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.
Adventure Life seems to be an honest company and has been quite helpful in the planning process. Good about answering questions.
Chris Dralle
1 week ago
Wonderful personal attention to detail and very helpful suggestions by experienced travel experts
John K
1 week ago
Franny has been such an amazing help with all my trip planning. This is our 3rd trip to plan with her and she is always so willing to assist and find the best deals for my family and friends.
Suzanne Turbyfill
2 weeks ago
Our advisor at Adventure Life, Mary Curry, was knowledgable and quick to respond with answers to any questions we had. She made our booking efficiently and set up a time for us to make a secure payment through her directly. We’ve used Adventure Life repeatedly and would definitely recommend it.
