The High Arctic at 80 degrees north: pack ice, walrus haulouts and the honest attempt to sail around an entire archipelago while a science team scans the shore for bears. Summer only, small ships only, and all-inclusive in the true sense.
The route at a glance
Ten to eleven days, roundtrip from Oslo, June to early September. HX Expeditions' Circumnavigating Spitsbergen voyage flies you from Oslo to Longyearbyen, gives you a night in the world's northernmost town, then sails aboard MS Fram or MS Spitsbergen (about 200 to 250 guests) into Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. The goal is the full circumnavigation toward the 80th parallel, ice permitting: fjords with calving glaciers, bird cliffs in the tens of thousands, walrus colonies, and the constant possibility of a polar bear on the ice edge. Landings and small-boat cruises run daily, led by the expedition team.
Who this route suits
Best for wildlife-first travelers (polar bears are the draw, and Svalbard is the most reliable place on Earth to see them wild), photographers under the midnight sun, and travelers who like structure - HX includes the Oslo flights, the Longyearbyen hotel night, drinks, gratuities, activities and even the expedition jacket. Less ideal for anyone wanting a warm cruise, for travelers who need gentle motion (the northern stretches are open ocean), and for strict budgets - though per night it undercuts Antarctica by a third.
What it costs
The 2027 circumnavigation season lists from $9,555 per person for early-June departures, rising to about $11,900 for high-July dates, all-inclusive from Oslo: return flights to Longyearbyen, the hotel night, transfers, all meals, wine and beer, gratuities, activities and the jacket. That makes the true comparison not the bare Caribbean fare but the fully-loaded cost of any premium cruise. Booking through a consolidator sometimes trims a further few percent - the same June sailing appears around A$14,195 in Australian listings.
The five-minute version
- Ten to eleven days, roundtrip Oslo, June to early September only.
- Flight to Longyearbyen, then a circumnavigation attempt to 80 degrees north.
- Polar bears, walrus, bird cliffs, calving glaciers, midnight sun.
- All-inclusive from about $9,555; peak July about $11,900.
- Pair it with the fjords on the Norwegian fjords route if you are already flying to Norway.