Cruise Destinations

Arctic

Arctic: Earth's Final Frontier

The Arctic is Earth's final frontier—eternal ice, polar bears, and the midnight sun. For the intrepid explorer seeking Earth's last great wilderness.

Polar Expeditions

Arctic Expedition

Experience the Arctic's untamed wilderness and polar adventure.

Greenland & Iceland

Explore icy fjords and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

Northwest Passage

Navigate the legendary Arctic passage for true adventurers.

Destination Guide

About this destination

The Arctic is the one cruise destination where the ship itself is the attraction. These are expedition sailings on smaller, ice-strengthened vessels — typically 100 to 500 passengers — that carry Zodiac boats, expedition guides and scientists rather than water slides.

Three families of routes exist. Svalbard and Spitsbergen voyages from Longyearbyen chase polar bears, walrus colonies and the midnight sun across pack ice. Iceland and Greenland itineraries pair Reykjavík's volcanic landscapes with Greenland's Ilulissat icefjord, where icebergs the size of cities drift out to sea. The Northwest Passage is the longest and rarest of the three — a full transit of Canada's Arctic archipelago between the Atlantic and Pacific, sailed only a few weeks each year.

The season is short and precise: June to September. In June and July you sail under the midnight sun; in late August and September the light turns golden and the first northern lights appear. For Iranian travellers the practical question is Schengen — Norway and Iceland itineraries need it, while Greenland (Denmark) has its own rules we check case by case. Ships are small, cabins are limited and fares are high; booking 9 to 15 months ahead is the norm.

The routes in detail

Every route, explained

Arctic Expedition

The Svalbard expedition is the classic Arctic introduction: flights into Longyearbyen at 78° north, then days circling Spitsbergen in search of polar bears on the drifting pack ice. Zodiac landings reach walrus haul-outs, guillemot cliffs and the tidewater glaciers of Magdalenefjorden; the midnight sun keeps the deck bright at 2 a.m. Ships here are small expedition vessels with parka, boot and lecture programme included. The season runs June to August only, when temperatures hover just above freezing. Iranian travellers need a Schengen visa for Norway's Svalbard archipelago — our team schedules the visa appointment before the sailing sells its limited cabins.

Greenland & Iceland

Greenland and Iceland itineraries pair the planet's two great volcanic-ice landscapes in one sailing, usually eight to fourteen nights from Reykjavík. The Icelandic half covers the Golden Circle's geysers, volcanic black beaches at Vík, and whale-rich bays; the Greenland half crosses the Denmark Strait to Ilulissat, where the icefjord — a UNESCO site — calves bergs the size of city blocks into Disko Bay. Smaller ports like Nuuk and Qaqortoq bring Inuit culture and colourfully painted wooden houses. June to September is the only season, with August best for both Northern Lights and open passages. A Schengen visa covers Iceland, while Greenland's Danish rules are checked per itinerary by our team.

Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage is the rarest itinerary in cruising: a full transit of Canada's Arctic archipelago between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, retracing Amundsen's 1903 route. Roughly 17 to 24 days sail through the Barrow Strait, Bellot Strait's narrow current and the historic Franklin-era islands, with landings at remote Inuit communities like Pond Inlet and Cambridge Bay. Ice charts dictate the route day by day — no two transits are identical. Only a handful of expedition ships attempt it each September window, and cabins are priced accordingly. For serious polar travellers, this is the final line on the map; our team monitors the limited annual departures and their Canadian visa requirements.