Embark on an Arctic cruise to Svalbard
Offering majestic fjords, astounding ice formations, and some of the densest populations of polar bears on the planet, Svalbard stands out among all Arctic cruise destinations.
Svalbard was once called Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains” in Dutch, and was discovered in 1596 by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz. But unlike the arduous voyages made to Svalbard in the early years of its discovery, our Arctic cruises to Svalbard are safe and comfortable – though not at all lacking in polar adventure.
Svalbard expedition: what to expect?
Svalbard is part of Norway, and its principal island, Spitsbergen, is the largest and only permanently populated island of the chain. Svalbard cruises tend to focus on animal sightings, as the area is known for its seabirds (kittiwakes, guillemots, and many more), seals, walruses, whales, and of course, polar bears.
Taking a cruise to Svalbard means experiencing snow-swept peaks, rolling tundra, and dramatically cut coastlines. It means loads of opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, and many other outdoor activities. It means getting the chance to see truly exotic wildlife in its natural habitat.
In a word, a Svalbard cruise means adventure.
Join us on an expedition cruise to Svalbard cruise and enjoy some of the most awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife the world has to offer.
Cruises to Svalbard
19 Days Extensive Arctic Ocean - North Spitsbergen Explorer
HDS01c25 Sailing between our home port of Vlissingen and our most cherished Arctic archipelago, Svalbard, this expedition adventure visits the Scottish port of Aberdeen, the islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen, and the amazing Spitsbergen ice edge, giving you...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
29 May - 16 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
6000 USD
17 Days Extensive Arctic Ocean - North Spitsbergen Explorer
HDS01d25 Sailing between the Scottish port of Aberdeen and our most cherished Arctic archipelago, Svalbard, this expedition adventure visits the islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen, and the amazing Spitsbergen ice edge, giving you the chance to search for whales,...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
31 May - 16 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
5760 USD
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
Climb snow covered alpine mountains and ski downhill
RVR02-25 This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered ski techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves ski climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700—850 meters (2,300—2,800...
s/v Rembrandt van Rijn
Cruise date:
8 May - 15 May, 2025
Berths start from:
4700 USD
Vlissingen to Aberdeen
Cross the North Sea to the picturesque and historic Scottish city of Aberdeen, enjoying local wildlife and fascinating lectures
HDS01-25 Search for whales, seals, and seabirds on a scenic voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to culturally rich Aberdeen, the "Granite City" of northeast Scotland. White-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, orcas, and various species of seabird...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
29 May - 31 May, 2025
Berths start from:
300 USD
Can be booked in combination only
Cruise page
Arctic Ocean - Aberdeen, Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
HDS01a25 Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to our favorite Arctic island group.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
29 May - 9 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
3200 USD
Svalbard cruise video
Latest blog and customer story
What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen?
Though eastern Svalbard does not differ dramatically from the rest of the island group, the itineraries we follow there give you a different experience than our other Svalbard options.
Around Spitsbergen, in the Realm of the Polar Bear & Ice
There are journeys and there are journeys. This trip is one that falls in the latter category. I look back on a fantastic experience, during which the awareness of human behavior on this vulnerable planet (and especially the Arctic) became very clear to me.
Latest highlight and wildlife
See the highlights you may experience:
See the highlights you may experience:
Map of Svalbard
Svalbard cruise photos
Svalbard cruise reviews
First, we love this ship and the scenery was amazing. However, we weren’t aware that the only way to really have an opportunity to see any wildlife was to do the long hiking. (I did medium and a few shorts) We thought it would be more like Antarctica, where we had the option to hike/snowshoe or stroll the landing area and still see wildlife. My husband is not a walker, so this trip was quite frustrating for him (and therefore me as well). I don’t remember seeing anything in the write up advising of this fact. The only other issue we had was the passenger make-up. The ship had a majority of Chinese passengers. The cultural differences were hard and were discussed repeatedly among European & N. American passengers. Hearing lectures was difficult- loud chatting was constant in lecture room. Zodiac trips were painful- spending tons of time at each iceberg for multiple selfies to be taken. Lots of loud talking so hard to hear sounds of ice, birds, etc. None of this ruined the trip, but it was frustrating.
FAQ's about Svalbard cruises
Where do we go on Svalbard?
Svalbard is one of our core Arctic locations, a great place for enjoying wildlife, activities, and scenery. For this reason, there are too many areas we visit to list here. For details on intended routes and landing sites, see the Svalbard page at our website.
What is the best time to travel to Spitsbergen?
This depends on what you want to experience at Spitsbergen. In case you want to experience the Polar night or the Aurora Borealis, November to February is the best time to travel to Spitsbergen. Do you want to see the midnight sun and enjoy boat trips, kayaking or hiking? Then the best time to visit Spitsbergen is around May until September. This is the summer period of Spitsbergen.
When is the winter season in Spitsbergen?
The sun sets for the last time in Spitsbergen in mid-September and rises above the horizon again in mid-February. The winter landscape and temperatures prevail until May.
What is the temperature and weather like in Svalbard?
The weather in Spitsbergen differs per area and location. Although snow can occur throughout the year in Svalbard, the North Atlantic Current helps provide Svalbard with warmer temperatures than many other areas within similar latitudes. However, strong winter breezes, low pressure and the combination of wet sea air and cold polar air can lead to rapidly changing weather conditions, especially during the winter months.
During the winter season, the temperature in Spitsbergen can can drop to -16 to -12 degrees Celsius (3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit). Adding in the wind chill factor means the weather can feel much colder. July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius (37 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit). We therefore recommend that you bring a variety of warm clothes for your Spitsbergen cruise.
Where can I see polar bears during a Svalbard voyage?
As polar bears can travel great distances in a day, it is impossible to say where and when we will spot them. Sea ice is the best place to look, so we tend to focus our efforts there. Though you will have a good chance of seeing polar bears in Svalbard, nature makes the decisions. Sightings cannot be guaranteed.
What wildlife can I see in Spitsbergen?
Your cruise to Spitsbergen will come with an enormous amount of opportunity to spot wildlife. Polar bears are obviously the main attraction regarding wildlife. There are six national parks throughout Spitsbergen, and Svalbard alone is known to contain, Polar bears, reindeer, Arctic fox, numerous birds (such as guillemots and little auks) and several high Arctic seal species inhcluding the iconic Walrus. You might also encounter a variety of whales including the largest of them all: the Blue whale.
Photo gallery
About Svalbard cruises
Weather during Svalbard cruises
Svalbard lies within the high Arctic and is technically a desert, with the eastern regions being particularly dry. You may encounter snow, however, especially in the west. Depending on when and where you take your Svalbard cruise, you can expect temperatures around 6°C (42°F) in summer.
Fun facts about Svalbard
- The name “Svalbard” is from Svalbarði, meaning “cold edge”.
- Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s only true town, was founded by an American in 1906 and has around 2,000 permanent residents.
- Almost 65% of Svalbard is a protected nature reserve or a national park.
- Svalbard is an archipelago (chain of islands) off the north coast of Norway.
- Svalbard has the world’s third biggest ice sheet, coming behind only Antarctica and Greenland.
- Svalbard is made up of four main islands and almost 150 smaller islands.
- Nobody gets buried on Svalbard but are instead shipped to Norway for burial.
Take a Svalbard cruise
An expedition cruise to Svalbard lets you experience one of Earth’s northernmost wildernesses, a beautifully stark landscape of glaciers and snow-capped mountains.
But that’s not all. During your Svalbard cruise, you can learn about the region’s fascinating history, enjoy invigorating kayak outings or hikes, and encounter more exotic wildlife than just about any other Arctic location can offer.
Embark on one of our many cruises to Svalbard and enter an unimaginable Arctic wonderland! If you have any questions about our Svalbard expedition, please feel free to contact us.
Polar bear video by Vedat Mihmat
