Activities in the Arctic
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.
Our Arctic cruising Vacations
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
Arctic wildlife vacation, Polar bear explorer
A wildlife focused Arctic safari in Svalbard
Arctic sailing voyages, Spitsbergen
Experience sailing in the fjords
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears
Expert Led, Polar Bears, Whales, Birdlife, photography
Spitsbergen Arctic Cruise
An exciting wildlife cruise around the Svalbard archipelago
Luxury Arctic cruise Spitsbergen & Franz Josef Land
A unique expedition to rarely visited Franz Josef Land
Svarlbard luxury cruise in the Arctic
Polar bears, glaciers and snow covered mountains in luxury
Spitsbergen polar bear watching cruise
Venture into the staggering realm of the King of the Arctic
Iceland circumnavigation cruise
A thrilling, complete Iceland experience!
Arctic highlights cruise, Oslo to Reykjavik
Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Greenland and Iceland
Russian Arctic cruises to Franz Josef Land
Voyage to icy archipelagos in the Russian High Arctic
Spitsbergen luxury cruises
Experience this Arctic wildlife paradise in ultimate luxury!
North Pole expedition cruise
The Ultimate Arctic Bucket List Expedition!
Spitsbergen cruise, 6 days
A 6 day 'taster voyage' to explore Spitsbergen's highlights
Arctic islands cruise, Iceland, Greenland and Spitsbergen
Discover the wild and rugged coasts of the Arctic
Spitsbergen highlights cruise, 1 week
An epic Arctic cruise in only seven days!
Northwest Passage cruise in the High Arctic
In-depth adventure along the fabled sea route
Russian Arctic cruise, High Arctic Odyssey
Explore the extreme regions of the High Arctic
10 Day Introduction to Spitsbergen vacation
Cruise, kayak and hike in the wildlife capital of the Arctic
Northern lights sailing vacation in Norway
Sailing and hiking in the land of the Aurora Borealis!
Arctic cruise, heart of the Northwest Passage
Explore the Arctic region’s diverse treasures
Spitsbergen and North East Greenland cruises
Northern Lights Whales Polar Bears Icebergs Glaciers Culture
Baffin Island cruising expedition, Canada
Expert Led, Polar Bears Belugas, Narwhals, Inuit Culture
North Atlantic arctic cruise, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen
Explore Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen
Spitsbergen 2 week cruise, in depth
Rugged, wild, unspoiled and utterly unforgettable
Greenland voyage cruise and northern lights
The world's longest fjord & spectacular Aurora Borealis
Northwest Passage Arctic cruise, Canada and Greenland
Retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition
Canada and Greenland western Arctic cruise
This expedition cruise travels far above the Arctic Circle.
Arctic activities
Nature hikes
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
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.Our top Arctic cruising Vacation
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
2021: 13 May, 18 May, 20 May, 23 May, 27 May, 28 May, 29 May, 1 Jun, 2 Jun, 3 Jun, 4 Jun, 7 Jun, 10 Jun, 11 Jun, 12 Jun, 13 Jun, 15 Jun, 18 Jun, 19 Jun, 20 Jun, 21 Jun, 25 Jun, 26 Jun, 28 Jun, 29 Jun, 30 Jun, 1 Jul, 2 Jul, 6 Jul, 7 Jul, 10 Jul, 11 Jul, 13 Jul, 16 Jul, 19 Jul, 20 Jul, 23 Jul, 25 Jul, 28 Jul, 29 Jul, 30 Jul, 3 Aug, 6 Aug, 7 Aug, 9 Aug, 12 Aug, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 18 Aug, 21 Aug, 24 Aug