Welcome to the Arctic
One of the most remote and fascinating regions of the world which, so far, had only been accessible to the privileged few.
The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, bordered by the northern parts of the mainlands of North American and Eurasia, and their outlying islands. Some of these islands are mountainous with interior icecaps, such as Greenland and the northern half of Novaya Zemlaya. Others are low-lying and not glaciated, such as Wrangel Island and the western islands of the Canadian Arctic.
Sail into spectacular fjords surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers illuminated by the 24-hour sun; thrill at the experience of your powerful icebreaker tackling the pressure ridges, hummocks and ice floes of this northern world; land by expertly-piloted helicopter in areas inaccessible by Zodiac; discover historic sites of polar exploration; and call at lands rarely visited before. Polar bears, musk ox, walruses, whales and other marine wildlife, roam the icy seas and landscapes of the North. Only icebreakers like ours can take you to these remote and fascinating Polar Regions.
Suggested Arctic Cruises:
THE NORTH POLE
Sailing from Murmansk, Russia, we head north across the Barents Sea breaking into the dense Arctic pack ice. Only very few vessels have the power to negotiate the challenging ice of the Arctic Basin. Navigating the polar pack at speeds up to 12 knots, we are enthralled by an ever-changing panorama of wind-polished ice, narrow channels of dark green water and aquamarine pools. From the North Pole, we head south to Franz Josef Land, a marvelous place of glaciers, volcanic mountains and wildlife. Here we call at historic sites of early exploration and hope to encounter walruses and polar bears on the ice. The NORTH POLE cruise - Helsinki to Helsinki
ARCTIC ADVENTURES
Once again we have designed yet another series of fascinating voyages of discovery aboard the polar icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov and the sailing scooner. Russia’s Far East & Wrangel Island voyage will give you the chance to be among the few to have visited Wrangel Island, a world famous nature reserve, whilst our Northwest Passage - The Amundsen Route voyage will bring alive the endeavours of those who charted the Arctic. Explore the towering mountains, glaciers and protected fjords of Canada and Greenland’s High Arctic or journey to Tanquary Fjord, Ellesmere Island and Greenland where we will visit the stunning glaciers and valleys of this region and call on some of the most remote communities in the world. Sailing the Arctic coastlines offer some of the finest scenery and wildlife experiences in the world, experiences out of history books and ancient whaler’s tales. View all ARCTIC ADVENTURE cruises
ARCTIC JOURNEYS
These journeys present an alternative to the large, expensive cruise ships, offering a comfortable and affordable way to experience remote regions in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. All ships feature large open decks and views from promenade are ideal for exploring the spectacular vistas of Greenland, Iceland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Spitsbergen. Our close encounters during these Arctic Journeys will be provided by the onboard Zodiacs that take us to shore or to areas rich in wildlife. View all ARCTIC JOURNEYS cruises
Helpful Arctic Information
The Arctic Ocean is a big ocean, in areas approximately twice the size of the Mediterranean. It is also very deep, plunging 4,000 meters in the center, although there is a wide continental shelf along the Siberian coast. It is mostly covered by pack-ice (frozen sea-water) averaging three meters thick, but thicker where pressure ridges have developed. The ice drifts around the polar basin under the influence of winds and currents, breaking up during blizzards and then refreezing. Click on this link for all related Arctic Information.
