Arctic Cruise Itineraries
- Land of the Ice Bears
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Experience nature in its purest form in this High Arctic Island when you join us for one of our unforgettable Arctic cruises. Ice-peppered fjords ring with the thunderous sound of glacial ice crashing to the sea. Walrus raise their sleepy heads to observe us. And everyone holds their breath as a polar bear is spotted and cameras click wildly. With our fully stabilized ice-class expedition cruise ship, we are able to probe the ice in search of wildlife. This Arctic cruise voyage is undertaken in the spirit of discovery. Nature is full of wonderful surprises and we are guided by her.
- Epic Arctic
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Epic in scope, inspirational in ambition — explore Franz Josef Land in the far reaches of Arctic Russia aboard the only foreign-flagged non-research vessel permitted here. See the White Sea and experience Russian orthodox culture and history. Voyage to Arctic Svalbard, the polar bear capital of the world.
- Impressions of Northern Norway
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See wild polar bears in the pristine, snowy Arctic while exploring Svalbard, and then sail to Northern Norway and explore its brilliant green landscape where tiny hamlets cling to steep fjord walls.
- Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard
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Sail along 1,800 miles of Norway's classic fjord coast and explore the famously picturesque Nordfjord and the towering Briksdal Glacier that rises 1,200 meters out of the sea. Then venture north to Svalbard in search of wild polar bears hunting along the pack ice.
- Greenland's Northern Lights
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Beginning and ending in Iceland's cosmopolitan capital, this 14-day Arctic cruise takes you across the Denmark Strait and up the coast of East Greenland to Ittoqqortoormiit (Scorsebysund), one of the most northerly settlements in the world. As the autumn nights lengthen, you'll visit Inuit communities preparing for winter, hike frost-sparkled tundra meadows, and watch in wonder as the northern lights dance across the darkening skies.
- North Pole
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Sailing onboard one of the world's most powerful icebreakers, we head north from Murmansk through dense, multi-year pack ice to the North Pole - a worth goal for our amazing ship. Some places on our planet are so out reach that their very isolation has stirred generations of explorers into voyages of adventure and discovery. One such place is the North Pole.
- Spitsbergen Explorer
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Choose from two departure dates for this 11-day Arctic adventure, on which you'll cruise halfway round Spitsbergen, largest island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. Sometimes called the "wildlife capital of the Arctic," Spitsbergen is home to thousands of rare seabirds, and offers some of the best polar bear and beluga whale sightings in the world. This Spitsbergen Explorer adventure includes frequent shore landings plus an optional kayaking adventure.
- Spitsbergen Circumnavigation
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The Svalbard archipelago includes the "big island" of Spitsbergen. It is rugged, wild, unspoiled - and utterly unforgettable - as it glistens under continual daylight. Here the mythic ice bear is king. Walrus populate the water surrounding Spitsbergen in great numbers - hauling out on rocky beachheads to rest after feeding in the food-rich icy shallows. Zodiacs and sea-kayaks bring you up-close-and-personal with these and many other Arctic mammals, seabirds and glaciers.
- Spitsbergen Family Adventure
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The world's first family-focused Arctic expedition will burn energy and ignite the mind of children and parents alike. Spitsbergen is the largest of Norway's Svalbard islands, situated well above the Arctic Circle. Renowned for polar bear sightings and walrus haul-outs, Spitsbergen provides extraordinary photo opportunities. That's why we've included a resident photographer who will lead photography workshops for point-and-shoot disposables or the latest digital camera. Families will learn to identify animal tracks and scat: to a naturalist, animal droppings tell a great deal about the local wildlife's living conditions. This family-focused adventure takes advantage of a child's natural curiosity and interest in all things gross. Children travel at a 15% reduction.
- Spitsbergen Snowshoeing
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Snowshoes are perfect for readily accessing landscapes that cannot be reached once the snow melts. Explore regions of Svalbard where the only tracks are paws and hooves. This trip unfolds when snow is still on the ground, sparkling under the 24-hour summer sun. We provide the equipment and the lessons. You bring your enthusiasm for new adventures and the Arctic wilderness. No previous experience is required.
- Three Arctic Islands
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This cruise, encompassing three Arctic islands (Iceland, Greenland and Spitsbergen), is a Quark exclusive, not available from any other tour provider. Join us in August/September, and explore the magnificent northeast coast of Greenland with its icy fjords, rugged coastline and massive glaciers. Along the way you'll see plenty of Arctic wildlife, including musk oxen, polar bears, walrus and seals.
- Franz Josef Land
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In the far north of Russia is Franz Josef Land, one of the most remote and raw Arctic landscapes in the world. Discovered less than 150 years ago, you’ll venture to an icy realm that is home to the walrus, polar bear, seal, Arctic Fox and Beluga Whale. This is an archipelago visited by few people, where the foreboding landscapes of the islands are dotted with relics from famous explorers of the past.
- Franz Josef Land & Novaya Zemlya
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If unique wildlife and rugged Arctic landscapes are what you’re after, this is the expedition for you. From the remote, icy islands of Franz Josef Land to the isolated mountain ranges of Novaya Zemlya, this Arctic adventure visits some of the largest walrus rookeries and seabird nesting areas in the Arctic. Your journey is an expedition of extremes to a challenging land that has intrigued explorers since the 1800’s.
- Norwegian Fjords and Polar Bears
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Take part in a mystical north Atlantic journey and explore the various medieval towns of the Norwegian coast before heading north among the icebergs of Spitsbergen. This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ply the Norwegian Sea, keeping your eyes open for unique wildlife while searching for the elusive polar bear.
- Realm of the Polar Bear
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From close-up encounters with huge icebergs and glaciers, to the unique variety of extraordinary wildlife, this is a voyage of nonstop highlights. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeers and colorful colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh and hypnotic land we dare only visit a couple of months a year.
- Arctic Highlights - Spitsbergen, Greenland, and Iceland
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Sailing from Spitsbergen to Greenland, follow the ice's edge always on the lookout for wildlife. Navigating south, explore this remote landscape not only by ship but also on foot and by Zodiac. This journey highlights the contrast and change in the Arctic as you move south finally ending in the "land of fire and ice", Iceland. Inuit villages, unique wildlife and remote destinations are some of the highlights on this truly unforgettable voyage through the Arctic.
- Expedition Fire & Ice
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As we approach the dramatic terrain of this island, it is instantly evident why the Norse invented fantastical folk tales to explain Iceland’s many unique natural formations. During the “Fire & Ice” portion of our itinerary, we will see volcanoes surrounded by lava fields and switness a geothermal wonderland of mudpots, steam vents, sulphur deposits, boiling springs and fumaroles. We will then sail into bays filled with glacial ice, searching the frigid waters for signs of Minke whales, white beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.
- Expedition Svalbard
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Svalbard is one of the last major European wilderness areas with pristine mountains, unique fauna, deep fjords, picturesque icebergs, and massive ice sheets. It is a remote archipelago located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole where summer days dawn early and glow late into the night. We arrive during the season when an astounding array of seabirds flock to their annual mating grounds along weathered rocky cliffs and tall granite towers. This is also when polar bears begin to emerge and introduce their new young to the snowy world outside their dens, or search for food in a race against time as their icy pathways melt in the warming temperatures.
- Expedition Spitsburg
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Beyond the Arctic Circle lies a region of undisturbed beauty where towering cliffs provide shelter to thousands of seabirds, massive glaciers preside over picturesque fjords and vast stretches of tundra reveal a colourful patchwork of surprisingly sturdy wildflowers. In an unending quest for new discoveries, Silversea Expeditions offers guests uncommon opportunities to venture deep into these remote regions at the top of the world in search of reindeer, Arctic fox, seals, walrus, whales and, the most impressive of all — the polar bear.
- White Sea & Franz Josef Land
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This incredible itinerary travels along Scandinavia’s northernmost coastline and sails into the Barents Sea. Upon entering the waters of the White Sea, watch for Beluga whales as we approach Archangel. Here we’ll tour the old quarter and learn of the Pomors and of ancient Russian culture. Our next stop is the remote, rarely visited Solovetsky Islands. During our Zodiac explorations of Novaya Zemlya, a vast nature reserve, we expect to see seabirds, walruses and seals. Remote Franz Josef Land consists of 191 islands, 83% of which are permanently covered with ice. Our visit to this unpopulated, largely unexplored destination is among only a handful of visits the archipelago receives each year. It is reported that the rare arrival of a cruise ship often intrigues the native polar bears’ natural curiosity and they are known to approach visiting ships quite closely.
Svalbard, A Guide to Plants of the High Arctic - by Stephen MacLean - $14.95