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Arctic Cruises - Holiday Destination

Polar bear with 2 cubs on the ice

Adventure and cruising go hand in hand, holidaymakers can discover far flung regions and enjoy activities and sights that obscure destinations such as the far poles on Arctic cruises have to offer.

Arctic cruises can circumnavigate the North Pole, taking in ports at Alaska, Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden.

Such destinations are favoured due to their isolation, for example those taking Arctic cruises will discover that there are no ports to dock at - with access instead being provided by cruise ship lifeboats.

One destination on an Arctic cruise is Greenland. Generally colder than nearby Iceland, Greenland is situated at the merging point of the Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.

Inukshuk at sunset

Nuuk is Greenland's capital and the majority of its residents are of indigenous Inuit origin.

Those on arctic cruises can expect to see plenty of ice while winters in Greenland are fairly harsh. Snow is heavy during the winter months, with summer temperatures not reaching much above freezing.

Iceland is another destination called in at on Arctic cruises. Often viewed as Greenland's cosmopolitan counterpart, its climate is milder than Greenland's despite its position at the south of the Arctic Circle.

Arctic cotton grass

Holidaymakers should prepare for bad weather but are just as likely to need their sunglasses especially in the summer months which are generally held to be beautiful.

Thanks to its unique ecosystem, the Arctic is home to a number of specially adapted animals, many of which can be spotted on Arctic cruises.

Creatures such as the polar bear, Arctic hares, lemmings, muskox and caribou in addition to wolves and the Arctic fox are well suited to the region's temperatures, which can reach lows of minus 40 degrees Celsius in the winter.

Muskox Arctic Fox Jokulsarlon lagoon

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