Waterproof Cruises

North Pole Icebreaker Cruise

Get the unique experience of travelling aboard a powerful icebreaker.

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North Pole Icebreaker Cruise

Visiting the Geographic North Pole is a true once in a lifetime experience! Defined by a 90° North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians. Plunged into darkness for six months of the year, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers.
A powerful icebreaker takes you high up into the Arctic, pushing through meters of pack ice while it carefully manoeuvres in an attempt to reach the holy grail of all polar explorers: the North Pole! This is one of the most unique and exclusive voyages out there today.
The itinerary lends itself perfectly for the observation and photography of arctic wildlife and the polar scenery. On your way north from Svalbard (Spitsbergen), you will get to admire the most extraordinary landscapes of ice, hundreds of miles away from any civilisation. Shoot incredible photos from the deck of the moving icebreaker. If lucky, you might also spot a polar bear that ventures close to the ship or get to observe arctic birds, whales and even walruses.
Once you arrive at the Geographic North Pole at 90 degrees north, a ceremony will be held to celebrate this unique moment and everyone will step out onto the ice to finally stand on the top of the world!
After this memorable day at the North Pole the ship turns around to head back south. On your way back you will once more explore the remote and beautiful islands of Spitsbergen.

Note:
This is a sample itinerary. We do our utmost to guarantee the best experience, unfortunately we have no control over the weather or wildlife behaviour. Sites may change depending on departure dates, weather and ice conditions.

  • Start of your journey north

    You will embark your ship in Longyearbyen (Svalbard) in the late afternoon. Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. Once on board you will have some time to get settled and explore the ship. That same evening your voyage will start as the ship heads north!

    At sea along Spitsbergen

    Being the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

  • Sailing into the pack ice

    The first day(s) of the trip you will spend at sea. Out here in the arctic ocean there is always a good chance of spotting sea birds and different species of whales. So it's worth being out on deck to see what wildlife you might encounter.
    At some point in our voyage north we will encounter the ice cap. You will get to witness firsthand the ship’s immense power. The ship plows its way forward, crushing massive ice blocks under the enormous bow. The ship might even have to go in reverse for a second attempt to push through dense walls of ice. Expect to spend a lot of time outside standing at the bow or looking over the railing. The sensation of being on deck while the ship is moving forward feels surreal and is simply unforgettable.
    Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Even this high north it is possible to spot polar bears and walruses on the pack ice.

  • A day at the North Pole

    The geographical North Pole is situated at 90° North latitude. At this point of our planet, the sun will not set for 6 months during summer, while in winter is will be dark for 24 hours per day. So far, only a few people have ever been lucky enough to visit this mythical location, as only a handful of voyages sail this far north each year.
    When the ship arrives at the North Pole, it will ceremoniously drop the anchor on a sturdy stretch of ice followed by all passengers disembarking onto the frozen sea. Reaching the very top of the planet earth is for many travelers a much-anticipated moment. You will have plenty of time to wander around and take pictures of this unique moment in your life. If there are any gaps in the ice, you might even get the change to take a polar plunge into the icy water!

  • Heading back south to Svalbard

    After this incredible time at 90° North it is time for the ship to set course to the south, back to Svalbard. But that does not mean that your journey is over: you can still enjoy the ever changing landscapes, from pack ice to sea ice and the vast Arctic sea with its abundant wildlife. Back in the archipelago of Svalbard you will sail 2 days through the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park. Like the other protected areas of Svalbard, this National Park was established in the early 1970s to protect this exceptional environment full of glaciers, islands and large bays. This region will fascinate you with its landscapes and with the numerous vestiges that bear witness to the history of the men ? whale hunters and those involved in the first expeditions to the North Pole ? who found themselves on these shores from the start of the 17th century. In this pristine environment, you will be able to observe arctic sterns or seals on the rocks that emerge at low tide.
    After this great expedition cruise it sadly is time to disembark your ship. Disembarkation will be in the early morning in Longyearbyen. Whether you stay in Longyearbyen for an exploration of this nice town or fly home immediately, you can look back to a marvelous trip tot he top of the world!

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Call us today on +31 (0) 858 771 583