Why we choose small ships
Imagine waking up to the sound of sea ice gently thumping the hull of your ship. You step outside, coffee in hand, and take in the stillness of the Arctic Ocean. The only sounds are the distant calls of seabirds and the soft creak of shifting ice. That quiet moment—where it feels like the world belongs to you—is something you don’t find on a crowded cruise. You find it on a small ship, and it’s what defines every journey with Arctic Tern Expeditions.
We run our expeditions with a clear purpose: to explore, engage, and conserve. Our trips aren’t about checking boxes or racing through an itinerary. They’re about building real connections—to the wild, to the people you travel with, and to the stories that shape these fragile polar environments. And the small ship experience makes that possible.
Unparalleled accessibility
Smaller vessels give us access to places the big ships can’t reach. Narrow fjords, remote beaches, tucked-away wildlife hotspots—these are the places where Arctic magic happens. Larger cruise ships often have to observe from a distance, their size limiting where they can go and how many people can set foot on land at a time. With us, you’re not just watching the Arctic. You’re walking through it, paddling across it, listening to it crackle underfoot.
When you travel with Arctic Tern Expeditions, you join a group of no more than twelve guests. That small size means more time ashore, a better chance to adapt when wildlife is spotted, and the freedom to go where the moment takes us. You won’t be herded onto zodiacs or rushed through landings. You’ll be guided by experienced naturalists who know the terrain and have led hundreds of Arctic landings. Their goal isn’t to lecture—they share, they listen, and they build conversations that deepen your experience.
Intentional Travel
More importantly, you travel with purpose. Each Arctic Tern voyage is built around conservation-minded tourism. We highlight the stories of species and ecosystems at risk, we operate with a light footprint, and we foster a shared sense of responsibility among our guests. By the time the trip ends, you won’t just have a camera full of memories—you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the natural world and your place in it.
This is what small ship travel offers: real access, real experiences, and real connection. The Arctic is too powerful, too nuanced, and too alive to be seen from a distance. You have to step into it. We’ll take you there.