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About Minimal Impact Cruises

About Minimal Impact Cruises

The Future of Arctic Exploration

At Minimal Impact Cruises, we’re not just offering another expedition – we’re pioneering the future of conscious premium travel. As the world’s first close-to-zero-carbon emission polar voyage company, we’ve created something entirely new: Arctic adventures that enhance rather than compromise your values, where environmental stewardship amplifies rather than limits extraordinary encounters.

Minimal Impact Cruises aboard The Captain Arctic are limited to 36 guests, delivering privileged access to untouched polar wilderness on a revolutionary new polar expedition ship.

We believe true sophistication lies in meaningful journeys that leave no trace – voyages that connect you deeply with unspoiled Arctic environments while actively protecting them for future generations. For discerning travelers who demand both environmental responsibility and life-changing adventures, we represent the pinnacle of premium exploration travel.

Explore Select Arctic Destinations with Minimal Impact Cruises

Beginning in late 2026, embark on curated expeditions to three of the Arctic’s most spectacular and immaculate destinations. With completely flexible itineraries, every voyage becomes a unique masterpiece shaped by polar conditions, wildlife behavior, and natural phenomena – ensuring no two journeys are ever identical.

Marvel at the Northern Lights in Norway's Dramatic Fjords

Witness the northern lights amid towering cliffs and virgin waterfalls, with insider access to remote fishing villages and sustainable cultural encounters.

Travel through the realm of Polar Bear in the Svalbard Wilderness

Experience first-class accommodations while sailing through one of Earth’s most protected environments where polar bears, walrus, Arctic foxes, and diverse seabird colonies thrive in their pristine habitat.

greenland ice

Witness Greenland's Ancient Ice

Cruise amongst millennia-old glacial formations and connect with Inuit cultural traditions through respectful cultural exchanges unavailable to larger expedition groups.

Why Choose Minimal Impact Cruises

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

  • Small-Scale Excellence
    With only 36 guests aboard our architecturally stunning vessel, The Captain Arctic, you encounter the ultimate in personalized expedition cruising.
  • Revolutionary Sustainable Design
    The Captain Arctic’s award-winning solar sail technology and zero-emission propulsion system represent the pinnacle of innovative ship design.
  • Space to Relax and Recharge
    Feel right at home in our comfortable, well-appointed staterooms and enjoy a well-equipped fitness center, traditional Nordic sauna, and cozy lounges designed for contemplation and wildlife observation.
  • Bespoke Itineraries
    No fixed schedules – each journey aboard The Captain Arctic is uniquely crafted around weather, wildlife, and natural phenomena for truly unique adventures.
  • Unmatched Polar Expertise
    Led by world-class Arctic expedition guides with 50+ years combined knowledge in the most remote northern destinations, you’ll do more than just look around, you’ll learn from the experts.
  • Carbon-Neutral Voyages
    Travel with complete peace of mind knowing your polar adventure actively supports Arctic conservation.
  • Design Excellence
    Every detail aboard reflects thoughtful, sustainable practice – from our panoramic observation lounges to our responsibly-sourced cuisine.

Ready to embark on the polar adventure of a lifetime?

This is your invitation to discover the Arctic as it was meant to be explored: quietly, respectfully, and remarkably.

Join us in writing the next chapter of responsible polar exploration.

Enquire Now


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!