Vikingfjord

Balto

Balto is one of the rare polar ships where 12 guests really means the whole ship. Two guides and two Zodiacs get the group moving quickly when ice, weather or wildlife open an opportunity. Depending on the itinerary, Balto explores Svalbard's pack-ice approaches and wildlife-rich fjords or Greenland's Sermilik system, Disko Bay and the south and east coasts. This is the kind of expedition ship we love recommending to active, curious travellers: small enough for the days to feel personal and spontaneous, yet warm and comfortable when everyone comes back on board. The mahogany saloon, en-suite cabins and sauna give Balto more soul than a purely functional expedition vessel. The current operator describes a 2025 refit and seven outside cabins: one Owner's Cabin, one Superior Cabin, one Double Cabin, two Twin Cabins and two Single Cabins. All have lower beds and private shower/WC facilities. The Owner's Cabin adds a queen bed, six windows and a seating area; the Superior Cabin has twin beds and seating. Bridge visits are subject to the captain's permission and weather or operational conditions. Choose Balto if you value quick Zodiac departures, close guide contact and a genuinely social small group more than multiple restaurants, resort entertainment or a fixed daily timetable. Weather, ice and wildlife always shape the programme, and the route follows the conditions.

Sjøveien

Sjøveien is the ship we recommend when small really needs to mean personal. With just 12 guests, two guides and two Zodiacs, the whole group operates on an intimate scale and decisions can remain flexible. Recent guests repeatedly praise the warm atmosphere, passionate guides, welcoming crew and a ship that feels roomier than its numbers suggest. Built in Bergen in 1964 and reborn as an expedition vessel in 2017, Sjøveien pairs real seafaring character—wooden decks, an open bridge and generous outdoor viewing space—with eight simple, comfortable en-suite outside cabins. We especially love the wood-fired hot tub on deck: after a Zodiac cruise, a hike or even a polar plunge, it is a memorable place to watch the Svalbard landscape drift past. Book Sjøveien if you want an active, sociable expedition rather than a floating hotel. Her compact size suits narrow fjords and remote anchorages, while the plan remains deliberately flexible around ice, weather and wildlife. Depending on the voyage, days may lead into Kongsfjorden and Ny-Ålesund, past bird cliffs and walrus haul-outs, or towards fjords and pack-ice search areas. Nothing is guaranteed; the team works with the conditions the Arctic provides.

Stockholm

Stockholm is one of the ships we love recommending when travellers tell us they want the Arctic to feel like a real expedition, not a cruise. With only 12 guests, two expedition guides and two inflatables, the entire group can head out together when wildlife, ice or light create an opportunity. Recent guests repeatedly single out the guides, crew, food and close-knit atmosphere—exactly the qualities that give this little 1953 expedition vessel so much soul. The ship's long experience is as valuable as her character. Stockholm has spent more than 25 years exploring Svalbard, and current voyages range from spring ice and autumn light to pack-ice expeditions, Norway's fjords, Bear Island, whales and the northern lights. Her compact size cannot overrule weather, ice or wildlife, but it helps the expedition team keep the days personal and flexible. Inside, expect warm wood, brass and the honest proportions of a working expedition ship rather than contemporary luxury. All six outside cabins have portholes, upper and lower berths and a private shower and WC. Book Stockholm if you value time outside, capable guides and the camaraderie of a 12-person expedition team more than large cabins, balconies or hotel-style facilities.

Hans Hansson

Hans Hansson is one of the rare ships where Antarctica still feels like an expedition shared by a small team. With only 12 guests, Zodiac launches are quick, there is no rotation between large landing groups, and the day can flex when whales appear, the light improves or a penguin colony deserves more time. On the 14-day fly-in/fly-out programme, you skip the Drake Passage at sea and spend the voyage exploring from King George Island along the Antarctic Peninsula, potentially as far south as Lemaire Strait when ice and weather allow. What we love is the human scale. Guests and crew share meals, the decks put you close to the action, and citizen-science activities turn observation into participation. Recent Hans Hansson travellers repeatedly highlight unhurried landings, crew warmth and the camaraderie that comes from sharing such a small yacht. Its rescue-vessel heritage and ice-strengthened steel hull give it real expedition character: this is a working vessel, not a floating hotel. Book Hans Hansson if you care more about time outside, wildlife, photography and a close-knit group than large cabins or luxury facilities. The four lower-deck Standard cabins are compact twins with washbasins and shared bathrooms; the two Superior cabins add more space and private bathrooms. You also need to be comfortable with stairs, tight passages, Zodiac transfers and a roughly two-metre boarding ladder. For the right traveller, that trade-off is precisely the appeal: fewer people, more freedom and a much more direct relationship with Antarctica.