10 Best Arctic Cruises & Tours

Sea kayak with beluga whales during your stay at Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge

Experience the wild Arctic tundra on this 10-day Arctic tour! View shy beluga whales, muskox, and polar bears as you explore the Arctic via raft, kayak, and ATV. Abundant in adventure, this tour delights and thrills travelers time and time again.

Polar Bear Special - North Spitsbergen

8 Days from $4,050

Board the MV Plancius in Longyearbyen, Svalbard for your 8-day polar exploration. Sailing along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen provides the best opportunities to spot the king of the Arctic – the polar bear – while on this expedition cruise. You'll also have excellent photo ops and chances to visit historic churches of the region.

An early morning view of Alesund, Norway

Classic Voyage North

7 Days from $1,479

Sail the coast of Norway and navigate stunning fjords, visit local villages, and cross the Arctic Circle on this 7-day expedition cruise aboard the MS Lofoten. Begin your adventure in Bergen and sail north until you reach the northernmost tip of the European continent around the North Cape and Kirkenes.

Around Spitsbergen

10 Days from $5,000

Board the MV Plancius for an exciting 10-day Arctic expedition cruise around Spitsbergen. Visit former whaling sites, a research center, and historical sites to learn about the treacherous past of arctic exploration. Marvel at the dynamic landscapes of the region and observe the unique wildlife that call the Arctic home.

Land of Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard

10 Days from $10,740

Plunge deep into the Arctic on this 10-day voyage aboard the luxurious NatGeo Explorer to experience wildlife like polar bears, walrus, reindeer, and the other unique creatures of the ice. This active tour offers chances to hike, kayak, and take Zodiac tours among pristine nature, perfect for photography and wildlife buffs alike.

Around Spitsbergen

16 Days from $6,400

Set sail for a 16-day Arctic expedition on the two-mast sailing vessel the Noorderlicht. Discover the region's rugged terrain and the multitude of wildlife that inhabit the tundra, cliffs, beaches, and Arctic waters. Visits to former whaling and hunting settlements showcase the treacherous history of past Arctic expeditions.

Explore Alkhornet on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen Explorer

11 Days from $6,495

Explore Spitsbergen – the wildlife capital of the Arctic – on this 11-day voyage aboard the Ocean Nova. Unique Arctic animals, like polar bears, walrus, and reindeer, can be spotted while Zodiac cruising, tundra hiking, snowshoeing, or kayaking. Take advantage of continuous daylight for your polar desert exploration.

Travelers standing next to the North Pole.

North Pole: Ultimate Arctic Adventure

14 Days from $29,995

Board your vessel, "50 Years of Victory," for the ultimate 14-day Arctic & North Pole voyage. Crushing through the ice, admiring soaring seabirds, and visiting Franz Josef Land, your North Pole voyage is one that you won’t soon forget. Add the excitement of helicopter excursions and an optional hot air balloon ride at the top of the world!

A baby cub follows its mother across the Arctic ice

Spitsbergen Encounter

10 Days from $5,895

On this 10-day Arctic cruise explore the pristine coves and calving glaciers of Spistbergen and Svalbard. the land of the polar bear, beluga whale, walrus, and reindeer. The islands that make up the archipelago offer a tremendous wildlife and birdlife experience, as well as a fascinating lesson in glaciology.

Polar Bear Migration Fly-in Photo Safari

7 Days from $7,890

Get as close to polar bears in the wild as possible so that you can literally walk with them in their natural environment. Join this 7-day expedition, considered one of the best polar bear tours. Follow the path that polar bears take when they migrate in search of the first sea ice to form on the bay.

Favorite Arctic Destinations

Svalbard

The Norwegian island of Svalbard (Spitsbergen), 400 miles North of Norway and 600 miles south of the North Pole is the land of jagged mountains, fjords, giant glaciers, and the highlight of this region, the polar bear.

Baffin Island

Venture into the Arctic Circle and one of Canada's greatest wilderness regions in search of Polar Bears as you sail by fjords with glaciers that crash into the sea, or visit remote Inuit villages and learn about their ancient cultures on Baffin Island

Northwest Passage

Trace the route of great explorers through the northernmost islands of Canada, the Northwest Passage. Experience Inuit culture, seabirds, and polar bears as the Aurora Borealis light up the night sky.

Greenland

Cross the Arctic circle as you float between ice floes and icebergs along dramatic coastlines and visit quaint villages full of history. Explore the frozen icescapes of Greenland on an Arctic cruise through the Northwest passage or the European islands of Svalbard and Iceland.

Iceland

From the capital city of Reykjavik, explore Iceland's otherworldly glaciers, fjords, volcanoes & hot springs on a small ship expedition cruise deep into the Arctic. And remnants of the Norse & Viking cultures that were originally established here centuries ago can still be seen even today.

Best Arctic Cruise Deals for 2018

Trip Name	Save	From	Days	Level	Summary
Iceland and Natural Wonders of Greenland	20%	$3855	12	Relaxed	Join the Ocean Diamond for a 12-day expedition cruise from Reykjavik, Iceland to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Take in the magical scenery of …
Natural Wonders of Greenland and Iceland	20%	$3855	12	Relaxed	Join the Ocean Diamond on this incredible 12-day sailing adventure exploring Greenland and Iceland's most magical locations. Visit Kangerlussuaq, …
Big Island, Big Adventure: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation	20%	$7895	13	Relaxed	Along this 13-day voyage on the Ocean Adventurer you'll encounter Arctic wildlife, visit incredible geological formations, and explore some of the …
Into the Northwest Passage	10%	$9995	17	Relaxed	Sail living history on this 17-day expedition cruise from Greenland to the Northwest Passage, the pinnacle of Arctic exploration. Observe dramatic …
Out of the Northwest Passage	10%	$9295	17	Relaxed	The Northwest Passage remains one of the world’s last true frontiers. Embark on the Ocean Endeavour for a 17-day voyage to the far reaches of the …
Iceland Circumnavigation	20%	$2595	10	Relaxed	Board the Ocean Diamond for a 10-day cruise around Iceland. Along the way, you'll discover both natural wonders and the Icelandic way of living via a …

Get Inspired to Visit the Arctic

Top Luxury-Class Cruise Ships to the Arctic

Ship Name	Capacity	From	Summary
Le Boreal (CDP)	264	$3925	A superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins, the Le Boreal is the fruit of blending French service and sophistication with Italian engineering. Emphasizing …
L'Austral	264	$1050	The L'Austral, sister ship to the Le Boreal, is the fruit of Italian expertise and French sophistication. A superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins, the …
Le Soleal	224	$2890	Cruise the polar regions in luxury aboard the Le Soleal. This small ship carries 224 passengers in luxurious accommodations with first class …
Silver Explorer	132	$3400	Embark on a luxurious expedition to the best far-flung destinations in the world aboard Silver Explorer, a purpose-built expedition ship unlike any …
National Geographic Explorer	148	$6990	The National Geographic Explorer is a state-of-the-art luxury expedition ship accommodating 148 guests in 81 outside cabins. It is fully stabilized, …

Arctic Cruise Tips & Travel Guide

All Arctic Articles

Arctic Cruises: When to Go?

Though the austere Arctic landscape is often imagined to be a cold white wasteland, the brief months of summer see the flora blossoming and the fauna emerging from their long winter dormancy. Find out the best time to visit the Arctic based on your interests and expectations.

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:

Whale watching.
Polar Bear & Narwhal watching.
Trekking across glaciers.
Kayaking around towering fjords & inlets.
Exploring icebergs up-close via zodiacs.
Diving in the fascinating polar waters of Baffin Bay.
Learning Norse & Viking history.
Wildlife watching.
Photography cruises.
Stay at a wilderness lodge

Polar bear balances on the ice in the Arctic

Wildlife Guide to Polar Regions

Which Polar region is home to penguins? Or how about those elusive narwhals? Before your travels, it will be helpful to learn more about the different species that inhabit the Polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica. You may be surprised to learn the differences!

Arctic Overview

The Arctic brings to mind scenes of ice, snow, and barren stretches of land. Though it is a remote part of the world, it offers travelers so much more than these things! Intriguing culture, remarkable wildlife, fascinating history, and breathtaking landscape are all experienced during a visit to the Arctic.

Kayak quiet waters as you sail to remote coves of Antarctica

Comparing the Two Polar Regions: Antarctica and Arctic Cruising

Many people assume that the Arctic and Antarctic are similar, just at different ends of the earth. Vast differences in the environment, geographical properties, climate, and wildlife may result in some rather surprising realizations of each destination.

Colorful homes in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Cruise the Arctic Svalbard Islands

Svalbard is an archipelago situated in the Arctic waters just north of Norway. The rugged terrain is largely covered by icepack & glaciers, granting opportunities for unique adventure activities. Rare wildlife sightings, tastes of local culture, & taking in awe-inspiring views are just a few of the things to look forward to.

Where to Take an Arctic Cruise?

Your cruise will take you across various Arctic landscapes, featuring impressive glaciers & fjords, oceanic fields of ice, and snow-covered tundras, where evergreens have amazingly rooted sparce lives.

As you journey across this rugged & windswept landscape, you will have the chance to see the natural phenomenon of Aurora Borealis and some of the most breathtaking wildlife on the planet.

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

Popular regions to visit on an Arctic cruise include the Faroes Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Norway, Svalbard and Russia.

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