Booking and cancellation terms
The same cruise can come with different cancellation deadlines, depending on where you book it.
The cancellation deadline is part of the booking, not of the ship. Below are the deadlines on the product pages linked from this site, and next to them the terms the two operators publish for bookings made with them. Neither set is better in every case; read the one that applies to your booking.
| Photo | Cruise | Ship | Pickup from | Free cancellation | Price | Reviews | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Polar Explorer cruise Polar Explorer Icebreaker | Polar Explorer | Optional shuttle (e.g. Rovaniemi, Kemi) or own car | Up to 45 days before | €325per person | ★ 4.7 (490) | Book now |
| Arktis cruise from Rovaniemi Icebreaking Company | Arktis | Rovaniemi (4 hotel stops) | Up to 24 hours before | €411per person | ★ 4.4 (401) | Book now |
 | Sampo cruise from Rovaniemi Icebreaking Company | Sampo | Rovaniemi (4 hotel stops) | Up to 24 hours before | €506per person | ★ 4.6 (245) | Book now |
| Arktis cruise from Kemi Icebreaking Company | Arktis | Kemi (hotels, station, SnowCastle) | Up to 24 hours before | €307per person | ★ 4.4 (227) | Book now |
| Sampo cruise from Kemi Icebreaking Company | Sampo | Kemi (hotels, station, SnowCastle) | Up to 24 hours before | €402per person | ★ 4.7 (83) | Book now |
 | Arctic Explorer cruise Polar Explorer Icebreaker | Arctic Explorer | Optional shuttle (e.g. Rovaniemi, Kemi) or own car | Up to 3 days before | €250per person | ★ 4.9 (16) | Book now |
| Sampo cruise from Haparanda/Tornio Icebreaking Company | Sampo | Haparanda / Tornio | Up to 24 hours before | €435per person | ★ 5.0 (6) | Book now |
| Arktis cruise from Haparanda/Tornio Icebreaking Company | Arktis | Haparanda / Tornio | Up to 24 hours before | €340per person | ★ 4.5 (6) | Book now |
| Sampo cruise from Oulu Icebreaking Company | Sampo | Oulu (3 stops, afternoon only) | Up to 24 hours before | €536per person | ★ 5.0 (1) | Book now |
| Arktis cruise from Oulu Icebreaking Company | Arktis | Oulu (3 stops, afternoon) | Up to 24 hours before | €411per person | ★ 4.0 (1) | Book now |
Cruise prices here are per adult and come live from GetYourGuide, taxes and fees included. Compare them with the whole-day column: the cruises with a bus from Rovaniemi or Oulu include the transfer in the price.
The terms side by side
| Ships | Product pages on this site | Operator’s own booking terms |
|---|---|---|
| Sampo and Arktis | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; some listings offer reserve now, pay later | Free cancellation up to 14 days before; after that no refund and no changes |
| Polar Explorer | Free cancellation up to 45 days before | Non-refundable booking fee per person; free cancellation 31 days or more before, full price from 30 days |
| Arctic Explorer | Free cancellation up to 3 days before | The published terms cover Arctic Explorer bookings confirmed by 3 July 2026; later bookings follow the terms shown when booking |
Polar Explorer Oy also sells an optional cancellation insurance at the time of booking, which allows free cancellation up to 48 hours before the cruise but does not cover the booking fee. Date and time changes are possible up to 72 hours before departure, with a fee for later changes. All figures are on the operators’ pages; the terms on a product page are shown before you pay.
When the operator cancels
Both operators can cancel a cruise when ice or weather make it unsafe. The Icebreaking Company then offers another departure where possible, or a refund. Polar Explorer Oy offers another date or time, and a full refund if none of them suits you. Polar Explorer can also cancel a cruise that has too few passengers.
When only part of the programme is dropped
This is the case behind many disappointed reviews. If the walk on the ice or the floating cannot take place because of the ice, wind or safety, the cruise still sails, and neither operator pays compensation for the missing activity. The Arctic Explorer listing states that this is no reason for a refund. Early in the season this is more likely, which our ice calendar explains.
Missing the bus
Pickup times are fixed. Polar Explorer’s terms charge the full price if you miss the shuttle or arrive late for the cruise. On the Kemi listings, the shuttle can run a few minutes late depending on traffic, and you are asked to be at the stop five minutes before your time. Times for the Swedish ships at the terminal are Swedish time, one hour behind Finland.
FAQ
Can I cancel an icebreaker cruise for free?
Yes, up to a deadline. On the product pages linked here it is 24 hours before for the Sampo and the Arktis, 45 days for the Polar Explorer and 3 days for the Arctic Explorer. The operators’ own terms set 14 days (Kemi) and 31 days (Polar Explorer).
What happens if the icebreaker cruise is cancelled because of the weather?
Both operators offer another departure, or a refund if no alternative suits you.
Do I get money back if there is no walk on the ice?
No. The walk on the ice and the floating depend on conditions, and both operators exclude compensation if they are dropped while the cruise itself sails.
Deadlines from 24 hours to 45 days
Compare the cruises with their pickup towns and days on board.
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