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Book Incredible Cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic

Jan 16, 2025 - 
Feb 03, 2025
All (sub-)Antarctic highlights in one voyage, with spectacular landing sites on the Falkland Islands and encounters with black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper pinguins. You’ll have the chance to meet at least six different penguin species. You’ll explore the transition fro...
Jan 22, 2025 - 
Feb 01, 2025
This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins....
Jan 22, 2025 - 
Feb 01, 2025
This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins....
Feb 01, 2025 - 
Feb 11, 2025
This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins....
Feb 01, 2025 - 
Feb 20, 2025
All (sub-)Antarctic highlights in one voyage, with spectacular landing sites on the Falkland Islands and encounters with black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper pinguins. You’ll have the chance to meet at least six different penguin species. You’ll explore the transition fro...
Feb 03, 2025 - 
Feb 13, 2025
This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins....
Feb 11, 2025 - 
Mar 10, 2025
This adventurous expedition explores one of the least-visited areas on Earth, Antarctica’s amazing Weddell Sea. After visiting some of the same sites legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton’s charted in South Georgia, we’ll enjoy the Weddell’s exotic wildlife and co...
Feb 13, 2025 - 
Feb 25, 2025
“Base camp” is by definition a temporary storing and starting place, from which an activity starts. We offer “activity modules” which go beyond our normal shore program. The vessel will stay for two or three days at specific locations to serve our active passenge...
Feb 20, 2025 - 
Mar 14, 2025
All (sub-)Antarctic highlights in one voyage, with spectacular landing sites on the Falkland Islands and encounters with black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper pinguins. You’ll have the chance to meet at least six different penguin species. You’ll explore the transition fro...
Feb 25, 2025 - 
Mar 09, 2025
“Base camp” is by definition a temporary storing and starting place, from which an activity starts. We offer “activity modules” which go beyond our normal shore program. The vessel will stay for two or three days at specific locations to serve our active passenge...
Mar 09, 2025 - 
Mar 23, 2025
This expansive expedition takes you into the Antarctic Circle, combining the rich animal life of the Weddell Sea with the surreal shores and islands of the Antarctic Peninsula. Such key landing sites as the legendary Elephant Island and Crystal Sound make this voyage truly exceptional....
Mar 10, 2025 - 
Mar 21, 2025
This voyage will take you further south of Antarctica, crossing the Polar Circle. This cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to hike and dive in the iceberg-heavy waters....

Welcome to Polar Holiday's Arctic Wildlife Guide!

There are many animals who call the Arctic home, whether they are year-round or seasonal residents. Arctic animals have adapted to the region’s cold temperatures in different ways. Some, like the Arctic Fox, grow a thick, white winter coat to keep them warm and camouflaged against the snow. Other animals like  chipmunks and some bear species hibernate in pits or underground burrows to escape the Arctic temperatures. Others like the Arctic Tern only live in the area during the summer months, and then migrate to warmer areas when the weather turns cold and food becomes limited.

This wildlife guide will be organized by Arctic region and detail the wildlife that might be viewed on your Arctic cruise in that location. We hope that this guide is helpful to you in planning your Arctic cruise!

Wildlife that may be seen during the Arctic cruise season on an Arctic expedition includes:

Orca breaches for air
Killer (Orca) Whale breaches to exhale

Northern Norway Wildlife

In addition to viewing mountainous Atlantic coast lines and high-Arctic landscapes, cruising to Northern Norway brings the opportunity to see some of the world’s most wondrous wildlife.

A trip to Northern Norway may yield the following wildlife sightings (some may require day trips to National Parks):

  • Whales: Humpbacks, Minkes, Orcas, Pilots and Sperm
  • Eurasion Lynx and Wolverine
  • Seals
  • Moose/Elk
  • Brown bear

Greenland Wildlife

Greenland has the distinction of being the largest island on Earth with the smallest population of any country. Most of the island is covered by the Northern Ice Cap but that doesn’t stop wildlife from inhabiting the island.

Depending on the trip and time of year, some of the wildlife you may see includes:

  • Whales: belugas, blues, fins, Greenland whales (a.k.a. Bowhead whales), Minkes, Narwhals, Humpback and Sperm
  • Svalbard reindeer
  • High Arctic bird species such as Long-tailed Skua, Turnstone and Grey Phalarop
  • Musk Oxen
  • White-tailed eagles

Svalbard Wildlife

If your dream is to see Polar bears, then a trip to Svalbard is what you need. Located 600 miles south of the North Pole, it is the largest wilderness area in Europe. The region features rugged mountains and rolling tundra that offer plenty of opportunities for hiking and snowshoeing.

Depending on the tour, travelers may see:

Reindeer encounters Arctic visitors
Arctic visitors encounter a Reindeer

Contact Our Team For More Information

Polar Holidays has been traveling and booking expedition cruises to the polar regions for almost 20 years. We are familiar with the seasons, the destinations and the environments. We love to share our deep passion for the polar regions with travelers and explorers. You can expect to be enriched by our in-depth knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctic regions and dazzled by the incredible landscapes and wildlife unique to the area on one of our luxurious cruise ships. Our experienced operators are here to help you choose the best tour for your needs and interests. We offer door-to-door service, taking care of the details so you can enjoy the cruise of a lifetime. Contact us today to get started!

Ready to Book Your Arctic Expedition?

Ready to find your dream cruise?  Have questions? Contact Polar Holidays to schedule a free consultation with one of our booking specialists today!