Have questions? We're here.

Arctic Cruises & Tours

Travel made your way
Arctic
Matt Pain
A polar bear climbs glacial ice in the Arctic
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Arctic trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
On a small ship Arctic cruise, you'll experience a magical land of icy fjords, jagged mountains, and immense glaciers. Comfortable small ships glide travelers beyond the Arctic Circle through dramatic ice floes to walk in the footsteps of the Vikings or marvel at the breaching of a humpback whale. Hull-hardened ships cut through the polar ice to access areas previously visited by only the most adventurous explorers and even to the North Pole. A cruise of the Arctic offers rare wildlife, natural beauty, and unique cultures that have survived in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Choose from cruises that visit the Arctic landscapes of Northern Canada's Baffin Island, the Northwest Passage, AlaskaGreenland, Iceland, Canada, Norway, and RussiaContact one of our Arctic cruise experts for help planning your trip.
All Arctic Cruises & Tours

10 Best Arctic Cruises & Tours for 2023-2024

All Arctic Cruises & Tours

Favorite Arctic Travel Destinations

8 Best Arctic Cruise Deals for 2023-2024

Trip NameSaveFromDaysNext DepartureSummary
Expedition SvalbardSavings$829011Jun 30, 2023Cruise the fantastic fjords of Svalbard, Norway on this 11-day cruise on the M/S Quest. Make daily landings with Zodiac craft to find remnants of the …
0
Best of the Western Arctic: Canada and GreenlandSavings$1899520Sep 11, 2023Embark on Ocean Adventurer and join this 20-day itinerary in the exploration of the Arctic Circle through the legendary Northwest Passage, searching …
0
Circumnavigating Spitsbergen: In the Realm of the Polar BearSavings$906310Jun 7, 2023Take this epic voyage to attempt to find a way through the Arctic’s ever-changing sea ice and venture above the 80th parallel north. If the ice …
0
Arctic Sights and Northern LightsSavings$759512Sep 4, 2023On this 12-day tour, Sea Spirit takes you to the breathtaking fjords, beaches, and islands of the Arctic, as well as the beautiful dancing waves of …
0
East Spitsbergen, Seals and Polar Bears in Sea IceSavings$40008Jun 21, 2023Take this Longyearbyen roundtrip that will allow you to see amazing Arctic wildlife, including the polar bear and Seals! Enjoy beautiful landscapes …
0
Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg IslandsSavings$1149512Aug 19, 2023Join a 12-day adventure cruise around the Canadian High Arctic aboard the Ultramarine. See the unique wonders and the breathtaking environment at the …
0
Svalbard - Last Stop before the North PoleSavings$45908Jun 8, 2023Set sail on the Ocean Albatros for an eight-day journey to Svalbard, an Arctic island famed for its rugged and remote terrain of glaciers and frozen …
0
Greenland Explorer: Sail and Soar the Alpine ArcticSavings$949511Sep 14, 2024Explore South Greenland on this 11-day Explorer Cruise roundtrip Reykjavik aboard Ultramarine. This Greenland Explorer trip is intended for …
0

Get Inspired to Travel to the Arctic

Arctic Ships

Top-Rated Arctic Expedition Ships

All Luxury Arctic Cruises

10 Best Luxury Arctic Cruises for 2023-2024

Trip NameFromDaysNext DepartureSummary
Spitsbergen Photography: Domain of the Polar Bear$1149514May 18, 2023This two-week Arctic cruise aboard the brand new expedition vessel Ultramarine, equipped with 20 quick-launching Zodiacs, luxurious onboard amenities …
0
Best of the Western Arctic: Canada and Greenland$1899520Sep 11, 2023Embark on Ocean Adventurer and join this 20-day itinerary in the exploration of the Arctic Circle through the legendary Northwest Passage, searching …
0
Introduction to Spitsbergen: Fjords, Glaciers, and Wildlife of Svalbard$799510May 30, 2023This exciting 10-day Arctic cruise of the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen aboard the sleek new vessel Ultramarine, travels from Helsinki, …
0
Norway Fjords & Spitsbergen$1205012May 19, 2023Experience Norway and the awe-inspiring Svalbard archipelago from aboard LeBoreal. Starting in Bergen and sailing across magical landscapes of …
0
Expedition to the Thule Region$2146017Jul 25, 2023Departing from cosmopolitan Paris, luxurious L'Austral takes you north to Arctic Greenland on this 17-day expedition cruise. Explore Baffin Bay, …
0
Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin$1349517Jul 30, 2023On this compelling 17-day Arctic cruise aboard the game-changing new vessel, Ultramarine, passengers retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin …
0
Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands$1149512Aug 19, 2023Join a 12-day adventure cruise around the Canadian High Arctic aboard the Ultramarine. See the unique wonders and the breathtaking environment at the …
0
Kangerlussuaq Roundtrip - Door to Door$1750017Jul 23, 2023Explore the Arctic on this exceptional 17-day roundtrip expedition cruise from Kangerlussuaq aboard Silver Cloud, thoroughly traversing Disko Bay and …
0
Expedition Along the East Coast of Greenland$1672016Aug 10, 2023Discover the east coast of Greenland on this 16-day expedition cruise onboard L’Austral, and venture into an extremely remote part of the world …
0
Baffin Bay Secrets$1883014Jul 12, 2023This incredible 14-day journey aboard L'Austral acquaints you with the secrets of Baffin Bay and Greenland. Glaciers and icebergs are home to the …
0
All Arctic Wilderness Lodge Trips

Amazing Arctic Wilderness Lodge Experiences

All Arctic Wilderness Lodge Trips
All Arctic Travel Guides

Arctic Cruise Tips & Travel Guide

Arctic Cruise Top Activities

Any of our small ship Arctic cruises will provide you with a variety of opportunities to experience the ice-capped top of the world in an engaging and active way. The most popular Arctic activities included on most cruises are:​
Traveling To the Arctic in the times of COVID-19

Visits to multiple countries are common on Arctic cruises, so please consult the below list of official government sources for travel advisories, restrictions, and current travel conditions.

From the United States: See US COVID travel informationCheck the US embassy's  travel advisories to Canada, Iceland, Russia, and Norway. 

From Canada: Check the Canadian embassy's advisories to Greenland, Denmark, Iceland, Russia, and Norway

The United Kingdom: Check the United Kingdom's government's current travel advisories.
Top Destinations for Arctic Cruises

Your Arctic cruise will take you across landscapes featuring impressive glaciers & fjords, oceanic fields of ice, expansive snow-covered tundras, and evergreen forests.

The Arctic is an intercontinental region with the land masses of North America, Europe, and Asia surrounding the Arctic Sea's churning icebergs and frigid waters.

The Arctic region is made up of countries like Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, US (Alaska) and Canada

Popular regions to visit on an Arctic cruise include the Northwest Passage, Baffin Island (Canada)SvalbardFaroes Islands, Jan Mayen Island,  and Franz Joseph Land.
 
Best Times to Cruise the Arctic

The travel season in the Arctic runs from May through November.

The best times to go are late May to early June when wildlife spotting is at its best, and mid-August into September when, with a little luck, the Aurora Borealis may be seen.

The weather during these "shoulder seasons" is not as warm as mid-June to mid-August, but the mosquitos and gnats aren't quite as prevalent, or hungry in the late Spring and early Fall. 
Where do Arctic trips usually start/finish and how can you visit?

The Arctic is normally visited on a cruise from one of the below northern ports:

Oslo is the gateway for cruises visiting the Svalbard archipelago, whereas Stockholm and Copenhagen are the main ports for accessing the Baltic Sea.

Reykjavik, Iceland is a major port for accessing cruises to Greenland, Spitsbergen, and the Baltic Sea

If visiting the Northwest Passage and Baffin Island, Canada cruises often start and/or finish in and Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Nome and Anchorage Alaska have several cruises departing for the Northwest Passage, Northeast Passage, and Russia.

Russia's Far East is accessed frequently by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.
All Arctic Videos

Arctic Travel Videos

All Arctic Travel Stories

Arctic Travel Reviews & Stories

Top Arctic Travel Destinations

Arctic Trips by Departure Date

Top Experiences in Arctic

Arctic Trips by Duration

Arctic Trips by Activity

More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By