As the endless tundra stretches out in front of you on your cruise of the Russian Arctic, you'll be delighted to discover how plentiful the wildlife is in this tough landscape - walruses, polar bears, countless sea birds, seals, and whales, to name a few! Explore the rarely visited Novaya Zemlya archipelago (the largest of the Eurasian archipelagos) and the wildlife sanctuary at Franz Josef Land. Along the way, you will encounter bird colonies with numbers in the thousands and witness the landscapes via hikes and zodiacs. All the while, you'll enjoy the comfort of our hand-selected expedition ships that are built specifically for Arctic exploration. Contact us when you're ready to start planning your adventure in the Russian Arctic!
Best Russian Arctic Cruise Lines for 2025-2026
Ponant - ensures exceptional comfort onboard its ships, with bespoke, attentive, and excellent service that makes you feel like you're traveling on a private yacht. Embark Le Boreal for an unforgettable expedition cruise to discover the wonders of the High Russian Arctic.
Heritage Expeditions- let you travel north from Nome in Alaska along Russia's Bering Strait Coast aboard Heritage Adventurer in the company of expert naturalists and guides during expedition landings and wildlife viewing/photography.
Aurora Expeditions- pioneered ship-based adventures 30 years ago with expedition cruises to Antarctica. Purpose-built expedition ships Sylvia Earle and Greg Mortimer take you into the heart of the Arctic, where wildlife thrives in abundant waters and vast tundra. Zodiac cruise through drifting pack ice, watching for inquisitive seals and breaching whales.
Quark Expeditions - offers High Arctic Odyssey on the Ocean Adventurer, exclusively designed to maximize your time exploring the pristine Russian Arctic environments. Appreciate the rich and dramatic polar history of these faraway destinations, and increase your chances of observing the region's diverse and magnificent wildlife, such as whales, seals, muskox, walruses, and polar bears.
Lindblad Expeditions-lets you venture to the high Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land and sail into the Kara Sea, a region only accessible due to the extreme ice capabilities of the new National Geographic Endurance.
Oceanwide Expeditions- has an ambitious expedition into the island archipelago of Franz Josef Land that allows you to spot such exotic Arctic wildlife as polar bears, whales, and an assortment of seal and seabird species, aboard the MV Hondius. It is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, optimized for the most innovative exploratory voyages throughout the Arctic and Antarctica.
Poseidon Expeditions- is a leading provider of polar expeditions in the cruise industry, founded in the U.K. in 1999. The company also provides guests with the unique opportunity to travel to Franz Josef Land aboard the 50 Years of Victory, the world's largest and most modern nuclear-powered ice the world.
THEY GET BACK TO YOU PROMPTLY WITH ANSWERS TO YOUR CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS.
L Boerma
6 days ago
The Adventure Life staff, for me it's Franny, always listens to what I say about what kind of travel my wife and I want and expect. It never goes wrong. The motto at AL seems to be I will get back to you right away if not sooner. Requested changes and special requests are encouraged and acted on ASAP.
Dick Philpot
1 week ago
The trip planners at Adventure Life were very helpful and always replied to my inquiries right away. The excursions, accomodations, and local guides were excellent
Avi Argaman
1 week ago
Be sure to sign up for all the tours, otherwise you will be sitting on the boat since not all stops are moored at a dock. Some are anchored.
