Polar bears from the Zodiac, midnight sun from the deck.
Svalbard in June, July and August for polar bears, walrus and the pack ice from Longyearbyen; Greenland and Iceland for icebergs, Inuit villages and the Ilulissat icefjord; and the Northwest Passage in August and September, the one route that still feels like exploring. HX, Quark, Lindblad, Ponant, Silversea, Seabourn, Viking and Aurora sail it, 7 to 24 nights. SmartCruiser shows every Arctic sailing with taxes and fees included, and puts the sailings with SmartCruiser bonus credit at the top.
Which Arctic?
Pick one and the list below filters to it.
Svalbard
- Fly to Longyearbyen via Oslo, then 7 to 10 nights around Spitsbergen
- Polar bears on the pack ice, walrus haul-outs, Arctic fox, glacier fronts
- HX, Quark, Lindblad, Ponant, Silversea, Seabourn and Aurora
Best for: wildlife first, photographers
Greenland & Iceland
- Reykjavik to Greenland’s west coast: the Ilulissat icefjord, Disko Bay, Nuuk and Prince Christian Sound
- Big icebergs, Inuit settlements, whales, northern lights in September
- Viking, HX, Ponant, Silversea, Seabourn and Lindblad, plus Holland America and Oceania on larger ships
Best for: scenery, culture, a first expedition
The Northwest Passage
- Greenland to Alaska across the top of Canada, 16 to 24 nights, August to September
- Beechey Island, Inuit communities, musk ox, narwhal, ice charts every morning
- HX, Ponant, Lindblad, Silversea, Seabourn and Quark on a few dates each year
Best for: explorers, history buffs, the once-in-a-lifetime trip
Arctic deals: SmartCruiser picks first
Every Arctic sailing from every expedition and ocean line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings, bonus onboard credit, a Special SmartCruiser rate, or a senior, resident or police & fire fare that beats the public price. Below them, every other sailing with full sorting.
SmartCruiser picks
Sorted by what you save, biggest firstEvery Arctic sailing
Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.
Where the Arctic starts
Pick a port and the list above filters to it.
Which line for the Arctic?
Every line here lands you by Zodiac; they differ in ship size, toys, price and how far north they push.
When to go
The Arctic season is June to September, and each month is different.
Arctic cruise questions we answer every day
Will I see a polar bear?
In Svalbard in June and July, very likely; most voyages see several, from the ship or the Zodiacs at a respectful distance. Greenland sightings are rare. No line guarantees it, and the expedition team goes looking every day.
Do I need a passport or visa?
A passport valid six months beyond your trip. Norway (including Svalbard), Iceland, Greenland and Canada require no visa for US citizens. Canada’s eTA applies if you fly into Canada for a Northwest Passage departure.
How cold is it?
Milder than you think: 35 to 50 F in Svalbard and Greenland in summer, with wind. Parkas are provided on most expedition ships; bring waterproof pants, warm layers and gloves you can work a camera in.
What is included?
All Zodiac landings and cruises, lectures, a parka, boot rental, and on most lines Wi-Fi, drinks and gratuities. Kayaking is extra or a sign-up. Charter flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen are often included in Svalbard packages; we check for your sailing.
Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?
Yes. Every price on this page includes cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels, gratuities and optional activities are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise.
What do the SmartCruiser picks mean?
They are sailings where booking through SmartCruiser gets you something you do not get booking direct: instant savings, bonus onboard credit, a Special SmartCruiser rate we hold on that sailing, or a senior, resident or police & fire fare that beats the best public price.
Talk to an Arctic specialist
Tell us polar bears, icebergs or the Passage and we match the ship, the month and the flights through Oslo or Reykjavik. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.