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
North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears
Expert Led, Polar Bears, Whales, Birdlife, photography
From
€3250 to €3380
8 days
ex flights
Luxury Arctic cruise Spitsbergen & Franz Josef Land
A unique expedition to rarely visited Franz Josef Land
From
£7595
15 days
ex flights
Arctic wildlife vacation, Polar bear explorer
A wildlife focused specialist led Arctic safari in Svalbard.
From
£7195 to £9495
11 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen wildlife cruises
Encounters with glaciers, polar bears and icebergs.
From
£2799 to £5899
8 days
ex flights
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
From
£2150 to £9200
10 days
ex flights
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
From
US $11000
15 days
ex flights
Arctic sailing voyages, Spitsbergen
Experience sailing in the fjords
From
€3190 to €5290
8 days
ex flights
Svarlbard luxury cruise in the Arctic
Polar bears, glaciers and snow covered mountains in luxury
From
£4104
11 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen polar bear watching cruise
Venture into the staggering realm of the King of the Arctic
From
£2799
11 days
ex flights
Greenland voyage cruise and northern lights
The world's longest fjord & spectacular Aurora Borealis
From
€3300 to €3700
8 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen and North East Greenland cruises
Northern Lights Whales Polar Bears Icebergs Glaciers Culture
From
£4050 to £12990
15 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen to Franz Josefland cruise
bowhead whales polar bears walrus birdlife & kayaking
From
£6040 to £11790
14 days
ex flights
Arctic Spitsbergen cruise, 11 day expedition
Discover the essence of the Arctic
From
US $6495 to US $10595
11 days
ex flights
Arctic polar bear cruise, Spitsbergen
Arctic expedition cruise searching for polar bears
From
£1919 to £5699
8 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen cruise to the Arctic
Circumnavigate the jewel of the High Arctic
From
US $0
11 days
ex flights
Arctic cruise to Greenland and Iceland
Explore the stunning natural beauty of Greenland and Iceland
From
£4895
14 days
ex flights
Arctic cruise from Spitsbergen to Greenland
Expedition cruise taking in the Arctic highlights
From
£3272 to £5864
15 days
ex flights
Wrangel and Herald Islands expedition cruise
Diverse, abundant wildlife, dramatic and volcanic landscapes
From
US $10690
15 days
ex flights
Greenland adventure and diving expedition
Greenland's dramatic scenery for divers & non-divers alike
From
€3250 to €3380
9 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen summer vacation, glaciers of Isfjorden
Arctic summer vacation - the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard
From
£2285 to £2385
7 days
inc UK flights
Baffin Island cruising expedition, Canada
Expert Led, Polar Bears Belugas, Narwhals, Inuit Culture
From
US $7200 to US $9795
13 days
ex flights
Lofoten Islands and Svalbard northern lights safari
Take in the Arctic beauty on this exhilarating adventure
From
£4995
8 days
ex flights
Arctic expedition cruise, circumnavigation of Spitsbergen
Discover incredible wildlife and glaciers on this Arctic Voyage
From
US $7495 to US $17395
13 days
ex flights
East Greenland cruise
Dramatic Arctic Mountains, Inuits, Towering Icebergs Whales
From
£2970 to £6300
8 days
ex flights
Arctic cruise vacation, Spitsbergen
Explore the unique landscape and culture of Spitsbergen.
From
US $5795 to US $13295
9 days
ex flights
Spitsbergen sailing expedition
5-day sailing expedition on Svalbard
From
NKr 25900
5 days
ex flights
North Pole expedition cruise
The Ultimate Arctic Bucket List Expedition!
From
£22700 to £23095
13 days
ex flights
Arctic sailing vacation, Svalbard
Sail Svalbard without the Carbon Footprint
From
NKr 25900
5 days
ex flights
Arctic wildlife cruise vacation, heart of the Arctic
Immerse yourself in Arctic culture and landscape
From
US $4995 to US $16495
13 days
ex flights
Our top Arctic cruising Vacation
North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears
Expert Led, Polar Bears, Whales, Birdlife, photography
From
€3250 to €3380
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 27 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 17 Jun
2020: 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun
2019: 27 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 17 Jun
2020: 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Arctic cruising or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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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