Calling all nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Have you considered a Svalbard cruise?
Below, explore our selection of cruises to Spitsbergen, plus the small ships that sail there. Learn your best time to visit, what to expect, and how to make the most of your Spitsbergen cruise.
Key Takeaways
- Why Go: Abundant wildlife & stunning landscapes
- Where It Is: North of Norway
- How to Get There: SAS Airlines via Oslo, Norway
- Cruise Options: 7-17 days via Longyearbyen or Norway & beyond
- Polar Bears: Longer itineraries increase your chances
- The Ships: 12-250 guests, averaging 100-200
- Svalbard Cruise Cost: Avg. $7,500 per person & range $4,000-$15,000+
- Best Time to Visit Svalbard: July & August
ON THIS PAGE – Svalbard Cruises:
The Basics:
– What’s It Like? & Why Go?
– Where Is It? & Getting There
– Svalbard vs Spitsbergen
Svalbard Cruises & Ships:
– Via Longyearbyen, Norway or Elsewhere
– Svalbard Polar Bear Cruises
– Svalbard Ships
Our Expert Advice:
– Best Svalbard Cruises
– Svalbard Cruise Cost
– Best Time to Visit Svalbard
Dive Deeper:
– Tips & FAQs
– More Arctic Resources
– Traveler Reviews
PICTURE YOURSELF HERE
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What’s It Like? Our Experts Have Been
While every departure will be unique, revolving around weather and wildlife sightings, you will find a standard flow to each day. Breakfast, followed by time to prepare for an excursion, then a morning activity off ship typically lasting 2-3 hours. Back to the ship for lunch and free time as the boat repositions. Then an afternoon activity off ship of 2-3 hours before an evening recap/lecture and dinner. Read more in our Arctic expert reviews and testimonials from our travelers.
Why Take a Cruise to Svalbard Norway?
Experience the pristine Arctic wilderness. Svalbard is home to an incredible array of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. A cruise is the ideal way to immerse yourself in this remote and untouched environment.
Encounter Iconic Wildlife
Witness the majesty of polar bears in their natural habitat. Svalbard is renowned as one of the best places on Earth to spot these iconic creatures. Beyond polar bears, you’ll have opportunities to encounter other classic arctic wildlife, including walruses, seals, reindeer, whales, and a diverse birdlife.
Explore Breathtaking Scenery
From towering glaciers and dramatic fjords to floating icebergs and the ethereal Northern Lights, Svalbard’s natural beauty is unparalleled. Our cruises take you to the heart of this stunning Arctic landscape, offering unforgettable vistas at every turn.
Where is Svalbard, Norway?
Svalbard lies in the southern Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. The island archipelago is about 580 miles northwest of Tromso, Norway, and about 400 miles east of Greenland. It is one of the most northern landmasses on Earth. The archipelago, not counting sea ice, is about the size of West Virginia or Ireland. The relatively warm Atlantic Gulf Stream keeps western Svalbard ice free much of the year, allowing it to be uniquely accessible to small ship expedition cruises.
How to Get to Svalbard
To reach Svalbard most travelers will fly Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) to Oslo, Norway, then fly 3.5 hours to Longyearbyen, Svalbard where ships embark. Most cruise operators provide a pre-cruise overnight in either Oslo, Longyearbyen or nearby Helsinki, Finland; some also include a hotel on disembarkation day, making connecting travel easier. Select cruises embark in mainland Norway or even the United Kingdom and sail to Svalbard. When you book a cruise, our experts can help with advice and arrangements for flights and hotels.
Tips from our experts who’ve been:
- Add 1-2 days in Oslo before or after your Svalbard cruise
- Some cruise operators include the flights between Oslo & Longyearbyen
- Add a night in Longyearbyen to best experience the world’s most northly settlement
Svalbard vs Spitsbergen – What’s the Difference?
For purposes of expedition cruising, Svalbard and Spitsbergen cruises are the same. The difference between the two are only semantic, based on geopolitical and historical considerations. Originally the archipelago was called Spitsbergen (“pointed mountains”) and many people still refer to it that way, although technically its largest island is assigned this name. In 1925 Norway took possession of the islands, and in a nod to the Nordic history of the area, renamed the archipelago to the original Norse/Viking name of Svalbard (“cold coast”).
Today either name is acceptable, and you will see various cruises use these names interchangeably. So, whether you book a Spitsbergen cruise or a cruise to Svalbard, you will be traveling to the same remarkable destination.
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Svalbard Cruise Options
Svalbard expedition cruises typically embark and disembark in Longyearbyen, but longer itineraries combine Svalbard with nearby countries and even the North Pole. Ice conditions allow farther exploration as the season goes on. Polar bears can be seen on any itinerary, although they’re never a guarantee. Following are the common categories for Svalbard cruises.
Longyearbyen Cruises
The most popular and efficient cruises to Svalbard begin and end in Longyearbyen, Norway. These Longyearbyen cruises range from 7-15 days and focus solely on the Svalbard and Spitsbergen archipelago, so your time is maximized in search of polar bears, glaciers and wildlife. Shorter itineraries (7-10 days) specialize in Northern Spitsbergen or Southern Spitsbergen. Longer itineraries (11-15 days) attempt a circumnavigation, usually later in the year when sea ice has abated.
Cruises From Norway
Some Svalbard expedition cruises embark in mainland Norway (usually the northern city of Tromso) and cruise north to Spitsbergen. These itineraries average 12-17 days. A cruise from Norway to Svalbard may include a visit to Bear Island, the southernmost island in Svalbard. Bear Island is not visited on any Svalbard small ship cruise from Longyearbyen.
Epic Arctic Voyages
It is also possible to combine your expedition cruise to Svalbard with a Greenland cruise or an Iceland cruise. Some epic voyages will include all three. And there are even routes that include the best of northern Scotland and Norway before sailing to Svalbard. Or once-in-a-lifetime North Pole expedition routes that visit the Top of the World as well as Svalbard. Expect to cruise for at least two weeks and sometimes longer to experience an epic Arctic adventure to Svalbard and beyond.
FIND YOUR SVALBARD CRUISE
See the full list of cruises to Svalbard. Sort by ship size, dates and more.
Svalbard Polar Bear Cruises
Svalbard is the polar bear cruise epicenter. It is the best place in the world to see a polar bear from a cruise ship. The archipelago is home to about 3,000 polar bears, which exceeds the human population. While you are not guaranteed to see a polar bear on a Svalbard expedition cruise, you are likely to see at least one over the course of a week. Learn more about what to expect on a polar bear cruise.
Higher densities of bears are found on the east coast and along the fjords of the northern part of the archipelago. The islands of Hopen, Noradaustalandet, Edgeoya, Svenskoya and Kongsoya are recognized as important polar bear habitat, so look for polar bear cruise itineraries that attempt to include these sites if you are particularly keen to see polar bears.
Polar bears require a hunting ground of sea ice to track their main food source of seals. They are highly nomadic and spend their summers along the edge of the ice, accessible by polar vessel. Guests aboard Svalbard polar bear cruises should be patient and remember to stay quiet on deck. Viewing a polar bear in Svalbard is an experience that will last a lifetime. Here’s footage our experts captured on a cruise from Svalbard to the nearby North Pole:
Polar Bear Cruise Ship Options & Reviews
As a remote, roadless archipelago, Svalbard is best explored on small expedition ships. Every polar bear cruise ship is equipped with Zodiac boats for remote landings and wildlife viewing. On board, you can expect viewing platforms and ice-capable technology for safe navigation. Most Arctic ships carry 100–200 guests and offer off-ship excursions, expert guides, and comfortable accommodations designed for the polar environment.
Choosing the right ship is one of the most important parts of planning your polar bear cruise, and the best fit depends on your travel style, activity level and budget. Styles range from classic expedition ships to newer premium and luxury vessels with added amenities.
Here are our experts’ top picks and guest favorites:
- History & Charm: M/S Stockholm (12 guests)
- Value: Rembrandt van Rijn (33 guests)
- Luxury: Aqua Lares (30 guests)
- Activities: Ortelius (108 guests)
- Top Guides: Sylvia Earle (132 guests) & Nat Geo Resolution (138 guests)
- Onboard Programming: Le Commandant Charcot (254 guests)
Get a feel for life on board a polar bear cruise ship via our experts’ Svalbard’s smallest ships review, value-driven Hondius review, guide-designed Ultramarine review, hybrid-electric Le Commandant Charcot review, luxury-driven Le Lyrial & sisters review, high-tech Nat Geo ships review and adventure-ready Sylvia Earle & Greg Mortimer review.
Best Spitsbergen & Svalbard Cruises
Our crew has extensive experience taking polar bear cruises aboard Svalbard ships, and we help hundreds of clients each year research, book and prepare for their Svalbard cruise. Here are our experts’ top picks and guest favorites:
- Longstanding: Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway
- Value: Around Spitsbergen
- Luxury: Aqua Lares Svalbard & the Arctic Circle
- Micro Cruise: Svalbard Adventure Cruise
- Northern Lights: Arctic Golden Autumn & Northern Lights
- Top Guides: Svalbard In Depth & National Geographic Svalbard
BOOK WITH AN EXPERT
Trust your travel plans
to someone who’s been.
Mary Montalbano – Arctic Specialist since 2017
Svalbard Cruise Cost
The average cost for a Svalbard cruise is about $7,500 per person. The least expensive cruises start at about $4,000 per person. Luxury Svalbard cruises can cost $15,000 or more per person. The cost to travel to Svalbard aboard a small ship varies by the time of year, ship, cabin, length of cruise and more. Watch our Arctic cruise deals and let our experts know your budget and we’ll help you find the right cruise at the best price.
The Best Time to Visit Svalbard
The best time for cruising in Svalbard is July and August when ice is navigable and wildlife is most accessible. Expedition guides advise that the best time to view polar bears in Svalbard is from May to September. You may be surprised to learn that Svalbard is a year-round travel destination. The earliest expedition cruises begin in April. The last cruises of the season operate in September.
While traveling so far above the Arctic circle, many travelers naturally wonder if they will see the northern lights. Since most of the Svalbard cruising season occurs under the midnight sun (a time when the sun never sets), you likely won’t view the northern lights on your cruise. Choose the latest departure possible if you want a slight chance, but better yet, book a dedicated northern lights cruise focused on the best route and timing.
Svalbard Cruise FAQs: Expert Answers
Choosing the right Svalbard cruise comes with plenty of questions, and our team has the firsthand experience to answer them. Having guided thousands of travelers since 2003, and sailed these ships ourselves, we’ve distilled the most common questions below to help you plan with confidence.
Polar bears are most often seen along the east coast and in northern fjords, throughout the Svalbard cruise season. Key habitats include Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya, Hopen, and the islands of Kong Karls Land. Many polar bear cruise itineraries aim to visit these regions when ice conditions allow.
Most travelers fly to Oslo, Norway, then fly to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (3.5 hours), where most cruises embark. Many cruise operators include pre-cruise hotels and sometimes flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen.
The best ship depends on your budget, travel style, and activity level. Options range from 12- to 250-guest vessels, with styles from no-frills classic expedition, to premium and luxury ships with enhanced amenities.
Svalbard cruise prices average around $7,500 per person. Budget options start near $4,000, while luxury cruises can exceed $15,000 per person. Pricing varies by ship, season, cabin type, and itinerary length.
Svalbard cruises operate from April through September. July and August are considered the best months for cruising due to favorable ice conditions and peak wildlife activity.
We specialize exclusively in small-ship expedition travel and use firsthand expertise to match you with the right ship, itinerary and dates. Our team tracks real departure availability, deals, promotions and cabin updates to help you book confidently and get the best value.
MORE QUESTIONS?
Expert booking & advice
at the same price.
Andrew Browning – Arctic Specialist since 2007
MORE ARCTIC RESOURCES:
Arctic Cruises
Iceland Cruises
North Pole Cruises
Greenland Cruises
Northwest Passage Cruises
Northern Lights Cruises
Arctic Tours
Arctic Expedition Trips
Arctic Animals
Arctic Cruise Deals
Arctic Cruise Reviews
