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Activities in the Arctic

In contrast to most cruises, where the ship has everything you need to keep you entertained on board the whole time, on a typical Arctic cruise the amenities are a lot more basic, as the objective is actually to get you off the ship whenever the opportunity arises. Optional activities in the Arctic range from nature hikes to kayaking and even the chilling ‘Polar Plunge’!

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Activities in the Arctic

Picture a typical luxury cruise vacation. You’re on a gigantic boat, in fact more of a resort, and everything you need, everything you could possibly want, to keep you and your family entertained for a week or two is right there on board with you: a choice of dining rooms, bars, nightclubs; swimming pools (with water slides!), gyms and spas; arcades, cinemas, theatres, gift shops, maybe even casinos; climbing walls, miniature golf, rope courses, even skydiving simulators. It is, frankly, ridiculous. And as for luxury – call us picky but the amount of passengers needed to make all that financially viable makes it seem more like a floating theme park.

Small ship cruises of the Arctic could scarcely be more different. Far fewer passengers for one thing, usually between 50 and 250 on a ship. Onboard amenities, while perfectly adequate for a week or two, are much more limited. You might have a library, a fitness suite, even a small pool, and there will be a restaurant, but not much beyond that. The reason for that is perfectly simple: the boat is just a means of getting from A to B, you’re supposed to get off as much as possible. Of course your time onboard is far from dull – in fact the travel hours fly by as you admire the Arctic scenery, practise your photography on sea birds and marine wildlife, attend talks from the expedition team and gasp in awe at the icebergs floating past.

The type of activities available to you depend on the vacation you go for, but most involve heading out in the small fleet of Zodiac rigid hull boats that most ships carry with them. The restriction on Antarctica cruises, with only 100 passengers allowed ashore at a time, does not apply in the Arctic, but given that daily excursions involve ferrying large numbers of people back and forth, they need to be, and always are, extremely well organised.

Specialist expedition crew accompany you on excursions and the ratios are excellent, sometimes as low as 1:8, allowing you to learn a great deal from experts with years of experience in this environment and wildlife. Other crew members act as well-trained bear-spotters, armed with flares and guns and positioned on high ground. If a polar bear does appear in the close vicinity and can’t be scared off, groups will return to the ship as soon as possible.

All activities are of course entirely optional, and once everyone is on land they may be divided up into smaller groups, for instance with some heading off on two-hour hikes, the more adventurous going further and steeper, and others preferring to stick around on the beach instead. Arctic cruise itineraries are purposefully made as flexible as possible and daily schedules can easily be torn up depending on the weather or wildlife sightings. When choosing a cruise one factor you should take into account is your own fitness level, so that you can make the most of your time in the Arctic.

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Arctic activities

Nature hikes

Hiking in the Arctic is invigorating and sensory, as you cross tundra strewn with beautiful wildflowers, climb summits such as the 400m Plateau Mountain on Spitsbergen, and listen to the loud groans of glaciers in the long process of calving icebergs. You might also strap on a pair of snowshoes (bring your own foldable poles) to traverse fields of snow and ice, explore historic mining, whaling and trapping communities, and of course there will be innumerable opportunities for photography.

Northern Lights

From late September until April the Arctic sky darkens enough to make it possible to view the Northern Lights. The majority of Arctic cruise vacations take place in the summer months when the weather is warmer and the ice more broken up, but there are some Arctic Northern Lights cruises that depart as late as September in search of the aurora borealis.

Sea kayaking

Along with their RIB launches for land excursions, many ships also carry a number of sea kayaks. The waters are generally calm, so you can paddle along as part of a group, getting much closer to gigantic icebergs, coastline and wildlife such as whales, sea birds and seals than you would be able to on the ship itself. Beyond being a good way to shake out the kinks in your muscles after days of cruising, sea kayaking promises another amazing perspective on the Arctic scenery.

Polar Plunge

Weirdly enough, taking the ‘polar plunge’ is one of the most popular activities on an Arctic cruise. It’s exactly what it sounds like: you’ll either jump from the ship (wearing a safety harness) or run from the beach into water that in summer is usually around 0°C. And no wetsuit. Most people manage only few seconds, but the bravest stay in for several minutes.

Dog sledding

Exploring the coastline around Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago is a common Arctic cruise route. If your itinerary visits the main town on Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen, then you might be able to book a session of mushing aboard a husky-drawn sledge – bound to be one of the most exhilarating moments of your trip even though it may not compare to your first sighting of a polar bear.

Beach cleans

Sadly, while we may think of it as one of the Earth’s last remaining pristine wildernesses, even the Arctic is no stranger to the curse of plastic pollution. The movement of ocean currents mean that beaches are often sprinkled with waste that’s both unsightly and a hazard for Arctic wildlife. Some Arctic cruises organise beach cleans, and it’s always worth bringing a bag with you on any shore excursion to pick up any litter you find.

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Accessibility

For passengers with limited mobility or requiring the use of a wheelchair, trained expedition staff are available to provide assistance on land and also on the ship if needed and some ships have lifts between decks. The level of assistance can vary from cruise to cruise, so it’s advisable to discuss with our travel team when making an inquiry to ensure the trips suggested will meet your personal requirements.

More about Arctic cruising

When to go on an Arctic cruise

The best time to go on an Arctic cruise is during the summer months, when the sea ice melts enough to let ships pass, and the midnight sun bathes these northern lands - find out more with our month by month guide.

Arctic cruises travel guide

Our Arctic cruises travel guide reveals why the best way to explore is a small ship expedition cruise, and compares the different Arctic areas - with Northern Lights, Inuit art, dog sledding,and - of course - polar bears.

Arctic cruise itineraries

There are several Arctic cruise itineraries available, focusing on different regions and activities - wildlife features on any Arctic cruise, but use our interactive map to find out which species you are likely to see and where.

Things to do on an Arctic cruise

An Arctic cruise is not all about onboard entertainment - the most exciting things to do on an Arctic cruise all involve disembarking and getting up close to the action on zodiacs, on foot, by kayak or even on snowshoes.

Arctic wildlife cruises

Arctic wildlife cruises, with superb biologists and wildlife guides accompanying them, will help you spot polar bears, enormous walrus, fluffy Arctic foxes and several species of whales, plus birds, seals and orca.

Where to see polar bears on an Arctic cruise

The big ticket attraction on Arctic cruises is the chance to see polar bears and while sightings can never be guaranteed certain locations are more likely than others - read on to find out where to see polar bears on an Arctic cruise.

Whale watching in the Arctic

With at least 17 species seen in Arctic waters at different times of year, responsible whale watching in the Arctic has immense potential, and onboard experts are always at hand to explain what species and behaviours you’re witnessing.

What to pack for an Arctic cruise

With comfortable but compact cabins, and various practicalities that you’ll need to prepare for, knowing what to pack for an Arctic cruise is essential to make the most of the space in your suitcase and ensure you bring all you need.

Choosing a ship

An Arctic cruise is likely to be one of the most memorable vacations of your life, so it’s important to get it right - here's our advice on choosing a ship for an Arctic cruise so you have all you need to know before making a decision.

Life onboard ship

What will the sleeping and eating arrangements be, how many fellow passengers can you expect, but most importantly, what will you be doing each day - read on to find out what life onboard ship on a typical Arctic cruise vacation involves.

Save or splurge?

Deciding whether you ought to save or splurge on an Arctic cruise vacation is likely to be one of the biggest issues you face during the planning process - here are some of the ways you can either cut costs or supersize your trip.

Arctic cruises advice

Read on for the best Arctic cruises travel advice offered up by our vacation experts who have spent years working in the far north, with tips on which regions to visit, recommendations for twitchers and health and safety advice.

Responsible tourism in the Arctic

Responsible tourism in the Arctic is a thorny issue but taking a responsible Arctic cruise can help strengthen this region, its communities and wildlife against exploitation, climate change and land grabs - find out more below.