For many travelers, Greenland feels like the last frontier — a place of ice, silence, and vast landscapes at the edge of the map. One of the best ways to explore it is by expedition cruise. These small-ship journeys aren’t about crowded ports or nightly shows; they’re about discovery, wilderness, and the thrill of stepping ashore where few have walked.
This guide shares what to expect on a Greenland expedition cruise, highlights from our own Atlas Ocean Voyage, and practical advice to help you decide if an expedition cruise is right for you.
Table of Contents
Why Choose a Greenland Expedition Cruise
If you’re considering the Arctic, my best advice is this: choose an expedition cruise rather than one of the standard luxury lines. The true appeal of Greenland is its remote wilderness – don’t settle for anything that doesn’t offer the means to experience this wilderness with boots on the ground.
On a non-expedition ship, you’ll mostly admire the scenery from afar. You might sail past icebergs or glaciers and stop in towns but rarely set foot in the wilderness. By contrast, a Greenland expedition cruise is designed for active exploration on land and by zodiac.
On our voyage, 5 out of 10 days included landings or zodiac tours: rocky beaches, tundra ridges, and glacial fjords so quiet the only sounds were wind and waves. Some days we hiked; other days we cruised through iceberg fields or visited remote Inuit villages. Always with expert guides who brought Greenland’s history, geology, and wildlife to life.
That’s the magic of Greenland expedition cruising: it’s not just about seeing, but experiencing the Arctic up close.
Fun Greenland Fact: There are 3 dialects in Greenland, Kalallisut being the official language. Greenland children also learn Danish and English. Look up Q’s Greenland on YouTube to learn more about Greenland.
What to Expect Onboard an Expedition Ship
Expedition ships are smaller, often 100–200 guests, which means they can navigate Greenland’s remote fjords and tiny villages. Choose one of the icebreaker ships and you increase your opportunities for rarely seen panoramas even more!
On our Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise, the ship felt like a boutique hotel with panoramic lounges, excellent dining, and daily briefings from the expedition team. The rhythm was simple: mornings ashore, afternoons exploring by zodiac or hiking, evenings with lectures and shared stories.
It’s comfortable, but the true luxury is access to Greenland’s wilderness.
Daily Life: Walking in Greenland’s Fjords
The heart of a Greenland expedition cruise is time off the ship. Small zodiacs take you ashore for guided walks, hikes, and glacier encounters. Unfortunately, you won’t get as much time off ship as you would like, but that is due to logistical limitations and regulations that dictate how many passengers are allowed on land at a time and for how long.
While the walks may be short, the scenery is glorious! One morning we walked across a rocky beach and within minutes stood beside a glacier.
Another day, we hiked beside a waterfall on arctic tundra, overlooking a fjord filled with icebergs.
In the afternoons, zodiac cruises revealed iceberg graveyards — sometimes with hot chocolate (and Baileys) in hand.
Hikes are short (1–2 hours), but rugged. There are no trails — just rocks, low-growing lichens, grasses, and shrubs, and shoreline. Even “easy” walks involve uneven ground. If you love walking holidays, you’ll find the hikes to be too short but exhilarating. Even the experienced hikers amongst us were a bit unwieldy in our boots and puffy parkas. While the boots were more comfortable than I expected, we were also expected to hike with our flotation devices, an added weight I wasn’t expecting.
Onboard Activities
When not exploring Greenland on foot or by boat, time on the ship feels like a cozy retreat. Expedition ships aren’t about casinos or grand entertainment; instead, the focus is on comfort, learning, and connection. These cruises are designed for adults who know how to entertain themselves while providing just enough structure for those who wish to socialize. Perfect for introverts and extroverts alike.
Human connection and comfort is something Atlas Ocean Voyages excels at. Afternoon tea with our pianist extraordinaire Jorge, putting together puzzles while learning about our fascinating fellow passengers. Trivia and nightly musical entertainment with the always exuberant Greg (our cruise director) and Jorge and Elena (multi-talented musicians).
All expedition cruises should include enriching lectures, just keep in mind these are often taught by nature enthusiasts and scientists — they aren’t the most entertaining public speakers. What they lack in glitzy presentation skills they make up for in sheer enthusiasm and personality. Our expedition team on Atlas always provided informative presentations, but some were much more fun to listen to than others.
Fun Greenland Fact: One of the reasons for multi-colored buildings was to let fishermen know what was available in each village. Blue for fisheries, red for churches and schools, yellow for hospitals.
Dining on an Expedition Ship
There is no reason to sacrifice quality of food, especially considering the price for most expedition cruises, but don’t expect massive buffets of food with multiple stations to satisfy every picky eater. These voyages operate in the most remote regions of the planet and take food waste and sustainability seriously.
With the exception of our arrival day buffet (which was just ok), every meal and food experience on board the ship was excellent. Eric is a food snob and even he was impressed with the way certain foods were prepared. We always had the option to order from a menu or eat from the buffet. Portions were never huge and I was happy to see that Atlas stands by their sustainability goals to reduce waste. Eric and I also loved Paula’s Pantry, a quick service bar that offered healthy vegetarian snacks and sandwiches.
Room service is included on Atlas Ocean Voyages at no extra cost, and we availed ourselves of this service when I felt sick one day. It was easy to order, good quality and served by a friendly crew member with a wonderful sense of humor.
Onboard Medical Services
Speaking of illness, make sure to book an expedition cruise that provides onboard medical professionals. Atlas Ocean Voyages had a doctor and nurse on board and they took excellent care of me when I got sick. They worked with the kitchen staff to provide a restricted menu and immediately gave me the medications I needed to recover quickly.
Wildlife in Greenland
Greenland is more about landscapes and culture than wildlife. On our expedition we saw seals, whales and seabirds, but not much else and rarely.
If wildlife — polar bears, narwhals and walruses — is a priority, pair Greenland with Svalbard or Canada’s Arctic. But if your dream is towering icebergs, wild fjords, and colorful villages where you are introduced to the customs and survival skills of a proud and isolated people, Greenland is unmatched.
Best Time for a Greenland Expedition Cruise
The Greenland expedition season runs June–September:
- June–July: Midnight sun, plenty of icebergs but mosquitos are terrible and you’ll need an icebreaker ship to reach most of the desired locations
- August: Easier access to remote fjords and villages
- September: Golden tundra colors and the chance to see Northern Lights
We traveled in late August, ideal for comfortable hikes and dramatic icebergs, and while we still encountered bugs some days it wasn’t nearly as bad as the previous months. My only disappointment was that we didn’t get to visit Disko Bay, because the ice was still too thick to navigate with our ship. If that is a hard “must see” then choose a cruise with an icebreaker ship.
What to Pack for a Greenland Expedition
Packing light but smart makes all the difference:
- Layers: Base layer that breathes and dries quickly, waterproof jacket (Atlas provides a parka, but it’s often too warm to wear it)
- Footwear: Waterproof boots are provided; bring hiking shoes for dry landings
- Accessories: Hat or ear cover, gloves, small waterproof daypack
- Electrolytes: Easy to dehydrate on a ship where alcohol and coffee is freely offered all day
- Bug Net: Leave the repellant at home, only a face net keeps these mosquitos at bay
- Clothing: Casual, comfortable, easy to layer. Most passengers wore jeans or athleisure pants and sneakers by day then changed into a dressy top and casual slacks for dinner. Heavy sweaters aren’t needed, ships are warm. If weather is nice you don’t need waterproof pants — pants that dry quickly will be fine as the boots are high enough to keep you dry, but if it’s raining you’ll want those waterproof pants, so pack them just in case. Clothes with pockets or lanyard card holder, to hold your room key card.
In general, the passengers on our Atlas Ocean Voyages ship seemed more interested in seeing nature and meeting new people than they did about fashion or perfectly coifed hair. No one cared if you wore the same outfit twice (or thrice). It was a relaxing, welcoming vibe where people didn’t flaunt their wealth or wardrobes, perfect for minimalist packers like Eric and I!
Best Greenland Expedition Cruise Lines
Polar & Ice Classes
One of the first things to research when deciding on an expedition ship in the Arctic is the Polar Class of that ship, which determines how and when it can navigate through ice. Category A PC1 is the highest standard, able to operate year-round in all polar waters. The higher the number, the more restricted the ship for navigating ice.
You’ll also want to think about your preferences: luxurious cabin, formal vs informal dinners. Also look at what equipment is available, nearly all provide zodiacs but some also offer kayaks, snowshoes, even helicopters! The following companies are all excellent, capable of operating in Greenland during the summer season:
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Affordable luxury with expedition landings and great service, Atlas Ocean is a great introduction to expedition cruising. One of their biggest perks for Americans is their included flight from New York to Greenland. Their ships are yacht style and classed Polar Category C Ice Class 1B, so they are limited in thick ice conditions.
Aurora Expeditions
Itineraries combine Iceland with East Greenland and they offer women-only cruises. Their expedition vessels (Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, Douglas Mawson) are classified PC6 1A and have a science center on board.
Hurtigruten Expeditions HX
Offers the most diverse range of Greenland itineraries, with citizen scientists and options for kayaking. HX ships operating in Greenland are classed PC6.
Lindblad–National Geographic
Renowned for their highly knowledgeable guides and strong educational focus. Itineraries cover southeastern Greenland and include opportunities to kayak. Good choice for solo travelers and those who value expert guides above all else. Greenland ships (Endurance and Resolution) are classed PC5 1A, a good option for early/late season cruises, and include a science hub.
Ponant
French luxury with formal dining, beautiful outdoor heated pool, a cigar lounge and the highest polar class cruise ship operating in Greenland, Le Commandant Charcot (classed PC2). Ponant offers a great selection of Canada and northern Greenland routes. Included flights are to/from Paris, not so convenient for North Americans.
Quark Expeditions
Adventure-oriented, polar experts with helicopters. Most itineraries begin/end in Iceland and focus on south and east Greenland. Quark ships in Greenland are classed PC6 1A.
Scenic Eclipse
Eclipse are the expedition ships of this luxury cruise line and their PC6 rated ships include Greenland itineraries, plus helicopters and a submarine! Choose a 14-day+ itinerary if you want a decent amount of time in Greenland. Scenic offers pure luxury with all the fancy equipment.
Selar
The newcomer, Selar launches Greenland itineraries beginning in 2027. This is an ultra-luxury, 36-passenger micro-expedition ship focused on active exploration with high-end touches and an ambitious design with solar-powered wind sails. Selar is so new we don’t have reviews, but the luxe travel market is already talking about them and I can’t wait to see how they develop!
For our first expedition cruise, we chose Atlas Ocean Voyages because we weren’t sure if we’d like this style of cruising. Atlas is the perfect choice for beginners because it offers the perfect balance of comfort with an expedition team and at a price that is much easier to swallow than some of the more expensive lines. And I’m happy to report, the experience surpassed my expectations!
Choosing a Greenland Itinerary
Itineraries are often what determine the company we choose, especially for an expedition cruise. It helps to understand the different regions of Greenland and the appeal for each:
- Southwest Greenland: more inhabited towns and cultural interactions, Disko Bay icebergs
- East Greenland: less inhabited with rugged landscapes and more likely to see wildlife, usually combined with Iceland
- Northwest Greenland: higher Arctic with more chance to see wildlife, usually combined with Canada
If you want to learn about the culture of Greenland, look for itineraries that include a visit to Nuuk (the capital), where you’ll find an excellent museum. If you truly want remote wilderness, look at the Canadian/Northern Greenland routes.
Regardless of the itinerary you choose, always expect it to change. Conditions in the sea are constantly changing and expedition ships have to adapt accordingly. Don’t get attached to a specific stop and prepare yourself to be flexible and accept whatever the day may bring.
Why Greenland Expedition Cruises Suit Slow Travel
If you love hiking and slow immersive travel, Greenland is ideal. Landings may be short, but the experience is intense: walking in raw landscapes, learning from guides, and connecting with fellow travelers who value discovery over snapshots. Not to mention unique cultural experiences, such as a demonstration on seal skinning — an important practice still used by Inuit people for food and clothing.
For Eric and I, the balance of short hikes, village visits, and meaningful conversations on board created the perfect expedition rhythm. Greenland is a walking holiday at the edge of the world – other than Antarctica and the Tibetan plateau I can’t think of many other places where you can experience such a vast and remote landscape.
What does a Greenland Expedition Cost
Let’s talk cost. Expect to pay anywhere from $8,000–$18,000 per person for an 11–12 day Greenland expedition in the most basic cabin: the low end (around $8k–$10k) being Atlas departures and special deals, mid-range operators and cabins (about $11k–$14k) are typical for Lindblad and Hurtigruten HX, and the higher end ($15k+) is common with luxury/premium expedition brands such as Ponant and Scenic.
Expedition cruises are expensive because they use small, specially designed ships with reinforced hulls for remote regions, carry expert guides and naturalists, and operate in hard-to-reach places where logistics, fuel, and safety costs are high. Unlike large mainstream cruises, the limited passenger numbers mean costs aren’t spread out, and most trips are all-inclusive, covering excursions, gear, and lectures. You’re paying not just for a cruise, but for access to rare destinations and a highly personalized, small-group experience.
If you aren’t typically a luxury traveler, don’t let the high cost scare you away. Our experience with expedition cruisers is that they are travelers who value remote wilderness and unique experiences, they aren’t necessarily millionaires or lead lavish lifestyles. Some of your fellow passengers live in small homes and drive old cars, choosing to spend their money on top-notch travel experiences.
Booking Your Greenland Expedition Cruise
As a travel advisor who has personally experienced Greenland by expedition ship, I can help match your travel style with the right line, ship, and itinerary. And I can design a custom land itinerary for your pre/post expedition, like we did in Iceland, so you can spend more time exploring on foot.
Greenland expedition cruises sell out quickly due to limited capacity. If icebergs, fjords, and remote walking adventures are calling, now is the time to plan. Ready to plan your Greenland expedition cruise? Reach out and let’s chart your slow travel adventure in the Arctic.