Arctic Sailing Voyage - North Spitsbergen
Svalbard (Spitsbergen)
FROM
€3,510
May - July 2024 & 2025€3,510
View details
Enquire / BookWelcome to our definitive guide to Polar Vessels, where we have documented what we consider to be the best small ships and sailing ships in the industry to navigate the Polar Regions, including Antarctica, Arctic, Greenland, Canada and Norway. Having guided and spent time onboard these vessels, Aqua-Firma are happy to share their firsthand knowledge with you and answer any questions you may have. Please Contact Us to chat through the options with a polar expert.
Whilst all sailing ships carry a maximum of 33 passengers, all motor ships carry between 12 and 200 passengers and are among the smallest and friendliest ships exploring polar waters. This creates an intimate atmosphere onboard, which combined with like-minded passengers with similar aspirations, makes for a wonderful setting to appreciate the most remote and wild corners of our planet.
Ships vary from comfort level, from the more basic, yet comfortable expedition ship to a more luxurious cruise with en-suite cabins, private balconies and excellent cuisine. All ships however, maintain the prime objective of maximising time spent off the ship with daily landings ashore, zodiac cruises, informative presentations and expert guiding.
Many vessels also specialist activity options onboard, from sea kayaking, camping (Antarctica only), mountaineering, snowshoeing, photography and scuba diving.
Aqua-Firma has the expertise to help you extend your travel plans in whichever part of the world your polar voyage takes you to and are specialists in tailor made travel with Argentina and parts of Latin America as well as Norway and Svalbard (Spitsbergen).
Motor Ships
| Akademik Shokalskiy carries just 48 passengers. She is an ice strengthened ship, originally built for polar and oceanographic research. All cabins have outside views, some of which also have en-suite bathroom facilities... more | |
| M/S Balto carries just 12 passengers and is an elegant ship, designed to explore the remote fjords of Greenland, offering an exclusive experience. All cabins are en-suite with porthole or window. She has a sauna and 2 zodiacs... more | |
| M/V Douglas Mawson is a brand new state-of-the-art expedition vessel, launching in 2025. She will carry 154 passengers to some of the most remote corners of the world and will offer large cabins and luxurious facilities... more | |
| M/S Expedition carries 134 passengers. She has spacious, en-suite cabins, each with windows or portholes. There is a bar and lounge, restaurant, library, computer room and even a sauna, perfect after a day of polar exploration... more | |
| M/S Fram carries 250 passengers (200 in Antarctica). She was recently upgraded with new suites, more environmentally friendly engines and a total makeover of the public areas, including new restaurants and high-tech Science centre... more | |
| M/V Greg Mortimer carries 132 passengers and provides a high standard of accommodation. She boasts the patented X-BOW™, which is an inverted bow concept and is the first cruising vessel to utilise this technology... more | |
| M/V Hebridean Sky carries 111 passengers and is a luxury vessel. There is an elevator, licenced doctor, library and gift shop. Complimentary beer and wine is served with dinner. En-suite cabins have outside views, some with private balconies.. more | |
| Hanseatic Inspiration boasts luxury and space, carrying 199 passengers in her beautifully appointed suites. With the highest ice class rating and extensive deck space, she is a comfortable ship for navigating the Polar Regions... more | |
| Heritage Adventurer is spacious, comfortable and well appointed ship, carrying just 140 passengers. She boasts the highest passenger ship ice class rating, making her the ideal vessel for navigating the Ross Sea... more | |
| M/V Hondius carries 170 passengers and is one of the most structurally and technologically advanced class of polar cruise ship. Equipped with stabilizers, she is suitable for advanced, innovative exploratory voyages in the polar regions... more | |
| M/V Janssonius carries 170 passengers and is one of the most structurally and technologically advanced class of polar cruise ship. Equipped with stabilizers, she is suitable for advanced, innovative exploratory voyages in the polar regions... more | |
| The World's only luxury hybrid-electric icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot carries 245 passengers (200 in Antarctica) with a spa, sauna, two restaurants and two pools. Fitted with a PC2 hull, she can sail between sheets of drifting sea ice to reach the most remote and isolated regions... more | |
| M/V Magellan Explorer carries just 73 passengers. She offers luxury accommodation and spacious public areas. Most cabins have a private balcony. There are also dedicated single cabins. There is a library, gift shop, sauna and gym... more | |
| M/V Ocean Adventurer carries 128 passengers. All cabins are en-suite with exterior views. There is a clinic with licensed doctor, a gym, library, two bars, spacious observation deck, gift shop and onboard massage therapist... more | |
| Ocean Albatros carries 169 passengers. All cabins are en-suite with private balcony. She has 12 dedicated single (no single supplement) and has more than a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional expedition ships... more | |
| M/V Ocean Atlantic carries 198 passengers. She offers elegant and spacious cabins and common areas. She has a pool, sauna, gym, shop and library. All cabins re en-suite with outside views ... more | |
| M/V Ocean Diamond carries 189 passengers. She features an elevator, clinic with licensed doctor, a massage and wellness centre, pool and gym. She offers kayaking, photography and snowshoeing, mountaineering and skiing... more | |
| Ocean Explorer is a brand new purpose built ULSTEIN X-BOW® Expedition vessel. She carries just 138 passengers, boasts a stunning two story light filled library and offers luxury cabins, most with balcony... more | |
| M/V Ocean Nova carries 68 passengers (78 in Arctic) in spacious outside cabins. There is an onboard clinic, library, observation lounge, gym and polar boutique. Kayaking, snowshoeing can also be facilitated... more | |
| Ocean Victory carries 174 passengers, boasting the highest ice class rating. Many of the spacious cabins have their own balcony. She ship was designed with an emphasis on reducing environmental impact... more | |
| M/V Ortelius carries 108 passengers. She has the highest ice-class notation and is very suitable to navigate in solid sea ice and loose pack ice. She carries 2 helicopters for specific Weddell Sea and Ross Sea Voyages... more | |
| M/V Plancius carries 108 passengers, ice strengthened and was recently internally refurbished to a high standard, but not a luxury vessel. Cabins are en-suite with outside views. She boasts large open deck spaces and walk-around deck... more | |
| M/S Quest carries just 53 passengers. All cabins benefit from exterior views and private bathrooms. She is a comfortable expedition ship with a panorama lounge, spacious observation deck, lecture theatre and library... more | |
| M/V Sea Spirit carries 114 passengers. Cabins are en-suite with exterior views (some with balconies). There is a restaurant, bar, outdoor bistro, library, gym, hot tub, infirmary, elevator and presentation room... more | |
| M/V Seaventure carries 139 passengers, offering a spacious and luxurious Antarctic experience. There is gym, heated pool and sauna. Complimentary alcoholic beverages are included, as well as expedition jacket to take home... more | |
| M/S Sjøveien was formerly a training ship for mariners, but has since been fully refurbished. She carries just 12 passengers in outside cabins with en-suite facilities. She has a wood-fired hot tub on the spacious deck... more | |
| M/V Spirit of Enderby carries just 50 passengers and offers basic, yet comfortable accommodation. All cabins have outside views, half of which also have en-suite bathroom facilities. There is a lounge, lecture room and library... more | |
| M/S Spitsbergen carries 180 passengers and is a comfortable ship for exploring Arctic Norway. With a choice of cabin categories, she also has a gym, sauna and hot tub as well as inside and outside bars and dining areas... more | |
| M/S Stockholm carries just 12 passengers, offering comfortable en-suite cabins with portholes. She boasts beautiful brass details and wooden decks. She is able to navigate to areas that that larger ships cannot... more | |
| M/V Sylvia Earle carries 132 passengers and provides a high standard of accommodation. She boasts the patented X-BOW™, an inverted bow concept and is one of the first cruising vessels to utilise this technology... more | |
| M/V Ultramarine carries 199 passengers and is equipped with two helicopters. She is brand new and has 4 bars, library, lecture theatre, sauna, spa, gym and walkaround deck. She offers numerous adventure activities... more | |
| M/V Ushuaia carries just 84 passengers, providing basic, yet comfortable accommodation. All cabins offer outside views, some with shared bathroom facilities. There is a bar, library, infirmary, observation lounge and ample deck space... more | |
| S/H Vega carries 153 passengers, offering luxury accommodation, yet an informal atmosphere. She boasts high environmental credentials, a PC5 ice strengthened hull and extra large stabilisers for as smooth a ride as possible... more | |
| M/V World Explorer carries 176 passengers and offers luxury and spacious accommodation. There is an outside heated pool, running track, gym and sauna and spa. All cabins have either a private walk-out or a Juliet balcony... more |
Sailing Ships
| S/V Antigua carries 32 passengers and is an elegant three-masted Tall Ship. All twin cabins are en-suite with a porthole. It is the ideal choice for those looking for a hands-on sailing adventure in Spitsbergen... more | |
| S/V Noorderlicht carries just 20 passengers and offer a casual and intimate atmosphere. All 10 twin bunked cabins are inside with shared bathroom facilities. Assisting with the sailing is encouraged... more | |
| S/V Rembrandt carries 33 passengers and 2 expedition guides. She is a beautiful 3 masted sailing ship with re-enforced bow and 16 en-suite inside or outside cabins. She carries 2 RIBs and offers ample open deck space... more |