Svalbard

Small Ship Cruises & Expeditions

Not Only a Frozen Wilderness, Spitsbergen is a Place of Precarious Beauty and a Stronghold of Endangered Arctic Wildlife

Exploring Svalbard via small ship cruising offers an intimate and versatile way to experience its unique Arctic environment. Cruises navigate through icy waters, providing unmatched access to remote areas like the wildlife-rich Moffen Island and the dramatic glaciers of North West Spitsbergen National Park. Stops in culturally distinct settlements such as Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and Ny-Ålesund add a human dimension to the adventure, revealing the area's rich history and diverse heritage. Practical for wildlife enthusiasts, these cruises offer opportunities to spot polar bears, seals, and seabirds in their natural habitats, with the added benefit of expert guides enhancing the experience. Small ship cruising in Svalbard is a way to closely connect with the Arctic's natural beauty and stark landscapes, making it a must-do for those seeking an authentic polar adventure.

Svalbard / Spitsbergen - what's the difference?

Svalbard is the name of the archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, which includes the island of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the group.

Svalbard Highlights

Benefits of Booking with Wild Earth Travel

Wild Earth Travel is owned and operated by expedition leaders with over 30 years' experience voyaging, leading and creating expeditions all over the globe.

• We Are Travellers. Our team of small ship cruise specialists is very well travelled. We have led small ship cruises all over the world and experienced the most unique and fascinating corners of the planet, and we love sharing our experiences with you!

• Unbiased Advice. Our team are all passionate expedition and small cruise ship travellers, and our knowledge and stories come from our own personal experiences, which we then use to match you with the best small ship options for you.

• Largest Choice Providers. Our collection of small ship cruises is constantly growing, we now feature over 1200 cruises aboard more than 80 small ships. Our insider knowledge of the industry means there is barely a ship or a destination worldwide that we haven't experienced.

• Convenience Matters. We offer you the ability to pay in the original currency of the ship operator, meaning that you won't pay more in currency buffers. You can be assured that you are in safe hands as our team of specialists guide you through the entire booking process.

• Personalised Service. As you prepare for your cruise, we will be in touch to ensure you have everything you need, from packing lists and suggested reading lists to pre- and post- transfers and accommodation. For some cruises, there may be the option to add on extra activities.

The Arctic region is vast. From hiking and kayaking, to wildlife spotting and visiting remote communities, this diverse landscape is a wonderland for adventurers, but what kind of adventure are you looking for? With a firsthand experience cruising the Arctic, we will find the right trip for you! 

Featured Svalbard Cruises

Below is a selection of the expedition cruises we offer to Svalbard/Spitsbergen. Our collection ranges from 10 to 23 days, and from adventure and expedition to luxury-style ships.

Arctic / Spitsbergen

Circumnavigating Spitsbergen | In the Realm of the Polar Bear 11 Day Expedition

11 days from
$1,295 AUD per day
Save up to $4,874 AUD
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Best of Svalbard Expedition Cruise

12 days from
$1,028 AUD per day
  • Spitsbergen ExpeditionExpedition
  • Best of Svalbard Expedition Cruise in Spitsbergen: ship
  • Next departure on June 15, 2025
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Expedition Svalbard - An Extraordinary Adventure

12 days from
$733 USD per day
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Around Spitsbergen - Arctic Summer - Full Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

15 days from
$520 USD per day
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Fjords and Glaciers of Spitsbergen - Luxury Adventure Expedition

8 days from
$2,082 AUD per day
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Around Spitsbergen - In the Realm of Polar Bear & Ice Expedition

10 days from
$565 USD per day
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Natural Wonders of Svalbard - Explore Northern Svalbard on a 10 Day Expedition Micro Cruise

10 days from
€1,265 EUR per day
Arctic / Spitsbergen

Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail

8 days from
$469 USD per day
Selling out!
Arctic / Greenland

Arctic Odyssey Under a Solar Eclipse - Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland Expedition Cruise

14 days from
$822 USD per day
  • Greenland ExpeditionExpedition
  • Arctic Odyssey Under a Solar Eclipse - Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland Expedition Cruise in Greenland: ship
  • Next departure on Aug. 2, 2026

If you'd like to learn about some of our other Svalbard/Spitsbergen itineraries, please contact us. You may also be interested other Arctic cruising destinations including the North Pole, Northwest Passage and the Canadian Arctic or the Greenland and Iceland.

Watch Our Svalbard Webinars

Arctic Greenland and Spitsbergen

To talk us through the highlights of this icy realm, we chat to Arctic cruise specialist, Grands Espaces who offer unique and intimate exploration of both Greenland and the Svalbard Archipelago.

Watch Here

Expedition Svalbard

We hear from Polar Quest and wildlife photographer, Doug Allan, about small ship cruising the Svalbard Archipelago.

Watch Here

Ready to Learn More?

We look forward to helping you plan an incredible adventure to Svalbard

Choose Your Adventure!