The Arctic. For some, it conjures visions of frostbitten explorers gnawing on seal blubber, grimly pushing sledges into the wind. For others, particularly those in COMO Hotels’ well-heeled orbit, it’s a different proposition: polar bears at a polite distance, hot tubs steaming on deck, and a crisp glass of Chardonnay in hand.
Following the roaring success of its 2025 debut, COMO Hotels and Resorts is unfurling the chart again for COMO Journey: Into the Arctic in 2026, two voyages that will transport just twelve lucky souls at a time to the icy crown of the world, Svalbard. The vehicle for this extravagance? The M/S Polarfront, a former Norwegian weather ship, is now reincarnated as a boutique floating cocoon of seven suites. Yes, it’s got a sauna. Yes, there’s a hot tub. And no, you won’t be asked to scrub the decks.
Two Arctic Acts, Two Moods Entirely
Act One – The Arctic Awakens (13–23 May 2026)
This is the Arctic with the safety catch off — raw, blindingly bright, and fresh from winter’s grasp. Vast slabs of sea ice drift like frozen continents. Polar bears pace the floes, walruses recline like portly monarchs, and seabirds launch cacophonous air raids on the senses. The midnight sun refuses to clock off, bathing the entire spectacle in a pale gold glow that would make an Instagram filter weep.
Act Two – The Arctic’s Final Glow (13–24 September 2026)
Fast-forward to September and the Arctic reveals a gentler face. Whales breach with the theatrical flourish you’d expect from something weighing 30 tonnes. The tundra burns with autumn colour, a brief, flamboyant goodbye before winter’s return. As the days shorten, the sky sometimes erupts in ribbons of green and violet, the Northern Lights, doing their level best to upstage everything else. It’s warmer (relatively speaking), the shore excursions stretch longer, and the overall mood is one of lingering farewell.
Why Freeze Without Reason?
- Wildlife in the Flesh (and Fur): Zodiac forays and onshore rambles bring guests within camera-clicking range of polar bears, reindeer, whales, walruses, and Arctic foxes. This is the sort of trip where you’ll casually mention spotting a polar bear over breakfast muesli.
- Brains and Beauty: Between landings, the ship’s guides, proper Arctic veterans, not part-time influencers, deliver talks on ecology, culture, and the delicate tightrope of polar sustainability. Photographers spill the secrets of nailing that elusive shot of a whale mid-leap.
- Cabin Fever, the Nice Kind: With only seven suites (each with en suite, naturally), there’s no jostling for elbow room. The sauna and hot tub are open invitations to thaw out in style.
- Wellness at the Ends of the Earth: COMO Shambhala’s Matteo Pasquali will be on hand to unknot shoulders and recalibrate minds, ensuring you return home more relaxed than when you left — a rare feat for any holiday involving snow.
- Cuisine That Earns Its Passage: Forget limp lettuce and tinned stew. COMO’s East-meets-West menus weave in fresh, locally sourced ingredients — indulgent yet light enough to let you climb back into a Zodiac without regret.
The Numbers (and They’re Big)
The 10-night May 2026 voyage starts at £23,000 for singles or £39,000 per suite for two, which ensures the M/S Polarfront remains blissfully free of souvenir T-shirt stalls. Each trip includes a pre-expedition night in Longyearbyen, Norway’s northernmost outpost, where locals will cheerfully remind you that “this is still summer”.
Bookings open 25 August 2025 via COMO Hotels and Resorts and Natural World Safaris. With only 12 berths, dithering could see you holidaying somewhere far less dramatic, like the Mediterranean in high season.
Final Word from the Ice
COMO’s Into the Arctic voyages are the ultimate paradox: luxurious, yet brimming with genuine adventure; remote, yet sumptuously comfortable. You’ll come back with cheeks stung by polar wind, a memory card full of brag-worthy photos, and the lingering glow of the Northern Lights in your mind’s eye if the Arctic gods are kind.
One thing’s certain: you’ll never look at the word “cold” quite the same way again.
By Sandra Jones
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