Ultramarine
Elegant lines, contemporary styling, onboard helicopters, spacious balconied cabins and a wide range of adventure activities; this ship is Ultra by name and ultra by nature. …
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Choosing your Canadian Arctic ship
- Ice is a significant factor in these waters and a ship with a high ice-class rating can make a difference to your experience and where you can reach
- Distances are vast in the Canadian Arctic and time spent sailing can be considerable, so focus on comfort, the relative amenities of each ship, and the size of your cabin
- Generous outer decks are crucial as they ensure everyone has ample space, particularly when wildlife is sighted, and provide plenty of opportunity to get your steps count
- For those keen on the educational side - history, glaciology, ornithology and traditional culture to name a few - the staff to guest ratio of the expedition team is worthy of note
- With wildlife generally being fairly skittish in the Arctic, a quieter ship can help achieve closer sightings
- A key early question to answer is what size of ship? Does the greater intimacy of a smaller ship (130-200 guests) appeal, or the amenities and wider choice of a larger ship?
Swoop says
Choosing a ship for the Canadian Arctic is not a straightforward process – the facilities of the ship might not be so important to you compared to the style of the team on board. We've sailed on as many ships as possible, so we can help with those crucial details.
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic
Our favourite Canadian Arctic expedition ships
Ocean Victory
With exceptional onboard technology and superior-quality accommodation, Ocean Victory is one of the most modern small ships for the polar regions.
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Roald Amundsen
Potential could be this ship's middle name. Few can compete with it's ability to traverse the full Northwest Passage and carry out landings with specialist guides.
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National Geographic Resolution
Purpose-built for polar exploration, this slick European-designed ship combines an ice-strengthened hull with cutting-edge X-Bow technology.
Discover MoreWhat our customers think of the Canadian Arctic
Faultless service, as always in our experience. We knew the ship and even the cabin beforehand, but great to have Swoop’s help in setting it up and talking us through the options for the choice of voyage and extras. Read the full review
Travelled: July 2018
Steve & Tina O'Shea - United Kingdom
Comfort & Adventure ships
These spacious expedition vessels offer a wider range of cabin options – with top-tier accommodation often featuring private balconies – and place more emphasis on hotel-style service. You’ll still enjoy daily landings and plenty of adventure along the way.
Ultramarine
Elegant lines, contemporary styling, onboard helicopters, spacious balconied cabins and a wide range of adventure activities; this ship is Ultra by name and ultra by nature. …
Discover MoreOcean Victory
With exceptional onboard technology and superior-quality accommodation, Ocean Victory is one of the most modern small ships for the polar regions.
Discover MoreOcean Nova
Originally built to navigate Greenland’s ice-choked waters, Ocean Nova is a highly capable and comfortable ship.
Discover MoreRoald Amundsen
Potential could be this ship's middle name. Few can compete with it's ability to traverse the full Northwest Passage and carry out landings with specialist guides.
Discover MoreFridtjof Nansen
A state-of-the-art, hybrid-powered vessel, equipped to traverse the Northwest Passage. With a science centre, sauna, and restaurants, this isn’t a mere cruiser.
Discover MoreSylvia Earle
This state-of-the-art ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist and oceanographer, Sylvia Earle. Sister ship to the Greg Mortimer, she similarly boasts stylish lines …
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Swoop says
Kayaking is a popular optional add-on only offered by certain ships. If adventure options are your priority, double check your preferred ship offers them.
Luxury and fine dining
Right at the pinnacle of luxury, these super-yacht-style ships offer impeccable service and all the high-end amenities you’d expect. Yet despite the elegance, you’ll still be bundling up for daily off-ship adventures as you explore the icy reaches of the north.
National Geographic Resolution
Purpose-built for polar exploration, this slick European-designed ship combines an ice-strengthened hull with cutting-edge X-Bow technology.
Discover MoreLe Boreal, Le Soleal, L'Austral & Le Lyrial
Purpose built expedition ships with state of the art luxury and five-star service for their 264 guests traveling in serious comfort.
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Navigating the ice of the Northwest Passage
Graves of explorers on Beechey Island
Humpback in the Northwest Passage
Bylot Island
Cape York in the Canadian Arctic
Zodiacs explore the ice in the Northwest Passage
Aurora over the Canadian Arctic
The abandoned trading post at Port Leopold
Prince Leopold Island
Canadian Arctic Ships: FAQs
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Which ship or itinerary offers the best chances of seeing polar bears?
There are three main variables - alongside luck, which none of us can control - to bear in mind when it comes to giving yourself the best chance of seeing polar bears:
1. Length of trip: Put simply, the longer your trip the greater your chances of wildlife encounters
2. The Itinerary: While polar bears are very nomad, there are well-known polar bear ‘hotspots’ (e.g. Coningham Bay, Lancaster Sound, Croker Bay and Bellot Strait)
3. Calibre and size of the expedition team: You want a big and very experienced team, as that means there will always be lots of sets of eyes on watch for wildlife. And, secondly, from experience, they’ll also know where to look, which will further improve your chance of successful sightings
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Should I choose a smaller or larger expedition ship?
This is a key question, and in the Northwest Passage there are several ways to think about it:
Firstly, you should consider what's most important to you, as there are trade-offs. A smaller ship typically lends itself to a more intimate experience, where you’ll get to know a greater proportion of your fellow passengers, and getting on and off the ship will be speedier.
However, the anonymity of a larger ship, alongside normally more on-ship amenities and a wider choice of dining locations (particularly on a longer voyage) can be attractive. There’s no right or wrong answer, it's simply down to personal choice.
The other way to look at it – given the relatively limited number of Northwest Passage itineraries and ships – is to focus on choosing the right trip first, as depending on which you choose, there may only be one or two ships from which to choose.
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Do any of the ships have a spa, gym, or sauna?
Yes, the majority of them have all of these, plus in a number of cases some also offer hot tubs.
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Is it worth paying for a balcony?
As a team, we at Swoop Arctic are big fans of having a balcony, and here’s why:
- It gives you your very own personal and peaceful outside space where you can relax
- The Arctic in summer is warmer than you probably think, and you will use it if you have one (even if you think you won’t!)
- Balconies are the perfect platform for taking in the ever rolling vistas you’re passing through and wildlife spotting (it's universally recognised that smokers typically spot the most wildlife, as they spend the most time outside)
- They're a great place to ‘be outside’ while the warmth of your cabin is only a few steps away if you start to get chilly
- If wildlife is sighted and announced over the ship’s intercom, you’ve got direct and immediate access to see what's going on, without having to scramble onto a public outer deck
- A relaxing sundowner on your balcony – or even breakfast out there, if you’re on a ship which can deliver room service – is a hard one to argue against for most of us
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Do many of the ships have stabilisers and are they effective?
All of the ships which operate in the Northwest Passage are modern expedition ships and have active stabilisers which through reducing side-to-side ‘roll’ by over 85% can be said to be highly effective.
A number of ships are also X-Bow designed, which allows them to cut through the water in a very efficient and smooth way.
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Is paying more for a luxury expedition ship worth it?
It's a good question, but ultimately a very personal one, if comfort, service, access to amenities, gourmet food and an all-inclusive price are important to you, and worth paying more for.
Interestingly, when it comes to certain Arctic ships which are considered Luxury, for a relatively modest additional investment you can get a lot for your money.
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Will a smaller ship provide better wildlife viewing and landings?
This is a tricky question to answer as there’s always a slice of luck involved when it comes to wildlife sightings. However, in our experience, smaller ships have a higher chance of better wildlife sightings because:
- Relative to a larger ship it's quiet through the water and less likely to disturb the skittish Arctic wildlife.
- The scale of larger ships can make wildlife sightings harder: you're higher up and therefore further from the wildlife (although elevation can also be an advantage, depending on how far away the wildlife is), and it takes longer to access the outer viewing decks.
- Choosing a larger ship doesn’t necessarily come with correspondingly larger outer decks which are capable of accommodating everyone when wildlife is spotted; smaller ships typically give everyone ample space so there’s no jockeying for a good view when that polar bear finals shows.
When it comes to landings, this is where having fewer guests on board carries a distinct advantage as it means:
- Getting everyone off the ship at the beginning of a shore excursion takes much less time, and avoids precious time wasted (and frustrations) waiting to get ashore.
- And less time spent ferrying everyone to and then back from a landing translates into having more time to spend on land, which in our book can mean a more satisfying overall experience by not feeling rushed and having the time you need.
- Fewer people, combined with a high guide-to-guest ratio, also means that the group sizes once you get on land will be smaller, and you’ll have more opportunity for 1-2-1 time with the experts.
Ready to Book Your Arctic Adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
