The North Pole is the world’s northernmost point and a prize still zealously pursued by adventurers and explorers today.

Get on board for the ultimate North Pole adventure. Nothing compares to experiencing the untamed grandeur of the Arctic quite like seeing its majestic landscapes unfold from the deck of a state-of-the-art nuclear icebreaker. Imagine an endless expanse of ice under the polar midnight sun. Pristine waters teeming with marine life. Prowling polar bears in the tundra. This is Mother Nature at her breathtaking best.

From Murmansk, Russia, you’ll embark the icebreaker 50 Years of Victory for a roundtrip voyage to the earth’s geographic North Pole. Our mighty vessel will plough its way through the frozen Arctic Ocean on a cruise that literally circumnavigates the globe in a matter of days. In addition to the exhilaration of cruising to the very apex of the earth, passengers will have the extraordinary privilege to land, via helicopter, on the scarcely visited Russian Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land, a remote wilderness home to an incredible abundance of wildlife.

NORTH POLE CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS:

After 7 days of cruising from Murmansk, we’ll arrive at the geographic North Pole, the place where all meridians meet and the only direction is south. To celebrate our successful mission to the top of the world, we’ll ceremoniously drop anchor and disembark on a sturdy stretch of ice for the ‘International Round Dance’ – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to literally walk around the world!

Franz Josef Land: Weather permitting, we’ll spend two days exploring this uninhabited archipelago, one most pristine Arctic habitats on earth. It is comprised of 192 islands where glaciers cover 85% of the land, carving out a spectacular terrain of steep valleys, caves and pinnacles

Helicopter flights: As part of this very special expedition, all guests will have the opportunity to take scenic helicopter rides for an incredible bird’s eye view of the icescape and amazing photo opportunities capturing the ship smashing its way through the ice pack
Arctic wildlife: Animal life thrives in the pristine environs of the North Pole. Expect sightings of polar bears and walruses, thronging colonies of seabirds and harp and bearded seals resting atop icebergs. Throughout our cruise, we’ll be looking out for humpback, minke and beluga whales, and with luck, orcas, narwhales and bowhead whales.

This two-week expedition departs from the port of Murmansk, the largest city above the Arctic Circle. We’ll forge our way north through the Barents Sea, and as we make our way across the ice cap, you’ll witness firsthand the ship’s awesome power as massive ice blocks give way under the enormous bulk of the spoon-shaped bow. The sensation of being on deck at this time is surreal and unforgettable.

The anticipation heightens as the mighty ship takes us smashing through the frozen Arctic Ocean towards our goal – the most northerly point on the planet. The literal Top of the World. Travelling aboard with us will be the ship’s helicopter, ready to take passengers for awe-inspiring joy flights, aerial photo shoots and shore excursions to the otherworldly islands of Franz Josef Land.

Despite their desolate appearance, the heavily glaciated islands of Franz Josef Land provide sanctuary for an amazing abundance of wildlife. Iconic High Arctic species like the polar bear and walrus thrive here, and the cliffsides and screen provide nesting habitat for countless seabirds including the rare ivory gull.

This fantastic voyage is made possible by the 50 Years of Victory, one of the largest, most sophisticated and most powerful nuclear icebreakers in the world. Twenty years in the making, the Victory is a vessel unlike any other, with the ability to forge a passage into places no other ship can.