About Us
Polar Cruises is a USA-based specialty booking agency focusing solely on trips to Antarctica and the Arctic. We offer small ship expedition voyages and land-based programs to some of the most pristine wilderness areas on our planet. Our team has been specializing in the Polar regions for the last decade and has been awarded top Polar Specialist by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
With so many ships and so much information on the web, we understand it can be very difficult and time-consuming to narrow down a trip. While websites will show beautiful ship photos and videos, what they might not divulge is how much time you can expect to have on shore vs. waiting time onboard, the quality & experience of the expedition staff compared to other ships, how the different ships handle the swells in the Drake Passage and the best current promotions on all the ships. This is where we can jump in to talk through all the ins and outs of the destinations & ships to help you make the most informed decision.
Our Goal
Our goal is to get to know your specific interests and criteria for taking an Antarctic or Arctic trip and use our deep firsthand knowledge to match you with the best possible trip for you. We will do the research for you, so you don’t have to spend your time stressing while planning your bucket list trip.
When booking your trip with Polar Cruises, you can be assured that an Epic Expedition Awaits!
Advantages of Booking With Polar Cruises
We are Polar Experts
Our team travels to Antarctica and the Arctic on a regular basis, so not only do we have firsthand knowledge of the destinations, but we also understand the differences between the ships and how the programs are operated on each vessel.
Unbiased Opinions
Because we do not own or operate the ships, we will not try to sell you on any specific trip. Instead, we will listen to your priorities and offer unbiased opinions to assist in finding the best trip for your specific needs.
Variety of trips & ships
As a specialty booking agency, we can offer you a variety of ships and not just a few. This avoids having to contact multiple companies for information on different ships.
Customer Service
We are a small company with very personalized service. We are not a call center and we will know who you are when you call. You will not be passed around between multiple contacts or get a new person each time you call.
Price
We offer the same pricing and discounts as the ship operator, so there is no extra charge for our knowledge of all the ships & polar destinations.
We are not pushy salespeople
We understand a trip to the Polar regions is a big trip and we will offer you our time and patience to ensure you make the best decision at your preferred pace. We will not pressure you with sales tactics and bombard you with emails, phone calls & text messages to try to quickly “sell” you a trip to meet a monthly sales goal.
We specialize in both Polar regions
We find that many people want to cross the 7th Continent off their list but then they catch the “polar bug” and want to head north to experience the Arctic. No need to reach out to a different company, we are Antarctic and Arctic experts and can help with booking both trips for you.
Meet the Team
Brandon
Co-Founder, Antarctic & Arctic Specialist, photographer
Brandon has been specializing in the Polar regions since 2015 and has been awarded as a top Polar specialist by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. He grew up outside of Chicago and his love of the outdoors originates from childhood trips to the woods in Northern Wisconsin. He later developed a passion for travel and nature photography while exploring many national parks in North, Central and South America. In his free time he enjoys hiking & bird watching with his family, mountain biking and playing soccer.
His first trip to Antarctica was in November 2015 and he has been fortunate to return many times since. Brandon has sailed and flew over the Drake Passage, crossed the Antarctic Circle, visited the largest black browed albatross colony in the world in the Falkland Islands, experienced the incredible wildlife & history on South Georgia and has taken many “polar plunges” into the Southern Ocean.
In the Arctic he has hiked the tundra and tracked down musk ox in the largest fjord system in the world in East Greenland (Scoresby Sund), photographed polar bears on the pack ice in Svalbard, experienced the colorful villages in West Greenland and seen the northern lights while sailing the rugged east coast of Baffin Island.
Brandon is extremely passionate about all things Polar and loves sharing his deep knowledge of Antarctica and the Arctic with new travelers to help with finding the perfect trip.
Aaron
Co-founder, Adventure & Luxury Travel Expert
Travel became a driving force in Aaron’s life when he received his first passport at 13. After a transformative summer in Italy his passion burgeoned into ambition, and by age 16 he opened his first travel agency. This set the foundation for a lifetime of exploration (over 60 countries and counting) and inspired a career in the travel industry.
Aaron’s most recent Polar trip was a circumnavigation of Iceland – an epic experience with incredible scenery and wildlife. One of the highlights included a visit to the remote Vigur Island which is a unique birding destination where you can get up close to puffins, black guillemots, eider ducks nesting Arctic terns.
When Aaron is not abroad, he is sampling Chicago’s best food and wine, meditating, hiking, photography, spending time with family and friends and relaxing at home with his Pomeranian, Nelson. Aaron has also managed an international celebrity artist and DJ, giving him a unique perspective on the intersection of travel and entertainment.
