MS Fridtjof Nansen

With a sleek Scandinavian design, cabins are a luxurious, modern home base for epic adventures. There are no inside cabins without windows on this ship, so even in the lowest category all guests have a view, and 50 percent of cabins have private balconies. Starting at 161 square feet, rooms all have comfy queen beds, TVs, Arctic decor, and a sitting area. Expedition suites on floors 7 to 9 are especially roomy, and their spacious closets have a thoughtful place for everything you packed, including drawers for folded clothes, hanging room for your expedition gear, a spot for your suitcase, and an elevated bench that’s perfect for putting on shoes. Bathrooms are spacious by cruise standards, with heated bathroom floors that are a nice touch on chilly days. There’s no need to pack hair/body wash or conditioner either, since there are wall-mounted dispensers of natural ingredient brand Arctic Pure in the shower in a pleasant cloudberry scent. There are no single-occupancy cabins, but options run the gamut from standard staterooms to multi-room suites. Particularly swanky aft suites have private outdoor hot tubs.

There are accessible outside cabins (with or without balconies) available, and onboard elevators make it easy to get around. Note that most excursions are active and requiring stepping into and out of excursion boats.

Most food and drinks are included in the all-inclusive pricing structure of the cruise, though premium drinks such as champagne and top-shelf spirits are an extra fee. All guests have complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Restaurant Aune, the main dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, and at the more casual Restaurant Fredheim, which serves delicious burgers and milkshakes. Specialty fine dining Restaurant Lindstrøm is included only for suite guests, though non-suite guests can pay an additional cost for breakfast, lunch, and dinner there. There’s also a pool bar and the option for takeaway from Fredheim. The ship has vegetarian options on all its menus, allergies are marked clearly on each menu, and special requirements can be requested.

Of the two bars on board, the Pool Bar is a casual outdoor spot on deck 10 next to the heated infinity pool and hot tubs where you might try a signature cocktail like the aquavit sour or Norwegian cosmo. Meanwhile, the Explorer Lounge and Bar on deck 10 is in the middle of the action, where there’s ample seating for socializing, taking in music and dance performances, or curling away with a book or binoculars in a cozy private chair facing the windows. Beer, wine, liquor, and non-alcoholic drinks are all available (though top-shelf spirits cost extra). Hot tip: the Explorer Bar also has great hot chocolate and cookies if you need a pick-me-up after a cold day of excursions.

With a host of scientists and environmental experts on board, entertainment leans heavily into educational programming, including nightly talks about local flora and fauna and hands-on discoveries at the Science Center, where you’ll meet the expedition team to inspect, say, water samples you collected on your “Citizen Science Project” excursion under the microscope. There’s also rich cultural programming, including traditional music and dance performances by local artists.

The highlight of the ship’s wellness offerings is the sauna, which is complimentary to use and the perfect antidote to the icy itinerary (not to mention, it’s surrounded by panoramic windows), though the heated infinity pool and two hot tubs on the back deck also provide dreamy views of the surroundings. Spa treatments like massages, scrubs, facials, manicures, and pedicures cost extra, however. There’s also a small, complimentary fitness center as well as a small running track on the top deck.