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.

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.

Big Island, Big Adventure: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

13 Days from $7,895

Along this 13-day expedition cruise on the Ocean Adventurer you'll encounter Arctic wildlife, visit incredible geological formations, and explore some of the favorite landing sites in the Arctic Circle. Circumnavigate along the Spitsbergen archipelago and enhance your polar experience with optional excursions like kayaking and hiking.

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!

Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge

10 Days from $10,295

Experience the wild Arctic tundra on this 10-day Arctic tour, based in Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge. View shy beluga whales, muskox, and polar bears as you explore the Arctic via raft, kayak, and ATV.

The Icelandic Loop

8 Days from $5,780

Experience this incredible voyage of discovery in Iceland and the Arctic Circle for a truly exotic cruise on the trail of the Vikings. For 8 days, Le Boréal takes you to extreme lands and breathtaking scenery. Glaciers, lava fields, geysers and steam baths – this is undoubtedly the place of all the superlatives.

Arctic Express: Greenland's Northern Lights Fly North Fly South

10 Days from $6,395

For those short on time, the benefits of this 10-day expedition cruise aboard the Ocean Nova are many. Witness the delights of the world’s largest fjord system of Scoresbysund, discover the fascinating Inuit settlements and people of Ittoqqortoormiit, and have the possibility of viewing some of the world’s most vivid displays of Northern Lights.

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 polar expedition cruise 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.

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

The Northwest Passage

23 Days from $24,870

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.

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 classic 11-day Arctic cruise aboard the Ocean Nova. Spot Arctic wildlife, like polar bears, walrus, whales, and reindeer while Zodiac cruising, hiking, snowshoeing, and sea kayaking. Take advantage of continuous daylight for your polar wildlife safari.

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. 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 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	Board the Ocean Diamond on this incredible 12-day Arctic expedition cruise of Greenland and Iceland. Visit Kangerlussuaq, Ummannaq, Eqip Glacier, …
Big Island, Big Adventure: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation	20%	$7895	13	Relaxed	Along this 13-day expedition cruise on the Ocean Adventurer you'll encounter Arctic wildlife, visit incredible geological formations, and explore …
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%	$9995	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%	$2695	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.