Luxury Expeditions
The Arctic
(Scroll)
Best Time
June – September (Summer)
Expedition Duration
10 days (typical)
Departure Ports
Various Arctic locations
Flight Time
Varies (e.g. 8 hours from New York to Longyearbyen)
Language
Inuit
Time Difference
Varies
For over a century, Arctic exploration by ship has been a niche pursuit.
The journey began with Hurtigruten, a Norwegian company initiating ferry services along Norway’s coast in 1893, still in operation today. These ferries ventured beyond the Arctic Circle to the northernmost points of Norway. This Norway-administered archipelago captivates with rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords, and a thriving polar bear population.
In recent decades, expedition cruise operators like Hurtigruten, Ponant, Lindblad, and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expanded Arctic explorations to diverse regions. Their itineraries now span from the Northwest Passage through Canada’s Arctic to Franz Josef Land above Russia, showcasing glacier-carved landscapes.