There’s by no means been a greater time to journey to the Arctic — no less than in terms of getting there in consolation and elegance.
The previous few years have introduced a shocking new crop of small “expedition” cruise vessels particularly designed for Arctic sailings which are way more upscale and chic than something seen earlier than.
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Constructed by longtime leaders in polar cruising reminiscent of Ponant, Lindblad Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions, in addition to just a few newcomers to the area of interest, vessels are extra spacious, extra amenity-filled and extra secure than Arctic cruise ships of outdated. They’re additionally basically altering the best way vacationers expertise the vacation spot.
The very best Arctic cruise ships: Then and now
Vacationers have been touring to the Arctic by ship in small numbers for greater than a century, ever since Norwegian firm Hurtigruten started working ferries to take passengers (and freight) up the coast of Norway in 1893. The ferries, which nonetheless function, traveled to the northernmost factors of Norway, nicely above the Arctic Circle.
Hurtigruten was additionally the primary firm to take vacationers by ship to Svalbard, one of many Arctic’s most scenic locations. Simply 800 miles from the North Pole, the Norway-controlled archipelago is thought for its rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords and enormous numbers of polar bears.
In newer many years, expedition cruise operators reminiscent of Hurtigruten, Ponant, Lindblad and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have added journeys to a far wider array of Arctic locations, from the icy water routing by the Canadian Arctic often called the Northwest Passage to glacier-carved Franz Josef Land above Russia.
Nonetheless, till comparatively just lately, a lot of the vessels that explored such areas have been comparatively spartan. In some instances, they’ve been small, tough-built authorities or scientific ships that had been designed with navigating icy areas however not essentially consolation in thoughts.
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Certainly one of my first journeys to a polar area, greater than 20 years in the past, as an illustration, was on Akademik Ioffe — a hardy, 199-passenger ice-class Russian oceanographic analysis vessel that was usually chartered by journey tour corporations in these days for polar journeys. I slept in a no-frills cabin initially designed for Russian oceanography researchers and ate with my fellow tourgoers in a cafeteria-like eating area. The crew principally spoke Russian.
Quite a bit has modified since then — principally within the final couple of years.
New vessels being constructed for polar sailings characteristic all of the creature comforts that vacationers have come to anticipate on cruise vessels in different elements of the world, together with spacious and upscale cabins, usually with balconies; elegant eateries with various menus; spas and health facilities; and even swimming pools and deck-top scorching tubs.
A few of the fanciest of the newcomers even have such over-the-top facilities as helicopters for sightseeing from above and submarines for seeing what lurks slightly below the water. On the very excessive finish, some ships characteristic all-suite lodging with butler service.
Nonetheless, as with all vessels constructed for polar journey, these new ships are also made to be robust.
In all instances, these are ships particularly constructed for “expedition cruising” — a kind of cruising that includes touring to distant, hard-to-reach locations on small, hardy vessels that carry their very own touchdown craft. All of them sail with numerous inflexible inflatable Zodiac boats for landings and have strengthened hulls and different design options that allow them function in icy areas.
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I’ve sailed on almost all of those new vessels, many in polar areas, and have been constantly amazed by simply how a lot of an improve they are surely.
Listed here are my picks for the 18 greatest new expedition cruise ships crusing to the Arctic.
Nationwide Geographic Endurance and Nationwide Geographic Decision
Operator: Lindblad Expeditions
These Lindblad Expeditions ships could also be my favourite all-around picks for an Arctic cruise. Crusing since July and November 2021, respectively, Nationwide Geographic Endurance and Nationwide Geographic Decision are designed to carry not more than 126 passengers — a notably low quantity that permits for an intimate expertise when exploring polar areas.
They’re additionally very secure ships, because of an uncommon new sloping bow design — one thing that may make a giant distinction when crusing within the typically tough waters in elements of the Arctic.
Lindblad was one of many pioneers of expedition-style ship journey, and it has years of expertise in polar areas that has helped form the best way it designed these almost an identical vessels, each particularly constructed for polar journey.
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Every of the ships has a polar class score of PC 5 Class A (a notch above many expedition cruise vessels), permitting them to journey by icy areas with ease. They’re additionally loaded with statement areas for viewing the passing surroundings. They carry kayaks, snowshoes and cross-country skis for polar exploring along with Zodiac boats for landings, and so they have remotely operated underwater automobiles — simply in case you wish to see what is going on on down under.
As well as, every vessel has two glass-walled “igloos” on its prime deck the place passengers can spend the evening beneath the celebrities. Comfy, state-of-the-art rooms with balconies; trendy eating places and lounges with upscale, Scandinavian-inspired decor; a spa and a yoga studio with wall-to-wall home windows spherical out the onboard expertise.
World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager
Operator: Atlas Ocean Voyages
Unveiled in simply the final three years, World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager are the primary vessels for Atlas Ocean Voyages, an all-new “expedition yachting” cruise operator that is already excessive on my record of favourite manufacturers for polar exploring.
Just like the Lindblad vessels, the three Atlas ships (two now crusing, the third debuting in November) are designed to hold comparatively few passengers (as much as 184 on polar sailings) and are loaded with indoor and outside statement areas, together with an modern, close-to-the-waterline exterior deck space with heated seating known as The Water’s Edge. Excessive-tech touches embrace GPS methods that allow them hover in delicate areas with out dropping anchor.
Constructed robust for polar exploring (all three vessels have a PC 6 score, one notch under the Lindblad vessels), in addition they are designed to be upscale with elegant, Forties-influenced decor, such pampering touches as a L’Occitane spa (the primary at sea) and butler service within the prime cabins.
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All three of the vessels are scheduled to sail recurrently within the Arctic within the coming years, in addition to Antarctica.
Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen
Operator: Hurtigruten Expeditions
As famous above, Hurtigruten Expeditions has an extended and storied historical past in Arctic journey. It is thus maybe no shock that the corporate broke new floor within the polar cruising area of interest when it unveiled the 528-passenger Roald Amundsen and sister ship Fridtjof Nansen in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
Named after well-known Norwegian polar explorers, the ships had been the cruise trade’s first to run on electrical hybrid engines. This not solely saves gas but in addition permits for noiseless operation in delicate polar areas the place silence could make all of the distinction (close to a calving glacier, as an illustration).
Different uncommon options embrace a full-blown science heart with state-of-the-art devices and underwater drones for passenger use.
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Each of those vessels sail with round 500 passengers when working within the Arctic, which is on the excessive aspect for an expedition-type vessel. In the event you’re desperate to make a variety of landings throughout an Arctic journey, Hurtigruten’s latest ships is probably not your best option. Given the comparatively giant variety of folks on these ships and rules in some polar areas that restrict touchdown social gathering sizes, they often can solely land a fraction of their passengers at any given time.
For that motive, I’m keen on the older however extra intimate Hurtigruten polar vessel Fram, which carries simply 200 passengers when working in polar areas. Nonetheless, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen have one huge benefit over that ship and plenty of others working in polar areas: Their beginning charges for journeys to the area are decrease. As larger ships, in addition they might really feel extra secure at instances.
Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II
Operator: Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions
Unveiled in 2019 and 2023, respectively, these super-swanky, 228-passenger “discovery yachts” had been the primary oceangoing vessels for luxurious purveyor Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions — a model higher recognized for upscale river cruises.
Like Scenic river ships, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II are high-end vessels with all-suite lodging (and we’re speaking actual suites, with separate dwelling rooms), butler service for all and a variety of onboard eating choices, together with sushi eating places. Related to one another in design, they each even have a whiskey bar stocked with greater than 110 whiskies and different high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio.
Scenic Eclipse was additionally the primary polar vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and expensive) excursions — and it has a submarine for underwater exploring, too. Its sister ship Scenic Eclipse II additionally boasts each helicopters and a submarine.
Having skilled a helicopter tour from the unique Scenic Eclipse, I can say that it is actually a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. On the draw back, the helicopter pad and hangars on each of those ships eat up a variety of area on their prime decks, as do the suites alongside their sharply sloping fronts. The mixture leaves much less obtainable room for statement areas.
The result’s ships with much less outside area for viewing surroundings than is typical for small vessels working polar journeys.
Le Soleal, Le Boreal, Le Lyrial and L’Austral
Operator: Ponant
Launched between 2010 and 2015, these 4 sister ships are common guests to the Arctic in addition to Antarctica — each beneath the banner of Ponant, a French model, and as vessels chartered to high-end, U.S.-based tour corporations Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent.
A pioneer in polar journey, Ponant has an extended custom of working voyages to polar areas, and this collection of ships was specifically designed for such journeys. All of them are hardy (with 1C ice class rankings from Lloyd’s Register) but in addition trendy, with up to date interiors and comfy rooms.
Notice that the onboard atmosphere of those vessels typically could be considerably completely different relying on whether or not they’re crusing on a visit marketed by Ponant (the place bulletins and onboard programming can be in each French and English, with lots of the passengers being French-speakers) or by Tauck or Abercrombie & Kent (the place the onboard expertise could have a way more distinctly American vibe).
If lengthy bulletins in a number of languages trouble you, or in case you would possibly discover it odd to be on a ship with out numerous English audio system, which might typically be the case for Ponant sailings, you would possibly wish to gravitate to one of many voyages on these ships organized by Tauck or Abercrombie & Kent (or just choose a unique ship).
Le Commandant Charcot
Operator: Ponant
Seeking to get actually off the trail within the Arctic? Le Commandant Charcot might be your ship, if solely as a result of it is the one expedition vessel that’s constructed robust sufficient to go to among the most distant and hard-to-reach elements of the area, together with all the best way to the North Pole.
Unveiled in late 2021, the 245-passenger ship is a real icebreaker, one thing we’ve not seen earlier than on the earth of expedition cruise ships. Some expedition journey corporations reminiscent of Quark Expeditions have chartered area on working Russian icebreakers up to now to supply journeys to the North Pole and different closely iced-in elements of the Arctic. Nonetheless, no expedition firm has ever constructed one.
Designed particularly for high-end polar cruising, Le Commandant Charcot carries a polar class score of PC 2 — the best ever for a ship designed for cruise journey. This implies it is licensed to smash by among the world’s thickest ice — particularly the reasonable, multiyear ice present in polar ice caps.
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Till the arrival of Le Commandant Charcot, no expedition cruise ship had a polar class score above PC 5; ships within the PC 5 class of polar hardiness can journey year-round in medium first-year ice, which is not as thick as multiyear ice. Most expedition cruise ships are rated even decrease at PC 6 (the decrease the quantity, the more durable the ship).
Along with being hardy, Le Commandant Charcot was designed to be elegant and upscale. It options spacious suites and cabins, every of which has a balcony — one thing comparatively uncommon for expedition ships. It additionally affords a principal restaurant with dishes created by famed French chef Alain Ducasse, a wellness heart with an indoor saltwater pool, a health club and a decktop space with a super-heated wading pool.
As with the opposite Ponant vessels talked about above, Le Commandant Charcot usually attracts French-speaking vacationers, given the corporate’s French origins. Bulletins on board are made in each French and English.
Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris
Operator: Viking
Unveiled in 2022, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are fast-growing Viking’s first-ever expedition cruise ships, and so they boast some uncommon options that make them among the greatest cruise ships for exploring the Arctic in addition to Antarctica.
Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that permits passengers to switch to small boats for water exploration whereas nonetheless within the protected inside of the ship. It is a first for an expedition cruise ship and one thing that may enchantment to vacationers with mobility points (a market that Viking caters to with its ships, that are particularly geared toward a 55-plus crowd).
Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris even have what would be the most gorgeous lecture halls ever at sea. In the back of every of the vessels, the high-tech rooms have sliding partitions behind the spot the place lecturers stand that may open to disclose the encompassing surroundings by floor-to-ceiling glass.
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Similar in nearly each method, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are each designed to hold 378 passengers, which is on the excessive aspect for expedition cruise ships that go to the Arctic. Like Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, which means they will not be capable of land all their passengers without delay in some polar areas.
Like Scenic’s two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris every carry submarines for underwater exploring, in addition to kayaks, although they do not have helicopters.
In a primary for polar expedition cruise vessels, each cabin on each of those ships has floor-to-ceiling glass partitions that slide partially open from the highest to create a balcony-like really feel. Public areas characteristic the identical elegant Scandinavian design discovered on Viking’s conventional ocean ships and river ships, in addition to such acquainted Viking venues as Italian restaurant Manfredi’s and a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers’ Lounge.
Seabourn Enterprise and Seabourn Pursuit
Operator: Seabourn
Unveiled in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Seabourn Enterprise and Seabourn Pursuit are the primary expedition ships ever constructed for Seabourn, the Seattle-based luxurious line.
Significantly smaller than the opposite vessels within the Seabourn fleet — they carry simply 264 passengers apiece — they’re particularly designed to journey to polar areas with extra-thick hulls and different options that permit them to bump by ice.
As is typical for expedition ships, in addition they carry Zodiac boats for landings in distant areas that don’t have any infrastructure and sail with expedition guides to guide you on the landings and clarify the wildlife and surroundings.
Nonetheless, greater than most expedition ships and consistent with Seabourn’s luxurious profile, Seabourn Enterprise and Seabourn Pursuit are distinctly luxurious vessels, with lots of the upscale venues and facilities discovered on Seabourn’s larger, extra conventional luxurious ships. If the larger ships, you may really feel proper at house on the expedition ships.
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As an example, each vessels have Seabourn’s signature Seabourn Sq. space that gives snacks, espresso and a visitor providers desk. Every affords a model of the primary restaurant known as The Restaurant and the extra informal The Colonnade eatery, in addition to smaller variations of Seabourn’s spa and wellness heart.
As well as, suites on these vessels are particularly swanky, with vivid loos that every one characteristic bathtubs (if bathtubs are a should, that is your ship). Stroll-in closets present ample storage, even for lengthy sailings, and each room has a small drying closet for outside journey clothes.
Just like the Scenic and Viking ships, Seabourn Enterprise and Seabourn Pursuit additionally sail with a pair of submarines which are obtainable for extra-fee underwater excursions.
Backside line
There has by no means been a greater time to journey to the Arctic by ship, because of the arrival of a big new crop of hardy vessels particularly designed for polar exploration. These new vessels are extra elegant and comfy than most polar exploration ships of the previous whereas nonetheless providing the kind of toughness that you really want in a ship that may take you into icy waters.
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