-art exploration technology, including Zodiacs and kayaks for shore excursions. With a high crew-to-guest ratio, Silver Endeavour aims to provide a luxurious expedition experience in some of the world’s most pristine environments.

Carol and I have experienced four expedition ships to date, and frankly, all were very nice. But the Silver Endeavor takes very nice to a whole new level.

The interior of the ship rivals the most luxurious cruise ships, yet this magnificent vessel is capable of bringing you to the remotest parts of the Arctic and Antarctic—all in comfort and 5-star luxury.

Silver Endeavour Arts Cafe

And don’t let the opulence fool you; the Silver Endeavour is one of the smoothest sailing ships we’ve ever encountered.

When we were crossing the Davis Straight, making our way to Greenland, there was a period of 50 mph sustained winds and fairly high seas. From past experience, we would have expected to walk the halls like drunken sailors and hang on to the railings for dear life. Yet, this ship cut through it all like a hot knife through butter. We were all amazed at how smooth this ship was.

Dining Aboard the Silver Endeavour

The Silver Endeavour offers an impressive array of dining options for an expedition ship, providing guests with variety and flexibility even in remote polar regions.

The main dining venues include:

• The Restaurant: The largest venue, seating up to 192 guests for international and regional cuisine. • Il Terrazzino: An intimate Italian dining experience for just 36 guests. • La Dame: Silversea’s signature French restaurant, featuring an open kitchen – a first for the fleet. • The Grill: A casual eatery with panoramic views, ideal for enjoying scenery while dining. • Arts Café: An elevated take on a coffee shop, offering gourmet snacks and specialty beverages.

In addition to these venues, 24-hour in-suite dining is available, allowing guests to dine privately if preferred.

With nearly 300 dining seats available each night for 200 guests, there’s ample choice. The variety of cuisines ensures diverse options throughout a voyage, while the mix of casual and formal, intimate, and spacious venues caters to different moods and occasions. This range of options is unusual for an expedition ship, highlighting Silversea’s focus on luxury even in remote destinations.

Carol and I enjoy fine dining, and we found the cuisine aboard the Silver Endeavour spectacular. The waitstaff was highly trained, personable, and knew our names after a short period of time.

It’s amazing that we could enjoy a dining experience of this quality in the middle of the Arctic. It’s mind-blowing, really.

Silver Endeavour Il Terrazzino

The Silver Endeavour’s Luxurious Suite Options

The Silver Endeavour offers a range of luxurious suite options:

• Owner’s Suite: The most spacious and luxurious, featuring a large balcony and premium location. • Grand Suite: Expansive suite with sweeping views, ideal for entertaining. • Master Suite: Newly added, offering 270-degree views and spacious living areas. • Signature Suite: Another new addition, providing open-plan living and dining spaces. • Silver Suite: A guest favorite, promising stunning destination views. • Premium, Deluxe, Superior, and Classic Veranda Suites: Varying in size and location, all featuring private verandas.

All suites include butler service, floor-to-ceiling windows, and marble bathrooms. The recent refurbishment added more upper suite categories to meet high demand, enhancing the ship’s luxury offerings for expedition cruising.

Silver Endeavour Owner’s Suite

But please don’t let all of Silversea’s luxurious accouterments fool you; she is a very capable expedition vessel. In fact, it was the Silver Endeavour that brought me up close and personal to this fabulous polar bear.

And don’t worry, I shot this from the safety of a zodiac using my telephoto lens.

Summing It All Up

All of the expedition vessels we have experienced have been absolutely wonderful. But if you twist my arm and force me to pick the best-of-the-best, as of this date, it will be the Silver Endeavour, hands down.

People, this small, luxurious expedition vessel will take you to the world’s remote regions in world-class 5-star luxury.

I promise you will want more once you experience a luxury expedition cruise. Call us, and let’s get one booked today!

Note: All photographs, except the first one, were provided and copyrighted by Silversea. 

How to Book a Silversea Luxury Ocean or Expedition Cruise

This means that when you book a Silversea Cruises sailing through Roaming Boomers Travel Services, you will receive exclusive complimentary amenities on select sailings that you wouldn’t get by booking directly with the company.

Additionally, you will also enjoy our hands-on expert service and care for your booking.

The price is the same whether you book with us or directly with the company. Therefore, take advantage of our expertise and perks.

For more information or to book a fun Silversea ocean or expedition cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request ( click here ), and we’ll reach out to you.

Category: Featured · Tags: Arctic Cruises , Silversea Cruises , Silversea Expedition Cruises

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Arctic Cruises

Small Ship Cruises to the Arctic with 12 Guests

Our arctic cruises: an introduction.

Secret Atlas offers the smallest sized groups for our Arctic cruises with just 12 guests on our Expedition Micro Cruises, exploring Svalbard, Greenland, Franz Josef Land, the North Pole, Baffin Island and the Canadian Arctic.

Our small ship cruises to the Arctic offer a richer way to experience the pristine natural environment and wildlife free from the crowds of larger vessels.

See All Arctic Small Ship Cruises

• 9 - 10 Days
• June–September

July & August

• 10 or 12 days

August & September

• April - September

• May → September

• August → October

• 8 or 10 days
• April & May

Where can I visit on an Arctic Cruise?

An abundance of wildlife including a good chance of seeing Polar Bears, glaciers and sea ice.

Remote communities, giant icebergs and the purest wilderness on Earth.

Reach the most northerly point on the globe.

Canadian Arctic

Remote settlements, wildlife and unexplored wilderness.

Baffin Island

Majestic landscapes, remote communities and unexplored hikes.

Franz Josef Land

A rarely visited archipelago of remote Russian islands in the high Arctic.

Arctic Cruises with Secret Atlas

See the experience, why travel with secret atlas.

• Intimate Group Experience | We believe in the value of intimate Arctic encounters. Unlike large expedition cruise ships that accommodate hundreds of passengers, we limit our groups to just 12 guests , offering you a more personal and immersive adventure.
• World-Class Expedition Leaders & Guides  I Our knowledgeable guides have a deep passion for the polar regions and bring years of exploration experience to ensure you have an exceptional trip. With the highest guide-to-guest ratio , they are dedicated to maximizing your experience.
• Comfortable Accommodations | Our ships are designed to offer optimal comfort during your voyage. Featuring a variety of twin, double, and single ensuite cabins, along with modern amenities and spacious viewing platforms, you can relax and enjoy a comfortable journey.
• Exciting Zodiac Shore Landings | Embark on daily shore landings using our specialized vessel’s landing craft, providing you with the opportunity to explore remote beaches and immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness firsthand.
• Witness the Marvels of Wildlife | Encounter reindeer and Arctic foxes on land, marvel at the majestic presence of whales and other marine creatures, and explore the captivating coastal areas where polar bears roam.
• Breathtaking Natural Landscapes | Immerse yourself in the serenity of steep-sided fjords, massive glaciers, and pristine wilderness.

Our Arctic Cruises

May – September

Svalbard Cruises

Explore the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on a small ship expedition cruise. Our Arctic cruises to Svalbard offer an excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing and we regularly see polar bears in their natural habitat. Svalbard is home to stunning natural wilderness including glaciers, arctic landscapes and some fascinating human history. Secret Atlas offer the smallest group sizes in Svalbard.

Greenland Cruises

Explore the majestic wilderness and remote communities of Greenland on a small ship cruise with Secret Atlas. Greenland is ideal for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. It’s a fantastic place for photography and is home to the largest icebergs on the planet. Visit remite settlements and get an insight into the Greenlandic way of life.

North Pole Cruises

Take a journey to the furthest point north on the planet on this one of a kind expedition cruise. Step onboard the 50 Years Of Victory, a Russian nuclear powered icebreaker and working research vessel. This is a true expedition that very few have undertaken. Visit the North Pole and Franz Josef Land on one voyage. Make your dream come true and stand on the North Pole.

Arctic Canada & Baffin Island Cruises

Coming soon! Join Secret Atlas on an exciting voyage to explore the wilderness and remote communities of Arctic Canada and Baffin Island.

Expedition Micro Cruise

with 12 Guests

Franz Josef Land cruises

Coming soon! Join Secret Atlas on an exciting Arctic cruise to explore the rarely visited Archipelago of remote islands in the Russian Arctic famed for their abundance of wildlife, glaciers and remote landscapes.

What Can I See on an Arctic Cruise?

The Arctic is home to an abundance of wildlife including polar bears and walruses. We recommend Svalbard and Frans Josef Land as the top destinations for wildlife watching in the Arctic.

Throughout the Arctic you will encounter mighty glaciers. Svalbard, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and Franz Josef Land all have truly awe inspiring glaciers.

In the north of the Arctic it is possible to visit the sea ice. On our Svalbard and North Pole trips we regularly encounter the Arctic sea ice.

HUMAN HISTORY AND SETTLEMENTS

The Arctic is full of remote communities and interesting human history. To visit remote settlements we recommend Greenland and Arctic Canada.

A Guide To Arctic Cruises

A travel guide to help you plan your ideal Arctic cruise.

Where is the Arctic located?

The Arctic is situated in the northern hemisphere and starts at approximately 66.6 degrees north which marks the Arctic circle. The North Pole is the furthest point north on Earth and is located roughly 6,215 miles from the equator. The Arctic Ocean covers 5.4 million square miles of sea, so there are lots of places to explore on an Arctic cruise.

Which countries are in the Arctic?

8 countries sit within the Arctic which are Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States.

Why do a Small Ship Arctic Cruise?

The Arctic is a vast wilderness and there are very few roads in Svalbard and Greenland making ship based exploration the best way to encounter the Arctic. Exploring on an Arctic cruise allows you to visit places far away from civilization and encounter the tremendous wildlife that calls the Arctic its home. 

The highlights of visiting the Arctic on a small ship cruise are encountering an abundance of wildlife, witnessing glaciers, exploring remote landscapes and encountering sea ice. 

Where is the best place to visit on an Arctic Expedition Cruise?

The Arctic offers many possibilities and unique locations. Travelers that first visit the Arctic often catch the polar bug and then  return to see more of it.

Where to visit in the Arctic depends on what you would like to see and during which season you would like to experience it.  

Svalbard is located between the North Pole and mainland Norway high above the Arctic circle. It’s a great place to start if you have yet to go on an Arctic cruise and easily accessible from Europe. 

It offers fantastic wildlife opportunities including polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes and Svalbard Reindeer just to mention a few. Cruises in Svalbard explore the north and far east which is home to stunning landscapes, pack ice and over 2,000 glaciers. Svalbard has many fjords and during the summer months the conditions are usually quite calm making it a perfect place to explore if you are a first timer. 

To find out more about visiting Svalbard on an expedition micro cruise with 12 guests see or Svalbard cruises.

Greenland is the largest island on the planet and is located between North America and Europe. For the traveler it offers impressive landscapes, colossal icebergs, countless glaciers and local traditions. 

Due to its larger size wildlife sightings in Greenland are fewer and far between than in Svalbard, but it makes up for it with some of the most stunning scenery on the planet. Expedition cruises in Greenland explore the wilderness in the west, south and east of Greenland with each local area offering something unique.

To find out more please see our Greenland cruises . 

Arctic Norway

The north of Norway sits above the Arctic circle and is home to countless fjords, remote islands, windswept beaches and small fishing villages.

From Tromso it is possible to take an Arctic cruise to explore the Lofoten islands during the summer months with 24 hours of sunshine. Places of interest include the Trollfjord, the stunning scenery Renie with it’s picture postcard landscapes and the colorful fishing village of Nusfjord. 

During the winter months it is possible to do an Arctic whale watching and northern lights cruise. The area around Skjervoy is famous for its pods of Orcas that come into the fjords to feed on herring. During the day takes snowy hikes ashore and during the long evenings the northern lights make regular appearances. 

The North Pole is the most northerly point on the planet and do you know you can visit it on an icebreaker cruise from Svalbard?

For intrepid explorers visiting the North Pole has always been a once in a lifetime dream. After sailing north from Svalbard an icebreaker will spend several days breaking through the pack ice to reach the North Pole. 

The Canadian Arctic spans a vast area north of the Arctic circle. Explore Baffin Island, the largest island in Canada which is famed for it’s remote settlements and stunning jagged cliffs. It is home to an abundance of Arctic wildlife including caribou, Arctic foxes, Arctic hares, wolves, lemmings and Polar Bears. 

Russian Arctic

The Russian Arctic is a number of islands located north of the Russian mainland and is one of the least visited places. Choose Franz Josef Land to experience a truly remote wilderness with interesting geological formations, huge concentrations of wildlife including large walrus colonies and polar bears that freely roam.

When is the best time to visit the Arctic on a cruise?

Most Arctic cruises take place during the summer months between May and September during the northern summer when temperatures are at their mildest and there is less sea ice. The exact month of travel depends on what you would like to see. 

Early season Svalbard expeditions are ideal for photography as the land is still covered in snow and there is plenty of ice in the sea. The summer months of June, July and August are the best for wildlife and September offers the best month for light as the sun rises and sun sets return after several months. Between late October and mid March sea ice and lack of light prevents cruising from operating. 

For more information please in our article When is the best time to visit Svalbard on an expedition cruise?

In Greenland the summer months between May and September offer the best weather for Arctic cruising. Scoresby Sund in East Greenland is only accessible at the end of July until the end of September due to the sea ice which blocks the entrance for most of the year. 

In Arctic Norway it is possible to cruise all your round. Choose the summer to experience the midnight sun and the Lofoten islands. Choose Arctic small ship cruises in the winter months between November and February to experience the northern lights and whale watching.

Arctic Cruises Top Tips

• Choose the smallest ship size possible. This will ensure you have maximum time exploring and the minimum time waiting to go ashore and exploring by Zodiac. At Secret Atlas we specialize in small ship Arctic cruises with just 12 guests. 
• To see more, choose a longer cruise. Longer itineraries allow you to see more of a place that you came to visit and increases the amount of wildlife sightings you are likely to see.  
• Come with an open mind. Every Arctic expedition cruise offers a unique experience and the landing sites, wildlife encounters and shore landings will be different on every voyage.

How much does an Arctic cruise cost?

Expedition cruises in the Arctic usually average around 1,000 Euros per person per day. The reason expedition cruises in the Arctic cost more is because the ships are smaller than typical cruise ships and have a large guide team where guests are taken out to explore on Zodiacs. At Secret Atlas our Arctic expedition cruises take just 12 guests!. 

When is the best time to see the midnight sun on an Arctic cruise? 

In Svalbard the midnight sun is visible between April 19th and August 23rd, which is the season that most Arctic cruises take place. During the month of September visitors are greeted to long sunrises and sunsets as the sun dips beneath the horizon for the first time in 5 months.

In Greenland the midnight sun is visible at the Arctic circle between early June and Mid-July. This is ideal for expedition cruises exploring Disko Bay on the west coast and Scoresby Sund on the east coast, which are both located above the Arctic circle. 

In Arctic Norway , the Tromso region experiences the midnight sun between 18th May and the 25th July. This is a great time for exploring the Lofoten Islands on an Arctic cruise. 

Can I see the northern lights on an Arctic cruise?

Yes you can but only during the months when it gets dark. It is not possible to see the northern lights and the midnight sun at the same time. 

For the best chance in seeing the northern lights on an Arctic cruise we recommend a winter cruise in Arctic Norway. Between the months of November and February northern lights are frequently sighted in Arctic Norway in the region surrounding Tromso. 

It is also possible to see northern lights in Greenland and Svalbard during the autumn months from late September through to October.  

Where do Arctic cruises depart from?

Whilst it is possible to cruise to the Arctic from Europe, the disadvantage of this is that there is a lot of sea time and less time for the expedition itself. We recommend joining an Arctic cruise at the place you wish to explore to maximize your time on the expedition. 

Our Arctic cruises depart from Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Tromso in Arctic Norway and from various ports in Greenland including the capital Nukk, Ilulissat for Disko Bay and Constable Point in Scoresby Sund.

Arctic Cruises vs Antarctic Cruises

One of the main differences between Arctic and Antarctic cruises is that the wildlife sightings are unique in each polar region. In the Arctic it is possible to encounter polar bears, walruses, reindeer and Arctic foxes. In the Antarctic you will not see polar bears, but you will encounter different species of penguins which you will not see in the Arctic. Not to mention Southern fur seals, albatrosses and elephant seals. 

The summer months in the Arctic are between May and September whilst the Antarctic summer is between November and February. 

The weather in the high Arctic is often calm during the summer months due to the high pressure system. The weather in the Antarctic is often more variable due to the weather systems moving through the southern ocean. 

The Arctic is easier to reach than Antarctica which is more remote. To reach Antarctica you either have to cruise across the Drake Passage from South America or the Ross Sea from New Zealand or take a charter flight to King George Island. The Arctic on the other hand is served by domestic airlines and it is possible to fly to Tromso, Svalbard and Greenland on scheduled flights. 

Arctic Cruise Ships

Cruise ships in the Arctic vary between large commercial cruise ships that take up to 5,000 guests. The downside with these cruises is that they don’t offer an expedition element and are limited to calling at a handful of ports. Expedition cruise ships in the Arctic vary from 500 guests all the way down to 12 guests (which is what we specialize in at Secret Atlas).

The smaller the cruise ship the better the experience for you. We always recommend taking the smallest ship size possible for your Arctic cruise. This will ensure limited waiting time to join your shore excursions and a greater deal of flexibility.

You can see our Arctic cruise ships that take just 12 guests per voyage here.

To find out more about our small ship expedition cruises in the Arctic see our Guide to Expedition Micro Cruises.

What is the temperature on an Arctic cruise?

Often guests imagine the Arctic is much colder than it actually is. During the summer months in Svalbard and Greenland temperatures on our Arctic cruises are above freezing. In July and August the average temperature is around 7 degrees. 

During the winter months in Arctic Norway the average temperature is around freezing. For guests used to Northern European winters this will be nothing unusual. Not to mention our vessels have super warm cabins and a Sauna to warm up in after a day of exploring. 

What wildlife can I see on an Arctic cruise?

The Arctic is home to an abundance of wildlife that we regularly encounter on our Arctic cruises. 

In Svalbard we regularly encounter polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, Svalbard Reindeer, beluga whales, and a large variety of bird species including puffins, Arctic terns and Skua’s. To find out more about the wildlife you can encounter on a small ship Arctic cruise in Svalbard please see our Svalbard wildlife guide.

In Greenland it is possible to see polar bears in the east although it is much rarer to see them here than in Svalbard. In Greenland it is possible to see Musk OX, humpback whales, walruses seals and Greenlandic reindeer. To see all the animals you can encounter on an Arctic cruise in Greenland please see Guide to Greenland wildlife.

What is the best Arctic cruise for seeing polar bears?

One of the best destinations to encounter polar bears on an Arctic cruise is in Svalbard. Svalbard itself is an archipelago of islands with over 2,000 polar bears known to live in the Barents sea region. During the summer months it is possible to polar bears on the shores and ice flows all over Svalbard. For the best chances in encountering polar bears we recommend a longer voyage.

To find out more about encountering polar bears on your voyage please see our guide on polar bear viewing.

What to pack on an Arctic cruise?

There are many essential items to take with you on an Arctic cruise. 

• Warm clothing
• Hat and gloves
• A waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Personal items such as toiletries (there is unlikely to be many shops where you are exploring)
• Medicine (with extras in case of delay)
• Hiking boots
• Binoculars (often wildlife is sighted from a distance)
• A camera with a long lens for wildlife photography. Remember to bring spare batteries and memory cards.

For a comprehensive packing list along with a clothing guide for the different seasons please see our article How to pack for an Arctic cruise. 

ARCTIC CRUISES

Complete guide to cruising the arctic.

The Arctic is one of the most revered destinations for adventurers worldwide. It's stark beauty, cold climate and incredible wildlife make it one of the ultimate expedition cruise destinations. 

Because the Arctic region is so large and encompasses numerous countries, there are countless itineraries to choose from. On top of this, you need to consider ship options, costs, weather, and what wildlife you want to see.

Below we have provided summary information on the most frequently asked questions we get from folks looking to visit the Arctic Circle.

To help you plan your Arctic cruise adventure, we suggest reading all the information on this page and then following the links to sections you want to know more about.

​Arctic Cruise: The Complete Guide

One of the least understood places on earth, the Arctic has enthralled, delighted and surprised visitors for decades. Largely uninhabitable, the Arctic landscape is ever changing, constantly evolving with the changing seasons.

A wild and untamed landscape where polar bears stalk the ice and whales move through the deep. All these elements make the Arctic one of the most remarkable and unforgettable places on earth to visit. You can expect an experience unlike any other, a beautifully harsh world of ice, sea, snow and rock, where creatures move above and below the landscape.

The Arctic is generally defined as the area contained within the Arctic Circle, which spans the top of the earth at a latitude of 66.5622 degrees. The Arctic therefore stretches across the North Pole, encompassing the northern regions of Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Russia and North Alaska. In total, the Arctic accounts for six percent of the earth's surface.

The gorgeous Arctic light and the wide array of wildlife make the landscape a photographer’s dream. Whether it be the bright Northern Lights , the epic sunsets or the white winter foxes, photographers will love every minute of being in the arctic.

If you're serious about seeing the Arctic properly, there is simply no better way to see the region than by cruise ship. Arctic cruises allow travellers to visit numerous locations in one trip, increasing the likelihood of spotting wildlife and also getting a greater sense of the landscape and the people who inhabit it.

An Arctic cruise also has the added advantage of including your accommodation, transportation and meals all in one! This also means that the pristine landscape is kept clear of harmful human infrastructure.

Always follow the guidelines set out by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators and your onboard guides. 

​Best Time To Cruise The Arctic

Summer is the main Arctic cruise season and runs from May through to September.

During this period, the Arctic is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun due to the 24 hours of daylight that occurs through the season.

As a rule of thumb, most Arctic cruise ships will head north into the Arctic Circe during this period. 

Whilst early season cruises are generally shorter in length, this is a great time to see polar bears and Arctic bird species.

The peak season of the summer is July and August. This is when the Arctic's flora comes into full bloom, bringing the landscape alive with fresh colour. 

The wildlife is also active during this period as many of the creatures try to make the most of the warmer weather.

 As the ice melts, less accessible cruise routes become available, such as the North Pole and the North West Passage cruises.

As the peak summer season closes, so does the ice, forcing most Arctic cruises to take a more southerly direction.

Whilst the summer season is by far the most popular time to take an Arctic cruise, in recent years there has been an upsurge in travellers wanting to visit during the long and dark winter. The main reason behind this is the beautiful Aurora Borealis or 'Northern Lights' as they are more commonly known. 

There are now plenty of Arctic cruises that sail to Svalbard to witness these magical lights during the winter period.

Not only this, there are plenty of winter adventure activities on offer these days such as hiking, dog sledding and skiing which has only increased the appeal to visit during this period.

​Types of Expedition Ships

​The Arctic is a large region. Because of this, there are many ship options when it comes to cruising.

The type of expdition ship you choose to sail on will affect your trip quite considerably. Therefore, it's highly recommended to think long and hard on this particular point.

​​Although it may sound odd, ship size has a great bearing on the shape and feeling of your cruise. The larger ships offer many comforts that smaller ships cannot match, yet the smaller the ships offer less waiting times for zodiac trips, kayak adventures and shore landings etc.

Options to consider include​ on-board facilities, staff ratio, and food quality.

​Research Vessels

Research vessels are a fantastic way for people to visit the Arctic on a budget. Yes, you won't get many of the home comforts you would expect on more premium expedition cruises, but you will get a real sense of adventure! 

Research ships are also generally quite small which means you'll be able to reach inlets and bays that larger ships cannot. Don't expect big cabins and luxuries like pools and beautiful bars though. This is bare-knuckle expedition cruising. 

​Expedition Ships

​Expedition-style ships offer a nice balance between research boats and luxury cruise vessels. 

Although not as luxurious as top-end ships, expedition vessels often offer several restaurant choices, bars, gym and well-apointed rooms.

Expedition-style boats vary in size but tend to be on the smaller size. They generally offer excellent activity options such as kayaking, skiing, camping etc.  However, they are significantly more expensive than research ships.

​Luxury Cruises

If you have the money, then sailing aboard a luxury expedition cruise ship is definitely something you won't forget!

You'll have all the comforts of home and more. Expect a pool. sauna, gym, restaurant options, library, and first-class service. 

Be warned though, many of the luxury vessels are very large and won't be able to make as many shore landings as perhaps a smaller expedition-style vessel. Saying this, there are small luxury vessels that offer premium service, but have slightly less facilities.

​Arctic Cruise Cost

​There is no escaping the fact that Arctic cruises do not come cheap.

Because of the regions remoteness, operating cost are high. Expect to pay at least $2,000 minimum for a basic tour – this price would mean sharing a cabin with communal bathroom facilities on a research vessel.

However, depending on your itinerary package and accommodation, Arctic cruise prices can be upwards of $30,000 per person.

For a great 2 week experience, expect to pay between $4,000 – $9,000.

​Other Cost Considerations

​Beside the main cruise cost, there are also a number of other cost factors to consider. 

​Solo Travelers

​If you're travelling solo, this will bring costs up. However, there is usually the option of sharing a cabin, as long as you are comfortable with this.

Although an Arctic cruise may seem expensive, it's important to remember that the price includes loads of activities, food and accommodations.

There are very few added costs once the trip actually begins.

​Other costs you will need to take into consideration is flights.

Arctic cruises do not include flights as a rule and you will need to organise and book your own travel costs. Because the Arctic Circle is so large, there are many departure ports and flight costs vary depending upon which you use.

Once you have decide on an itinerary, please see our region guides for airport and transportation info.

​Another key cost to budget for your Arctic cruise is gear.

All Arctic cruises will involve wind and cold weather. Therefore, you’ll need to be prepared with the right clothing and equipment. Please see our Arctic packing list information further below or click here for our detailed Arctic cruise packing list page. 

​Visa and other Misc. Expenses

​Vaccinations, visas and permits are often required, depending on which region you are sailing. Although not expensive in general, these do add to the costs.

Also factor in hotel costs and any other expeenses such as laundry, drinks etc.

​Choosing The Right Arctic Cruise

With countless itineraries, ships and operators out there, choosing the right Arctic cruise to suit you can often seem daunting and somewhat complicated.

Luckily, we're here to help you through it. This website has been designed for just that purpose!

The main question when starting out is 'what do I want to get out of my Arctic cruise?'.

Simply answering this question will bring you well on your way to deciding. 

• ​activities
• ​cabin type
• ​book ahead

​When you decide to sail will greatly alter your Arctic cruise expereince. For instance, Arctic cruises to Svalbard in summer are likely to see polar bears, whilst a winter cruise to Svalbard will provide you with some stunning Northern Light displays, but no polar bear. 

​However, due to pack ice and short winter days, 95% of Arctic cruises operate in the summer period. Saying that, when you cruise during this period will also alter what you see. The early summer cruises will see far more ice whilst the later summer cruises will get more wildife.

​Another element to keep in mind when deciding on an Arctic cruise itinerary is time. How many days can you travel for?

This will most likely narrow down your search considerably. Whilst most cruises are around the 10-12 day range, there are a number of Arctic cruises that take less than a week. On the other hand, there are several cruises that take over 3 weeks such as the Northwest Passage!

​Obviously the question of where you want to sail is key. 

If you want the full Arctic/polar bear expereince in a short space of time then Svalbard might be your best bet. If you want to expereince the truly remote, then a Canadian or Russian Arctic cruise might be your answer.

​Many Arctic cruises are geared around wildlife watching. Therefore, knowing which cruise will likely see what is very important. 

​If plar bears are your main aim then avoid Iceland and Norway. For people wishing to see Musk Ox then your better off taking a Canadian Arctic or Greenland cruise. For brown bears you'll wan't to cruise the Russian Arctic.

Always make sure to check what wildlife you're likely to see on your itinerary!

​Hiking, kayaking, dog sledding, camping, swimming etc. are all possible on certain Actic cruise itineraries. 

Dog sledding is popular in Svalbard whilst hiking and camping is great in Iceland. Make sure you check what activites are offere when dicing on an itinerary!

​Beause there is a large range of ships to choose from, cabin types vary considerably. 

Always check with your operator regarding cabin type. The best way we have expereinced is to ask for photos of the cabin type you're thinking of booking.

​Because an Arctic cruise is a trip of a lifteimne it requires a lot pre-planning. Most peopke book atleast 1 year in advance. 

Booking ahead also saves you money and gives you the greatest options when it comes to cabin choices. Although there are last minute deals often available, the cheaper price generally comes from booking well in advance.

​Arctic Cruise: Wildlife

​The majestic wildlife of the Arctic Circle is, without doubt, what draws most visitors to the region every year.

Whilst the star species like polar bears and walruses are ​what attract most visitors, there's actually far more biodiversity in the Arctic than people give credit for. 

Below we have listed the major species that can be seen on Arctic cruises.

However, this will very much depend on what region you are sailing in.

​Types of Wildlife

​polar bear.

​The most iconic of all Arctic species, the polar bear is a must see site for all wildlife lovers.

Most commonly seen in summer on the Svalbard, North Alaska and Canadian Arctic cruises.

​Fabulously charismatic creatures, walruses are a favourite of many Arctic cruise goers.

Most commonly seen in North Alaska and the Russian Arctic .

​​Huge, stoic and totally mesmerising, the Muskox are sadly in decline due to habitat loss.

Most commonly seen in North Alaska, Canadian Arctic and Greenland .

​Arctic Fox

​​One of the most beautiful and difficult creatures to spot, the Arctic fox is a photographers favourite.

Can be spotted throughout the Arctic region.

​Arctic Wolf

​​One of the more elusive and rare Arctic creatures, the grey wolf is one of the region top predators.

Most often spotted in Northern Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.

​​Whales have always been one of the top reasons to take an Arctic cruise.

Common throughout the Arctic region, you should keep your eyes peeled for beluga, narwhal, minke, orca, humpback and the rare Greenland whale.

​Arctic Seabirds

​​Huge numbers of wildfowl and waders visit the Arctic region each summer, nesting deep in the tundra.

Awe-inspiring sea cliffs are the breeding ground for millions of pairs of puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars. Also look out for little auks, ivory gulls and skuas.

​​Arctic Cruise: Things To Do

​Because the Arctic is such a special and unique region, there are l​iterally countless things to do on your Arctic cruise.

To give you a better sense of your options, we have listed the top things to do below. 

Please remember, not every itinerary offers each option, so always make sure you check with the operator prior to booking!  

​The Northern Lights

​Streaking across the sky like an otherworldly glow, the Northern Lights are one of earth greatest natural events. We have seen people stood mesmerised for hours simply staring upwards at these beautiful lights.

​The best place to see the lights is definitely Svalbard, Norway or Iceland.Because the Northern Lights are a winter phenomenon, only occurring from mid-September through to April, you'll need to book yourself onto a special winter Arctic cruise. ​​

If you would like to know more about a Northern Lights cruise, please see our detailed page here .

​Photography

Photography is probably the main reason travellers visit the Arctic region. The epic mountains, harsh landscape and abundance of wildlife make the Arctic a photographer's dream! ​

Most cruises offer photography experts that will help you get the most out of your Arctic photography experience. ​

Things like filters, extra batteries, dry bags, tripods are all valuable assets on your trip and something you won't want to forget.

For more information, please see our page on Arctic photography here . ​

​​Wildlife Watching

​​Wildlife is generally the main reason why people choose to do an Arctic cruise. 

​Your cruise ship will literally pin point the best locations to spot wilsife such as polar bears, walrus and Arctic foxes.

Have your binoculars ready at all times as you never know when a whale might appear alongside your ship!

​​Kayaking and Zodiacs

​Once aboard your expedition ship you'll notice a bunch of zodiacs. Most days you'll make shore landings via these zodiacs and also take frequent whale watching excursions aboard them.

Kayaking is one of the most popular options for travelers abaord an Arctic cruise. By taking a kayak, you'll get closer to the nature around you. Please book before hand.

​​Scuba Diving and Swimming

​S​uba diving is not something that most people associate with Arctic cruises. 

Surprisingly though, a number of itineraries do offer this added extra (at additional cost). There are many locations that are absolutely stunning and just seeing an iceberg from below is very special.

You'll need to be a certified diver and have expereince with cold water. Diving equipment will be provided by your operator as long as you book ahead.  

​​Camping, Skiing and Hiking

​There a number of added activites that you can book for your Arctic cruise including camping, skiing, hiking, dog sledding etc. 

Although an additiobal cost, these activites are well worth doing. Not many people can say they have camped out on the ice, dog sledded across Svalbard or hiked up a volcano!

Always check if your operator offers the activity you wish to do and make sure you book in advance.

​Arctic Cruise Packing List

Because an Arctic cruise travels to extreme destinations, having the proper clothing and gear is paramount for your enjoyment. ​

No matter when or where you travel, there are a few key items that are required to enjoy your Arctic cruise experience.

Whilst some of these can be rented at your port departure city or onboard your ship, it's always better to own your own gear for comfort sake.

​If you would like to see ​a detailed Arctic packing list, then please click here.

​Items To Consider

Clothing: Weather conditions in Arctic are significantly colder than most places you'll visit. Therefore, purchasing the right clothing and layers is key to keeping warm.

Footwear:  The right footwear is critically important as you'll be taking daily shore excursions on icy and uneven terrain. Choosing he right boots and dry-socks is a must for these trips.

Headgear: From beanies and to UV sunglasses and headlamps, you'll want to be prepared, particular on winter cruises.

Gloves: Your hands will be the first part of your body to freeze. Therefore, it is critically important to get the right gloves for your Arctic cruise.

​Bags and Daypacks:  Travelling with a diverse bag will make your life far easier, particularly if you plan on travelling onwards after your cruise.

Important Accessories: From water bottles and zip-locks to spare batteries and ear plugs, there are tons f accessories that will make your Arctic cruise that much more pleasant.

Arctic Cruise Highlights

Baffin island.

​Baffin Island is the gateway to the Northwest Passage. The island is an enormous frozen haven for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, seals and epic colonies of seabirds. The waters surrounding the island are also home to many species of whale including the bowhead whale. You can also meet the Inuit inhabitants of tiny Kimmirut who still live a traditional Arctic lifestyle.

​Eastern Siberia

​Once known as the Ice Curtain, the frozen sea between Russia and the US is a wild landscape that becomes possible to sail for several months a year. The wilderness islands include the Wrangel Nature Reserve , where interesting endemic flora can be found in the mammoth steppe vegetation. You can also find the remains of a 3,400 year old Eskimo camp and search for walrus, grey whales, polar bears and the stoic musk oxen.

​Deep within Arctic Circle lies the archipelago Svalbard . An icy landscape carved from a  fairytale, you can spot all manner of wildlife including Walrus, auks, reindeer, bearded seals, foxes and over 3,000 polar bears! The sea life is just as rich and you can spot narwal and beluga at certain times of year. The landscape of glaciers, fjords and windswept tundra are truly some of the most amazing on earth.

​Longyearbyen

​Longyearbyen is Svalbard’s capital and has a population of just 2,000. The small museums are absolutely fascinating and reveal the story of many Polar explorers through original artefacts. The capital offers a wide range of Arctic activities from dog sledding and kayaking to coal mining trips and swimming!

​Hudson Bay

​Hudson Bay is the world's second largest bay and an absolute paradise for wildlife. Probably one of the best places to see Beluga whales, you can also spot polar bears, enormous caribou and millions of sea birds. You can also visit numerous Inuit villages and experience the remains of the Thule settlements - the Arctic’s original inhabitants.

​Northeast Greenland

​The world's largest National Park, Northeast Greenland is an epic landscape of fjords, towering cliffs and rugged mountains. Wildlife is also abundant and you can spot narwals and walrus and view stunning glacier of vivd turquoise. On land you can explore small isolated segments that sit o the edge of the world. In winter the Northern Lights shine bright.

​North Pole

​Sail aboard the Victory ship - an icebreaker of huge proportions. This is one of the greatest expedition cruises on earth and something you will never forget. Just a few cruises reach the North Pole each year and standing at the top of the world is a huge accomplishment. You'll also get to visit isolated Russian islands that are rarely explored by man.

​Northwest Passage

The most legendary cruise route is now a reality thanks to the melting pack ice. Many explorers have lost their lives trying to navigate the Passage and this is truly one of the most extraordinary cruises on offer. Discover the remote wilderness of the Northwest Passage and experience the wild landscapes teeming with Arctic life. Inuit communities are dotted along the route and give you a fascinating insight into their culture.

​West Greenland

​Western Greenland is a dramatic landscape that hosts a UNESCO ice field, the 5km-wide Jakobshayn Glacier and huge icebergs of Disko Bay. Whale watching is popular in this region and the remains of the Thule culture of the 11th century can be seen dotted among the hills. Explore the culture of Kangaamiut – a traditional handcraft hub.

Arctic Cruise Insurance

​In our article – Arctic Travel Insurance – we have provide all the information you need to find your perfect insurance policy. Alternatively, you can get a quote straight away with our rcommended specialist below. ​

Arctic Cruise Video

​Below is a short video by Kimmo Ohtonen showing the wonders of an Arctic cruise!

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The great sweep of the Arctic encompasses the northernmost latitudes on earth. From the incomparable glaciers of Greenland to the captivating geology of Svalbard and the endlessly beguiling volcanic island of Iceland , the Arctic offers unparalleled encounters with the natural world at its most rugged and wild.

Our purpose-built expedition ships take you into the heart of the Arctic, where wildlife thrives in abundant waters and vast tundra. Zodiac cruise through drifting pack ice, watching for inquisitive seals and breaching whales. Experience the immensity and cacophony of dramatic bird cliffs in Iceland . Search for the elusive polar bear and walrus on sea ice near Svalbard.

Immerse yourself in this mesmerising world steeped in rich history, fascinating traditional culture and wildlife that entrances and delights. We offer a range of itineraries of varying dates, durations, optional activities and destinations . Browse through the itineraries below to find out which is right for you and explore the real world.

Arctic Expedition Cruises & Tours

Home > Destinations > Arctic Cruises

The great sweep of the Arctic encompasses the northernmost latitudes on earth.

From the incomparable glaciers of  Greenland  to the captivating geology of Svalbard and the endlessly beguiling volcanic island of  Iceland , the Arctic offers unparalleled encounters with the natural world at its most rugged and wild.

Immerse yourself in this mesmerising world steeped in rich history, fascinating traditional culture and wildlife that entrances and delights.

Our  purpose-built expedition ships  take you into the heart of the Arctic, where wildlife thrives in abundant waters and vast tundra. Zodiac cruise through drifting pack ice, watching for inquisitive seals and breaching whales. Experience the immensity and cacophony of dramatic bird cliffs or search for the elusive polar bear and walrus on sea ice. Immerse yourself in this mesmerising world steeped in rich history, fascinating traditional culture and wildlife that entrances and delights.

Wild weather, Wilder landscapes, wonderful Kayaking! Aurora Expeditions and the magnificent MV Sylvia Earle provided the perfect combination to explore personally the wonders of the Arctic. Never to be forgotten memories.

– Paul A, United Kingdom

Explore our most popular Arctic trips

Jewels of the arctic.

Welcome to Aurora’s Jewels of the Arctic expedition.Explore Svalbard, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, walrus haul out on sea ice and guillemot cries...

From USD $ 15,671.25 /pp

Svalbard Odyssey

Thank you for joining Aurora Expeditions on our Svalbard Odyssey expedition.  Enjoy the best of Svalbard, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, guillemot cries echo...

From USD $ 14,700.75 /pp

Northwest Passage

Welcome to Aurora’s Northwest Passage expedition. The labyrinthine channels of the legendary Northwest Passage have enchanted explorers and adventurers for centuries. Get a glimpse into the world that captivated early explorers...

From USD $ 20,396.00 /pp

Destinations in the Arctic

With over 33 years’ experience, our Arctic Cruises offer unforgettable experiences in some of the world’s most pristine environments. Take a look around at our 2025 Arctic itineraries below then  request a booking  and let us help you start planning your dream trip.

Take a look around at our 2025 Arctic itineraries below then request a booking  and let us help you start planning your dream trip!

Discover the Best the Arctic has to Offer

Connect to the world’s natural wonders aboard an expedition to the most breathtaking corners of the planet. Guided by our passionate and dedicated  Expedition Team , live out your wildest dreams through our immersive activity program and participate in pivotal  Citizen Science projects , providing invaluable data back to the scientific community.

The Best Time To Go

Arctic & Beyond 2025-26 Brochure

Set sail on Aurora Expeditions’ brand-new Arctic & Beyond season, promising more small ship adventures in more ways than ever before.

Featuring 42 departures across three purpose-built small ships, exploring the shores of Svalbard, Greenland the Northwest Passage, Indonesia, Borneo, Costa Rica, the Mediterranean, Atlantic Coast and much more.

Experience our unique style of exploration, with more time off-ship, small groups, immersive activities, and thoughtful enrichment programs, all with a proudly carbon neutral company committed to responsible travel.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cruising to the Arctic

The Arctic and all you need to know about its land, animals and night skies are found in the information gathered over decades of research and exploration to the ‘desert of the north’. What we’ve learned about the Arctic is that this region is a magical place filled with dazzling sights and wildlife that has adapted to survive in this particular part of the world.

The word ‘Arctic’ comes from the Greek word for bear, ‘arktos’, which refers to two celestial bodies visible in the Arctic sky year-round. The constellations in question are Ursa Major meaning ‘Great Bear’ and Ursa Minor, ‘Little Bear’, which contains Polaris, the North Star.

The wilderness of the Arctic region is substantial and crucial for the migration and breeding of whale and bird populations from around the world. It remains one of the wilderness areas most critical for global diversity.

Find out more below:

• Arctic birdlife
• Arctic wildlife
• Arctic climate
• Arctic seasons
• Arctic landscapes
• Arctic flora
• People of the Arctic
• AECO biosecurity guidelines

The cost of an Arctic cruise with Aurora Expeditions varies depending on factors such as the duration, stateroom type and specific itinerary. Prices typically start from US $10,800 per person. These expeditions offer an extraordinary journey into the pristine Arctic landscapes, showcasing icebergs, wildlife and unique cultures. See our Arctic expeditions here for more information on the experiences that await you

The duration of an Arctic cruise with Aurora Expeditions varies based on the specific itinerary chosen. Arctic cruises typically range from 8 to 30 days, allowing travellers to explore the mesmerizing landscapes, wildlife and unique cultures of the region. The itineraries are thoughtfully crafted to include highlights such as glaciers, fjords and Arctic wildlife encounters. For precise information on the duration of a specific cruise, it is recommended to refer to the detailed itineraries of each Arctic expedition that you can find here .

For an Arctic cruise with Aurora Expeditions, pack essentials such as warm, layered clothing, including waterproof outerwear for varying weather conditions. When onboard, dress is informal usually consisting of jeans or casual trousers, and light long-sleeve T-shirts or jumpers.

Each passenger aboard our Antarctic expeditions will receive an expedition jacket when they board the ship. However, you’ll need to ensure you pack the correct cold and wet weather gear for your landings, including gloves, a hat and thermal undergarments for added warmth. A good quality pair of binoculars, a camera and extra batteries are essential for capturing Arctic wildlife and landscapes. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a reusable water bottle are practical for sunnier days. Check out our polar expedition packing list for more information.

Undoubtedly, an Arctic cruise with Aurora Expeditions is an extraordinary and highly worthwhile adventure. Exploring the pristine landscapes, glaciers and wildlife of the Arctic offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. These expeditions provide opportunities for close encounters with polar bears, seals and awe-inspiring scenery.

Our expert guides will enhance the journey with their knowledge of the region’s unique ecosystems and cultures. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or cultural explorer, an Arctic cruise promises unforgettable moments. Aurora Expeditions ensures a sustainable and enriching experience, making it an exceptional choice for those seeking the extraordinary in one of the world’s most remote and captivating destinations.

We have 3 different ports that we use for our expeditions in the European Arctic: Longyearbyen, Reykjavik & Aberdeen. Find out how to get to each of the ports here .

The best time for an Arctic cruise or expedition is during the Arctic summer, typically from May to September. This period offers milder temperatures, longer daylight hours and optimal conditions for exploring the region’s stunning landscapes and wildlife. The sea ice begins to break up to allow for greater access to remote locations. Aurora Expeditions carefully schedules their Arctic expeditions during this season, aligning with the northern hemisphere’s summer, to provide travellers with an unforgettable and comfortable experience amidst the unique beauty of the Arctic. It’s the ideal time for wildlife observation, glacier exploration and cultural encounters.

Aurora Expeditions voyages attract a wide range of travellers and age groups. While you don’t need to be able to run a marathon, our expeditions to the Arctic do offer lots of great landings and walking opportunities.

Each passenger must return a signed medical form from their general practitioner no later than three months, and no earlier than six months, before your voyage departure date.

Travelers journeying to the Arctic with Aurora Expeditions must secure travel insurance that includes emergency evacuation coverage. This is essential for safeguarding against unforeseen circumstances such as illness, accidents, loss of luggage and personal items, unexpected changes in travel plans, and travel disruptions.

Need Help? Call us on  1800 637 688

Explore More: Download our latest  Antarctic Brochure

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Arctic Small Ship Cruises

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• Easy Active
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Svalbard Encounter Expedition Micro Cruise

• Visit the stunning Longyearbyen
• Discover Prins Karls Foreland
• Explore north west of Spitsbergen
• See Lilliehöök Glacier on Svalbard

Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard (Northbound)

• Explore the rare northern fjords
• Paddle in a deep fjord
• Explore Lofoten Islands
• Visit the famous building in Tromso

Svalbard Odyssey

• Explore Longyearbyen
• Experience Camp Barentz
• Visit Svalbard Museum
• Look out for birdlife

Norwegian Discovery: Svalbard and the Northern Fjords

• Explore the Svalbard coast
• Discover islands and fjords
• Actively explore the scenery
• Explore the coves and inlets

Ring Around Iceland

• Explore Harpa Concert Hall
• Visit Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
• Experience culture of Isafjordur
• Explore streets in Seydisfjordur

Into the Northwest Passage

• Visit ancient sites and villages
• Meet the stunning Arctic wildlife
• Experience Inuit culture first hand
• Explore the Ilulissat Icefjord

Greenland & Wild Labrador

• Cross the Arctic Circle by sea
• Visit the capital Nuuk
• Hike Torngat Mtns National Park
• Search for polar bears & eagles

Wild Iceland Escape

• Explore Iceland's pristine fjords
• Soak in geothermal hot springs,
• Discover Westfjords' biodiversity
• Watch out for humpback whales

Svalbard and the Northern Fjords

• Make for the wilder wilds
• Discover the islands and fjords

Ocean Voyage: Reykjavík - Tromso

• Sail on Le Commandant Charcot
• Explore Reykjavík's panoramic views
• Discover Tromsø
• Engage in onboard lectures

Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard

A circumnavigation of iceland.

• Meet Iceland’s people & culture
• Actively explore Iceland's coasts
• Experience Iceland’s unique geology
• Travel with an expert team

Jewels of the Arctic

• Encounter Svalbard
• Explore Ittoqqortoormiit
• Enjoy viewing wildlife
• Explore Oslo’s vibrant city
• Sail through Svalbard’s coastlines
• Spot whales in Greenland
• Visit Ittoqqortoormiit village
• Explore Golden Circle route
• Discover East Greenland
• Explore Greenland
• Sail Denmark Strait’s waters
• Explore East Greenland’s glaciers

East Greenland Explorer

• Sail along the Volquart Boons Coast
• Explore the ancient Inuit settlemen
• Navigate through towering icebergs
• Visit the awe-inspiring Ø Fjord

Fabled Lands Of The North: Greenland To Newfoundland

• Visit 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Meet Inuit artisans at Baffin
• Observe polar bears
• Discover Newfoundland and Labrador

Arctic Travel Guide

• All Arctic Trips
• All Arctic Videos
• All Arctic Travel Stories
• Arctic Overview
• Wildlife Guide to Polar Regions
• When to Go on an Arctic Cruise?
• Comparing the Two Polar Regions: Antarctica and Arctic Cruising
• Cruise the Arctic Svalbard Islands
• Baffin Island
• Northwest Passage

Favorite Arctic All Trips

• Arctic Watch Discovery Experience
• Out of the Northwest Passage
• Beluga Whale Photography
• Arctic Char Fly Fishing
• High Arctic Muskoxen & Polar Bear Photography

Top Arctic Travel Destinations

• Flatey Island
• Kangerlussuaq
• Krossfjorden
• L'Anse aux Meadows
• Longyearbyen
• Newfoundland
• Newfoundland & Labrador
• North America
• Prince Christian Sound
• Russian Arctic
• Scoresby Sund

Arctic Trips by Departure Date

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Top Experiences in Arctic

• Arctic Cruises (177)
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• Arctic Active (13)
• Arctic Scheduled Group Tour (9)
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• Arctic Family (6)
• Arctic Fly Cruises (4)
• Arctic Solo Travel (4)
• Arctic Beaches (3)
• Arctic Most Popular (3)

Arctic Trips by Duration

• 5 day trips (4)
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• 11 day trips (7)
• 12 day trips (29)
• 13 day trips (18)
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• 15 day trips (14)
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• 17 day trips (8)

Arctic Trips by Activity

• Arctic wildlife viewing (178)
• Arctic whale watching (100)
• Arctic hiking (91)
• Arctic kayaking (58)
• Arctic village visits (47)
• Arctic adventure options (19)
• Arctic wilderness lodge exploration (14)
• Arctic northern lights (12)
• Arctic archaeological site visits (11)
• Arctic photography seminars (10)
• Arctic helicopter tours (9)
• Arctic skiing (5)
• Arctic small ship sailing (3)
• Arctic urban exploration (3)
• Arctic land & sea exploration (3)

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Spitsbergen & Svalbard Cruises

Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Arctic on a Svalbard cruise, also known as a Spitsbergen cruise. This Norwegian archipelago is a haven for wildlife, boasting stunning landscapes, glaciers, and fjords. As one of the most popular and accessible Arctic destinations, Svalbard offers an unforgettable adventure for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike.

Our team of polar cruise experts can help you plan the perfect Svalbard cruise, tailored to your interests and budget. Whether you’re seeking an intimate small ship experience or a larger expedition vessel, we have a variety of options to choose from.

Explore our selection of cruises to Spitsbergen, complete with detailed itineraries, pricing, small ship details, and stunning photos. Learn about the best time to visit, what to expect, and how to make the most of your Arctic adventure cruise .

PICTURE YOURSELF HERE

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ON THIS PAGE – Svalbard Cruises : Where Is Svalbard How to Get to Svalbard Cruises from Longyearbyen Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard Epic Arctic Voyages Svalbard Polar Bear Cruises Svalbard Cruise Cost Best Time to Visit Svalbard Svalbard vs Spitsbergen Best Svalbard Cruises

2025 Svalbard Cruising Regulations

For the 2025 sailing season, the Norwegian government is implementing new regulations to help with animal conservation efforts. As of January 1, 2025, the following guidelines will be in effect:

• Ships must keep an increased distance from polar bears: 300-500 meters (current AECO guidelines state 200 meters).
• Ships must keep an increased distance from walrus haul outs: 150 meters
• Ships with over 200 guests may not visit protected areas (national parks & nature preserves)
• Select landing sites will be closed, with 43 remaining.

Further details are available via the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment’s website here .

Because our small expedition ships are already under 200 guests and largely adhere to such guidelines, our cruises to Svalbard Norway are largely unaffected.

Why Take a Cruise to Svalbard Norway?

Experience the arctic wilderness.

Svalbard is a pristine Arctic wilderness, home to an incredible array of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. A cruise is the ideal way to immerse yourself in this remote and untouched environment.

Encounter Iconic Wildlife

Witness the majesty of polar bears in their natural habitat. Svalbard is renowned as one of the best places on Earth to spot these iconic creatures. Beyond polar bears, you’ll have opportunities to encounter walruses, seals, reindeer, whales, and a diverse birdlife.

Explore Breathtaking Scenery

From towering glaciers and dramatic fjords to floating icebergs and the ethereal Northern Lights, Svalbard’s natural beauty is unparalleled. Our cruises take you to the heart of this stunning Arctic landscape, offering unforgettable vistas at every turn.

Where is Svalbard, Norway?

Svalbard is located the in the southern Arctic Ocean halfway between Norway and the North Pole . The island archipelago is about 580 miles northwest of Tromso, Norway, and about 400 miles east of Greenland.

The archipelago, not counting sea ice, is about the size of West Virginia or Ireland. It is one of the most northern landmasses on Earth, about 500 miles from the North Pole at its most northerly point. The relatively warm Atlantic Gulf Stream keeps western Svalbard ice free much of the year, allowing it to be uniquely accessible to small ship expedition cruises .

Spitsbergen, which means “pointed mountains,” is the name of the largest island in Svalbard.

How to Get to Svalbard

Svalbard is remote, but it is easy to get there. Especially for travelers from Europe or the East Coast of the United States.

To get to Svalbard most travelers will fly to Oslo, Norway, then fly to Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Oslo is well worth a day or two before or after your Svalbard cruise.

From Oslo it is a 3.5-hour flight to Longyearbyen, the embarkation point for most Svalbard small ship cruises. Some cruises do embark in mainland Norway or even the United Kingdom and proceed to Svalbard from there; more on that below.

Cruises from Longyearbyen are the most efficient way to explore Svalbard and Spitsbergen. Some cruises will include a charter flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, while others you must purchase the flight yourself.

Scandinavian Air (SAS) is the primary carrier for flights to Longyearbyen. Some cruise operators will include an overnight in Longyearbyen, while others you must arrange it yourself.

You may wish to add a night in town before your Longyearbyen cruise. The town is the world’s most northly settlment with a population greater than 1000 people. When you book a cruise, our experts can help with advice and arrangements for flights and hotels.

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Svalbard Small Ship Cruises

Below we outline the most common types of Svalbard & Spitsbergen cruises. Learn how to choose the best cruise for you. Contact our experts for personalized recommendations.

Longyearbyen Cruises

The most popular and efficient cruises to Svalbard begin and end Longyearbyen, Norway. Longyearbyen cruises range from 7-15 days. Cruises out of Longyearbyen do not spend time crossing from Norway or Greenland. They focus solely on the Svalbard and Spitsbergen archipelago, so your time is maximized in search of polar bears, glaciers and wildlife.

There are a huge variety of Svalbard cruises from Longyearbyen. Shorter cruises ranging from 7-10 days specialize in Northern Spitsbergen or Southern Spitsbergen. Longer cruises will attempt to circumnavigate Svalbard if conditions allow. Svalbard circumnavigation cruises are usually scheduled later in the year when sea ice has abated. Late in the season in August and September, Svalbard small ship cruises have a chance to view the northern lights . 

C ruise Northern Norway & Svalbard

Some Svalbard expedition cruises embark in mainland Norway, usually Oslo, before cruising the Norwegian fjords and continuing to Spitsbergen. This way, you combine Northern Norway and Svalbard in one epic cruise. Northern Norway and Svalbard cruises are longer than a cruise to Spitsbergen only, averaging 11-17 days. A cruise from Norway to Svalbard may include a visit to Bear Island, the southernmost island in Svalbard. Bear Island is not visited on any Svalbard small ship cruise from Longyearbyen.

Svalbard & Beyond – Epic Arctic Voyages

It is also possible to combine an expedition cruise to Svalbard with a Greenland cruise or an Iceland cruise . Some epic voyages will include all three. And there are even routes that include the best of northern Scotland and Norway before sailing to Svalbard. Or once-in-a-lifetime North Pole expedition routes that visit the Top of the World as well as Svalbard. Expect to cruise for at least two weeks and sometimes longer to experience an epic Arctic adventure to Svalbard and beyond.

Svalbard Polar Bear Cruises

Svalbard is the polar bear cruise epicenter. It is the best place in the world to see a polar bear from a cruise ship. The archipelago is home to about 3,000 polar bears, which exceeds the human population. While it is not guaranteed to see a polar bear on a Svalbard expedition cruise, it is rare to not see at least one over the course of a week.

Higher densities of bears are found on the east coast and along the fjords of the northern part of the archipelago. The islands of Hopen, Noradaustalandet, Edgeoya, Svenskoya and Kongsoya are recognized as important polar bear habitat, so look for polar bear cruise itineraries that attempt to include these sites if you are particularly keen to see polar bears.

Polar bears require a hunting ground of sea ice to hunt their main food source of seals. They are highly nomadic and spend their summers along the edge of the ice, accessible by polar vessel. Guests aboard Svalbard polar bear cruises should be patient and remember to stay quiet on deck. Viewing a polar bear in Svalbard is an experience that will last a lifetime.

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Svalbard Cruise Cost

The average cost for a Svalbard cruise is about $7,500 per person. The least expensive cruises start at about $4,000 per person. Luxury Svalbard cruises can cost $15,000 or more per person. The cost to travel to Svalbard aboard a small ship varies by the time of year, ship, cabin, length of cruise and more. Let our experts know your budget and we’ll help you find the right cruise at the best price.

The Best Time to Visit Svalbard

You may be surprised to learn that Svalbard is a year-round travel destination. The earliest expedition cruises begin in April. The last cruises of the season operate in September.

The best time for cruising in Svalbard is July and August when ice is navigable and wildlife is most accessible. Expedition guides advise that the best time to view polar bears in Svalbard is from May to September.  

While traveling so far above the Arctic circle many travelers naturally wonder if they will see the northern lights. Since most of the Svalbard cruising season occurs under the midnight sun (a time when the sun never sets), you likely won’t view the northern lights on your cruise. Choose the latest departure possible if you want a slight chance, but better yet, book a dedicated northern lights cruise focused on the best route and timing. 

FIND SVALBARD CRUISES

See the full list of cruises to Svalbard. Sort by ship size, dates and more.

Svalbard or Spitsbergen – What’s the Difference

For purposes of expedition cruising , Svalbard and Spitsbergen cruises are the same. The difference between the two are only semantic, based on geopolitical and historical considerations.

Originally the archipelago was called Spitsbergen and many people still refer to it as Spitsbergen. In 1925 Norway took possession of the islands, and in a nod to the Nordic history of the area renamed it the original Norse/Viking name of Svalbard which means “cold coast.”  

Today either name is acceptable, and you will see various cruises use these names interchangeably. So, whether you book at Spitsbergen cruise or a cruise to Svalbard, you will be traveling to the same remarkable destination. 

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Best Spitsbergen & Svalbard Cruises

Browse our curated selection of the best Svalbard and Spitsbergen cruises below. Our crew has extensive experience taking polar bear cruises aboard Svalbard ships, and we help hundreds of clients each year research, book and prepare for their Svalbard cruise. Use the filters to narrow down your search or contact us for a personalized recommendation on the best cruise to Svalbard for your needs.

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On this 10- or 12-day adventure aboard 199-guest Ultramarine or 138-guest Ocean Explorer, cruise Spitsbergen's coastline and discover fjords, sea cliffs, polar bears and walrus.

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Svalbard Cruise Testimonials

The trip was amazing, it was everything we hoped for and more. Iceland is a a beautiful country with breathtaking scenery, a fascinating history, interesting culture and abundant wildlife.

The trip exceeded my expectations! The Expedition ship was extremely well equipped for adventure.

This trip was amazing. We got so close to the bears it was shocking. I have always wanted to see a polar bear in the wild so this trip was a dream come true. AdventureSmith answered all my questions, and I had a lot of questions. The pre-departure information was extensive and packing lists were spot on. The trip was seamless.

Fulfilling all that was on the detailed expectations. The wilderness of the Arctic was the big plus and to be there in real life and not just seeing it via the TV screen was humbling. To go where there had never been habitation and nature ruled was awesome. The kayaking made the holiday.

We felt lucky to see the animals we did and as many polar bears as we did. The trip preparation by AdventureSmith was excellent. We have used AdventureSmith a number of times and have been very satisfied with their service, and have recommended them to our family and friends.

The boat and staff were outstanding, great food and service, excellent wildlife with loads of whales, polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, and arctic birds.

The trip was amazing, it was everything we hoped for and more. Iceland is a a beautiful country with breathtaking scenery, a fascinating history, interesting culture and abundant wildlife. 

Accommodations Review

The National Geographic Explorer was awesome, our cabin was spacious and comfortable and the service was exceptional. National Geographic did a great job with protocols related to COVID-19 to keep us safe and healthy.

Meals Review

The quality and variety of the food was top notch. We really enjoyed getting to try local cuisine, the portions were just right and the desserts were delicious.

Crew & Guides Review

Both Michael and Leah did a wonderful job managing the expedition. The daily recaps were informative and interesting.  The naturalists truly enhanced our daily experiences.

Itinerary Review

Every day was unique and we enjoyed every stop and excursion. Highlights were Vigur Island learning about the Eider ducks and seeing lots of birds, especially the Puffins, Grimsey because of the opportunity to be in the Artic circle and the Vatnajokull icecap which was stunning. The flexibility of being able to stop the ship when we encountered whales on 2 occasions was greatly appreciated. We were also impressed by the variety of activities offered. 

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Taylor is exceptional. We can't thank her enough for all her assistance to make this trip happen.  She kept us informed, was always quick to answer our many questions and made sure we had everything we needed for the trip. We were extremely pleased with the customer service we received from Taylor.

We had originally booked a different trip for 2020 that included Norway, Greenland and Iceland that ended up being cancelled in 2020 and again in 2021. Taylor Cranney really worked hard to move us to the Circumnavigation of Iceland trip so we could travel this year.

Traveler Advice

I would suggest walking on a regular basis prior to going on the trip to be able to maximize your experience on the trip.

Featured in this Traveler Review

• A Circumnavigation of Iceland
• National Geographic Explorer
• Taylor Cranney

The trip exceeded my expectations!

The Expedition ship was extremely well equipped for adventure.

Really professional.

Good advice on warm clothes. Be ready for cold!

• MS Expedition

This trip was amazing. We got so close to the bears it was shocking. I have always wanted to see a polar bear in the wild so this trip was a dream come true. Watching polar bears and wildlife from the rovers was definitely the highlight of the trip. We saw over 16 bears up close and afar. My flight seeing helicopter ride was cancelled due to weather. The lack of activity was tough with very few opportunities for hiking (because of the bears) and no gym at the Churchill hotel. We had a diverse group of ages, interests and abilities from all over the US and Canada. Some travelers had limited mobility but it didn't slow us down because the trip is not very active and suitable for anyone. This has to be the easiest way to safely view polar bears in the wild. Wanted to view polar bears and boy did we!

Like the hotels, the food in Winnipeg was excellent. The farewell dinner included a number of Canadian recipes I had never tried before. Breakfast at the Churchhill hotel was nice with hot eggs, bacon, potato and pancakes. Dinners in Churchill were at one of two restaurants with lots of local options like arctic char or bison. After dinner the restaurants transformed into local entertainment with a band or open mic night. Fun. 

Our guide was very knowledgeable about polar bears and arctic ecosystems. I learned a lot about polar bears that I didn't know before. Evening programs by locals in Churchill were a hoot. 

AdventureSmith answered all my questions, and I had a lot of questions. The pre-departure information was extensive and packing lists were spot on. The trip was seamless.  

You don't need to bring a jacket or boots as these are provided. The polar parka was very warm.

The Fort Garry Hotel is beautiful and centrally located in Winnipeg. The Chruchill Hotel was very basic, do not expect luxury. But it was clean and comfortable and warm.

• Classic Polar Bear Adventure
• Churchill Hotels
• Fort Garry Hotel

The trip ran like clockwork. Fulfilling all that was on the detailed expectations. The wilderness of the Arctic was the big plus and to be there in real life and not just seeing it via the TV screen was humbling. To go where there had never been habitation and nature ruled was awesome. The kayaking made the holiday. The extra dimension, close to the water and ice. The quiet away from the ship and the sense of exploration. Seeing Polar bears, even at a distance, was a special reminder of the fragility of the area and the importance of taking care of the planet. The polar plunge was great bragging rights. Meeting such a wide range of  people, nationalities and ages. Meeting the expedition leaders who were seriously impressive. The talks were interesting. [I wish there was] more detail about 19th century explorations to find the North Pole would have been relevant. Also more about climate change.

The display of the main dishes at the entrance of the dining room helped with choosing and sped up ordering at dinner. Plenty of choice at every meal.

Woody’s team were amazing. Such professional people, nothing was too much trouble and their enthusiasm was infectious. Abbie, our Kayak leader, kept us well informed about plans, safety and made it all fun. We did not realize that her husband had had to leave the ship for medical reasons, until she was able to tell us all was well. Her anxiety for him never showed, that was super professional.

Transportation Review

I booked flights to and from Uk no problem. Loved Oslo. I recommend everyone to take some time there especially the Fram museum prior to a trip.

All questions answered promptly.

Don’t expect masses of wildlife, it is a huge wilderness which is an honor to visit not a tv program. Savor the quiet of the ice and glaciers and realize the respect the Arctic deserves. Mindfulness.

• Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway

We desired to see and photograph polar bears. Additionally, we got to see an Arctic Hare, moose from the helicopter. Would have liked to see Arctic fox and White Owl, but felt lucky to see the animals we did and as many polar bears as we did. Everyone was friendly and cheerful and just the right number of people with the activities and accommodations to be fun. We prefer small group trips and this fit into that category as the people were divided into small group vans/rovers with each having its own guide. It was also nice that the guides traded vehicles halfway through the day so we all got to know them both and share their information. The Trip Guide Book from Natural Habitat was EXCELLENT and covered all questions and gave excellent information.

All accommodations were very nice.

The Fort Gary Hotel Breakfast Buffet and Welcome Dinner were fabulous and way above our expectations.

Our trip leaders and guides were EXCELLENT....very knowledgeable and informative and extremely pleasant with a very good sense of humor. All the people we came in contact with at Natural Habitat were excellent.

Transportation was excellent and the people who met us and got us to our destinations were EXCELLENT and very pleasant and accommodating.

The trip preparation by AdventureSmith was excellent. We have used AdventureSmith a number of times and have been very satisfied with their service, and have recommended them to our family and friends.

Have a wonderful time....it was totally enjoyable.

• Tundra Lodge Adventure
• Tundra Lodge

Outstanding trip on the Plancius exploring the Svalbard islands. All of the islands were equally exciting and no bad experiences or visits.

Accommodation Review

The boat and staff were outstanding,  great food and service, excellent wildlife with loads of whales, polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, and arctic birds.

Very enthusiastic, professional, and fun.

• Around Spitsbergen

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Need Help Choosing Your Svalbard Cruise?

Our crew of experts will provide one-on-one service and personalized recommendations to fit your timing, budget, activity level and travel style. We are a family owned and operated small business based in the USA for over 20 years. Find more Arctic resources below or contact our experts to begin planning your Svalbard polar bear cruise today.

A travel expert lends her Arctic cruise insight on what you can expect aboard a small ship polar bear cruise in the Arctic Svalbard region.

AdventureSmith's founder writes this firsthand review of the National Geographic Resolution & Endurance. Learn what makes these the best-in-class, next-generation expedition ships, from X-Bow design to on-deck igloos.

The Arctic has many draws but none is more pronounced than the unique, intriguing and often strange Arctic animals. Learn more about these real, but mystical animals and their unusual adaptations to get you excited for an Arctic trip.

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Expedition cruises: The ultimate guide to cruising to remote, hard-to-reach places

One of the fastest-growing segments of cruising in recent years has been "expedition cruising," a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places such as Antarctica on small, hardy vessels.

This is a type of cruising so different from what the big mass-market lines offer that it might as well be considered an entirely different form of travel.

With traditional cruising, the experience often revolves heavily around shipboard activities, dining, drinking and entertainment. Yes, a traditional cruise is partly about getting you to (mostly mainstream) destinations for brief visits. But at its core, it's a resort experience.

An expedition cruise, by contrast, isn't designed to be a resort experience. It's a cruise that is all about getting you to an off-the-beaten-path place that, in many cases, has little or no land-based infrastructure and can be reached no other way but by ship. You are "cruising" in the sense that you are traveling by ship. But the trip isn't about the ship. It's about where the ship can get you.

As I've been lucky enough to experience many times over nearly three decades of writing about cruising, expedition cruises can get you to some of the least visited and most wondrous places in the world — including parts of the Arctic and Antarctica that as recently as a century ago had never been seen by humans.

Here is a guide to everything you need to know about expedition cruises and cruising.

What is an expedition cruise?

Expedition cruises are ship-based trips designed to get you to remote and hard-to-reach places that most people never get to see.

It is travel by ship to places so far off the beaten path, such as Antarctica, that the journey itself is a bit of an adventure. Adding to the adventure is that, in some cases, you don't know what you're going to do from day to day once you reach your destination. Your expedition leader will make the call depending on the movement of wildlife, changing ice conditions (if you're in a polar region) and the waves and the weather around possible landing sites.

Should whales pop up off your bow on an expedition cruise to Antarctica, for instance, your expedition leader might decide to scrap morning plans for a landing near a penguin colony in favor of whale watching. Then you'll visit penguins in the afternoon. Or not.

Maybe changing ice conditions will make it possible to do a landing on floating ice for a hike. Eventually, you'll probably make multiple landings at penguin colonies, maybe hike across floating ice and hopefully see whales and other wildlife. But how it all happens will be at the whims of nature.

In that sense, being on an expedition cruise is a bit like being part of a team of explorers on an "expedition" — hence the name.

As vacations go, expedition cruises have more in common with safari vacations in Africa or trekking trips in the Peruvian Andes than traditional cruises.

On an expedition cruise, the focus is on remote wilderness areas and the wildlife that inhabits them. This could be Antarctica's rocky, ice-lined shoreline, with its massive penguin colonies, or the uninhabited islands of the Galapagos, with their giant tortoises and Darwin's finches.

What is an expedition cruise ship like?

The typical expedition cruise vessel is custom-built for these remote and rugged areas. Expedition ships typically are small and agile, so they can tuck into remote bays and waterways that big ships can't reach.

And they're inordinately tough. Expedition ships are typically built with strengthened hulls to allow them to bump through ice in polar regions and with unusually large fuel tanks and food storage areas to allow them to operate long periods in remote areas without re-provisioning (in some cases, as long as 40 days).

In addition, expedition cruise ships travel with their own landing craft — typically small rubber Zodiac boats — to get passengers ashore in remote areas. Expedition ships also often carry other adventure gear for exploring in remote areas, including kayaks, paddleboards, snowshoes, snorkeling equipment, wetsuits and sometimes diving equipment.

A handful of expedition cruise ships even travel with submarines for underwater exploration and helicopters.

Expedition ships also will have "mud rooms" where you will find cubbies to store your outdoor clothing and gear. Many expedition cruise ships will have waterproof rubber boots for you to borrow — either for free or for an extra charge — that you will need for "wet landings" on beaches by Zodiac boats. They'll be stored in the mud room, as well.

Instead of a cruise director and the other entertainment staff found on traditional cruise ships, you'll typically be accompanied on expedition cruises by an "expedition team." The group is made up of expedition leaders with deep knowledge of the destination along with scientific experts such as biologists, geologists and ornithologists, and often a historian, who will lead landings and lecture on board.

Many expedition ships also sail with a photography expert. One well-known expedition cruise company, Lindblad Expeditions, staffs many of its ships with National Geographic photographers who will teach you how to use your own cameras to capture the scenery and wildlife you're experiencing.

In short, expedition cruises are designed for exploring and learning. Unlike most traditional cruises, an expedition cruise is not meant to be a resort experience, though an increasing number of expedition ships are being outfitted with more upscale amenities than in the past.

These luxury touches include a greater variety of dining venues, including high-end restaurants, as well as elegant bars and onboard spas. However, these amenities will play second fiddle to the off-the-ship adventures at the core of the experience.

How small are expedition cruise ships?

Historically, expedition ships have carried no more than 200 passengers — a manageable number for an exploration-focused vessel operating in a remote location such as Antarctica. But a growing number of expedition ships carry more. Viking designed its new expedition ships to carry 378 passengers. Some new Hurtigruten expedition vessels are designed for around 500 people.

Even these bigger vessels are far smaller than traditional, resortlike cruise ships, which often can carry 3,000 passengers or more (with some capable of carrying nearly 7,000 passengers).

Note that by international agreement, some remote places that expedition ships visit, including Antarctica and parts of the Arctic, have limits on how many passengers can land from an expedition cruise vessel at any given time — an agreement designed to protect wildlife and historical structures from the impacts of large group visits.

In some places, such as Antarctica, the limit is broadly set at 100 people, with some sensitive landing spots having even tighter restrictions. As a result, expedition ships that carry more than 100 people only can land a portion of their passengers in a destination such as Antarctica at once.

If you're on such a vessel, you'll have to wait your turn to go ashore and might miss out if changing weather forces the ship to reposition. This is one reason travelers who want the most in-depth expedition cruise experience should choose a small ship with relatively few passengers.

I prefer expedition ships that carry in the vicinity of 100 people for this reason. I also look for vessels that are built for toughness, as they can access more remote and hard-to-reach places than less-tough-built vessels.

How tough are expedition ships?

When sailing in polar regions, you'll want to look at a ship's polar-class rating to gauge its toughness. There are seven polar classes, from PC1 (which stands for polar class 1) to PC7 (polar class 7). PC1 is the highest polar-class rating, meaning the ship can go anywhere in polar regions year-round. At this level, the ship is a true icebreaker that can crunch through all sorts of floating ice (and, as you'll learn on an expedition cruise to a polar region, there are many types of floating ice).

There currently are no passenger vessels with a PC1 rating, though a new Ponant icebreaker called Le Commandant Charcot has an almost-as-high PC2 rating. With such a rating, the 245-passenger ship is cleared to crunch through ice all the way to the North Pole, which it sometimes does .

Most expedition cruise ships are rated PC5 or PC6, which means they can operate in medium first-year ice (ice that is only a year old and not outrageously thick) with some older ice inclusions. But they're not designed to go to a place like the North Pole.

A ship rated PC7 is only designed to sail through thin first-year ice, and ships without polar-class ratings should steer clear of icy areas. This is one reason you don't see a lot of big, mass-market cruise ships heading down to Antarctica or up to the Arctic — at least not in particularly icy areas. These ships generally don't have polar-class ratings.

Where can I go on an expedition cruise?

You'll find expedition cruises to remote places all over the world. But two destinations account for a disproportionately large portion of all expedition cruises: Antarctica and the Arctic.

This is not by coincidence. Antarctica and large portions of the Arctic are tough to reach any other way than by expedition ship. They are the last two places in the world with large uninhabited areas without infrastructure for tourism.

Many expedition cruise ships will spend nearly all their time in either Antarctica or the Arctic, oscillating between the two destinations based on the changing seasons. They will explore the Arctic from June to September, when the weather is warmest in the region, before repositioning to Antarctica for the months of November to March, when the weather there is warmest.

Related: The best cruise destinations for every type of traveler

That leaves just a few months when the ships move between the Arctic and Antarctica. Sometimes, they'll sail empty between the two regions. Other times, they'll offer a handful of one-off voyages while in transit.

Other destinations known for expedition cruising include the Galapagos, the Amazon River, the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama, Mexico's Sea of Cortez and Alaska.

Take a look at some of the key expedition cruise destinations:

In many ways, Antarctica is the ultimate expedition cruise destination. It's a place that is almost impossible to reach other than by expedition cruise ship, and getting to it by expedition ship is a true adventure that merits being called an expedition.

It's also one of the most spectacularly scenic places you will ever see, with wildlife found nowhere else. Getting to experience Antarctica on an expedition cruise — something I've done several times and hope to do again — is a true trip of a lifetime.

Antarctica trips typically start in Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile — the southernmost settlements in South America. From there, your ship will make a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage — the notoriously rough waterway between South America and Antarctica — before spending five or six days exploring the icy coast of the continent. A return trip across the Drake comes at the end.

Some longer Antarctica itineraries add in visits to South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands on the way to or from Antarctica.

Alternatively, a handful of tour companies operate so-called fly-cruise trips to Antarctica that use hardy airplanes to fly tourists directly to the continent from Punta Arenas — no sailing across the Drake required. On such trips, travelers still explore the coast of Antarctica by cruise vessel. But they don't board the vessel that will take them exploring until after they land on the continent.

As I've written about before, there are pros and cons of both types of Antarctica trips .

Related: Skip the Drake: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane

A few cruise vessels sail to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand, though this is less common.

Once in Antarctica, you'll land by Zodiac boats to visit penguin colonies and hike through the snow to the remnants of early explorer huts, sail through ice-filled fjords, and (if you're lucky) watch whales during Zodiac boat outings. All around you will be soaring mountains, glaciers and floating icebergs.

TPG has a broad array of guides to cruising to Antarctica, all written by in-house writers who have firsthand experience traveling to Antarctica, including:

• How to get to Antarctica: The pros and cons of flying vs. cruising
• 6 ways to travel to Antarctica in luxury and style
• The 11 best Antarctica cruise ships
• These are the best times to visit Antarctica
• Antarctica gear guide: What you need to pack
• An untamed world: Discovering the wild dreamscape of Antarctica
• I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too
• Why kayaking in Antarctica should be on your bucket list
• Antarctica reading list: These 8 books are must-reads before a trip

The Arctic is the second great destination for expedition cruising — and, for me, it's a toss-up as to which polar region I find more mesmerizing.

Like Antarctica, it's a land of ice and icebergs and snow, and often spectacular wildlife on display, as well as historical sites related to early explorers. It also has a cultural element that you won't find in Antarctica, as some land areas in the Arctic are home to Indigenous peoples such as the Inuit, who have occupied the areas for hundreds of years, if not longer.

On some Canadian Arctic itineraries, for instance, expedition ships will stop at one or more of the Inuit settlements that dot the region. Sometimes an Inuit guide will be along for the voyage to talk about Inuit culture and life.

The Arctic offers a far more diverse array of expedition cruise itineraries than Antarctica. You'll find sailings that typically focus on just one but occasionally more of the following Arctic destinations:

• The Canadian Arctic, including the Northwest Passage
• The North Pole

Until recently, a handful of expedition cruise companies also operated sailings to remote parts of the Russian Arctic, including the ice-covered islands of Franz Josef Land and polar bear hot spot Wrangel Island. A few expedition cruise vessels even have made a complete crossing of the so-called Northeast Passage — the 4,000-mile-long, ice-clogged route across the Russian Arctic that connects Western Europe to the Americas.

Related: 8 things to know about cruising to the Arctic

The latter trips have included stops in remote places that had never been seen by humans until the 20th century, and such voyages have been relatively rare. In 2018, I took part in just the fourth expedition cruise across the Northeast Passage by a Western cruise vessel — a monthlong trip that included many days where we never saw signs of civilization. Additional vessels operated by Russian companies also have made the journey with travelers over the years.

All such trips in the Russian Arctic have been canceled since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and it's unclear if and when they might resume.

While there are commonalities to the expedition cruises offered in all the Arctic regions (you'll see ice, for instance, and probably a polar bear, no matter which one you choose), each region of the Arctic is a little different.

If I had to choose just one Arctic cruise (and this is a question I get a lot from would-be Arctic cruisers), I probably would pick a sailing around Svalbard. Located between the top of mainland Norway and the North Pole, it's a relatively compact archipelago where you can get a taste of many of the Arctic's allures in a relatively short time. You'll see ice-carved mountains and glaciers, as well as polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes and massive bird colonies.

Related: I didn't think I'd like an Arctic cruise — here's why I was wrong

That said, an expedition cruise down the west coast of Greenland would be a close contender. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything as stunning as the Ilulissat Icefjord and the huge icebergs that spill out of it into Disko Bay. Put that place on your bucket list. You will not regret it.

The Galapagos

The wildlife-filled Galapagos, where most islands are uninhabited, is another classic expedition cruise market — one with an expedition vessel ecosystem all its own, thanks to unusual local regulations.

By law, only vessels based year-round in the Galapagos can offer expedition sailings in the islands. As a result, expedition ships that sail in other parts of the world can't operate in the Galapagos, and the ships that do operate there are unique to the destination.

In addition, vessels that operate in the Galapagos can't hold more than 100 passengers. That means that most Galapagos-based expedition vessels are small. Many hold just 16 to 48 passengers.

Cruise companies that have expedition vessels based in the Galapagos include Hurtigruten Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, Silversea Cruises and Celebrity Cruises . The latter is a big-ship line that, a bit incongruously, also owns a Galapagos cruise operation using vessels a small fraction of the size of the rest of its ships.

Other cruise companies and tour operators that offer expedition cruises in the Galapagos, typically using chartered vessels, include Avalon Waterways and Abercrombie & Kent. Note that it's not uncommon for more than one travel company or cruise brand to sell sailings on the same ship in the Galapagos.

The Galapagos comprises 19 larger islands, all but four uninhabited, and the typical weeklong Galapagos cruise includes stops at just five or six of them. That said, many lines offer back-to-back itineraries that include stops at different islands, allowing you to create a longer sailing that is more diverse in its stops.

Cruise lines will generally break the islands into north, south, east and west loops. However, some lines offer inner, outer and central loops. Others feature a combination. The best way to choose among them is to decide which islands you'd most like to visit.

Related: TPG's ultimate guide to cruising the Galapagos

Several expedition cruise companies and adventure tour companies offer expedition-style sailings up the Amazon River, particularly in the portion located in Peru. These trips are generally operated by tiny vessels that remain on the river year-round.

Among the companies known for Amazon sailings is Aqua Expeditions, which operates two small vessels on the Amazon out of Iquitos, Peru — the 32-passenger Aria Amazon and the 40-passenger Aqua Nera.

The vessels travel along the Maranon River, the Amazon's largest tributary, as well as other neighboring rivers (the Yarapa and Yanayacu-Pucate) in search of such local wildlife as three-toed sloths, toucans, macaws, taricaya turtles and the Amazon's elusive pink dolphins.

Most Amazon voyages also include stops at small villages along the riverways, though the focus is on wildlife watching from the river.

Other companies offering similar trips include Exodus Travels, Lindblad Expeditions, Pandaw and Delfin Amazon Cruises.

When imagining an Alaska cruise, most people think of the many sailings offered by big-ship lines such as Princess Cruises and Holland America — traditional cruise voyages that focus on Southeast Alaska's main tourist towns of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. But Alaska also is the stomping ground of a handful of expedition cruise operators — most notably UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions — that offer expedition cruises into the wilderness areas of Southeast Alaska. On these trips, the focus is not on the region's towns but on its scenic wild lands and wildlife.

Both UnCruise and Lindblad operate small expedition ships in Alaska that mostly carry fewer than 100 passengers (even the biggest UnCruise vessel in Alaska carries just 82 people) and have Zodiac boats for landings as well as kayaks, paddleboards and other adventure equipment.

The ships essentially serve as a floating adventure platform to get you into the most remote areas.

A typical seven-night Alaska expedition cruise might include whale watching in Frederick Sound; a visit to Dawes Glacier and ice-filled Endicott Arm; landings in Tongass National Forest for hiking as well as kayaking, paddleboarding and Zodiac boat touring; and boat-based searching for bears, Sitka deer, sea lions, eagles, mink, porpoises and mountain goats.

The trips often begin and end in one of Southeast Alaska's small towns, such as Juneau or Sitka.

One other small cruise company, American Queen Voyages, operates a 186-passenger expedition ship in Southeast Alaska that combines wilderness experiences with more traditional cruise-type stops at the area's towns. Every sailing includes a visit to Ketchikan, Petersburg and Wrangell, as well as outdoorsy pursuits, making it a hybrid of a traditional sailing and an expedition cruise.

Related: The pros and cons of small-ship cruising in Alaska

Alaskan-owned Alaskan Dream Cruises offers small-ship, expedition-style voyages that combine wilderness experiences with at least one and sometimes several stops at small Southeast Alaska settlements such as Pelican, Kasaan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake.

Which cruise companies offer expedition cruises?

Most of the big cruise brands that offer traditional cruises (think Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line ) don't own expedition ships or offer expedition cruises. Instead, for the most part, specialized expedition cruise companies have emerged over the past few decades that do nothing but expedition cruises.

That's not always the case. Traditional luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises , for instance, in 2008 began building up a separate expedition cruise division that has become a major player in expedition cruises. In just the last two years, traditional cruise brands Viking and Seabourn also have gotten into expedition cruising with new, specialized expedition ships.

In addition, luxury river cruise specialist Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours recently unveiled its first two expedition ships.

Indeed, a move by traditional cruise operators to add expedition cruises to their offerings is one of the big trends in cruising right now.

Still, many of the best-known brands in expedition cruises aren't companies you would know if all you know is traditional cruising.

The biggest and most notable players in the expedition cruising space as of 2023 include:

• Adventure Canada
• Antarctica21 (only in Antarctica)
• Aqua Expeditions
• Atlas Ocean Voyages
• Aurora Expeditions
• Celebrity Cruises (only in the Galapagos)
• Lindblad Expeditions
• Hurtigruten Expeditions
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
• Heritage Expeditions
• Ponant Cruises
• Quark Expeditions
• Scenic Luxury Cruises
• Silversea Cruises
• Swan Hellenic
• Oceanwide Expeditions
• Poseidon Expeditions
• UnCruise Adventures

In addition, many well-known tour companies such as Abercrombie & Kent and Overseas Adventure Travel market expedition trips on vessels chartered in whole or in part from other companies. Abercrombie & Kent, for instance, operates trips to polar regions on vessels chartered from Ponant.

Among the companies with the longest track records in offering expedition cruises to remote places are Lindblad Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Lindblad Expeditions was founded in 1979 by Sven-Olof Lindblad, whose father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, led the first expedition trips to Antarctica (in 1966) and the Galapagos (in 1967). Lindblad Expeditions later pioneered expedition cruise voyages to places like Baja California and parts of the Arctic.

Lindblad Expeditions currently offers more than 100 expedition cruise itineraries across all seven continents.

In recent years, Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with National Geographic and has renamed its ships to include National Geographic in their monikers. For instance, one of Lindblad's premier vessels sailing in polar regions is called National Geographic Resolution. If you hear someone say they did an expedition cruise with National Geographic, they probably mean Lindblad Expeditions.

Related: Why Lindblad's new ship may be the ultimate polar exploration vessel

Hurtigruten Expeditions, a Norway-based company that caters to an international clientele, traces its roots to a cruise service from Norway to Svalbard in the Arctic that started in 1896. The company likes to say this early entry into cruising to a remote place makes it the founder of expedition cruising. It also bills itself as the world's largest expedition cruise line.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German company that caters heavily to Germans but draws some English speakers, also was a pioneer in expedition cruising, operating some of the first voyages in parts of the Arctic. The first four voyages by a Western cruise vessel through the Northeast Passage, including the one that I did in 2018, for instance, were on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expedition ships. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises also did some of the first sailings across the Northwest Passage — the fabled routing across the Canadian Arctic.

Some of the brands mentioned above, including Lindblad, Silversea and Ponant, offer expedition cruises in a wide range of destinations. Others are more focused.

UnCruise Adventures, for instance, is a specialist in adventurous, outdoorsy, ship-based trips in remote parts of Alaska, although it also offers expedition cruises in the Sea of Cortez and other parts of Central America. It also offers Hawaii cruises that combine outdoorsy pursuits with a cultural-focused visit to the island of Molokai and a day in the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui.

Expedition cruise operator Antarctica21 only operates voyages in and around — you guessed it — Antarctica.

How long are expedition cruises?

As with traditional cruises, there is a wide range of lengths for expedition cruises. For trips to remote places such as Antarctica and parts of the Arctic, even the shortest trips available can be 10 days. Some itineraries extend to two weeks or more.

If you're planning a trip to Antarctica, note that just getting to the starting points for such trips in Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile, from the United States (assuming that's your home) can take two full days — longer if, like many Antarctica-bound travelers, you add in a stop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile, on the way. (Pro tip: You may want to do just that to break up a grueling transit.)

As a result, even the shortest vacations to Antarctica from the United States are usually two-week-long affairs. If you pick a sailing that includes a stop at South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands, you're looking at a minimum of three weeks away from home.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking the right cruise line for you

Expedition cruises in the Arctic also can stretch into multiple weeks. If you're short on time, as noted above, your best bet is a sailing around Svalbard, which can be done in a week plus travel time to reach the archipelago.

You can find some expedition cruises in the Galapagos that are shorter than a week. But as with Antarctica, it's a destination that takes a long time to reach. The typical U.S. traveler heading to the Galapagos will fly first to Quito, Ecuador, and spend at least a night there, maybe several, before continuing to the Galapagos. After all that travel, you might want to make the most of it and stay in the islands longer.

Expedition cruises in the Peruvian Amazon typically are short — sometimes just three days long. But they're often paired with other touring to create longer South America trips.

How much do expedition cruises cost?

Expedition cruises can be expensive, with pricing on par with traditional luxury cruises. It's not unusual to see expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic priced at $1,000 per person per day — or more. Add in flights to reach the starting points for such trips, pre- and post-cruise hotel stays and other extra costs, and you could pay $15,000 or more per person for such trips.

If that seems high, remember that expedition ships are specialized vessels that are expensive to build on a per-berth basis (particularly those with polar-class ratings). They also require a relatively high ratio of staff to passengers to operate compared with mass-market cruise ships.

In short, expedition cruise companies face a high cost on a per-berth basis to operate their vessels — and those costs will be reflected in the cruise fares.

Related: These expedition cruises are $30,000 and have no set itinerary

Can anyone do an expedition cruise?

Travelers with mobility issues may find it difficult to get the most out of expedition cruises, as the trips are relatively active.

By definition, expedition cruises involve visiting remote places with little or no infrastructure for tourists, and the lack of infrastructure extends to a lack of docks and tender boat services that would allow a passenger with mobility issues to get on and off the vessel. In addition, once you land at an expedition cruise destination, you will often be moving over uneven terrain.

In many cases, touring from an expedition ship starts with stepping off the side of the vessel onto a small, open-to-the-air rubber Zodiac boat bobbing in the waves and then being driven by a guide in that small vessel a considerable distance to the shore, sometimes in choppy seas. Once at the shore, passengers often must climb over the side of the boat into ankle-deep or deeper water and wade ashore in what is known as a "wet landing."

Touring from there can involve hiking over rocky areas, snowfields and ice in search of wildlife.

If all of the above sounds like something you wouldn't enjoy doing, you might want to skip an expedition cruise and focus on more traditional cruises instead.

That said, I've seen many travelers with mobility issues on expedition cruises enjoying the experience, even if the landings part of the trip came with some difficulty.

One line that has designed its expeditions vessels specifically to be more widely accessible for passengers with mobility issues is Viking, a line that traditionally has catered to travelers ages 55 to 75 years old.

Viking's two expedition ships, which debuted in 2022, were built with an unusual enclosed marina that allows passengers to easily transfer into 12-seat "special operations boats" while still in the protected interior of the ship. It's a first for an expedition cruise ship, and it makes it easier for passengers with mobility issues to get on and off the ship and see wildlife and scenery up close.

Bottom line

Expedition cruising is nothing like traditional cruising. It's all about getting to off-the-beaten-path destinations, including places with no infrastructure for tourism, such as Antarctica and parts of the Arctic, Galapagos and Amazon River basin. If you're hoping to see scenic wonders and wildlife, and you're up for an adventure, then an expedition cruise may be right for you. If so, you'll find a wide range of both destinations to visit by expedition cruise ship and companies that offer them.

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