Arctic Expedition Cruises

The best Arctic cruise destination depends on what draws you to the top of the globe. In Svalbard, search the sea ice for polar bears and explore shores alive with seabirds and walruses. Greenland pairs glacier-carved fjords and towering icebergs with opportunities to connect with Inuit culture. In the Canadian High Arctic, Baffin Island reveals remote bays, sheer coastal cliffs and ancient cultural sites, with historians adding perspective on the places you encounter. For a voyage that combines coastal communities with polar wildlife, trace Norway’s beautiful fjords north toward Svalbard. Compare the destinations, season and length of each voyage to find the Arctic adventure that is right for you. 

A National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Arctic voyage is shaped by ice capability and polar expertise. Our Arctic cruises sail aboard true polar expedition ships—including two Polar Class 5 vessels (PC5, Category A)—giving us the capability to venture where conventional cruise ships cannot. Push into the pack ice, navigate remote straits and make Zodiac landings along seldom-visited coastlines. On every departure, a veteran expedition team of naturalists—plus a National Geographic Expedition Expert or Photographer—adapts each day’s activities to shifting ice conditions and wildlife activity. 

Back on board, illustrated talks and daily recaps connect the day’s discoveries with the Arctic’s natural and human history. Learn from naturalists and cultural specialists, ask questions and see undersea footage that reveals marine life hidden beneath the surface.  

Three purpose-built polar vessels make up the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Arctic fleet. The National Geographic Endurance and the National Geographic Resolution are fully stabilized sister ships with Polar Class 5 ice ratings (PC5, Category A), built to explore where few others can—from the pack ice off Svalbard to the channels of the Northwest Passage. Each sister ship accommodates 138 guests. The National Geographic Explorer, a veteran of decades of polar exploration, carries 148 guests and rounds out the fleet. 

These ships carry tools and exploration spaces that turn every voyage into an expedition, including fleets of Zodiacs and kayaks, remotely operated vehicles guided by undersea specialists and an open bridge, where guests are welcome to chat with the crew and learn about navigation. Across every itinerary, the advantage is the same: the access of a small ship, the expertise of a seasoned team and the freedom to follow the ice. 

The best time to take an Arctic expedition cruise is late April through September. The early season in April through June offers sea ice, polar bears hunting atop floes and the start of the midnight sun. July and August open the deepest routes, including Northwest Passage and East Greenland attempts, with wildflowers on the tundra and feeding whales. September brings the first chance of the northern lights over Greenland. 

Arctic expedition cruises generally range from about one to three weeks, depending on the route and region. Focused voyages may explore a single area, while longer expeditions can link Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland or the Canadian Arctic. Check the day-by-day itinerary for the current duration and any hotel stays before or after your time aboard.  

Nature shapes each day in the Arctic. Your captain and expedition leader adjust the route and adventure options to the sea ice, weather conditions and wildlife activity, choosing where to make landings or explore by Zodiac and kayak. A planned stop may change, and a promising sighting may invite a longer stay. This flexibility creates opportunities to discover dramatic landscapes and wildlife that a fixed schedule might miss.

Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed and are dependent on a number of factors. However, several itineraries are built around the places and seasons where polar bears concentrate, our captains and naturalists have decades of experience working with the weather and ice conditions to find them, and our ships can follow ice floes where bears roam. Most Svalbard, Canadian Arctic and East Greenland voyages do encounter them.

The wildlife you may encounter depends on where and when you travel. Polar bears are among the Arctic’s most sought-after sightings, with opportunities to see them on the ice in Svalbard, Greenland and Canada. Across the tundra, watch for arctic foxes, reindeer and shaggy musk oxen; along rocky coastlines, look for puffins and Arctic terns returning to their nesting grounds. Walruses and ringed seals gather along the ice, while surrounding waters may reveal whales—and, with luck, the elusive narwhal. Sightings are never guaranteed, but naturalists and expert spotters draw on their knowledge of the ice, terrain and animal behavior to help find wildlife. 

The price of an Arctic cruise is comprehensively inclusive. It covers all onboard meals; all excursions and activities (unless otherwise noted), such as Zodiac cruises, guided hiking and kayaking excursions where conditions allow; the use of expedition gear; and gratuities for the crew. Fares are quoted per person, based on two people sharing a cabin unless single occupancy is specified. Airfare, including charter flights, is extra unless expressly included; our air department can help arrange it. Travel insurance is also a separate cost. When planning your trip, review our Travel Protection Plan, available to U.S. residents, and the inclusions for your chosen departure.  

You do not need to be especially fit for an Arctic expedition, and our cruises welcome a range of fitness levels. Each day offers options, from Zodiac cruising and shoreline walks to longer tundra hikes. You should be comfortable stepping in and out of a Zodiac and managing ship stairs—and beyond that, the expedition team always offers a gentler alternative.

Lindblad Expeditions is National Geographic's exclusive expedition cruise operator—the two organizations have sailed together as National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions for more than two decades. On Arctic cruises, this means traveling with a National Geographic Photographer, who leads workshops and helps you capture professional-quality images. The collaboration shapes the entire experience—exploration-first travel designed around discovery, not resort-style cruising.

Yes. Arctic voyages offer families meaningful ways to discover wildlife, geology and local cultures together. On select itineraries in Iceland and Greenland, the National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program invites kids and teens to document wildlife, experiment with expedition tools and join hands-on activities led by certified field educators. Rather than a traditional kids’ club, the program is woven into the shared family experience, while a range of daily activity options lets travelers of different ages and energy levels explore in the way that suits them best.