Super Chill

Why cold weather cruises are becoming the hottest destinations.

By Robin Cherry

It's cool to be cold. According to Bloomberg News, demand for cold weather cruises is outpacing interest in tropical alternatives as travelers—especially millennials—are increasingly seeking out remote, adventurous destinations with otherworldly landscapes and wildlife (Arctic foxes, polar bears) that you just can’t see anywhere else. In 2020, the New York Times reported that bookings to Antarctica were up 40% over the prior seasons and Silversea Cruises has seen a 100% increase in bookings to colder destinations in the past five years. Here are five cool cold-weather destinations that will warm your heart.

Antarctica

With an average temperature of 0°F, Antarctica is Earth’s coldest continent and what it lacks in warmth, it more than makes up for in unspoiled beauty. Most travelers visit by sea and cruises often sell out two years in advance. The challenge of crossing the Drake Passage, which can be completely calm or a wild ride featuring 39-foot waves, is an adventure in itself. Antarctica’s best season is austral summer from December to February when you’ll see migrating whales, newborn seal pups and penguin chicks.

The Arctic

Join onboard naturalists in their quest to study polar bears in Svalbard, an archipelago home to more bears than people. Spitsbergen is considered the “Wildlife Capital of the Arctic,” so you’re also likely to encounter walruses, beluga whales and reindeer. Tour fjords and long sandy beaches by Zodiac and kayak. Although Svalbard has more than 2,100 glaciers, it’s considered a desert because of its low humidity and, thanks to the Gulf Stream, the average summer temperature is a balmy 40°F, making that the best season to visit.

The Svalbard archipelago is home to around 3,000 polar bears.

Alaska

Defined by its rugged natural beauty, abundant wildlife and rich Indigenous culture, a visit to Alaska is endlessly rewarding. Sail past towering fjords, calving glaciers and snow-capped mountains, and fill the Cloud with photos of diverse marine wildlife, from breaching whales and hand-holding sea otters to bears. Alaska is also a birdwatcher’s paradise—home to almost 500 species—where you’re likely to spot raptors like red-tailed hawks and rufous hummingbirds. The summer months are a good time to go thanks to 24 hours of daylight and peak whale watching.

Alaska’s snow-capped mountains make for a breathtaking whale-watching backdrop.

Iceland

Iceland packs a lot of potential for memorable travel experiences into a country the size of Kentucky. Its natural wonders encompass more than 250 glaciers, 109 fjords and 130 volcanos, including Fagradalsfjall, which erupted in 2021 after being dormant for 800 years. The sea offers the perfect vantage point from which to appreciate villages lined with brightly colored homes against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains—enjoy the view while savoring the afternoon tradition of “kaffitímar,” a cake and coffee break. Summer, when waterfalls are overflowing and the hills abound with wildflowers, is a great time to go.

Goðafoss (“Waterfall of the Gods”) is justone of Iceland’s countless natural wonders.

Europe in winter

Europe’s vibrant Christmas markets carry on traditions that go back centuries, including streets lined with brightly lit wooden stalls stocked with handcrafted ornaments, nutcrackers, gingerbread, candied almonds, mulled wine and cocoa. You might also consider opting for a New Year’s cruise on the Danube where you can attend a Viennese ball in an imperial palace or watch spellbinding fireworks with locals in Bratislava.

Feel the holiday spirit at a European Christmas market.