Arctic Cruises
INTRODUCTION TO ARCTIC CRUISES
An Arctic cruise to the Spitsbergen (Svalbard), Greenland, Baffin Island, Franz Josef Land and arguably the ultimate Arctic voyage the North Pole is an amazing experience.
One of your toughest decisions will be which area of the Arctic to explore? Each region has it’s specific differences, Svalbard , often referred to as Spitsbergen (the largest island) is best for wildlife, polar bears, walrus, Arctic fox, seals and excellent wildlife. Greenland easily has the largest glaciers, fjord systems and icebergs. A Canadian Arctic cruise offers a mixture of stunning landscapes, wildlife and the famous Northwest Passage. Heading to the East there are voyages to more remote destinations like Franz Josef Land and Wrangel Island, both of which are excellent for polar bears and of course there is the top of the world the North Pole.
Making the choice as to which voyage, when, which ship or operator is where we help; unlike ship owners/operators we’re not obliged to sell the ships we own/operate – we offer independent expert advice and can match the best experience for you. We specialise in small-ship Arctic cruises and will help find an Arctic cruise to suit your holiday needs. Our Arctic Cruise experts will help you select the right vessel (luxury, expedition or Ice-breaker), itinerary and season to ensure your cruise really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Want more detailed information on an Arctic Expedition Cruise
We have a dedicated and specialist web site: Arctic Luxury & Expedition Cruises (a sister company of Luxury & Expeditions Cruises). If you click on your area of interest below you will be taken to this specialist web site.
Our team of expert travel consultants have firsthand experience of the Arctic and many ships and operators. We’d love to discuss your plans and help you select the best Arctic cruise.
MOST POPULAR ARCTIC ITINERARIES
These itineraries are offered on most ships.
Spitsbergen (which is the largest Island on the Svalbard archipelago) is home to many fine glaciers and stunning landscapes as well as being home to a wide array of wildlife; Arctic terns, Arctic skua, puffins, little auks, Arctic fox, walrus, several species if seal and whale and of course the animal that most people hope to see the Polar bear. Many itineraries stay around Svalbard, other link with Iceland or Franz Josef Land.
If you click on the link you’ll be taken to our specialist Arctic site.
Greenland is home to massive ice-fields, glaciers, several fine fjord systems and amazing landscapes formed by some of the oldest rock on our planet. Wildlife is likely not to be quite as abundant as you will find on Spitsbergen and with viking and Thule history and current settlements Greenland offers a different experience.
If you click on the link you’ll be taken to our specialist and dedicated Arctic web site.
If your time and budget will stretch to a longer trip, this voyage offers you Spitsbergen, East Greenland and Iceland. The landscapes will be incredibly diverse, the opportunities to view Arctic wildlife significant, in Scoresbysund Fjord you see many beautiful icebergs calving from the glaciers that flow down from Greenland’s ice-cap.
If you click on the link you’ll be taken to our specialist and dedicated Arctic web site.
NORTH POLE
Currently there’s only one vessel that can reach the North Pole, the nuclear powered ice-breaker 50 Years of Victory.
On your cruise to the North Pole, watch (and feel, as the ship forces it way over and through sea ice) in amazement from high above the frozen surface of the Arctic Ocean surface, as the vessel’s twin nuclear reactors (generating 75,000 horsepower), powers the vessel through Arctic sea ice up to three meters thick. This is a one–of-a-kind trip with the single-minded goal of reaching 90 degrees North.
There will be opportunities to view wildlife, including the polar bear. On the return journey to Murmansk you’ll visit Franz Josef Land archipelago, home to walrus, polar bear, seals and many bird species including the rare Ivory gull.
FRANZ JOSEF LAND CRUISE ITINERARIES
Franz Josef Land, is an archipelago consisting of 191 islands and is located in the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea. Eighty-five percent of the archipelago is covered by glaciers. The landscapes are stunning and the islands have proven important in historical terms.
Three species of seals inhabit the archipelago, harp and bearded being the most numerous. Walrus numbers are recovering (after being hunted close to extinction), they have been internationally protected since 1952 and their numbers have increased to between one and three thousand walruses living in the archipelago.
Minke, humpback and beluga whales are commonly seen around the islands and less commonly orcas and narwhals, with the archipelago being located on the northern edge of their summer range. The archipelago also has a good population of polar bears which is shares with Svalbard.
RUSSIAN FAR EAST CRUISE ITINERARIES
There are a number of excellent Arctic voyages that travel through Russia’s Far East – on of the most popular is a voyage to Wrangel Island. Wrangel is considered a polar bear ‘maternity ward’ with hundreds of females giving berth to their cubs on the Island. A voyage through this region also offers insights into remote communities and ancient cultures.
ARCTIC CRUISE SHIPS
Here are the Antarctic ships we work with, we have first-hand knowledge of many of these ships and their operators, which is important when selecting the best option for you. All are members of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). We are proud to be Associate Members of AECO.
PLEASE NOTE; When you click on the ship name you will be taken to our specialist ARCTIC WEB SITE
EXPEDITION/LUXURY SHIPS
GREG MORTIMER
SEA SPIRIT
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDURANCE
WORLD EXPLORER
HONDIUS
ULTRAMARINE
