Best time to go on an Arctic Cruise
The Arctic summer is not as bitterly cold as you might think, with almost 24-hour sunshine and wildflower-filled tundra.![]()
July-August is – for many – the loveliest time in the Arctic, as the sea ice has melted, leaving open waters to cruise through, while migrating whales breach the chilly surface. The Gulf Stream flows up Svalbard’s coast, creating a strangely mild oasis 1,200km north of the Arctic Circle. Earlier on the recently calved icebergs are more colossal, but the later you travel, the further north you can sail. By late September, however, the ice creeps southward again, and the Northern Lights begin to glow. Canadian and Russian cruises barely skim the Arctic Circle; the climate is much chillier, bringing ice – and polar bears – considerably further south.
Our Arctic cruising Vacations
Luxury Arctic cruise Spitsbergen & Franz Josef Land
A unique expedition to rarely visited Franz Josef Land
From
£7995
14 days
ex flights
Arctic wildlife vacation, Polar bear explorer
A wildlife focused Arctic safari in Svalbard
From
£7895 to £9595
11 days
ex flights
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
From
£2690
8 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen Arctic Cruise
An exciting wildlife cruise around the Svalbard archipelago
From
£6432
12 days
ex flights
Arctic sailing voyages, Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen tall-ship wildlife and natural history sailing
From
€2790
8 days
ex flights
North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears
Expert Led, Polar Bears, Whales, Birdlife, photography
From
€3390
8 days
ex flights
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
From
US $11450
15 days
ex flights
Svarlbard luxury cruise in the Arctic
Polar bears, glaciers and snow covered mountains in luxury
From
£8265
11 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen polar bear watching cruise
Venture into the staggering realm of the King of the Arctic
From
£2799 to £4099
11 days
ex flights
Northern lights sailing vacation in Norway
Sailing and hiking in the land of the Aurora Borealis!
From
€2100
8 days
ex flights
East Greenland cruise
Dramatic Arctic Mountains, Inuits, Towering Icebergs Whales
From
£2980 to £7990
9 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen widlife photography cruise
Photograph iconic Arctic wildlife
From
£9000
14 days
ex flights
Baffin Island cruising expedition, Canada
Expert Led, Polar Bears Belugas, Narwhals, Inuit Culture
From
£10850
17 days
ex flights
Svalbard in depth cruise
An 11-day exploration of Svalbard and its unique wildlife.
From
£7000 to £11900
11 days
ex flights
Northwest Passage Arctic cruise, Canada and Greenland
Retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition
From
£11500
17 days
ex flights
Svalbard wildlife cruise
Search for polar bears on this small-group cruise
From
£3150 to £11900
8 days
ex flights
North Atlantic arctic cruise, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen
Explore Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen
From
£5500
14 days
ex flights
Wrangel and Herald Islands expedition cruise
Wrangel Is: Russia's haven for Polar Bears, Walrus & Whales
From
US $8999 to US $13740
15 days
ex flights
Arctic island cruises, Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland
A voyage encompassing three Arctic countries
From
£8200
15 days
ex flights
Greenland voyage cruise and northern lights
The world's longest fjord & spectacular Aurora Borealis
From
€3950
9 days
ex flights
North Pole expedition cruise
The Ultimate Arctic Bucket List Expedition!
From
£24195
13 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen highlights cruise, 1 week
An epic Arctic cruise in only seven days!
From
£3900
7 days
ex flights
Russian Arctic cruise, High Arctic Odyssey
Explore the extreme regions of the High Arctic
From
£12500
22 days
ex flights
Russian Arctic cruises to Franz Josef Land
Voyage to icy archipelagos in the Russian High Arctic
From
£8300
16 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen cruise, 6 days
A 6 day 'taster voyage' to explore Spitsbergen's highlights
From
£1300 to £3000
6 days
ex flights
Greenland adventure vacation, sea, land and air
Explore Southern Greenland from land, sea and air
From
£6400
9 days
ex flights
Highlights of Spitsbergen vacation
5 night cruise through the heart of the Arctic
From
£4300
7 days
ex flights
Western Arctic cruise, Canada and Greenland
Venture where the sun never sets
From
£13100
20 days
ex flights
Iceland and Greenland cruise
Unspoiled wilderness and dramatically rugged landscapes
From
£8200
14 days
ex flights
Our top Arctic cruising Vacation
North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears
Expert Led, Polar Bears, Whales, Birdlife, photography
From
€3390
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2022: 2 Jun, 7 Jun, 8 Jun, 9 Jun, 13 Jun, 15 Jun, 16 Jun, 22 Jun, 28 Jun, 29 Jun, 30 Jun
2023: 31 May, 1 Jun, 6 Jun, 8 Jun, 11 Jun, 14 Jun, 15 Jun, 18 Jun, 22 Jun, 25 Jun, 27 Jun, 29 Jun
2022: 2 Jun, 7 Jun, 8 Jun, 9 Jun, 13 Jun, 15 Jun, 16 Jun, 22 Jun, 28 Jun, 29 Jun, 30 Jun
2023: 31 May, 1 Jun, 6 Jun, 8 Jun, 11 Jun, 14 Jun, 15 Jun, 18 Jun, 22 Jun, 25 Jun, 27 Jun, 29 Jun
Travel Team
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Arctic cruises, month by month
More about Arctic cruising
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.
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.
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.
On a typical Arctic cruise the amenities are quite basic as the aim is to spend a lot of time on land - optional activities in the Arctic range from nature hikes to kayaking and even the chilling ‘Polar Plunge’!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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