What makes a cruise ‘the best’?
At World of Cruising, our team of experts curate ‘best for…’ guides rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. We look at what cruise lines stand out for each destination we review and each type of traveller, finding those subtle, if-you-know-you-know details so we can tailor our recommendations.
At a glance
- Fares for Arctic exploration vary significantly, from £1,000 to ten times that
- You can see some incredible wildlife among the snow and ice, such as Arctic foxes and whales
- Popular Arctic destinations include Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic
Best for budget-conscious travellers: Hurtigruten Coastal Express
The days when only the super-rich could visit the ends of the Earth are long gone. For a wallet-friendly polar trek, Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express does daily departures along Norway’s epic fjords.
To be sure, this is not a traditional expedition cruise. There are no kayaks or scientists on board. But you will be able to tick ‘sail inside the Arctic Circle’ off your bucket list as you cross the North Cape and pause at several off-the-beaten-track ports.
Basically, if you want reindeer, northern lights and/or midnight sun without remortgaging your home, this will most assuredly float your boat.
Itineraries: Classic 12-day Bergen-Kirkenes–Bergen sailings set off year-round, with optional side trips and seasonal variation.
Who’s this cruise for? Value-seeking travellers keen to dip their toes into Arctic waters without going full Shackleton.
What can I expect to pay? Fares start from around £1,000 per person, with optional upgrades for excursions, drinks and cabin comforts.
Browse offers:Hurtigruten Coastal Express
Best for luxury: Silversea
Who hasn’t dreamed of sipping Champagne and nibbling caviar in the Arctic? Silversea’s Silver Endeavour and Silver Cloud blend polar exploration with top-tier comfort. Think butler service, marble bathrooms and even a pillow menu, all the while cruising past diamond-blue glaciers.
Obviously, add fine dining, fancy heated balconies and a team of expert guides ready to take you ashore by zodiac. It’s the Arctic, reimagined as a frosty five-star retreat.
Itineraries: Discover Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian Arctic in style. Voyages are usually between 10 and 24 days, with flexible fly-cruise options.
Who’s this cruise for? Travellers who want to feel like David Attenborough by day and the Queen of Sheba by night.
What can I expect to pay? Fares begin at around £7,500 per person, including butler service, gourmet dining, excursions and onboard enrichment.
Browse offers:Silversea
Best for wildlife lovers: Quark Expeditions
If your cruise fantasy involves scanning the horizon for polar bears instead of scanning the menu for piña coladas, Quark Expeditions is your Arctic Circle go-to. Its small expedition ships are built for edge-of-the-map excitement, and their naturalist-led landings bring you thrillingly close to walruses, whales and adorable Arctic foxes. You’ll kayak past glaciers, crunch through the ice floes on inflatable zodiac boats and grab the kind of photos you’ll be itching to print and hang on the wall back home.
Itineraries: Quark sails across Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic. Voyages range from 10 to 20 days, often round-trip from Reykjavik or Longyearbyen.
Who’s this cruise for? Wildlife enthusiasts and adventurous souls who want a front-row seat to planet Earth’s coolest critters.
What can I expect to pay? Prices start around £6,000 per person, including expert-led excursions, meals and Quark’s iconic three-in-one parka (yours to keep).
Browse offer:Quark Expeditions
Best for photographers: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
For jaw-dropping snaps of polar bears on sea ice, awe-inspiring icebergs and red-faced parka selfies, Lindblad Expeditions, in collaboration with National Geographic, is properly picture-perfect. These famously enlightening cruises have photography experts aboard, including actual Nat Geo pros, who’ll help you capture your best Arctic shots yet. Between expert-led shore landings and golden-hour zodiac trips, your memory card will be well and truly overloaded.
Itineraries: Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and Arctic Canada across 10-15-day itineraries, often round-trip from Oslo or Reykjavik.
Who’s this cruise for? Photography lovers looking to up their game by experiencing the magic of the Arctic through their viewfinder.
What can I expect to pay? Around £8,000 per person, including photo workshops, excursions, meals and parkas for those chilly deck shoots.
Browse offers:National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Best for a small ship experience: Oceanwide Expeditions
If you’d prefer to keep your Arctic experience on the down low with an intimate hundred-or-so fellow travellers, Oceanwide Expeditions has really nailed that small-ship, big-nature balance. Their ice-strengthened ships carry just 50-170 passengers and sail to those pretty little nooks and crannies the big ships simply can’t get to. A typical day might include a zodiac ride, a spot of kayaking, a polar hike or snowshoeing. There’s a genuine sense of camaraderie, too. Even your captain will typically pitch in on the wildlife spotting sessions.
Itineraries: Sailings to Svalbard, Greenland, Jan Mayen and the Canadian Arctic, lasting seven to 20 days.
Who’s this cruise for? Travellers who want maximum immersion, minimum crowds and a memorably close-knit expedition vibe.
What can I expect to pay? Prices from around £4,000 per person, including excursions, full board and expert guides.
Browse offers: Oceanwide Expeditions
Best for adventure seekers: HX
If your idea of a good time involves crampons, kayaks and adrenaline, then you’re in luck, as HX is action stations through and through. These ships are basically floating basecamps, complete with dedicated science centres, specialist equipment and crews who’ll get you paddling right past glaciers or hiking through polar bear country. You can also join beach clean-ups, attend lectures on ice cores and end your day in a hot tub under the Arctic sky.
Itineraries: Arctic Norway, Svalbard, Greenland and the Northwest Passage, from nine to 20 days.
Who’s this cruise for? Active travellers who want to do the Arctic, not just sail through it.
What can I expect to pay? Fares start from around £5,500 per person, including guided activities, lectures, meals and daily landings.
Browse offers:HX
Best fly-cruise option: Aurora Expeditions
If you’d prefer to skip the choppy open ocean and maximise your time up north, Aurora Expeditions’ fly-cruise packages are a savvy choice. Fly into Longyearbyen or Greenland, then board a small, sleek expedition vessel for an immersive voyage among icebergs, fjords and wildlife. It’s a time-saving, energy-sparing, photo-optimising approach to Arctic cruising – ideal for anyone short on time but long on wanderlust.
Itineraries: 10–15-night voyages in Svalbard, East Greenland and the Northwest Passage, often with charter flights included.
Who’s this cruise for? Time-poor travellers who want to go deep into the Arctic without long days at sea just to get there.
What can I expect to pay? Prices start around £7,000 per person, including flights, excursions, meals and Arctic gear hire.
Browse offers: Aurora Expeditions
Best for first-time Arctic cruisers: Adventure Canada
Arctic cruising can sound a little… intense. Right? But Adventure Canada makes it look easy, fun and surprisingly cosy. Their small ships balance a decent level of thrill-seeking with comfort – think plush lounges, knowledgeable guides and a big focus on the indigenous cultures of the region.
It’s less ‘survival skills’ and more ‘spirited learning’ – you’ll still see glaciers and wildlife, but also hear Inuit stories, attend local music nights and maybe even join a poetry reading. In a word: chill.
Itineraries: 10–14-night sailings through the Canadian Arctic and West Greenland, often round-trip from Toronto with included charter flights.
Who’s this cruise for? Curious first-timers who want a soft landing into the polar world – with just the right amount of polar bears.
What can I expect to pay? Fares start around £5,000 per person, including charter flights, excursions, meals and cultural programming.
Browse offers: Adventure Canada
Best for over-the-top Arctic: Scenic
If your dream Arctic cruise involves a little more than mittens and hot toddies – we’re talking onboard helicopters, a submarine, as many as ten dining experiences and a 550-sqm spa – Scenic Eclipse goes all out to impress. This is expedition cruising, turned up to eleven. Sure, you’ll still see polar bears, glaciers and icy fjords. But play your cards right, and you’ll be doing it through a Swarovski telescope in your ultra-luxe suite or 300 metres below sea level in the ship’s private sub. It’s indulgent, a little OTT and totally unforgettable.
Itineraries: ten to 20-night polar adventures around Svalbard, Greenland and the Northwest Passage, often round-trip from Tromsø or Reykjavik.
Who’s this cruise for? Thrill-seekers with a taste for the finer things in life – couples, retirees or bucket-listers who want to experience the wild Arctic without giving up champagne or thread count.
What can I expect to pay? From around £10,000 per person, including fine dining, zodiac excursions, butler service and access to onboard helicopters – excursions are extra.
Browse offers: Scenic
Best for a traditional expedition: Poseidon Expeditions
Old-school exploration fans rejoice. Poseidon Expeditions captures the classic spirit of polar travel aboard its 114-passenger Sea Spirit – small enough for nimble manoeuvres, big enough for comfort. You’ll cruise to glacier-studded fjords, set foot on remote islands and learn all about it from onboard scientists. Beware, luxury fans – there aren't many show amenities. Just boots, binoculars and the satisfying crunch of snow underfoot. Lovely.
Itineraries: Voyages to Svalbard and Greenland, usually 10 to 14 nights.
Who’s this cruise for? Traditionalists and intrepid travellers after a proper expedition with a touch of polish.
What can I expect to pay? From around £6,000 per person, including zodiac excursions, lectures and a very good pair of boots.
Browse offers: Poseidon Expeditions
Fancy seeing the other side of the coin? Read our guide to the best Antarctic cruises.
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