Last month, we explored one of the premier Arctic cruise destinations in our North Spitsbergen blog. That post not only detailed our itinerary in this breathtaking region but also highlighted some of the stunning locations where you might encounter polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, seabirds, and the mesmerizing ice formations of the far north.
Rather than reiterating these points, we'll let the visuals do the talking.
Here are 22 captivating photos showcasing the extraordinary wildlife, landscapes, and pack ice that make North Spitsbergen an Arctic paradise. Let these images serve as a testament to why, if you ever decide to embark on a Spitsbergen adventure, the island's magnificent northern areas should be at the top of your list.
1. Contemplating the vast views of North Spitsbergen
2. Local walrus doing the same
3. Kittiwake cruising the Svalbard skies
4. Humpback whale waving at the camera
5. Floating northern fulmars on a blue backdrop
6. Getting that perfect pack ice pic
7. North Spitsbergen seas and ice sculptures
8. Arctic fox prowling for overlooked eggs
9. Svalbard pack ice as far as the eye can see
10. Pensive polar bear cub and mother
11. The surreal Spitsbergen bay of Fjortende Julibukta
12. Brünnich's guillemots bobbing on the waves
13. Minke whale surfacing for a breather
14. Organized polar bear family on the prowl
15. Snowy spans of Svalbard mountains
16. Spitsbergen reindeer trekking the tundra
17. The sleek figure of a fin whale
18. Bearded seal lounging on the pack ice
19. Spitsbergen's incredible bay of Ebeltofthamna
20. Polar bear up close and personal
21. Spouting blue whale in Woodfjord
22. Polar bear on the North Spitsbergen pack ice
Title image by Wim van Passel
Best Deals
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
24 Apr - 01 May 2026$ 3.950
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
01 May - 08 May 2026$ 3.950
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
27 May - 05 Jun 2026$ 3.100
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail
29 May - 05 Jun 2026$ 4.000
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
05 Jun - 12 Jun 2026$ 4.500
Related Trips
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
24 Apr 2026 - 01 May 2026 
8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
01 May 2026 - 08 May 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
The Arctic
Aberdeen
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
27 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.100 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail
29 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.000 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
05 Jun 2026 - 12 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Akureyri
Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
05 Jun 2026 - 13 Jun 2026 9 Days / 8 Nights
From $ 2.800 per person
The Arctic
Aberdeen
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Summer Solstice
12 Jun 2026 - 21 Jun 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.100 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
12 Jun 2026 - 19 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife
13 Jun 2026 - 20 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Basecamp – Summer Solstice - Free Kayaking, Hiking, Photo Workshop, Diving (supplemented)
19 Jun 2026 - 26 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Summer Solstice
20 Jun 2026 - 27 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Summer Solstice
21 Jun 2026 - 28 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
Blog
Blog
All About Ice: Glaciers and Icebergs of the Arctic and Antarctica
Blog
International Polar Bear Day
It will come as no surprise to you that we're crazy about polar bears. We have multiple blogs about where to find polar bears, we offer dozens of polar bear trips, and we've even written a short story from a polar bear's point of view. (Yes, we actually did that.) So if you were to say that our love of polar bears borders on obsession, you wouldn't be far off.
Blog
Northeast Greenland National Park
Northeast Greenland National Park is the worldâs largest national park and the ninth largest protected area on Earth. It should come as little surprise, then, that itâs also bigger than most countries, covering an impressive 972,000 square km (375,300 square miles).
Blog
Eight Engaging Reindeer Facts
When we think about reindeer, we might also think of Saami herders or the holidays or teams of these beloved Arctic animals pulling a bell-covered sleigh across the nighttime sky. Only the first of these options, however, is something you're likely to encounter on an Arctic expedition cruise - and that's only in Northern Norway.
Blog
Five Reasons to Love St. Helena
Being one of the most remote islands on Earth gives St. Helena a unique allure. Named after a Roman empress and the mother of Constantine the Great, this island also holds the distinction of being Napoleonâs final place of exile, making it a fascinating topic of conversation.
Blog
The Evolving Shipboard Eco-traveler
Feeling stuck in the monotony of everyday life? Looking for a change of scenery? Look no further! Most of us spend our lives on solid ground, despite our bodies being composed of 71.5% water. You'd think we'd have a natural inclination to be in or on the water! So why not try something different? Consider an Arctic holiday adventure on the same waters that famous explorers once navigated!
Blog
Traditional Lifestyles of the Inuit
The Inuit are an indigenous Arctic people who speak the languages of the Eskaleutian family and reside in four countries surrounding the North Pole: Greenland, Canada, the United States, and Russia.
Blog
10 Weather-Fueled Facts about Antarctica
Most of us have at least a vague notion of what makes the North and South Poles so brutally, bone-chillingly cold: They receive less sunlight than the rest of the planet, what sunlight they do receive arrives at an angle, and theyâre usually buried under endless mounds of ice and snow. This holds especially true for the South Pole and its centerpiece, Antarctica. Fewer people know, however, what drives Antarctic weather, or what results from it. Here are ten weather-related facts about the most southern continent that will put your polar meteorology ahead of the curve.
Blog
The First Overwintering Hut in Antarctica
In 1899, Carsten Borchgrevink and his nine crewmen became the first to spend the winter in a hut in Antarctica. (Technically, the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899 was the first to overwinter there, though this was done on their vessel after it was caught in ice.) Borchgrevink and his men spent the dark winter months isolated in a dirty hut, surrounded by equipment and sled dogs fighting each other outside.
Blog
Get to Know Your Ice
Ice plays a crucial role in everything from cooling your drink to regulating the planet's temperature. Let's explore the various forms of ice you might encounter during an Arctic or Antarctic adventure.
Blog
Three Antarctica Cruise Deals
For many travelers, Antarctica represents the ultimate polar destination. Its vast white landscapes offer an endless array of surreal vistas, much of its unique wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth, and its complete lack of an indigenous human population provides a sense of untouched seclusion that few other places can match.
Blog
11 South Orkney Animals: Whales, Seabirds, and Penguins Aplenty
The South Orkney Islands are often overlooked as a destination for Antarctic travel.
Blog
The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island
If you know anything about Ascension Island, which is unlikely, it probably has to do with the green turtle breeding population that exists there.
Blog
Antarctica’s Hourglass Dolphin
Though hourglass dolphins are especially rare, theyâre actually not a threatened or endangered species.
Blog
Eight Ultimate Antarctica Adventures
Antarctica has adventure in its bones. Long before most travelers even reach the continent, they have to cross the Drake Passage, an oft-tumultuous waterway considered by many a hallmark of high adventure in itself. Once you do reach the Antarctic shores, the variations of landscape and wildlife are as multiform as the activities you can pursue there. While not all of these activities can or should be shoehorned into a single article, this piece will give you a survey of the top eight. Like everything in the polar regions, these activities are subject to weather conditions â and your own threshold for adventure.
Blog
Top 10 Tips for Packing Your Polar Photography Equipment
One of the most common questions I get asked before a cruise is, âWhat photography equipment should I bring?â Itâs a broad question, and answers vary based on the individual. There are, however, a few key pointers that apply to almost everyone.
Blog
17 Reasons to Cruise the Falklands
Maybe youâve already marveled at the colossal penguin colonies of South Georgia, sailed among the plunging seals of the Antarctic Peninsula, and watched whales in the Weddell Sea lunge among titanic tabular icebergs.
Blog
The Pack Ice and Polar Bears of North Spitsbergen
The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is renowned for being one of the prime locations to observe polar bears. The largest island in this region, Spitsbergen, not only offers sightings of these majestic Arctic creatures but also provides a unique opportunity to experience the phenomenon of pack ice.
Blog
A Diving Dream Fulfilled
Last January, Mark Hatter achieved a dream heâd been training for over two years. Booking his berth aboard the m/v Ortelius and making the long flight to Ushuaia, Argentina, he and two of his friends sailed down the famous Drake Passage, bound for Earthâs southernmost continent. But their Antarctica trip was not just about shoreline walks and photographing penguins.
Blog
Antarctica in Pictures: Photos from 2018
Pictures can never truly capture the essence of an experience, and this is especially true for the breathtaking adventures in Antarctica.