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.

Visit historical Arctic settlements on your voyage

Big Island, Big Adventure: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

13 Days from $7,495

As you embark the Ocean Nova in Longyearbyen, prepare for a 13-day adventure where you will see Arctic wildlife, incredible geological formations, and visit some of our favorite landing sites as you cruise around Spitsbergen, home to numerous seabirds, whales, walruses and even the king of the Arctic – the polar bear.

Polar Bear Special - North Spitsbergen

8 Days from $3,900

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.

Great Migrations of the Northwest Passage

9 Days from $11,975

Take this overland tour of the Arctic's Northwest Passage and view the great annual migration of beluga and narwhals. Stay deep in polar bear country at a safari-style ice camp for a chance to spot the king of the north. Fly into the Nanisivik airport near Arctic Bay, view the red St. George Cliffs and travel via snowmobile & qamutik.

An early morning view of Alesund, Norway

Classic Voyage North

7 Days from $1,610

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 $4,900

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.

Around Spitsbergen

10 Days from $4,900

Voyage around Spitsbergen on this unforgettable 10-day Arctic expedition cruise aboard the Ortelius. Look for reindeer as you walk across the tundra, spot polar bears on glaciers, and whale watch on Zodiac excursions. The wild lands and waters of Spitsbergen offer breathtaking vistas and ample opportunity to learn, explore, and wildlife watch.

Narwhal & Polar Bear Safari

8 Days from $10,720

This fascinating 8-day Arctic camping tour features hiking, kayaking, and wildlife spotting hosted at the Arctic Safari Camp, just kilometers from the edge of the ice. Narwhals, polar bears, seals, and more birds than you can count highlight this experience.

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

10 Days from $10,220

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.

North Spitsbergen Polar Bear Special

8 Days from $3,900

This 8-day scenic expedition cruise aboard the Ortelius takes you through North Spitsbergen in search of the king of the Arctic: the polar bear. The experienced crew and on-board naturalists guide you through ice floes and pack ice to get a close look at the iconic polar bear. As you sail, watch for more wildlife and enjoy the scenery.

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

Explore Iceland's other worldly 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 2017

Trip Name	Save	From	Days	Level	Summary
The Saga of Erik The Red	33%	$10730	13	Relaxed	Step aboard Le Soléal in Reykjavik for a 13-day expedition cruise to the remote and beautiful southern Greenland. Cruise across the Arctic and discover Viking ruins on this incredible voyage following in the footsteps of Norwegian explorer Erik the Red.
Greenland & Wild Labrador	30%	$4995	15	Relaxed	The splendor of Greenland meets the charm of Newfoundland on this 15-day cruise beginning in Sondre Stromfjord in Greenland, then through northern Canadian, exploring French, Basque, and Viking influences. Visit four distinct Canadian National Parks, awe-inspiring landscapes & gain a deep understanding of the cultural connections to the land.
Greenland Explorer: Valleys and Fjords	$3000-$4000	$6995	15	Relaxed	Discover Greenland on this 15-day cruise aboard the Ocean Adventurer. Sailing along the coast is the best way to sample the rich history and diversity of this beautiful country. Kayaking around fjords, cruising Cape Farewell, and soaking in hot springs offers an exclusive Arctic immersion experience.
Iceland and Natural Wonders of Greenland	20%	$3995	12	Relaxed	Join the Ocean Diamond for a 12-day expedition cruise from Reykjavik, Iceland to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Take in the magical scenery of Iceland’s volcanic landscape and the inviting, immense fjords of Greenland. Learn about these countries, their people, and wildlife on your unforgettable journey.
Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin	$1500-$2500	$9695	17	Relaxed	On this immersive 17-day expedition cruise through the fabled Northwest Passage, you'll explore Inuit communities and remote bays by zodiac, sea kayaking and hiking making it easier than ever to encounter Arctic wildlife. Embark in Greenland, sail Canada's High Arctic and Baffin Island viewing narwhals, beluga whales, and ring & harp seals.
Spitsbergen Explorer	$1500-$2500	$6495	11	Relaxed	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.

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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.