Arctic wildlife cruises
Polar Bears
Known as nanuk by the Canadian Inuit, this cuddly-looking creature is anything but. Weighing up to 550kg, they feed mainly on the blubber of seals which they catch when the seal pops up through a breathing hole in the sea ice. The bears must follow the ice; the seals live at sea, and catching a swimming seal is near impossible. Trapped or beached whales provide a rare but welcome feast – if a carcass is spotted, your ship will likely make a diversion to see if any polar bears are feeding on it.
One of the most sought-after sights is a mother with her cubs. They emerge from their dens in early spring, and make their way to the sea ice. The polar bear’s Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means sea bear, and these creatures actually spend most of their time at sea. 350km is the furthest a polar bear has ever been recorded swimming – so you’ll need to keep an eye on the sea as well as the ice floes to spot the bear!
- Jonathan Turner, one of our traveller reviews
Our Arctic cruising Holidays
Spitsbergen Arctic Cruise
An exciting wildlife cruise around the Svalbard archipelago
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
Arctic sailing voyages, Spitsbergen
Experience sailing in the fjords
Arctic wildlife holiday, Polar bear explorer
A wildlife focused Arctic safari in Svalbard
North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears
Expert Led, Polar Bears, Whales, Birdlife, photography
Iceland circumnavigation cruise
A thrilling, complete Iceland experience!
Spitsbergen polar bear watching cruise
Venture into the staggering realm of the King of the Arctic
Greenland voyage cruise and northern lights
The world's longest fjord & spectacular Aurora Borealis
Spitsbergen highlights cruise, 1 week
An epic Arctic cruise in only seven days!
Canada remote arctic cruise, the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands
Northwest Passage cruise in the High Arctic
In-depth adventure along the fabled sea route
Greenland cruise, southern coasts and Disko Bay
Explore one of Greenland’s most remote regions
Baffin Island cruising expedition, Canada
Expert Led, Polar Bears Belugas, Narwhals, Inuit Culture
10 Day Introduction to Spitsbergen holiday
Cruise, kayak and hike in the wildlife capital of the Arctic
North Atlantic arctic cruise, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen
Explore Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen
Iceland and Greenland cruise
Unspoiled wilderness and dramatically rugged landscapes
Arctic islands cruise, Iceland, Greenland and Spitsbergen
Discover the wild and rugged coasts of the Arctic
Svalbard in depth cruise
An 11-day exploration of Svalbard and its unique wildlife.
Spitsbergen widlife photography cruise
Photograph iconic Arctic wildlife
Western Arctic cruise, Canada and Greenland
Venture where the sun never sets
Kamchatka cruise in Russia, ring of fire expedition
Discover dramatic scenery & birdlife in the Russian Far East
Spitsbergen and North East Greenland cruises
Northern Lights Whales Polar Bears Icebergs Glaciers Culture
Russian Arctic cruise, High Arctic Odyssey
Explore the extreme regions of the High Arctic
Arctic highlights cruise, Oslo to Reykjavik
Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Greenland and Iceland
Spitsbergen cruise, 6 days
A 6 day 'taster voyage' to explore Spitsbergen's highlights
East Greenland cruise
Dramatic Arctic Mountains, Inuits, Towering Icebergs Whales
Russian Arctic Circle cruise with Wrangel Island
Unique expedition across the top of the world
Wrangel and Herald Islands expedition cruise
Diverse, abundant wildlife, dramatic and volcanic landscapes
Arctic cruise, heart of the Northwest Passage
Explore the Arctic region’s diverse treasures


Walrus
Arctic foxes
The Arctic fox is one of the most beautiful creatures to inhabit this snowy landscape. Perfectly camouflaged, their blue-white fur turns brown in summer once the snow melts and the rocks reappear. They use their thick tails for extra warmth, curled in their burrows.“Just outside of Longyearbyen is probably the best place to see Arctic foxes. They’re at the bottom of one of the bird colonies there. The hatchlings fly from the cliff face straight into the ocean, but quite a lot of them don’t make it. They bounce on the tundra, and the Arctic foxes pick them off. They then bury them in the ground for future use if they get enough. There are a number of Arctic foxes, so a lot of that birds from that colony don’t make it to the water’s edge. The foxes also take eggs from the rookery edge – it’s a great place to see them in action.”
Our top Arctic cruising Holiday
Spitsbergen Arctic Cruise
An exciting wildlife cruise around the Svalbard archipelago
2021: 5 Jun, 15 Jun, 25 Jun

