Arctic North Atlantic
Destination Deals
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From
AU $22,229EX SYD/BNE/MEL* QUEST OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN - SEABOURN QUEST
BONUS OFFER** Fly, Cruise & Stay 42 nights with Seabourn Quest ex Dover to Copenhagen incl 5 star stay in London & Copenhagen PLUS 7D/6N Corners of Cornwall Tour PLUS FREE Panoramic Tour with a Thames River Cruise PLUS Hygge & Happiness Tour in Copenhagen
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From
AU $22,259EX ADL/PER* QUEST OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN - SEABOURN QUEST
BONUS OFFER** Fly, Cruise & Stay 42 nights with Seabourn Quest ex Dover to Copenhagen incl 5 star stay in London & Copenhagen PLUS 7D/6N Corners of Cornwall Tour PLUS FREE Panoramic Tour with a Thames River Cruise PLUS Hygge & Happiness Tour in Copenhagen
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From
AU $3,769NORWEGIAN SPIRIT 14 NIGHT ICELAND IRELAND & NORWAY
14 Night Iceland, Ireland & Norway cruise onboard Norwegian Spirit from Southampton return
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From
AU $13,430LAND OF THE ICE BEARS - Lindblad Nat Geo cruise - 3 Jun 19
Go deep into the experience of Arctic wildlife in its natural habitat - discovering and observing polar bears, and the other unique creatures of the Arctic ice.
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From
AU $13,430LAND OF THE ICE BEARS - Lindblad Nat Geo cruise - 10 Jun 19
Go deep into the experience of Arctic wildlife in its natural habitat - discovering and observing polar bears, and the other unique creatures of the Arctic ice.
The Arctic and North Atlantic
Timelessness is the key word, says Carol Kasza. It begins with the light–until you've experienced an Arctic summer, you can't conceive of the abundance of time that 24 hours of daylight gives you. In this remote wilderness, we're free not only from the harried pace of city life, but free from the constraints of time itself.
Blessed with natural beauty, from boiling mud pools and spurting geysers to glorious glaciers and stunning waterfalls, or, if you have a passion for scenery, natural beauty and wildlife, there are truly breath-taking scenes to behold on an Arctic cruise: catching a glimpse of whales, manatees or seals, glorious snow-covered mountains, the midnight sun, or maybe a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights.
The highlights of an Arctic cruise might be the stunning Arctic scenery of Qaqortoq or visiting the village of Erik the Red from Narsarsuaq, and are generally centered around Iceland, Spitsbergen or Greenland.
Cruise types
There are several different cruise types to this region – firstly the larger cruise ships that visit here are restricted to scenic cruising through the area and generally include a visit to the region with longer cruises to the Norwegian Fjords.
Some ships are smaller, they can explore where bigger ships are unable to visit, giving guests a true experience of life in the Arctic – seeing local wildlife in its natural habitat, marvelling at ice-blue glaciers, or enjoying daylight, all day and night.
However, other cruises here are expedition style provided by smaller specialty ships that allow passengers to disembark onto remote areas of the Sub Arctic islands, in particular Iceland and Greenland. These ships tend to be sturdy style ships and do not offer all the extras associated with modern cruise ships. These cruises are dedicated to the experience and feature experts in the region and the wild life who give lectures and lead shore excursions. Visits to the Islands are usually by Zodiac inflatables.
Cruise seasons
The High Arctic is best explored in May to September, as the pack ice recedes.
Main Ports
Larger cruise ships tend to depart from UK ports
Specialty ships generally depart from regional ports.
Keflavik (Iceland) is the starting point for the voyages around Iceland or to Greenland. Many big cities have direct flights to Keflavik
Longyearbyen is the starting point for the voyages to the North and Around Spitsbergen. To get to Longyearbyen you will have to fly via Oslo and Tromso.
Weather
Weather in the sub Antarctic islands is cool but pleasant in the summer months. The nature of the area means that the weather can and does change quite quickly, so if you plan a cruise here take good note of the cruise lines advice on clothing. Again remember that island visits are by zodiac infaltables so you need to ensure you are properly dressed for these trips.
Photo Credit: John Simos
Ports of Interest
- Aapilattoq, Greenland
- Aasiaat, Greenland
- Akranes, Iceland
- Akureyri, Iceland
- Alluitsup Paa, Greenland
- Ammassalik (Tasiilaq), Greenland
- Anadyr, Russia
- Arctic Circle
- Arsuk Brae, Greenland
- Aston Bay, Canada
- Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)
- Auyuittuq Canada
- Ayon Island, Russia
- Baffin Island, Canada
- Banks Island
- Bathurst Inlet, Canada
- Beechey Island, Arctic Canada
- Beerenberg Jan Mayen, Norway
- Belcher Channel, Canada
- Bell Island, Russian Federation
- Bellot Strait, Nunavut
- Bennett Island, Russian Federation
- Bildudalur, Iceland
- Bjargtangar, Iceland
- Boothia Peninsula and Larsen Sound, Canada
- Button Islands, Nth Canada
- Bylot Island, Canada
- Cambridge Bay, Canada
- Cape Constitution, Greenland
- Cape Dezhnev, Russia
- Cape York (Kap York), Greenland
- Cape Zhelaniya, Russian Federation
- Champ Island, Russian Federation
- Chukotka Peninsula, Russia
- Churchill, Canada
- Coburg Island, Canada
- Constable Point, Greenland
- Coronation Gulf, Canada
- De Long Islands, Russian Federation
- Devon Island, Canada
- Digges Island, Canada
- Disko Island and Bay, Greenland
- Djupivogur, Iceland
- Dundas Harbor, Canada
- Dundas, Greenland
- Edinburgh Island, Canada
- Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
- Elwin Inlet, Canada
- Eqip Sermia, Greenland
- Eskifjordur, Iceland
- Eureka Station, Canada
- Evighedsforden, Greenland
- Eyafjordur, Iceland
- Faroe Islands, Denmark
- Faskrudsfjordur, Iceland
- Flatley Island, Iceland
- Fogo Island, Canada
- Fury Beach, Canada
- Gibbs Fjord, Nunavut
- Gjoa Haven, Nunavut
- Greenland
- Grise Fiord, Canada
- Grundarfjordur, Iceland
- Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
- Heimaey, Iceland
- Herschel Island, Canada
- Hofn, Iceland
- Hooker Island, Russian Federation
- Hopedale, Canada
- Hornbjarg, Iceland
- Hunde Eijland, Greenland
- Hvalsey, Greenland
- Iceland
- Igaliku, Greenland
- Ilulissat, Greenland
- Isabella Bay, Canada
- Isachenko Island, Russian Federation
- Isafjordur, Iceland
- Isfjord, Svalbard
- Itilleq, Greenland
- Ittoqqortoormiit, Greeland
- Ivittuut, Greenland
- Ivujivik, Quebec
- Jenny Lind Island, Canada
- Johansen Bay, Nunavut
- Kangaamiut, Greenland
- Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
- Kangiqsujuag, Canada
- Kanngiqtugaapik (Clyde River), Nunavat, Canada
- Kapisillit, Greenland
- Karrat Fjord, Greenland
- Keflavik, Iceland
- Killiniq Island, Canada
- King William Island, Arctic Canada
- Kollafjordur ( Faroe Islands )
- Kolyuchin Island, Russia
- Kugluktuk (Coppermine River), Nunavut
- Kullorsuaq, Greenland
- Kulusuk, Greenland
- Lancaster Sound, Canada
- Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
- Lower Savage Islands, Nunavut
- Lyakhovsky Island, Russian Federation
- Magaroya Island, Norway
- Markison Ford, Canada
- Medvezhyi Islands, Russia
- Melville Island, Canada
- Mjoifjordur, Iceland
- Monumental Island, Canada
- Nannuk Harbour, Nunavut
- Nansen Fjord, Greenland
- Napassorssuaq Fjord, Greenland
- Narsaq, Greenland
- Nekaupstadur, Iceland
- Nerlerit Inaat, Greenland
- New Siberian Islands, Russia
- North Arm Fjord
- Notre Dame Bay, Canada
- Novaya Zemlya, Russia
- Nuuk, Greenland
- Orange Islands, Russian Federation
- Ostrov Gerald, Russian Federation
- Paamiut, (Frederikshaab) Greenland
- Pangnirtung, Canada
- Patreksfjordur, Iceland
- Peel Sound, Canada
- Pevek, Russia
- Pond Inlet, Canada
- Port Aux Port Peninsula, Canada
- Prince Christian Sound, Greenland
- Prince Leopold Island, Canada
- Prince of Wales Strait
- Puvirnituq, Nunavat
- Qaanaaq (Thule), Greenland
- Qaqortoq, Greenland
- Qassiarsuk, Greenland
- Qausuittuq National Park, Arctic Canada
- Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland
- Qeqqata Kommunia, Greenland
- Qikiqtarjuaq, Canada
- Qilaqitsoq, Greenland
- Quaqtaq, Canada
- Queen Maud Gulf, Canada
- Rankin Inlet, Canada
- Resolute (Qausuittuq), Canada
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Reynisdrangar, Iceland
- Runavik, Faroe Islands
- Saglek Fjord, Canada
- Saqqaq, Greenland
- Savigsivik, Greenland
- Scoresby Sund, Greenland
- Severnaya Zemlya, Russia
- Seysdisfjordur, Iceland
- Siorapaluk, Greenland
- Sirmilik National Park, Arctic Canada
- Sisimiut, Greenland
- Smith Sound
- Somerset Island, Arctic Canada
- Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland
- Spitsbergen, Norway
- Stykkisholmur, Iceland
- Surtsey, Westmann Isles, Iceland
- Svalbard
- Svartenhavn, Greenland
- Taloyoak, Canada
- Tanquary Fjord, Canada
- Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories
- Uelen, Russian Federation
- Ukkusissat, Greenland
- Ulukhaktok, Canada
- Umanaq, Greenland
- Upernavik, Greenland
- Uummannaq, Greenland
- Uunartoq, Greenland
- Uyedineniya Island, Russian Federation
- Vankarem, Russia
- Victoria Island, Canada
- Victoria Strait, Canada
- Victory Point, Nunavut
- Vigur Island, Iceland
- Vik, Iceland
- Vopnafjorour, Iceland
- Walker Bay, Nunavut
- Walrus Is. Canada
- Westfjords, Iceland
- Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), Iceland
- Wrangel Island, Russia