Top reasons to go on a Svalbard expedition cruise

  • Venture into the lair of the polar bear – they outnumber humans up here
  • Hold your breath as you get thrillingly close to walrus, reindeer, arctic fox, seals and whales
  • Gaze up at soaring cliffs teeming with millions of nesting birds 
  • Sail among the sea ice through magnificent fjords and past creaking glaciers
  • Experience the wonders of the midnight sun as day blends into night
  • Daily scheduled flights via Oslo make Svalbard easier and cheaper to reach than almost any other Arctic region.

Choosing your expedition cruise to Svalbard

Vessels

Few places in the Arctic offer such a wide range of ships to choose from: tiny yachts, small ships with between twelve and sixty passengers, Russian vessels and some of the most luxurious expedition ships in the world. 

Choosing a vessel with large amounts of deck space, or even your own balcony makes a huge difference to your experience. The most popular cabins are in high demand and so booking 12 to 18 months in advance is recommended. Ships with the highest ice-class ratings are most able to navigate through the channels, so favour these in your selection. Some trips will visit Svalbard as well as other regions, giving you an even richer view of the region.

Svalbard Cruises

Svalbard coastline in July

Landing sites on Svalbard

You can typically expect two landings per day, always accompanied by your onboard expedition team whose first job it will be to sweep every site for polar bears. 

Traveling by zodiac you might cruise across the snout of the 14th July glacier in Krossfjorden, explore the bird cliffs off Fugelsongen, or delve into hidden coves. Some of the best wildlife experiences occur whilst on these versatile little boats. For the even more adventurous, at many of these sites it is also possible to paddle in kayaks, snorkel, and dive.

Svalbard Cruises

Alkefjellet bird cliffs, home to tens of thousands of guillemots

On shore you will be able to explore the Arctic tundra; keeping watch for arctic fox, hare and reindeer. Selected voyages may also allow you to don snowshoes or skis to travel across the snow.

The scenery of Svalbard is spectacular and dotted around the archipelago there are Russian mining towns, abandoned whaling stations and trappers huts dating back over the centuries. All of these make for fascinating landings when explored with expert guides.

Svalbard Cruises

Zodiac cruising in Svalbard

Introductory Svalbard cruises

As the name suggests these shorter trips (7-10 days) offer an excellent introduction to Svalbard, with daily off-ship excursions and good opportunities for wildlife sightings.

Svalbard in depth

These longer trips (11-14 days) not only improve your chances of wildlife sightings, but the later departures also offer the opportunity to do a full circumnavigation of Spitsbergen.

Trips to Svalbard & other regions

While Svalbard has more than enough appeal to keep you captivated, there are also some spectacular longer trips (14-24 days) which combine Svalbard with its near neighbours.

Swoop Says background image

Swoop says

Svalbard is the perfect introduction to the High Arctic, with its dramatic scenery, calving glaciers and wildlife-rich tundra. 

Customer review background image

What our customers think of Svalbard Cruises

All kinds of opportunities to see so much wildlife and to understand how diligently Svalbard works to protect their own world. Read the full review

Travelled: June 2022

Carol Copeland - USA

Go sooner rather than later, keep an open mind, be flexible, and take the longest telephoto lens you can. Read the full review

Travelled: June 2019

Ted Schipper - Canada

If this is your first voyage to the Arctic, definitely use a specialist like Swoop. There are lots of details. Read the full review

Travelled: June 2019

Steve Liu - United States of America

Other-worldly beauty that is difficult to take in and certainly not the type where pictures would suffice. Read the full review

Travelled: June 2019

Jaime Wells - United States of America

Just go! Read the full review

Travelled: June 2018

Elizabeth & Monique Mawhood - The Netherlands

Review:

About Svalbard

Wildlife on Svalbard

From the ship you are likely to spot king eider, fulmars and puffin. Under the waves there is an ever present chance of beluga, humpback, minke and blue whales, while orca are also regular visitors. There are more polar bears here than there are people, and while we can’t guarantee sightings you would be unlucky to not see a bear, especially on the longer trips.

Walrus regularly haul out at sites such as Poolepynten, and Brunnich's guillemots nest in their thousands on the vertiginous cliffs at Akerfeldt. Nesting sites attract arctic foxes and the open tundra, despite being in permafrost, is perfect for reindeer.

Svalbard Cruises

Bear sightings can happen anywhere in Svalbard

Svalbard ships

Svalbard is unrivalled of the polar regions in the spectrum of expedition ships offered. While small yachts can be chartered, there are expeditions on small ships with cabins for just 12 passengers, as well as twin-mast schooners for between 16 and 32 passengers. Larger, ice-strengthened ships fall roughly into three size categories: small (up to 70 passengers), medium (90 to 150 passengers) and large (200+ passengers).

It is important to consider the style of expedition too. Expedition teams operate in different ways on each ship, with adventures like kayaking or snowshoeing only available on specific journeys. Getting the right balance of all this is the key to getting the best out of your time in the archipelago.

Svalbard Cruises

Month-by-Month Guide to Svalbard Wildlife

Plan your trip to Svalbard

Getting to Svalbard

Getting to Svalbard

Svalbard is geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway. Surprising then, that getting there is quite so straightforward, with regular flights from Norway to …

Discover More
Svalbard Ships

Svalbard Ships

In the absence of hotels and infrastructure once you depart Longyearbyen, an expedition ship offers the best means to explore Svalbard's ragged coastline, while acting as both your…

Discover More
Svalbard Landing Sites

Svalbard Landing Sites

Expedition cruising is all about active exploration - trekking the arctic tundra, watching for wildlife, studying Svalbard’s history or sailing through sea ice, and accompanied …

Discover More
When to visit Svalbard

When to visit Svalbard

While Svalbard may be an almost year round destination, the changing weather, number of daylight hours, amount of ice and snow conditions through the year all have a marked effect …

Discover More

Ready to Book Your Arctic Adventure?

1
Listen

Listen

We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.

2
Match

Match

Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.

3
Reserve

Reserve

We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.

Our team of experts are ready to help you with any questions about a trip to the Arctic.