The Best Arctic and Antarctic Trips for Families

Polar expedition cruises are often enjoyed by couples and an increasing number of solo travelers, but they can also be a fantastic adventure for families. If you have the budget to bring the whole family along, there are various polar trips that will make everyone equally excited about the ice.

That said, polar expedition cruises are generally not suitable for children younger than 10, and it is not recommended to book for anyone below their teens. However, if you have older children, teenagers, or young adults who are mature and love nature, read on.

Below are some family-friendly voyages divided by Arctic and Antarctic regions. All are relatively short, considering the shorter attention spans of younger travelers. When issues like seasickness or polar bears are relevant, we provide information to ease your mind. As with all our expeditions, these trips are safe, comfortable, and most importantly, fun.

Arctic cruises for families

Polar bears, walruses, seals, and skies filled with seabirds – who can resist? Certainly not the outdoor enthusiasts among you, especially if you’re fortunate enough to spot a polar bear.

Don’t worry about your family’s safety around these apex predators. Landing sites are pre-scanned by our crew well in advance of each shore excursion, and all guides are trained and equipped with bear rifles.

Two popular Arctic expeditions are as follows:

North Spitsbergen, in search of the polar bear and pack ice

This cruise explores the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, focusing on the largest island, Spitsbergen, with a few stops at Nordaustlandet. The main goal is to spot polar bears.

The voyage lasts seven nights and visits key locations around these islands, including scenic fjords and bays that offer excellent walking opportunities. You might see polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals (ringed and bearded), whales (minke, fin, blue, bowhead), and seabirds (kittiwake, little auk, guillemot, and many more).

Around Spitsbergen, in the realm of the polar bear and ice

While the previously mentioned trip focuses on finding bears, the nine-night Around Spitsbergen voyage also explores more of the stunning landscapes this island chain offers.

Additional landings are made around southern Spitsbergen and the southeastern islands of Barentsøya and Edgeøya, both of which offer great wildlife and hiking opportunities: a kittiwake colony, walrus haul-out, trapper’s hut, and tundra walk are all possible. You might also sail along the 5-km long (3 miles) Monaco Glacier and Bell Sund, where you might see beluga whales.

Antarctica cruises for families

One thing to keep in mind for Antarctica is that it requires crossing the Drake Passage, which can sometimes be a bumpy ride. If anyone in your family is prone to motion sickness, this is something to consider before booking.

However, seasickness medication is usually quite effective. And even if you forget to pack some, we offer onboard medication at a reasonable price. Antarctica is more than worth it, we promise.

Here are two exceptional voyages your family will love:

Weddell Sea, in search of the emperor penguin (with helicopters)

This voyage focuses on one of the most beloved seabirds in all of Antarctica: the emperor penguin. Only seen in a few key locations, the emperor penguin is probably the most recognizable penguin species in the world.

The Weddell Sea itself is particularly abundant with Antarctic species, which you stand a good chance to see on this 10-night voyage. Visits are planned (though not guaranteed, if conditions are unsafe) for the western Antarctic Sound, Devil Island, Brown Bluff, and Deception Island. Mountain hiking, a research base, and penguin rookeries are all possibilities on this trip.

But most thrilling will perhaps be the helicopter flights that can take you to locations inaccessible by any other means. One such landing you might make is Snow Hill Island, which for the past two years we’ve successfully done, bringing guests to the rarely seen emperor penguin rookery there.

We also offer a voyage that includes helicopters in the Ross Sea, though this is a 31-night extravaganza exploring this seldom-visited region’s most wildlife-rich, history-steeped sites. (This cruise in particular is better suited for older family members.)

HDS32-20 - Antarctica - Whale watching discovery and learning voyage

The Antarctic Peninsula is among Antarctica’s most biodiverse areas, representing a highly comprehensive survey of the continent’s prime landscapes and wildlife.

Spanning 13 nights, this expedition cruise takes in as much of these features as possible. In this trip, we try to visit many iconic spots along the western Antarctic Peninsula, including Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay, Crystal Sound, and the islands of Petermann and Pléneau, all great locations to see seabirds (gentoo and Adélie penguins) and whales (minkes, fins, and humpbacks).