Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen - Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Aug 27 - Sept 11 2026
15 Nights
Price from per person
£30,550
Significantly few ships can go as far north as the Geographic North Pole. The pole is surrounded by sea ice all year round, sometimes up to 3 meters thick. Navigating the Arctic Circle is tough due to the harsh conditions of the glacial Arctic Ocean and environmental concerns. North Pole cruise ships are icebreakers with special bows that can crush the ice and powerful engines to cut through the thick sea ice.
Of the few icebreakers that can reach the North Pole, only two offer this to paying guests. The others are working ships used for science, research, and maritime; their only purpose is to keep shipping lanes open from the pack ice. So, unless you are a scientist, the only way to reach the North Pole by ship is on an icebreaker cruise.
As of 2024, there are only two cruise ships that can reach the North Pole: the luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot and the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years Of Victory. North Pole expedition cruises offer a unique experience, using specialized ships and expert crews to navigate the Arctic.
Those days are gone when the only way to reach the North Pole by ship meant to travel on a working icebreaker from Russia (although for some guests, that is part of the experience.)
The first icebreaker ship designed to take guests to the North Pole is Le Commandant Charcot, a marvel of modern engineering, technology, sustainability, and ship design. Before this ship was built, reaching the North Pole was possible on a working nuclear-powered icebreaker with far fewer amenities, the 50 Years of Victory.
2024 Update: Expeditions on the 50 Years Of Victory are unavailable due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Price from per person
Price from per person
Price from per person
A personal favourite with us at North Pole cruises and one of the most advanced polar exploration ships ever built, launched in 2021. Le Commandant Charcot is the first hybrid electric polar exploration vessel to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric battery power and a major step forward in opposite exploration capabilities.
Le Commandant Charcot was designed as a luxury cruise ship to navigate the summer pack ice and reach the Geographic North Pole in the summer. The onboard experience is out of this world with indoor and outdoor pools, large cabins with balconies, luxurious duplex owners’ suites with private verandas and fine dining.
Le Commandant Charcot is the world’s first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship. It uses electric battery propulsion and cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Designed to navigate through ice and open sea, Le Commandant Charcot has advanced icebreaking capabilities.
It is the first cruise ship to have a Polar Class 2 (PC2) hull, which allows it to access remote ice-locked polar areas, including the North Pole, Antarctic, and Arctic regions.
Despite being an expedition ship, Le Commandant Charcot has luxury accommodations.
The ship has high-end cabins and suites with panoramic views, private balconies and upscale amenities.
Le Commandant Charcot has research facilities for polar exploration and research missions.
The ship contributes to environmental and climate research in polar regions.
The ship offers special itineraries to off-the-beaten-track polar destinations, including remote Antarctica and Arctic areas. North Pole trips are very rare and limited, so book early each season.
Le Commandant Charcot allows you to see untouched landscapes.
The ship has observation lounges with large windows to give you unobstructed views of the polar landscapes and wildlife.
With its hybrid propulsion and LNG, Le Commandant Charcot is designed to be environmentally friendly.
The ship minimizes its footprint in the polar environment.
Le Commandant Charcot has an experienced team of expedition guides with Zodiacs to access areas not accessible by the ship.
The ship has a high standard of cuisine with several dining options during your polar expeditions.
See our Le Commandant Charcot ship page to learn more about this ship’s features, cabins and itineraries.
50 Years of Victory is a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker. It’s a different experience to Le Commandant Charcot. In the winter, the shipping lanes in the Russian Arctic are kept open. In the summer it goes to the North Pole and Franz Josef Land. During the voyage, you will see polar bears and arctic foxes in their natural habitat.
If you want to experience a real working icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory offers helicopter flights and the chance to visit Franz Josef Land on the way back from the North Pole.
The ship is powered by two nuclear reactors, making it one of the most powerful icebreakers in the world. Nuclear power means continuous and reliable operation in ice.
As an icebreaker, the 50 Years of Victory has a reinforced hull that breaks through thick Arctic ice to clear the navigation path.
The icebreaker has a helicopter pad and facilities for helicopter operations to do aerial exploration and scenic flights over the polar landscapes. You can also take a hot air balloon ride and experience the adventure and unique perspective of floating above the North Pole environment.
Although not as luxurious as some cruise ships, the 50 Years of Victory offers comfortable accommodations for passengers on polar expeditions. Cabins have the necessary amenities, and public areas are for observation and relaxation.
The ship has observation decks to enjoy the Arctic scenery. Reaching the North Pole is like being at the top of the world, an emotional and unique experience of 90° north latitude. These areas are perfect for wildlife spotting and taking in the views.
50 Years of Victory Expeditions often have educational programs led by naturalists and polar experts. You can learn about the Arctic ecosystem, wildlife and polar exploration.
Given the Arctic conditions, safety is paramount. 50 Years of Victory has advanced navigation and safety systems to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew.
The ship has dining facilities serving meals suitable for Arctic conditions. One of the activities available to guests is the polar plunge, a fun experience in which you take a dip in the icy waters around the ship to celebrate being at such an extreme destination. Common areas include a lounge, bar, and other spaces to socialize and relax.
(please note as of 2024, 50 Years of Victory expeditions are not available due to the Ukraine conflict)
Please note that in 2024, the only option to visit the North Pole by Cruise ship is on Le Commandant Charcot. See our North Pole Cruises for more information.
As there are only two cruise ships that can reach the North Pole, your choice is between two:
Choose Le Commandant Charcot for a luxury experience and exciting itineraries, which include Svalbard, Scoresby Sund and East Greenland as part of a North Pole Cruise. Or cross the Arctic Ocean on a trans-Arctic expedition from Canada to Svalbard.
Choose 50 Years of Victory to experience a real working nuclear-powered icebreaker with North Pole itineraries to the rarely visited Russian Arctic Islands of Franz Josef Land.
North Pole Cruise ships are icebreakers with powerful engines and scoop-shaped bows. The bow uses the ship’s weight to crush the ice, and the hulls are reinforced to navigate through thick polar sea ice. This extraordinary engine power and hull strength allow these ships to reach the North Pole and other inaccessible places, like the sea ice in East Greenland. They offer a truly out-of-this-world experience.
Regular expedition ships are ice-strengthened but not icebreakers. They can navigate into open-pack ice but don’t have the strength or capability to break through 3 meters of ice. Navigating through these vast expanses of ice floe presents unique challenges and requires specific strategies. It’s crucial to respect the fragile nature of ice floes when planning routes for expeditions. Different expedition ships have different ice classes, which dictate where they can and can’t go in the polar regions, depending on the sea ice conditions.
If you want to visit the North Pole, our Travel Experience Team at North Pole Cruises has firsthand experience and is here to help you plan your cruise. Once at the North Pole, guests can enjoy activities like ice fishing, hot-air balloon rides, and citizen science stations to add to the adventure of being at the top of the world.
We will help you choose your preferred North Pole cruise ship, explain the differences between the voyages and help you with your cabin selection. We will tell you what’s included and what’s optional. We’re always happy to answer any questions you have.
All bookings made with us at North Pole Cruises are 100% financially protected. We have supplier failure insurance free of charge to give you complete peace of mind. We also guarantee the best price from the operator when you book.
See our North Pole Cruises.
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