Polar Regions Cruises

Polar cruising represents the ultimate frontier of ocean travel, bringing intrepid voyagers face-to-face with the planet's last great wildernesses. Expedition ships navigate ice-filled waters to deliver encounters with penguins, polar bears, whales, and seals in their natural habitats.

Antarctica, the seventh continent, is accessible only by cruise ship (or charter flight), with the Drake Passage crossing from Ushuaia, Argentina, serving as the gateway. The Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands offer extraordinary wildlife encounters and breathtaking ice landscapes during the austral summer (November–March).

Arctic expeditions explore Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, the Northwest Passage, and the Norwegian Arctic. These voyages focus on polar bear sightings, walrus colonies, Inuit culture, and the dramatic landscapes of the far north. Hurtigruten Expeditions and Oceanwide Expeditions are the leading operators in both polar regions.