Arctic destinations

Experience Earth’s wilder side on a Greenland cruise

When you join us on an Arctic cruise to Greenland, adventure is guaranteed. Not only will you encounter a world where Inuit and European culture meet, but also a ruggedly beautiful wilderness populated by a wide range of exotic Arctic animals.

A Greenland trip takes you to places like Scoresby Sund, Earth’s largest fjord system and a spectacular place to experience the magical northern lights. It takes you to places like Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest park in the world.

A trip to Greenland also takes you to places where you might encounter musk oxen, bowhead whales, Arctic hares, and various species of seabird and seal.

Our Greenland cruises do not merely observe the coastline from the decks of a vessel, they get you to shore as often as possible, immersing you in one of the Arctic’s most unforgettable and scenically stunning landscapes.

But even the sea time of a Greenland cruise is eventful, as the waters surrounding this unrivaled island are alive with belugas, blue whales, fins, minkes, narwhals, sperm whales – and of course, bowhead whales, one of the least-known cetaceans in the world.

If you’re interested in experiencing the ultimate Arctic wilderness, join us on one of our many dynamic Greenland cruises detailed below.

Embark on an Arctic cruise to Svalbard

Offering majestic fjords, astounding ice formations, and some of the densest populations of polar bears on the planet, Svalbard stands out among all Arctic cruise destinations.

Svalbard was once called Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains” in Dutch, and was discovered in 1596 by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz. But unlike the arduous voyages made to Svalbard in the early years of its discovery, our Arctic cruises to Svalbard are safe and comfortable – though not at all lacking in polar adventure.

Svalbard expedition: what to expect?

Svalbard is part of Norway, and its principal island, Spitsbergen, is the largest and only permanently populated island of the chain. Svalbard cruises tend to focus on animal sightings, as the area is known for its seabirds (kittiwakes, guillemots, and many more), seals, walruses, whales, and of course, polar bears.

Taking a cruise to Svalbard means experiencing snow-swept peaks, rolling tundra, and dramatically cut coastlines. It means loads of opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, and many other outdoor activities. It means getting the chance to see truly exotic wildlife in its natural habitat.

In a word, a Svalbard cruise means adventure.

Join us on an expedition cruise to Svalbard cruise and enjoy some of the most awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife the world has to offer.

Norway’s Arctic volcanic island of Jan Mayen

Topped by the 2,277-meter high (7,470 feet) stratovolcano, Mount Beerenberg, the largely glaciated Norwegian island of Jan Mayen provides visitors staggeringly scenic views as well as the chance to spot marine life in the food-rich waters offshore.

The weather around Jan Mayen, however, can make landings tricky. Heavy rain, high winds, and fog are all likely here, though the temperatures are comparable to our other Arctic areas: When we visit Jan Mayen in June, the average temperature is around 2 to 3°C (36 to 37°F).

But despite the strong chance of inclement weather, occasionally the sun breaks through and provides Jan Mayen visitors some of the most ruggedly beautiful photo opportunities found in the Arctic.

From the slopes of this 2300 meters high volcano impressive glaciers spill into the sea. The food rich waters that surround the island offer very good whale sighting opportunities. 

The weather around Jan Mayen is often not so good: it is said the weather is foul for 362 days of the year. There may be heavy rain, wind and fog but then, soon after, the sun may break through and the air becomes clear. In June, when our ships visit Jan Mayen, the average temperature is around 2º to 3ºC (36º to 37ºF).

Jan Mayen is an island of breath-taking beauty and mystique and is dominated by the active volcano Mt Beerenberg.

Even though it’s named Iceland, the island is in fact only covered by ice for up to 10% of its surface area. The rest of the island’s geography is still being formed by its active volcanoes. 

Despite its proximity to the Arctic Circle Iceland enjoys surprisingly mild winters at its southern end thanks to the North Atlantic and Irminger Currents. Southern end temperatures range around 0°C during the winter. However the north end temperatures can drop much further to -25°C.

Arctic Foxes are the only mammals indigenous to Iceland; all other mammals arrived with the settlement of humans on the island. While there is an occasional Polar Bear, they are considered visitors from Spitsbergen and Greenland, and there is not considered to be any sort of Icelandic Polar Bear population. 

The seas however are full of life, fisheries playing a major role in Iceland’s economy. These fish are part of the food chain that feeds local Harbour and Grey Seals and Whales. Birds are numerous along Iceland’s shores, and the species include Kittiwakes, Puffins, and Skuas.