Destination Reviews
An Arctic Circle cruise is perhaps the ultimate polar expedition. Defining the magical Arctic region, the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line of latitude located at 66°33′45.9″ north of the Equator, is where 24 hours of daylight is swapped for 24 hours of darkness six months of the year. These are the best Arctic Circle cruises to book for the ultimate adventure...
What is an Arctic Circle Cruise?
The Arctic Circle - sometimes called the Polar Circle - is an imaginary line that circles the Earth near its northernmost regions; the furthest north of the five major lines of latitude commonly marked on maps. This circle defines the boundary where, at the December solstice, the sun can still be seen at noon, and where, at the June solstice, the midnight sun remains visible, and the line crosses the United States, Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Iceland, Norway (including Svalbard), Sweden, Finland, and Russia.
Any cruise that crosses the Arctic Circle can be defined as an Arctic Circle cruise, though there are multiple different itineraries available. Crossing into the Arctic Circle means entering a world of 24-hour daylight in summer and endless winter nights, where icebergs, glaciers, and unique wildlife dominate the landscape. Different cruise lines have their own traditions, but more often than not, your captain will announce over the tannoy the moment your ship crosses the Arctic Circle on its northward journey.
Why Choose an Arctic Circle Cruise?
Crossing the Arctic Circle means travellers can experience the Midnight Sun or Northern Lights, explore legendary routes such as the Northwest Passage; visit remote Arctic communities in Greenland, Svalbard, and Canada; encounter iconic wildlife such as polar bears, walrus, whales, and musk oxen; or even stand at the Geographic North Pole for the ultimate bucket-list travel experience.
We highlight below the best Arctic Circle cruises for 2026 and 2027, and which cruise lines are best if your aim is to cross the Arctic Circle on your polar expedition.
Top Arctic Circle Cruises to Book
1. Northwest Passage Arctic Circle Cruise with Quark
Quark Expeditions are known for their adventurous spirit and you'll be exploring with like-minded travellers on this 17-day voyage that crosses the Arctic Circle while navigating the Northwest Passage, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Canada's Arctic Archipelago and is one of the most iconic ways to cruise within the Arctic Circle.
On board Quark's brand-new 138-guest Ocean Explorer, after two days exploring west Greenland from Nuuk, you'll head north, where you'll be exploring well into the Arctic Circle. Follow in the footsteps of historic explorers while discovering Inuit communities, calving glaciers and Arctic wildlife as you discover the Canadian High Arctic with Zodiac excursions, hikes, and visits to historic sites. Highlights include Baffin Island, the fifth largest island in the world, home to Inuit communities and surrounded by deep fjords which framed with shimmering glaciers and icebergs. Keep an eye out for wildlife from the ship's multi-height outdoor decks, from whales and walrus to musk oxen and polar bears.
2. Cross the Arctic Circle with AE Expeditions' Svalbard Odyssey Cruise
Located entirely within the Arctic Circle, a Svalbard cruise allows you to explore one of the Arctic's most wildlife-rich regions, and AE Expeditions offers one of the best polar experiences in the industry. This quintessential Svalbard cruise on board the 130-guest Greg Mortimer, with its revolutionary patented X-BOW design, departing on either 17 June 2026 or 23 July 2026, has an incredible nine full days exploring the region.
You'll explore Svalbard's high summer landscapes of fjords, glaciers and tundra meadows with the chance to get involved in hikes, Zodiac rides, and sea kayaking (the latter at an extra cost), spotting Arctic foxes, walrus, beluga whales, and seabird colonies - and this is also the best place in the world to spot polar bears. As you venture close to 80 degrees north, you'll keep watch for the King of the Arctic among the pack ice, cruise through the stunning fjords and hike amid bright blue glacier fronts, all in the company of AE's excellent expert expedition team. On board, enjoy a friendly and laid-back vibe in the company of like-minded travellers, for whom the time ashore is everything. The focus is on small group exploration, with a commitment to getting off the ship as much as possible for up close and personal encounters with wilderness and wildlife.
3. Svalbard in Luxury with Silversea Expeditions
If you're looking for a touch of luxury on your Arctic Circle cruise, Silversea offers the very best standards of food, service and comfort on board - think lavish interiors, an indoor swimming pool, and stylish spa, alongside all-inclusive fine dining.
Silversea's Arctic Circle cruise on 12 June 2026 has six days of Svalbard exploration - all under the constant glow of the Midnight Sun - with three in the northern and three in the southern Svalbard region - all well within the Arctic Circle. Sailing on 220-guest Silver Endeavour, you'll enjoy everything from glacier hikes and Zodiac rides to expert-led excursions, while back on board, Silversea Expeditions brings together the very best of Italian hospitality alongside the most inspiring team of expert guides, naturalists and scientists, and a marine team dedicated to your safety as you explore far from civilisation.
4. North Pole Expedition: The Ultimate Arctic Circle Cruise
The most extreme way to cross the Arctic Circle on a cruise is on Ponant Explorations' 245-guest Le Commandant Charcot, the world's only luxury icebreaker, which takes guests to a place explorers dreamed of standing for centuries - the Geographic North Pole, at 90° North on the Earth's rotational axis, well above the Arctic Circle.
Sailing from Longyearbyen in Svalbard on 27 July 2026, this cruise sails for five days among dramatic landscapes, spotting whales, walrus, seals and polar bears along the way to reach the iconic Geographic North Pole, with - weather dependent - a couple of days to explore on the ice at the top of the world. This is not a cruise where you'll disembark and explore everyday, but rather a bucket-list collector's item reserved for those discerning travellers who want to undertake one of the most unforgettable journeys on offer in expedition cruising. Or, there's the chance to see the aurora borealis during autumn with Ponant's North Pole cruise that also calls into East Greenland in September 2026 at the start of the Northern Lights season. To top it all off each day ends with the likes of fine French dining, luxurious interiors and a lavish spa that lie in complete juxtaposition to the remote surrounds.
5. Iceland & Greenland with Seabourn
Seabourn's two dedicated expedition ships combine stylish design with high-tech expedition equipment, including two custom-built six-person submarines, all with an unwavering focus on ensuring your destination experience is faultless. Seabourn's 16 July 2026 Iceland and Greenland expedition sees you explore Iceland for five days before heading north to Ittoqqortoormiit in Greenland at 70 degrees north, well above the Arctic Circle.
Ittoqqortoormiit is one of the most remote towns in Greenland, a collection of brightly coloured wooden buildings that is home to around 450 people situated between the Northeast Greenland National Park and the dramatic Scoresbysund which you'll then have two full days to explore. The world's longest fjord system, Scoresbysund has a tree-like structure that makes its way nearly 250 miles inland from the Greenland Sea, with layers of basaltic lava forming the incredible surrounding landscapes, among which you may spot polar bears, Arctic foxes, hares, whales, seals, and musk ox. Back on board you can relive the excitement of each day in a relaxed and sociable environment, while the expertise of the large expedition team enhances your time on board during insightful lectures and discussions.
6. Northern Lights Cruise with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
Not many cruise lines cross the Arctic Circle during the polar night, but one that does is HX Hurtigruten Expeditions with their exciting Northern Lights cruise itineraries sailing round-trip from Tromso between January and April 2026 on board 335-guest MS Spitsbergen, with its expert lecturers, naturalist guides and Zodiacs trips ashore. Tromso is often referred to as the Gateway to the Arctic and the Northern Lights Capital of the World due to its location well within the Arctic Circle and lack of light pollution. Included excursions with HX include the likes of a Norwegian bonfire, Nordic sauna sessions, the polar plunge and dinner at a museum, before you continue sailing within the Arctic Circle to visit destinations such as the stunning Lofoten Islands, Senja and the Lyngen Alps.
You can also book (at additional cost) a four-day pre-programme for the likes of dog sledding and snowshoeing under the Northern Lights, and HX's Northern Lights promise means you'll receive a credit towards another cruise if the lights do not appear during your voyage.
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Arctic Circle Cruises to Book Now
Silversea Expeditions
Longyearbyen to Tromsø
From Longyearbyen to Tromsø
8 Jul - 17 Jul 2026 (9 Nights)
From £11,800 per guest
Quark Expeditions
Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: A Rite of Passage
From Helsinki to Helsinki
9 Jul - 23 Jul 2026 (14 Nights)
From £14,666 per guest
AE Expeditions
Jewels of the Arctic
From Reykjavik to Oslo
10 Jul - 24 Jul 2026 (14 Nights)
From £14,021 per guest
Quark Expeditions
Three Arctic Islands: Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
From Helsinki to Reykjavik
12 Jul - 26 Jul 2026 (14 Nights)
From £12,156 per guest
Silversea Expeditions
Tromsø to Longyearbyen
From Tromsø to Longyearbyen
17 Jul - 26 Jul 2026 (9 Nights)
From £31,400 per guest
AE Expeditions
Svalbard Odyssey
From Oslo to Oslo
23 Jul - 3 Aug 2026 (11 Nights)
From £13,856 per guest
Silversea Expeditions
Summer in Svalbard
From Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen
25 Jul - 3 Aug 2026 (9 Nights)
From £13,500 per guest
Ponant Explorations
The Geographic North Pole
From Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen
27 Jul - 11 Aug 2026 (15 Nights)
From £40,446 per guest
AE Expeditions
Jewels of the Arctic - Greenland Solar Eclipse
From Oslo to Reykjavik
2 Aug - 17 Aug 2026 (15 Nights)
From £16,916 per guest
Silversea Expeditions
Longyearbyen to Tromsø
From Longyearbyen to Tromsø
2 Aug - 11 Aug 2026 (9 Nights)
From £17,200 per guest
Ponant Explorations
The Geographic North Pole
From Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen
10 Aug - 27 Aug 2026 (17 Nights)
From £115,646 per guest
Silversea Expeditions
Tromsø to Reykjavik
From Tromsø to Reykjavik
11 Aug - 24 Aug 2026 (13 Nights)
From £8,500 per guest
