My Arctic Adventure with Atlas Ocean Voyages
My adventure began in Tromsø, which is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Arctic." This vibrant city, perfectly combines rugged wilderness with Scandinavian charm. I spent two nights here, which gave me the opportunity to soak up the local culture, enjoy the spectacular waterfront setting and begin to appreciate just how far north I had travelled.
I was immediately struck by the midnight sun—something I had known about but never truly experienced until this trip. The 24 hours of daylight in the Arctic summer takes some getting used to, but it also created an incredible sense of adventure at the start of my journey.
Embarkation Day in Tromsø
Boarding World Navigator marked the beginning of what would become the most exciting adventure. This beautiful, elegant luxury yacht, purpose-built for expedition cruising, immediately felt relaxed and welcoming. With fewer than 200 guests on board, there was a real sense of camaraderie among fellow guests, and it didn’t take long before it began to feel like a home away from home.
We were introduced to the expedition leaders, who would soon bring the Arctic experience to life throughout the voyage.
One of the first unexpected highlights for me was meeting Karen Lundgren, the godmother of World Navigator. She is currently doing a short stint on board working in future cruise sales, and despite her remarkable achievements, she was incredibly approachable and warm.
Karen is an accomplished explorer and adventurer who became only the 13th woman in the world to complete the Seven Summits +1 challenge, climbing the highest peaks on each continent. She perfectly represents the spirit of exploration that defines the brand.
Listening to Karen share stories of her adventures throughout the week really inspired me. Her passion for discovering the world mirrored the very reason many of us were on board. Meeting someone who has dedicated her life to exploration added another dimension to the journey. She was a wonderful ambassador for both the ship and the expedition experience.
We began our sailing that evening North from Tromsø towards the Svalbard archipelago, taking in the panoramic views as we sailed away. There was a real buzz of excitement in the air!
Our First Stop: Skarsvåg: A Hike Above the Arctic Circle
Our first port of call was Skarsvåg, which is located in Northern Norway, situated 15km from North Cape, once of Europe’s most famous landmarks! It is often described as the world’s northernmost fishing village, with a population of around 60 residents.
Despite its tiny size, Skarsvåg sits at nearly 71° north latitude, well above the Arctic Circle, making it one of the northernmost permanently inhabited settlements in the world. It is a popular starting point for hiking, bird watching, and exploring the North Cape region.
We arrived ashore by tender that morning and wasted no time setting off on a mountain hike, passing several reindeer on the way. As we climbed higher, spectacular views unfolded around us, providing the most perfect introduction to Norway's dramatic scenery. I felt exhilarated after reaching the top and looking down to the stunning views below. The sun was shining, and the temperature was crisp and cool. It was such a perfect day!
Our Journey Continued to Hammerfest: One of the World’s Northernmost Towns
Our next stop was Hammerfest, which is located in northern Norway on the coast of the Barents Sea. Around 70° North.
After the stunning mountain landscapes of Skarsvåg, it was a welcome change to explore one of the world's northernmost towns. With its colourful harbour, and spectacular coastal setting.
We docked here in the morning, giving us a few hours to head ashore and explore the town. While wandering around the port, we came across a group of huskies, which was a real highlight of our visit. Their energy and presence added to the sense of Arctic adventure as we explored Hammerfest.
After our time ashore, we returned to the ship for lunch, eager to set sail and begin our journey into the heart of the Arctic, where we were due to arrive at Bear Island the following morning.
Bear Island: Entering the Arctic Wilderness
We finally arrived at Bear Island, which is located between mainland Norway and Svalbard. We woke to some incredible scenery as this rugged and remote island came into view. It is home to huge seabird colonies, with millions of nesting birds.
This was my first experience of a Zodiac safari, so I was thrilled to leave the ship and set off on our first real Arctic exploration. Excitement was high as we headed out to discover this remarkable island up close. Despite it being wet and windy, it only added to the experience, as we took in the dramatic scenery and watched millions of seabirds swirling around the cliffs.
After returning from our Zodiac excursion, it was a pleasure to enjoy drinks, some nice food and panoramic views from the observation lounges as we sailed on to our next stop.
Burgerbukta, Samarinbreen and Gullybukta: Into Glacier Country
We spent the next few days of our trip venturing further into Svalbard, fully embracing life on this Arctic expedition. By now, we had become accustomed to the early morning and afternoon Zodiac excursions, eagerly setting out to explore each new destination.
As we travelled further north, the scenery became increasingly more dramatic, but at the same time increasingly cold! Burgerbukta was surrounded by towering mountains, while Samarinbreen revealed one of the region's magnificent glaciers, with its vast ice face. It was here that we really began to appreciate the beauty of the Arctic wilderness.
Along the way, we spotted walruses and puffins amidst the vast, rugged landscapes.
At Gullybukta, we explored by Zodiac, weaving between floating ice while scanning for wildlife. Every excursion felt unique, with the expedition team constantly adapting plans to maximise opportunities for sightings and exploration.
Navigating Through the Sea Ice
One of the highlights of our expedition was reaching the Arctic pack ice at around 81° North. This is known as the "ice wall", where open ocean meets the vast fields of sea ice. This stretches as far as the North Pole, which is only about 540–600 miles away.
Standing on deck surrounded by this frozen landscape was an unforgettable experience and a real reminder of how remote the Arctic truly is. The pack ice is constantly moving, driven by winds and ocean currents.
This was where we had the opportunity to take part in the legendary Polar Plunge! What was I thinking when I decided I was brave enough to participate?!
The captain carefully manoeuvred the ship through the frozen pack ice before bringing us to a safe stop. Guests gathered on deck to watch as 53 brave participants jumped into the icy Arctic waters. There was a mixture of nerves, excitement and laughter as one by one we took the plunge.
As nervous anticipation gave way to excitement, it was finally my turn to take the plunge! The water was every bit as cold as you would imagine, but the adrenaline rush afterwards was incredible. It quickly became one of those moments that I will never forget.
What made the moment even more special was seeing Karen Lundgren, the Godmother, join in alongside the guests, embracing the challenge with the same enthusiasm and sense of adventure.
Watching different guests take part in the plunge reminded me that adventure has no age limit and that some of the best travel memories come from stepping outside our comfort zones.
Ny-Ålesund: Life at the Top of the World
Our next stop was Ny-Ålesund, which is one of the world's northernmost settlements. Originally established as a coal mining town in the 1900s; today it serves as an international research community where scientists study climate change, wildlife and Arctic ecosystems. In 1926, explorer Roald Amundsen departed from Ny-Ålesund aboard the airship Norge on the first verified expedition to reach the North Pole. It is also home to the world's northernmost post office
We were docked here for the morning, giving us plenty of time to explore the town. It was incredible to walk around one of the world's northernmost settlements and experience this special place. It is surrounded by breathtaking Arctic scenery, with rugged mountains, glaciers, and icy fjords stretching as far as the eye can see. The landscape provides a stunning backdrop to this tiny research settlement and makes it feel truly remote.
Lilliehöökbreen: The Grand Finale
Our last stop on the polar expedition, and it truly felt like the best was saved until last!
Located in Northwestern Spitzbergen, inside Lilliehöökkfjorden. Home to one of the largest and most spectacular glaciers in western Svalbard.
If there was one location that perfectly captured the beauty of the Arctic, it was Lilliehöökbreen. This immense glacier stretched across the landscape, roughly 10-11km wide, with its blue-white ice glowing above the water. It created one of the most beautiful natural scenes I have ever witnessed.
The sun was beaming down as we set off on our afternoon Zodiac safari to explore the glacier up close. Cruising slowly across the calm waters of the fjord gave us a real sense of the glacier's immense scale. From the Zodiac, we could see deep crevasses, and countless shades of blue hidden within the ice face. Small chunks of ice floated around us.
The scale was impossible to capture in photographs. It was one of those rare moments where simply standing still and taking it all in felt enough. The silence was extraordinary. Apart from the sound of the ice floating in the water, there was nothing but stillness.
That evening, as we sailed towards Longyearbyen, we enjoyed our final dinner at sea. By this point, we had almost given up hope of spotting a polar bear. Then, suddenly, an announcement came over the ship's speakers that one had been sighted.
There was a real sense of excitement around the ship that as passengers gathered on deck, cameras in hand, eager to catch a glimpse of the Arctic's most famous resident.
We all hurried out on deck and watched as the bear walked slowly along the shoreline, appearing to explore the coast in search of food. Watching such an iconic Arctic animal in its natural habitat was a truly special experience and the perfect wildlife sighting to round off our amazing adventure. A fitting finale to an unforgettable expedition.
Returning to Longyearbyen
As we returned to Longyearbyen the following day, I found myself reflecting on how different this journey had been from traditional cruising. There were no beach days, no shopping districts and no fixed tourist attractions. Instead, there was discovery, education and a genuine connection with one of the world's most remote environments.
Atlas Ocean Voyages delivered a truly remarkable expedition that was both adventurous and luxurious, proving that exploration does not require sacrificing comfort. One of the aspects I appreciated most was the balance between discovery and relaxation. The expertise of the expedition team, the intimate size of the ship, and the ever-changing landscape combined to create an experience that will stay with me for years to come.
Throughout the voyage, the Atlas Ocean Voyages team helped make everything feel seamless and exceptionally well organised. From Zodiac operations to life on board, their attention to detail and focus on small-group exploration enhanced every aspect of the journey and allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the Arctic experience. The staff were consistently outstanding—friendly, attentive, and always willing to go the extra mile, which made life on board feel incredibly welcoming. The food was also a real highlight, with beautifully presented, high-quality dishes served throughout the voyage, often enjoyed against the incredible backdrop of the Arctic scenery. It was such a fantastic experience on board that we didn’t want to disembark, marking the end of an adventure we wished could have lasted just a little longer!
For anyone seeking a destination that feels truly untouched, the Arctic should be at the very top of the list. It is a place that inspires curiosity and reminds us of the extraordinary beauty of our planet.
And for me, it all began with a competition entry, meeting some incredible people along the way, and ended with memories of a lifetime.
Want to experience an adventure like Catherine? Find out more about Atlas Ocean Voyages or call the team for more information and start planning your expedition today!
