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Arctic Cruises & Tours

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During our small ship Arctic cruises for 2024 and {{nextYear}you'll experience a magical land of icy fjords, jagged mountains, and immense glaciers. Glide beyond the Arctic Circle through dramatic ice floes to walk in the footsteps of the Vikings or marvel at the breaching of a humpback whale. Small ships and hull-hardened ships cut through the polar ice to access areas previously visited by only the most adventurous explorers. A cruise of the Arctic offers activities such as wildlife sightings, whale watching, kayaking, and village visits of unique cultures that have survived in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Choose from cruises that visit the Arctic landscapes of Northern Canada's Baffin Island, the Northwest Passage, AlaskaGreenland, Iceland, Canada, Norway, and RussiaContact one of our Arctic cruise experts for help planning your trip.
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10 Best Arctic Cruises & Tours for 2024-2025

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8 Best Arctic Cruise Deals for 2024-2025

Trip NameSaveFromDaysNext DepartureSummary
Svalbard in DepthSavings$1549515Jun 10, 2024Cruise to the island of Svalbard, which is known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard …
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Svalbard OdysseySavings$1269512Jun 19, 2024Cruise to the island of Svalbard which is known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard …
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East Spitsbergen, Home of the Polar Bear - Summer Solstice, Including Long Hikes$1000$40008Jun 20, 2024Embark on an 8-day East Spitsbergen cruise aboard MV Plancius from Longyearbyen, exploring the vibrant Arctic summer solstice. Visit key locations, …
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North Spitsbergen, in search of Polar Bear and birds- Summer Solstice$1000$40008Jun 18, 2024This 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 …
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East Spitsbergen and Bear Island, In the realm of Polar Bear & Ice, Including Long Hikes$1000$46009Jul 2, 2024Explore polar bears, historic sites, and landscapes on this 9-day expedition in Spitsbergen. Encounter seabird colonies and remote islands for an …
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North Spitsbergen - Basecamp$1000$40008Jun 25, 2024Embark on an 8-day roundtrip cruise from Longyearbyen aboard the Ortelius. Explore the Arctic wonders of North Spitsbergen on the Basecamp cruise. …
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North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile Landscapes, Sea Ice & Wildlife$1000$40008Jun 6, 2024Start your North Spitsbergen cruise with a trek around historic Longyearben, then join our expedition to the north of the island to take in the …
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North Spitsbergen, In Search of Polar Bear & Pack Ice$1000$40008Jun 10, 2024Start your North Spitsbergen cruise with a trek around historic Longyearbyen, then join our expedition to the north of the island to take in the …
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10 Best Luxury Arctic Cruises for 2024-2025

Trip NameFromDaysNext DepartureSummary
Svalbard Encounter Expedition Micro Cruise$111858May 12, 2025Join the 8-day summer cruise through Svalbard aboard the MV Vikingfjord and discover the breathtaking wilderness, glaciers, and natural beauty of …
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Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard$2330016May 2, 2024Cruise across Norway's fjords and Arctic Svalbard on a 16-day expedition aboard the National Geographic Resolution, and explore the wilderness, …
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Svalbard Odyssey$1679512Jul 2, 2025Join a 12-day expedition aboard the Greg Mortimer roundtrip Oslo, discovering the marvels of Svalbard's perpetual daylight. Encounter polar bears and …
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Spitsbergen Photography: Domain of the Polar Bear$1259514May 10, 2024This two-week Arctic cruise aboard the brand new expedition vessel Ultramarine, equipped with 20 quick-launching Zodiacs, luxurious onboard amenities …
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North Spitsbergen, In Search of Polar Bear & Pack Ice$40008Jun 10, 2024Start your North Spitsbergen cruise with a trek around historic Longyearbyen, then join our expedition to the north of the island to take in the …
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Birds, Bears & Belugas$128428Jul 6, 2024Spend a week exploring Hudson Bay in Northern Manitoba, Canada, and stay in a remote luxury eco-lodge in this unique and wild wilderness known for …
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Discover Iceland$24078Mar 19, 2024Explore the best of Iceland on this 8-day tour, covering Reykjavik and the highlights along the famed Ring Road. Visit the Golden Triangle, witness …
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Out of the Northwest Passage$1399517Sep 12, 2024The Northwest Passage remains one of the world’s last true frontiers. Embark on the Ocean Endeavour for a 17-day Arctic cruise to the far reaches …
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Arctic Discovery$138569Jul 29, 2024Discover the hidden gem of Hudson Bay in Northern Manitoba, Canada, and stay in a remote luxury eco-lodge on a 9-day Arctic Discovery safari. …
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Great Ice Bear$123587Oct 20, 2024During this 7-day Great Ice Bear Safari tour, spend your week exploring the rugged and beautiful coastline of Hudson Bay. Witness and photograph …
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Arctic Cruise Tips & Travel Guide

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:​
Traveling To the Arctic in the times of COVID-19

Visits to multiple countries are common on Arctic cruises, so please consult the below list of official government sources for travel advisories, restrictions, and current travel conditions.

From the United States: See US COVID travel informationCheck the US embassy's  travel advisories to Canada, Iceland, Russia, and Norway. 

From Canada: Check the Canadian embassy's advisories to Greenland, Denmark, Iceland, Russia, and Norway

The United Kingdom: Check the United Kingdom's government's current travel advisories.
Top Destinations for Arctic Cruises

Your Arctic cruise will take you across landscapes featuring impressive glaciers & fjords, oceanic fields of ice, expansive snow-covered tundras, and evergreen forests.

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

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

Popular regions to visit on an Arctic cruise include the Northwest Passage, Baffin Island (Canada)SvalbardFaroes Islands, Jan Mayen Island,  and Franz Joseph Land.
 
Best Times to Cruise the Arctic

The travel season in the Arctic runs from May through November.

The best times to go are late May to early June when wildlife spotting is at its best, and mid-August into September when, with a little luck, the Aurora Borealis may be seen.

The weather during these "shoulder seasons" is not as warm as mid-June to mid-August, but the mosquitos and gnats aren't quite as prevalent, or hungry in the late Spring and early Fall. 
Where do Arctic trips usually start/finish and how can you visit?

The Arctic is normally visited on a cruise from one of the below northern ports:

Oslo is the gateway for cruises visiting the Svalbard archipelago, whereas Stockholm and Copenhagen are the main ports for accessing the Baltic Sea.

Reykjavik, Iceland is a major port for accessing cruises to Greenland, Spitsbergen, and the Baltic Sea

If visiting the Northwest Passage and Baffin Island, Canada cruises often start and/or finish in and Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Nome and Anchorage Alaska have several cruises departing for the Northwest Passage, Northeast Passage, and Russia.

Russia's Far East is accessed frequently by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.
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