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The first expedition ship powered by nature

Forget mass tourism,
goodbye excessive emissions. 

Hello to the future of
low impact expedition cruising.

Welcome aboard the Captain Arctic

The Lounge

Welcome aboard the Captain Arctic

The Lounge

The Captain Arctic, with its superhero name, aims to get you as close to nature as possible.

Imagine its silence, its low speed, and little to no vibration from the ship – the large lounge windows are the only thing separating you from the vastness of the Arctic.

Picture a vessel with commanding sails, powered by wind and sun. Experience the polar north with the peace of mind that you’ll be travelling more responsibly by emitting 90% less emissions than most other vessels in the region.

Wake up to wonder

Witness the wild beauty right outside your cabin

Wake up to wonder

Witness the wild beauty right outside your cabin

Suite Options

Classic Staterooms

Sixteen beautifully appointed Classic Staterooms await on the sleeper deck, each a comfortable 15m² retreat featuring multiple thoughtfully positioned portholes that frame the ever-changing Arctic wilderness as we navigate quietly through the frozen seascape.

Premium Suites

The vessel’s crown jewels are two Premium Suites—the Owner’s Suite and Captain’s Suite. These spacious 20m² sanctuaries, perfectly positioned on the main deck behind the bridge, showcase magnificent picture windows that frame the Arctic’s peaceful splendor, creating an intimate connection with the silent, snow-draped wilderness beyond.

Gym and sauna

Enjoy a workout or a well deserved soak with a spectacular view.

Dining in style

Distraction is to be expected, whether it’s by the wild beauty outside or the delicious bounty on your plate.

Vessel features

  • Lounge and bar
  • Library
  • Sauna
  • Fitness room
  • Norwegian bath (cold tub)
  • Mud room
  • Open bridge policy
  • Access to outside decks
  • SUP boards available
  • Kayaking available
Sauna
Lounge
Dining
Bathroom
Bar

More reasons to choose the Captain Arctic

Cutting edge technology and low impact policies to help us achieve low carbon travel

  • Only 36 passengers
    A unique size designed for true expeditioning amongst like-minded travellers and crew, while also minimizing impact ashore
  • Rigid solar sails
    Built to endure the harshest weather, covered with 2000 m² solar panels to capture a secondary source of energy
  • Clean electric propulsion
    Via two propeller shafts that produce energy and act as hydro turbines when there is not enough wind for the sails to harness
  • Autonomous water production
    Via reverse osmosis, turning seawater into freshwater
  • Organic heating system
    Pioneering a different approach with a pellet boiler that uses recycled wooden waste pellets
  • Zero waste policy at sea
    Supported by several systems such as an organic food digester and a grey water treatment tank
  • Locally sourced food, whenever possible
    The Captain Arctic works as much as possible with local partners. While fresh produce is limited in these regions, the ship’s team has developed methods for food preservation and transformation to ensure ethical, high-quality, and flavorful dining.

Voyages

From late 2026, choose from three incredible Arctic destinations to immerse yourself in onboard the Captain Arctic.

Norway

Learn more

Svalbard

Learn more

Greenland

Learn more

What is minimal impact cruising?

With the increasing awareness of the fragility of our polar ecosystems, Minimal Impact Cruises was created to support the radical ambition of minimizing tourism’s impact on the spaces we love and want to preserve.

True environmental innovation isn’t about flashy labels or empty promises—it’s about investing in real, lasting, tangible change. Genuine sustainability is rooted in thoughtful design, responsible practices, and a commitment to the planet. At Minimal Impact Cruises, we reject buzzwords and embrace innovation that truly makes a difference. Together, we can create a future that values integrity, impact, and the environment.

Minimal impact cruising is exactly as it sounds – immersing you in nature in Earth’s remote wilderness with the smallest footprint possible.

About us

Minimal Impact Cruises is a division of the award-winning female-founded polar travel agency, Polar Tracks Expeditions.

Staffed entirely by current and former polar expedition guides, Minimal Impact Cruises and its mother company are leaders in the field of polar travel due to their unparalleled insider knowledge of all things polar expedition cruising. We share a combined 50+ years of experience and we love sharing our passion with our guests and clients. With us, you’re not just booking an expedition cruise, you’re embarking on an adventure with the very experts who know these waters best and who live the polar magic every day.



Message from Heather

Hello, fellow entrepreneur!

First, let me say how much fun it was to be on How I Built This with Guy and Tariq. I really appreciated their thoughtful advice.

Every once in a while you come across an idea that just won’t let you go. It becomes the thing you think about every waking and sleeping hour. The feeling that you can see how the future can look, and you know, deep inside, that you need to be a part of making it happen. In this case, it was when my friend Sophie, a brilliant polar ice captain, floated the idea of building a fleet of next generation wind-and-solar powered expedition ships to totally transform the way travelers experience the Arctic.

As someone who has been working in the polar industry for a decade and a half, who had witnessed a lot of ‘sustainability initiatives’ that were mostly lip service (and felt strongly that there had to be a better way), Sophie’s vision hit me in the deepest part of my soul.

It was a crazy idea, but not an impossible one.

I jumped in to help her with the layout and design of the ship from an expedition guide’s perspective. We changed the configuration of the cabins, we moved the mudroom to a more user-friendly location, and we shared our visions of what it would feel like to sail the (yet to be named) Captain Arctic through remote polar waters with just a few dozen adventurous guests. 

Imagine this:

Overhead, the northern lights pulse from horizon to horizon. It’s a spectrum of light that delights you visually, but you swear you can feel the energy in your chest – an invitation to connect with the universe and marvel in the magic of Nature. No photo or video ever taken comes close to the feeling of experiencing the northern lights – they’re more profound than you can imagine. The show above is yours alone and will never be seen by anyone the same way again. 

When you start to feel a chill, you scoot back inside to enjoy a snack and a drink in our cozy lounge, followed by a healthy gourmet meal. After dessert, you enjoy an encore from the Aurora through the picture window of the sauna, or from the bridge as you chat with the Captain, followed by the best polar sleep of your life.

The next morning, you wake with the light and marvel that the first thing you see are towering snow-covered peaks, a welcome change from an overflowing inbox. Gliding silently into a secluded fjord, we discover a pod of belugas, unbothered by our visit and curious to see our vessel. As we move along the fast ice, a polar bear and her cub glimpse the Captain Arctic for the first time. We are respectful visitors, close enough to recognize one another, but far enough to be neither threat nor prey. 

In the afternoon as we float around a point of towering basalt cliffs on a nearby island, thousands of little auks swoop above, one of the largest breeding colonies in the Arctic. We launch kayaks and paddleboards in the calm waters of a nearby bay –  the only noises here are the hisses and pops from the melting ice. You can see 10 meters straight down through crystal clear water, to a sea floor that only sees full sunlight a few months a year.

What makes all of these experiences even better is who you’re sharing it with. Like you, the travelers who have already jumped in to join us are seeking a deeper understanding of the Arctic while maintaining an active, exploratory spirit. Our guide staff are the best of the best – expert naturalists, photographers, scientists, and historians, who are as much fun to hang out with as they are to learn from.

It’s easy to unplug completely if you want to, with wi-fi limited to just one small section of the ship. Disconnecting from the digital world to intentionally connect with Nature and your partner, family, friends or your team is what Minimal Impact Cruises is all about. (In fact, the Captain Arctic is where I will be celebrating my 50th birthday, phone-free, with all of my favourite people!) 

Speaking of being onboard, I will be on each one of our departures and would be thrilled to have you and your friends join me. I love to talk with fellow travelers and entrepreneurs like you and am incredibly passionate about our vessel and our destinations. Send me a direct message below if you’d like to connect and we can have a conversation.

Thanks for being among the first to experience what Minimal Impact cruising is all about. I can’t wait to meet you!