Ever since our cruise to Antarctica earlier this year, we’ve become fascinated by the polar regions. Having traveled to over 90 countries worldwide, we often find ourselves less struck by that initial awe and wonder. But when surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains, pack ice, icebergs, and whales, that feeling of awe is ever so present!
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We learned more about the Arctic region during our trip to Antarctica and immediately added it to the top of our bucket list! It promised to deliver the same incredible frozen landscapes but a different set of wildlife, ranging from Arctic reindeer and Arctic hares to the elusive polar bears.
We didn’t expect to make it to the Arctic so soon, but luck was on our side.
Our amazing partners and Trip Planners at Adventure Life found an opportunity for us to join one of the Arctic expeditions at the very start of the Arctic season.
And just like that, a few weeks later, we were on a plane to Norway to join a 7-day Arctic Cruise to Svalbard with Atlas Ocean Voyages.
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About Arctic Cruises with Adventure Life
The team of passionate travelers at Adventure Life have been planning custom trips for travelers for over 25 years. Their trips and itineraries are tailor-made and well-researched, and their partners and suppliers are heavily vetted to ensure a strong commitment to sustainability across operations.
While Adventure Life plans trips all around the world, expedition cruises, particularly cruises in Antarctica and the high Arctic, are their specialty.
About Atlas Ocean Voyages
This was our first experience traveling with Atlas Ocean Voyages. Founded in 2019, this luxury expedition cruise line is most known for offering all-inclusive, small-ship adventures to ports throughout Europe, as well as more remote destinations like South America and the Polar Regions.
Their goal is to deliver intimate and elegantly designed voyages to places larger ships cannot access, catering to adventure-seeking, more sophisticated travelers.
Atlas is a relatively new entrant into the Polar Expeditions space, operating in Antarctica and the Arctic for five years. They promise to deliver an expedition experience to the polar regions that don’t sacrifice luxury with great food, excellent in-room amenities and onboard facilities.
Atlas operates 2 ships in the Arctic Region – the World Voyager and World Traveller, sister ships with a passenger capacity of <200 people.
Our Arctic Cruise Ship: World Voyager
World Voyager is Atlas’s newest yacht. It is designed to offer a comfortable stay in the otherwise harsh environment of the Polar regions and is designed with a focus on comfort and exploration.
The ship accommodates 196 guests, offering an intimate and personalized cruise experience and features modern amenities, including spacious suites, multiple dining venues, a spa, a pool, and an observation lounge with panoramic views.
Our Cabin: Veranda Stateroom
It felt like déjà vu when we walked into our room at the World Voyager. It was almost the exact replica of our room on the ship in Antarctica. Our Antarctica ship, World Explorer, is a sister ship of the World Voyager, so although the trips are run by two different operators, the ships used for these voyages were almost identical.
This time, our 300 sq ft Veranda Stateroom had a walk-out balcony, which we absolutely loved. Thanks to the 24-hour sun, we got to enjoy sitting on our balcony late into the night.
The room was outfitted with a comfortable queen bed, a private, spacious marble spa bath, a walk-in glass shower with rain head and body jets, and a living room with a sofa and a desk. Other amenities included a wall-mounted TV, complimentary binoculars, still and sparkling water, Nespresso Coffee and Kusmi teas, a fully stocked minibar, and 24-hour room service.
Our Trip Day by Day
Our cruise began in mid-June, the beginning of Arctic Summer, and was the first sailing for Atlas Ocean Expeditions for the season.
Day 1: Tromso, Norway
Our 7 Day Cruise began in Tromso, Norway. We stayed at the Radisson Blu Hotel, designated as the pre-trip hotel for this voyage.
The hotel was ideally located in the heart of town, within walking distance of the town’s main attractions. So, on the morning of the cruise, we explored the town, strolling past the Arctic Cathedral, the Arctic-Alpine Botanical Gardens, the Science Center of Norway, and museums like the Polar Museum, Tromso University Museum and the Perspektivet Museum.
The main street in Trompso was lined with shops and offered a good place to stock up on last-minute clothing, supplies, and souvenirs.
Another big attraction in town is the Fjellheisen Cable Car that takes you 1,525 feet above the town offering impressive views of the surrounding landscape. We didn’t get a chance to check out the cable car ourselves but heard other guests rave about their experience.
Lunch was served at the welcome event in the hotel conference room. We enjoyed an elaborate buffet of traditional Nordic dishes and a special cultural performance. At around 6pm, we finally got the call to board the ship.
On board, a welcome spread of snacks and drinks awaited but it wasn’t long before we were sitting down for our first meal on board. It was a taste (literally) of what was to come!
Day 2: Hammerfest
Overnight, the ship sailed to a nearby town of Hammerfest, where we docked in the morning.
The small town of Hammerfest is located in northern Norway, within the Arctic Circle. Known as one of the northernmost towns in the world, it is rich in history and culture, with roots dating back to the early 19th century.
Several shore excursions were offered upon arrival at Hammerfest. We chose to join the excursion to Sami Camp.
We gathered in a tent to listen to their traditional music, try their food, and hear a few stories of the Sami way of life. It was an interesting experience and our only encounter with the Sami culture. It was a glimpse into their life, and something is better than nothing, but overall, this experience was not very immersive and a bit touristy.
We went back to the boat for lunch. As the ship set course for our next destination, we spent the afternoon listening to lectures about conservation, wildlife, and expeditions that lay ahead.
Day 3: Skarsvag
In the morning on Day 3, we found ourselves in the town of Skarsvag, a small fishing village in northern Norway, located on the island of Magerøya in the Arctic Circle. It’s best known as the northernmost village in the world, just a short distance from the famous North Cape (Nordkapp), which is a popular tourist destination offering breathtaking views of the Arctic Ocean.
Several guided excursions were once again offered upon arrival at the port, but given our experience in Hammerfest, we opted out of excursions and decided to explore the town on our own.
We set off on a lovely hike to explore the town and admire the views from a famous lookout along Kirkeporten Trail. The trail is one of the most popular hikes in the area and leads to the natural rock formation called Kirkeporten, a large, arched cliff that frames stunning views of the North Cape (Nordkapp) and the surrounding Arctic landscape.
The 2.5-kilometer round-trip hike took around 45 minutes to complete, and the views of the town and the scenery around us were well worth the hike.
We went back to the boat for lunch and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon as we set sail towards Svalbard. We spotted whales and dolphins en route and enjoyed beautiful weather and neverending light thanks to the 24-hour midnight sun!
Day 4: Bear Island
The following morning, we arrived at Bear Island, a halfway point between the Norwegian mainland and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. The initial plan was to go on a shore excursion, but unfortunately, the fog had descended on us that morning, and the weather conditions were not good enough for a shore landing.
Our Bear Island excursion was cancelled, and the captain and expedition crew decided to continue sailing north.
Day 5: Svalbard
On Day 5, we finally reached Svalbard! We awoke that morning in the bay off Isfjorden, a large fjord on the western coast of Spitsbergen in Svalbard. The scenery and the weather were impressive, and we were excited to jump head-first into this amazing adventure!
Little did we know that we would be doing LITERALLY that as our first adventure in Svalbard. Yes, we are talking about a Polar Plunge!
There was a lot of hesitation about the plunge on the ship (it’s not something we all dreamt of doing at 10am in the morning), but we couldn’t miss the opportunity! Everyone was nervous, but it was fun nevertheless. This Polar Plunge seemed easier than the one we took in Antarctica. The temperatures were just a bit milder, and the conditions were better.
In the afternoon, we made our first shore landing near Longyearbyen. We disembarked at the Alkhornet, a famous mountain peak in the area and enjoyed a few hours with a beautiful reindeer welcoming committee! They looked majestic against a backdrop of snow-clad mountains. The scenery was beautiful. We did a bit of hiking to explore the area and snapped a ton of photos. Some people in our group were lucky enough to spot an Arctic fox!
Day 6: Forlandet National Park
On Day 6, we travelled North to Forlandet National Park and had another shore landing at Poolepynten, a notable walrus haul-out site on the southern coast of Barentsøya. Named after the British explorer Sir William Edward Parry, who mapped the area, Poolepynten is one of the most well-known locations in Svalbard for observing walruses in their natural environment.
We learned that walruses frequent Poolepynten for resting and socializing, using the site as a crucial haul-out location during the summer months when ice is scarce.
Upon arrival, we found a
huddled together on the beach. Their thick, wrinkled hides glistened in the Arctic sunlight. Their enormous bodies almost completely cover the rocks, their grunts permeating the air.
In the afternoon, we took a zodiac cruise to see the glaciers. There isn’t as much sea ice in the summer, so the ride was smooth, and the scenery was incredible. Nothing puts life into perspective more than sitting in a zodiac at the base of a glacier!
Day 7: Last Day (and still looking for polar bears!)
Today was our last day on board, and still no sight of a polar bear! As we learned from daily expedition crew briefings, polar bears are becoming harder and harder to see in the Arctic.
They live and hunt on sea ice, and as the ice melts and disappears earlier each year, their hunting grounds become increasingly scarce. Even in the early weeks of the Arctic season, they are primarily found in the northern parts of the archipelago, where remnants of sea ice persist. In an attempt to see a polar bear, the captain had sailed farther north, to the tip of Spitsbergen, to give us the best chance of seeing the polar bears.
In the morning, we took a zodiac ride to another impressive glacier and even saw some impressive towering icebergs.
The afternoon plan was to stay on board and scout for polar bears as the ship sailed around the area. While we ate, we sat by the big windows in the dining room to keep an eye out. Sure enough, we got the call for bears over lunch—we ran to the top deck to see if we could see them from the ship!
There were not one but two polar bears—a mom and a cub on the shore about 500-800m away. We grabbed our binoculars and rushed to the Observation Deck, where we spent about an hour trying to see the bears from afar. They were hard to spot and almost impossible to photograph.
The expedition crew had originally announced that we would be going to shore to see the bears from up close, but unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, that expedition never came to fruition. We couldn’t get on zodiacs and get closer to the bears. We were disappointed, to say the least, as seeing the polar bears in Svalbard was at the top of our wish list.
Instead, we continued to sail farther north to reach the 80°parallel for a commemorative photo. The ship then turned around and began the long journey back to Longyearbyen, where our trip finished the following morning.
The Recap
This Arctic Expedition was a roller coaster ride for us, filled with days of anticipation, moments of excitement and joy, and, unfortunately, some disappointment.
Here’s how we would summarize our trip:
What We Liked
The food on board was superb! 9/10
Breakfast was a mix of buffet with some a la carte options, lunch was a buffet, and dinner was a 3-4 course la carte with a fresh new menu daily. The ingredients were top-notch, and the food prep, plating, flavours and attention to detail were on point! We give it a 5-star rating.
There was a good complementary wine list on board, plus free-flowing cappuccinos, healthy juices, and drinks. The Afternoon Tea was another hit with gourmet loose-leaf teas, cakes and other delicious desserts. Paula’s Pantry Cafe offered great healthy snacks, treats and simple bites throughout the day.
The atmosphere on board was sophisticated
There was a level of sophistication and an elevated atmosphere on board. Guests were well dressed, particularly at dinner, and evening entertainment featured a singer and pianist.
We found it more reminiscent of a traditional European cruise atmosphere. The average demographics of the guests on board was about 10-15 years older than us, which added to the air of sophistication on board.
The ship staff were amazing
Over 100 staff work aboard the World Voyager. Hailing from around the world, many of them spent months away from their families and friends, working long hours aboard the ship. From our friendly and caring servers and bartenders to room attendants and reception staff – everyone on board was so friendly and caring.
What Could Have Been Better:
Wildlife sightings
The truth is – the reality of this trip did not match our expectations. We were disappointed that we didn’t get a closer look at the polar bears and missed a chance to see the Arctic foxes. We also did see a narwhal, belugas, and a variety of seals. For us the wildlife was the biggest draw for this trip, but of course, we understand that nature is not a zoo and no wildlife sightings can be guaranteed.
Confident Expedition Staff
Our trip was the first sailing of the season, and it showed. The staff seemed unconfident and unable to answer some of our questions. It seemed like many of them had little experience in the Arctic and were overly cautious.
Limited expeditions
Our 7-day cruise included 5 full days in Svalbard. And while a typical expedition cruise itinerary features two outings per day (10 in total), we only got out 4 times. Some landings were cancelled due to weather, but others were just not planned well – leaving us wanting a lot more!
READ NEXT: Our Antarctica Cruise: Review & Recap
Tips for Future Arctic Cruises
Choosing the right cruise operator is crucial for tailoring your Arctic adventure to match your preferences. For instance, Atlas Ocean Voyages offers a more traditional cruising experience that focuses on luxury, good food, and comfort. Other cruise operators cater to those seeking an active adventure with an expedition-type trip featuring additional activities like stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.
Selecting the appropriate boat and itinerary is equally important. If your goal is to explore the icy expanses and diverse wildlife of the Arctic, heading north and circumnavigating Svalbard is ideal. However, not all ships are equipped to handle these remote conditions, so it’s essential to choose the ship and an itinerary that is well suited for navigating in remote areas of the Arctic.
Be clear about your must-dos and expectations when communicating with your travel agent. If relaxation and onboard amenities are your priorities, Atlas might be the right choice; for an immersive outdoor adventure – consider another operator. If wildlife viewing is your primary goal, be sure to select a cruise with an experienced expedition team and a route that allows you to have the best chance of spotting Arctic animals.
Do you have any questions about our Arctic Cruise to Svalbard? Leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to share more!
Disclaimer: Our trip to the Arctic was made possible courtesy of Adventure Life and Atlas Ocean Voyages. As always, all opinions expressed in this article are our own, no matter who is footing the bill.
