G Adventures charts a return to the Arctic as expedition tourism rises

At the heart of the relaunch is the Ocean Adventurer, renamed to MS Expedition, a vessel that has undergone significant upgrades to improve fuel efficiency, passenger comfort and safety. Improved manoeuvrability is another upgrade as it’s now equipped with brand-new engines, a refurbished propulsion system and updated Sperry Gyrofin stabilisers intended to smooth rough crossings and reduce motion sickness. 

“The ship is built with an Ice Class 1A for reinforced safety and manoeuvrability,” says Yves Marceau, VP Product at G Adventures – increasingly important as climate unpredictability impacts operations. “We have also upgraded the common areas and refreshed cabins with ensuite bathrooms.”

Balancing affordability and responsible practice is key to the company’s vision. “Affordability doesn’t come at the expense of being responsible for us,” Marceau explains. “Our affordability comes from being top-notch value without the fluff. We offer Zodiac excursions, expert talks, gear, warm hospitality, but without the butlers and helicopters.  

“We break down the price barrier and offer a more accessible price point with shared room options available (triple and double cabins).”  

By making such trips more accessible the company aims to increase participation without also increasing the ecological impact.

Small-ship expeditions are providing deeper access to remote environments and G Adventures is no exception, making education a defining feature of its Arctic programme. Voyages will have daily excursions, where weather allows, bolstered by the presence of marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists and historians who turn the vessel into a “floating classroom”. 

Passengers will be given opportunities to observe polar bears from afar, watch breaching whales, encounter walrus colonies, seals and witness thousands of puffins and seabirds.  

“Travellers can also expect educational sessions with on-board experts, polar plunges in the Arctic waters and the surreal calm of the Arctic tundra and midnight sun,” adds Marceau.

As more operators return to the Arctic, emergency preparedness is emerging as a major area of concern for governments and policymakers. The Arctic Emergency Management Conference (AEMC), held earlier this year in Bodø, Norway, reaffirmed the need for international cooperation in search and rescue (SAR) response across remote regions. 

Upcoming work under the Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council Chairship (2025–2027) will include a dedicated conference in June 2026 on marine accidents involving cruise and passenger ships.  

“The intention is to discuss the challenges with cruise ships and passenger ships in distress, seen from several different perspectives, such as Arctic Indigenous People, small communities, industry (cruise ships and passenger ships), tourism, the search and rescue community, marine environmental response, and health preparedness,” explains Kathy Nghiem, Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) vice-chair; and Jens Heine Grauen Larsen, EPPR head of delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark in a joint statement. 

Expedition cruise ships can also play an operational role. The EPPR Neptune project, completed in 2021, examined the capabilities of expedition cruise vessels and their crew in terms of responding to oil spills and minimising damage based on their ability to operate across different parts of the Arctic region.  

“They could very likely be the first asset on-scene depending on location, and their preparedness can extend to supporting responses to emergencies involving other vessels,” add Nghiem and Grauen Larsen.

The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) has introduced new requirements for members returning to the region. All operators must adhere to guidelines centred on safety, environmental protection and community engagement.  

“A newer initiative is AECO’s Climate Commitment, which requires members to calculate greenhouse gas emissions and implement reduction plans,” says Melissa Nacke, head of operations at AECO. “This reflects a sector-wide shift from individual efforts to systemic change.” 

However, Nacke admits that the Arctic’s limited infrastructure poses challenges for reducing emissions. “Access to biofuels, shore power, and port facilities remains scarce, making it difficult for operators to transition quickly,” she explains, stating that AECO’s climate strategy supports members by setting reduction targets and sharing best practices. 

“Operators are actively exploring efficiency measures, hybrid propulsion and route optimisation to reduce fuel consumption, however, collaboration with Arctic ports and governments to develop low-emission infrastructure remains essential.”

One of the most significant contributions from expedition travel in recent years has been the rise of citizen science. Guests on member vessels actively collect data that supports Arctic research in ways that would otherwise be difficult in such remote regions,” says Nacke.

“Projects like Happywhale allow travellers to photograph whales and upload sightings, helping scientists track individual animals across oceans and monitor migration patterns. Similarly, platforms like iNaturalist and iBird enable guests to record biodiversity observations, contributing to long-term datasets on species distribution and ecosystem health,” she says 

Training partnerships, such as ORCA’s whale strike mitigation programme for expedition crews, are also raising standards across the industry. 

“These efforts don’t just generate valuable scientific data, they turn guests into active contributors to science, bridging the gap between tourism and research in remote regions,” Nacke adds. “By participating in research and conservation initiatives, travellers leave with a sense of stewardship, which is critical for sustaining these environments.” 

AECO’s collaboration with Indigenous and community organisations forms another pillar, with initiatives like Made in the Arctic and the Inuit Cruise Training Initiative designed to ensure tourism supports local economies and cultural resilience. Nacke says they “create pathways for employment, ensuring tourism becomes a tool for empowerment rather than disruption”. 

Proactively addressing the Arctic’s sensitive ecosystems is also a key objective. “Collaborative projects, like the underwater noise research project in Eclipse Sound, brings together operators, scientists, and Indigenous partners to monitor and reduce noise impacts on marine mammals,” says Nacke. 

Traffic on the Arctic’s high seas has increased notably over the past decade and further growth is expected.  

“We have seen traffic in the high seas grow significantly over the past decade and expect even greater risks with trade increasing across northern routes,” say Nghiem and Grauen Larsen. “The risk of maritime accidents also heightens with the uncertainties that climate change brings to navigation in the north.”  

They add: “We are increasingly understanding the need for approaches that fuse information-sharing across Arctic States with community engagement in a manner that is sensitive to the cultures and practices of Arctic inhabitants.”

For G Adventures, re-entering the Arctic is both a revival and a reset. Its upgraded vessel, expanded itineraries and education-first approach position the relaunch within a sector that is rapidly evolving, one where operational, community and scientific contributions advance together. 

The Arctic remains one of the world’s most sensitive regions where ecosystems must be protected as tourism increases. The 2026 season will place these ambitions under real-world conditions, offering a clearer view of what expansion in the region will look like in practice.