Ice-Class Ships for the Arctic
The Polar Code, Polar Class ratings and what really matters for your voyage.
Get Polar Ship QuotesWhat Makes a Ship Ready for the Arctic
Not every ship sailing north is built for ice. A summer cruise to the North Cape follows open water, while an expedition into the pack ice off Svalbard or through the Northwest Passage needs a ship designed and certified for polar conditions.
Two sets of rules matter. The Polar Code, adopted by the International Maritime Organization and mandatory since 1 January 2017, sets safety and environmental standards for ships operating in polar waters. Separately, classification societies rate a ship’s structural ability to handle ice, known as its Polar Class.
Polar Class in Plain English
| Rating | What it broadly means |
|---|---|
| PC1 to PC2 | The strongest classes, for year-round or extended operation in heavy, multi-year ice. Few passenger ships reach this level; Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot is rated PC2. |
| PC3 to PC5 | Strong ice capability for operations in second-year or medium first-year ice. |
| PC6 to PC7 | Summer and autumn operation in thinner first-year ice; common for modern expedition ships, such as Silversea’s Silver Endeavour at PC6. |
| Ice class or no rating | Many ships have lighter ice classes or none, and keep to open water and loose ice. |
A higher rating is not automatically better for your trip. What matters is whether the ship suits the itinerary. A PC6 ship is well suited to summer Svalbard or Greenland voyages.
Beyond the Hull
An ice rating is only part of the picture. For an Arctic expedition, also compare:
- Guest numbers: in Svalbard, ships over 200 passengers cannot enter protected areas, and smaller groups land more easily everywhere.
- Inflatable boats: enough boats for everyone to go out together.
- Expedition team: naturalists, polar bear guards and lecturers; ask about the guide-to-guest ratio.
- Stabilizers and observation spaces: open bow areas and lounges with views help you spot wildlife.
- Environmental features: many newer ships use cleaner fuels or hybrid power.
Lines Sailing the Arctic
Expedition specialists such as HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), Quark Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic, Aurora Expeditions and Ponant sail the high Arctic, along with luxury lines such as Silversea and Seabourn. Ocean lines including Holland America, Princess, Celebrity and others offer summer cruises to Iceland, Norway and the North Cape on larger ships, without expedition landings. Deployments change each year, so our cruise advisors will confirm which ships sail where in your season.
To choose a cabin on a smaller ship, our sister site Cruise Ship Deck Plans explains how to read deck plans and where motion is least.
Comfort on a Polar Ship
Modern expedition ships are far more comfortable than their reputation suggests. Many have balcony cabins, observation lounges with wide windows and a heated mudroom where you change into boots and outer layers before each landing. Ships usually lend waterproof boots, and many provide an expedition parka. Ask what is included, because it changes what you need to pack and what you pay. Doctors and small medical centers are standard on expedition ships, a reassurance in regions far from hospitals.
Compare Polar-Ready Ships
Tell us which region and ship size you prefer. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare ice-class expedition ships and send free quotes.
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