10 Best Arctic Cruises & Tours

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.

Travelers standing next to the North Pole.

North Pole: Ultimate Arctic Adventure

Helsinki to Murmansk
14 Days from $31,995

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!

Expedition Svalbard

11 Days from $7,690

Cruise 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 bustling 17th-century whaling period, witness Arctic wildlife such as polar bears and walrus, and explore magnificent landscapes and vast tundras of the Arctic.

Iceland Circumnavigation Express

8 Days from $2,290

This 8-day cruise circumnavigating Iceland offers an in-depth exploration of a small Arctic island of geological extremes. Encounter unrivaled natural diversity, from volcanic landscapes to lava fields, ice sheets, gushing hot springs and cascading waterfalls.

Voyage to the top of the world aboard the 50 Years of Victory

North Pole: Murmansk - Murmansk

13 Days from $29,445

Board your icebreaker vessel, 50 Years of Victory, for an spectacular 13-day Arctic & North Pole voyage. Crushing through the ice, admiring soaring seabirds, and visiting Franz Josef Land, this North Pole voyage will be one that you won’t soon forget. Add the excitement of helicopter excursions!

A mother polar bear and her young relax on the Arctic landscape

The Northwest Passage

Kangerlussuaq to Nome
23 Days from $28,310

Cruise the mythical Northwest Passage in style on this 23-day Arctic cruise aboard luxurious L'Austral. The expedition begins in Greenland and makes its way to Alaska, visiting Baffin Island, Nunavut, Savoonga, and Nome, where you'll have the opportunity to navigate breathtaking fjords in dinghies, trek across glacial ice, and see the wildlife.

Around Spitsbergen

10 Days from $5,050

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.

Polar Bear Migration Fly-in

8 Days from $10,728

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 8-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.

Explore Reykjavik

3 Days from $770

Explore Reykjavik on this short 3-day add-on to your Iceland cruise or land tour. Tour the Golden Circle Route including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Geysir and Strokkur geysers. Spend time wandering the quaint large 'town' of Reykjavik as you immerse yourself in Icelandic architecture, culture, and lifestyle.

Golden Circle & Glaciers

3 Days from $854

Explore the Golden Circle and the main highlights of the South Iceland coast on this 3-day extension tour. Visit Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss. Walk along black sand beaches and visit Jökulsárlón Lagoon and the massive Vatnajökull Glacier. Hike the crystal caves in winter and search the sky for the Northern Lights!

Favorite Arctic Travel 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. Trek across the ice and explore the hardy wildlife and expansive landscapes via dinghies on an authentic Arctic expedition.

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. Explore the frozen icescapes of Greenland on an Arctic cruise through the Northwest passage or the European islands of Svalbard and Iceland. Day excursions include hikes across glaciers and panga navigations around fjords.

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 2020

Trip Name	Save	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Circumnavigating the Svalbard Archipelago	30%	$7553	12	Jul 10, 2020	Join this voyage into Arctic wilderness at its most extreme. Sail above 80º N while circumnavigating Svalbard in search of the mighty polar bear.
Circumnavigating Svalbard: The Ultimate Expedition	30%	$9639	12	Jun 5, 2021
Spitsbergen Photography: In Search of Polar Bears	20%	$11495	14	May 26, 2021	You’ll be experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime journey aboard a game-changing new expedition vessel, Ultramarine, which is equipped with 20 …
Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin	15%	$14495	17	Aug 2, 2021	On this compelling 17-day journey aboard our game-changing new vessel Ultramarine, passengers retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition, …
Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic	15%	$14495	17	Aug 31, 2021	Marvel at highlights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland’s stunning west coast aboard the Ultramarine on a 17-day adventure cruise. Participate in …
Circumnavigating Iceland: The Land of Elves, Sagas, and Volcanoes	30%	$6520	11	Jul 18, 2021	Board the MS Fram to discover the coastal highlights of Iceland, the land of elves, sagas, and volcanoes, on this 11-day circumnavigation cruise. …

Get Inspired to Visit the Arctic

Top Luxury-Class Cruise Ships to the Arctic

Ship Name	Max Passengers	From	Summary
Le Boreal (CDP)	264	$3980	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	$1190	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	264	$1970	Cruise the polar regions in luxury aboard the Le Soleal. This small ship carries 224 passengers in luxurious accommodations with first class …
Silver Explorer	144	$5670	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	$5030	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 polar regions

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.

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.