Arctic Expedition Cruises: A Practical Guide to Oceanwide Expeditions' Arctic Line

What This Guide Covers

This guide draws exclusively on in-our-inventory data to help travellers evaluate Arctic expedition cruises operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. In our inventory, there is 1 cruise line — Oceanwide Expeditions — with 46 departures on offer, spanning itineraries from 2 to 22 nights. Embarkation ports include Longyearbyen, Vlissingen, Aberdeen, and Akureyri, giving travellers meaningful flexibility in how they enter and exit the Arctic region. The guide covers the four vessels in the fleet, the range of itinerary lengths and departure months, key destination highlights, physical demands, and the all-in cost picture — everything a traveller needs to make a considered booking decision.

The Fleet: Four Ships, Four Different Experiences

Oceanwide Expeditions operates four vessels in our inventory, each suited to a different travel style based on guest capacity and character. **m/v Hondius** carries up to 170 guests, making it the largest vessel in the fleet. Its greater size translates to more onboard amenities and a broader range of cabin categories, which suits travellers who want expedition access without sacrificing comfort. **m/v Ortelius** and **m/v Plancius** each carry up to 108 guests — a mid-range capacity that balances expedition flexibility with social atmosphere. Both ships are well-suited to the 9-night itineraries that are the most common length in our inventory. **s/v Rembrandt van Rijn** is the smallest vessel, carrying just 33 guests. The sailing vessel format and intimate scale mean more time at anchor, more spontaneous landings, and a closer relationship between passengers and the naturalist-guided programme. Travellers who prioritise shore time and small-group dynamics should consider this vessel first. Decision guide: travellers who want the widest cabin selection and the most structured onboard programme should look at m/v Hondius. Those who want a quieter, more expedition-oriented atmosphere with maximum landing flexibility should consider s/v Rembrandt van Rijn.

Itinerary Lengths and Destination Coverage

In our inventory, itineraries range from 2 to 22 nights. The most common length is 9 nights, which represents the practical sweet spot for covering a meaningful stretch of the Arctic without requiring an extended leave of absence. Shorter itineraries — closer to the 2-night end — function as introductory passages or repositioning legs, often sailing between embarkation ports such as Vlissingen and Aberdeen, or Aberdeen and Akureyri. These are useful for travellers who want to experience the North Atlantic passage without committing to a full Arctic programme. Longer itineraries, stretching toward 22 nights, allow for comprehensive coverage of multiple destination zones. In our inventory, highlighted itinerary themes include: Sailing along Svalbard, Sailing to Svalbard, Sailing around Svalbard, Sailing along Iceland, Sailing along Greenland, Sailing to Aberdeen, and passages that include Fair Isle and Jan Mayen. According to Oceanwide Expeditions' destination notes, Jan Mayen is a volcanic island set in the North Atlantic Ocean, roughly halfway between Iceland and Spitsbergen — a remote landfall that appears on several of the longer itineraries in our inventory and is rarely accessible outside of expedition-format voyages. Decision guide: travellers with limited time who want a focused Svalbard experience should prioritise 9-night departures. Those who want to combine Svalbard with Iceland or Greenland should look at itineraries in the upper range of available lengths.

Departure Months and What Each Season Offers

In our inventory, departures run across six months: May, June, July, August, September, and October. The busiest departure month is June, reflecting peak Arctic daylight conditions and the height of wildlife activity season. May departures offer the possibility of encountering late sea ice and the transition into the Arctic spring. June and July represent the core of the high season, with extended daylight — in some areas approaching continuous light — and active wildlife including polar bears hunting along ice edges and Arctic foxes moving into their breeding season. According to Oceanwide Expeditions' wildlife notes, Arctic foxes are generally solitary until they mate, so late spring and early summer represent a period of increased activity and visibility. August departures still benefit from long days and relatively stable conditions, while September and October mark the transition toward autumn, with changing light, the first signs of sea ice reformation, and a different character to the landscape. Polar bears, according to Oceanwide Expeditions' wildlife notes, rely primarily on bearded seal and ringed seal as their main food source, and depend on stealth rather than speed to hunt — meaning patient, quiet observation from a vessel or Zodiac is the most effective way to encounter them. June and July, when bears are most active along accessible coastlines, are the months most represented in our inventory's departure schedule. Decision guide: travellers whose primary goal is polar bear observation should target June and July departures. Those interested in the atmospheric quality of the Arctic shoulder season — lower passenger volumes on some sailings, dramatic light — should consider May or September.

Embarkation Ports and Logistics

In our inventory, four embarkation ports are represented: Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Vlissingen (the Netherlands), Aberdeen (Scotland), and Akureyri (Iceland). The variety of embarkation points reflects the range of itinerary types — some voyages begin in northern Europe and sail progressively northward, while others begin and end in Longyearbyen for a focused Svalbard programme. Longyearbyen is the most direct gateway for Svalbard-focused itineraries and is served by scheduled flights from several European hubs. Vlissingen serves as the southern starting point for longer repositioning voyages that trace the full passage north. Aberdeen connects the fleet to the British Isles and Fair Isle routing. Akureyri provides access to Iceland-based itineraries and Iceland-Greenland crossings. Travellers should factor in pre- and post-cruise nights at the embarkation port, particularly for Longyearbyen and Akureyri, where flight connections may require an overnight stay. This adds to the all-in cost and should be budgeted accordingly.

All-In Cost and Physical Requirements

In our inventory, Oceanwide Expeditions' Arctic departures start from $300. This figure represents the entry-level price point for the shortest available itineraries; travellers planning a 9-night or longer voyage should expect the total cruise fare to be substantially higher, and should request current pricing at the time of booking. Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking. It is worth noting that in our inventory, departures with at least one cabin available at no single supplement number zero — meaning solo travellers should budget for a single supplement on all currently listed sailings and confirm this detail directly at the time of enquiry. Beyond the cruise fare, the all-in cost for an Arctic expedition typically includes: international flights to and from the embarkation port, pre- and post-cruise accommodation, expedition gear (waterproof outerwear and rubber boots are standard requirements on Zodiac-based landings), travel insurance with adequate medical evacuation coverage, and any optional activities or shore excursions not included in the base fare. Travellers should request a full inclusions list from the operator before booking. Physically, Arctic expedition cruises are accessible to a wide range of fitness levels, but travellers should be realistic about what participation in shore landings requires. Zodiac transfers involve stepping in and out of inflatable craft in variable sea conditions, and some landings involve walking on uneven, rocky, or snow-covered terrain. Travellers with significant mobility limitations should discuss landing accessibility with Oceanwide Expeditions directly before booking. No technical mountaineering or extreme physical fitness is required for standard itineraries, but a reasonable level of mobility and balance is assumed for full participation in the expedition programme.

How to Use This Guide to Choose a Departure

In our inventory, there are 46 departures across the six-month season, spread across four vessels and multiple embarkation ports. The volume of options can make selection feel complex; the following decision framework draws directly on the inventory data. **By vessel size:** Choose s/v Rembrandt van Rijn (33 guests) for the most intimate expedition experience with maximum landing flexibility. Choose m/v Hondius (170 guests) for the broadest cabin selection and most structured onboard facilities. m/v Ortelius and m/v Plancius (108 guests each) sit between these poles. **By itinerary length:** The 2-night minimum suits travellers testing the format or completing a passage leg. The 9-night most common length suits most first-time Arctic travellers. The 22-night maximum suits those who want to combine multiple destination zones — Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland — in a single voyage. **By month:** June offers the highest density of departures and peak wildlife activity. May and September offer shoulder-season conditions. October is the latest available month in our inventory and suits travellers interested in the early-autumn Arctic character. **By embarkation port:** Longyearbyen for a Svalbard-focused programme. Vlissingen or Aberdeen for a full northward passage. Akureyri for Iceland and Greenland routing. All departure dates in our inventory run through the upcoming season. Travellers are advised to confirm availability and current pricing directly, as both are subject to change. Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking.

Ready to plan your the Arctic voyage?

Browse live departures or ask our concierge — whichever you prefer.

Explore the Arctic voyages Ask Gvoya AI

Inventory data on this page last updated 2026-10-23.

See live market data for the Arctic →