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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Explore the far north of West Greenland aboard Ocean Explorer on a sixteen-day expedition from Reykjavik towards the high Arctic. Sail among icebergs and fjords, visit remote communities such as Upernavik and Qaanaaq when conditions allow, and look for whales, seabirds and Arctic landscapes as the route reaches towards Smith Sound before returning through Ilulissat.
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Our Polartours team is very proud to introduce the wonderful Ocean Explorer, the latest addition to the fleet, purpose-built for polar expeditions.
With a capacity for 138 passengers, this modern vessel boasts cutting-edge expedition ship technology, including the renowned ULSTEIN X-BOWĀ®, ensures a smooth and comfortable sailing experience.
We have been enchanted by the light-filled two-story library located at the bow, offering a welcoming ambiance for guests to unwind. The Scandinavian-designed cabins, most with verandas, providing luxurious accommodations, exceeded our expectations.
We, ⦠Read more about Ocean Explorer
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Bar
Mudroom
Gym on board
Expedition Parka
Observation Deck
Zodiac Fleet
Kayaks on board
Observation Lounge
Hot Tub
All meals
Interconnecting cabins
Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices
Sauna
Medical Services
TV in room
Library
English guides
Internet/Wifi
Restaurant
The dining rooms are located on deck 5. While mealtimes may change due to landings and wildlife encounters, youāll always be served three delicious meals a day.
Breakfasts and lunches are normally served buffet-style, while dinners are served plated. Ć la carte meals are made at the time of your order, allowing the chefs to prepare each dish to your individual needs. Working in a small kitchen, the chefs are able to monitor and control the quality of food being served, ensuring you receive top-quality meals during the course of your expedition.
An assortment of freshly baked cookies and/or pastries are offered each afternoon. There is also a selection of hot and cold snacks available in the lounge during cocktail hour, expedition activities permitting.
When booking online, you can choose the option to "Upgrade to single occupancy". This will guarantee you the whole cabin to yourself, for an additional fee. If you don't select this option, then another traveler of the same sex might be placed into the same cabin with you. Exceptions may apply.
Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
All shore landings as per the daily program
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
Complimentary beer, standard wines, spirits, and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
Complimentary coffee, tea, and cocoa available around the clock
Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
A photographic journal documenting the expedition
A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
An official Quark ExpeditionsĀ® parka to keep
Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more data intensive applications.)
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
All luggage handling aboard the ship
Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
Your trip helps protect 36 hectares of rainforest in Ecuador through Forest Guardians
International airfare
Passport and visa expenses
Canadian eTA required non-Canadian or U.S. visa exempt passengers
Meals ashore unless otherwise specified
Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insuranceāstrongly recommended
Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights
Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned
Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges unless specified
Phone and Internet charges (connectivity may vary by location)
Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew
Additional overnight accommodation
Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice from your travel specialist by email. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to secure your booking. Payment can be made through bank transfer or by credit card through a secure payment link.
Full payment is expected 30 days before your trip. Payment can be made in installments.
Long-haul flights and the on-the-ground program generate 7.68 t COāe on this trip. Polartours regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys and actively reduces emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.
From 2018 to 2024, we supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians.
More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact
All cruises in the polar regions operate to itineraries that are more-or-less fixed. We say "more or less", because wildlife (breeding, seasonality) and weather always play an important role in routing. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise, including:
All boats carry English speaking, scientifically trained guides. They will lead you on your excursions, allowing you to learn as much as possible about the unique wildlife and habitats of the Polar Regions.
Choosing the right ship for a cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic seems difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Our fleet is over 30 vessels, we are sure that there is the perfect one for you. Please, follow these simple steps, and you will be able to find your ideal ship:
In addition: We work with responsible partners who provide a great experience for their passengers. All of our providers are committed to sustainability and to preserving the beauty of the polar regions. You donāt need to worry about the impact of your cruise, because weāve already taken care of it.
We love to help people find their dream vacation to the Arctic and Antarctic. Whether you give us a call, contact us via email, or use our website inquiry form, one of our Polar travel experts will be more than happy to answer any questions, recommend ships and itineraries, and walk you through the whole process!
Step 1: Find your perfect trip. If you have already started looking for Polar Cruises, you will have quickly noticed that the sheer amount of options can be quite overwhelming. To help you navigate the countless departures and itineraries that our fleet offers, we have put together a great filter page for Antarctic and Arctic Expedition Cruises. Use this page to filter all trips by price, date, ship category, and even destinations you wish to visit. We update all dates, prices, and availabilities daily, and are proud to host what is doubtlessly the world's most complete collection of information.
Step 2: Found something you love? We'll hold your spaces, free of charge! If you find a cruise you like, you can either inquire directly with us or make an unbinding booking online. We will then reach out to the shipowners to put a hold on your spaces for a limited time, free of charge. Once we have confirmed your block with the ship, we will send you a written confirmation of your reservation and include full payment details in an invoice. Typically, we are able to hold unpaid reservations for up to 1 week*. This gives us time to clarify all your remaining questions, and also ensures that no other passengers can book your spaces, while we continue our conversation.
Step 3: Confirm your booking. In order to confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit payment. You can pay via bank transfer or credit card. Keep in mind, that we can only hold your spaces for a limited amount of time. If we don't receive your payment after this time, we can no longer guarantee that the places will be available or that the price won't increase. To prevent disappointment, we will automatically cancel your reservation if we don't receive your deposit by the due date stated on your booking reservation.
Step 4: Booking confirmation & Payment. As soon as we have received your deposit and a completed passenger information form, we will be pleased to send your booking confirmation and updated invoice, along with your trip itinerary, important information, and other great tips for your cruise.
Step 5: Final payment. In your initial invoice, we will define a final payment date by when you need to pay us the remaining amount of your trip. Once we have received your final payment we'll send you your cruise documents and voucher. As your trip approaches, we make sure to pass along all necessary information, so you feel super prepared and stress-free.
*For last-minute bookings, we might not be able to hold your spaces for so long. We will also require the full payment of your cruise upon booking.
An expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic is a big deal! Most people plan for this type of trip at least 8 months in advance. This means the earlier you book, the better chance you'll have to reserve your prefered cabins. Early bird discounts are also popular and a great way to get 10-30% off your cruise.
Most expedition cruises offer optional activities like camping and kayaking, but the spaces are limited. A cruise with 120 passengers can have only 10-15 spaces for kayaking. These are reserved on a first come first served basis. The earlier you book, the higher your chance of grabbing a spot.
Even though last minute deals do occur, keep in mind that the airline prices will be much higher if you purchase them last minute. You may save a few hundred on your cruise, but you may end up paying the most for airfare.
Price
Upon Request
Reach towards the high Arctic and Smith Sound
Experience remote Greenlandic communities such as Qaanaaq and Upernavik
See the Ilulissat Icefjord and a changing world of ice
Travel through Greenland's fjords with flexible expedition landings
Best Price Guarantee: Find a better price elsewhere, and weāll match it.
Polar Expedition Specialists: We focus exclusively on polar voyages, with advice rooted in real, firsthand expertise.
Travel that gives back: Every booking directly funds our mission to protect and restore global rainforests.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
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Arrive in Reykjavik and settle into the gateway city before the expedition moves north. This first evening is a chance to meet fellow travellers and prepare for a journey into the high Arctic.
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Explore Sisimiut and its rugged coastal setting. The town's colourful buildings, historic church and living traditions offer an insight into contemporary Greenland, while local conditions may open the way to further fjord exploration.
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Experience Ilulissat and the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, where the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier sends immense icebergs towards Disko Bay. A Zodiac outing and walk ashore bring you close to one of Greenland's defining landscapes.
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Discover Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island, where black volcanic shores, broad valleys and Arctic vegetation create a striking contrast to the ice. The expedition team selects the best landing or Zodiac route for the conditions.
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Reach the communities and fjords of northern West Greenland, with Upernavik offering a vivid connection to coastal life. Look for whales and seabirds as the ship moves through an increasingly remote Arctic landscape.
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Sail north towards Cape Alexander and the high Arctic. Ice, weather and visibility shape the day's opportunities, whether the experience is a Zodiac cruise, a landing or time on deck watching the sea and sky.
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Approach the dramatic region of Smith Sound, where Greenland and the Canadian Arctic meet. This is a remote expedition environment of sea ice, stark coastlines and exceptional wildlife-watching possibilities.
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Visit Qaanaaq when conditions allow and learn about life in one of the world's northernmost communities. The town's relationship with sea ice, hunting traditions and the surrounding mountains gives this stop a powerful sense of place.
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Begin the southbound passage with time to reflect on the far north. The expedition team continues to watch for whales, seabirds and changing ice conditions, with talks and deck time adding context to the landscapes outside.
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Explore Uummannaq, recognisable by the heart-shaped mountain above the town. A landing or Zodiac outing reveals colourful houses, local stories and the close relationship between the community and the surrounding fjords.
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Approach Eqi Sermia, one of Greenland's most impressive tidewater glaciers. From the water, watch for calving ice and listen to the sounds of a moving glacier while the expedition team interprets the landscape.
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Return to Ilulissat and the extraordinary world of Disko Bay. There may be time for a second perspective on the Icefjord, a walk through town or a Zodiac cruise among the bergs, depending on conditions and local access.
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Continue south along Greenland's west coast, with a possible visit to Itilleq or another community selected by the expedition team. The final landings bring together the coast's human stories, wildlife and sweeping scenery.
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Disembark in Kangerlussuaq after breakfast and transfer for the onward flight. The expedition ends with the ice, communities and immense scale of West Greenland still vivid in your memory.
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Continue from Reykjavik after the expedition. With the high Arctic behind you, the journey closes with the memories of Greenland's communities, icebergs, fjords and wildlife still close at hand.