Icebreaker Cruise in Finland – All you need to know

Have you ever wanted to wake up on a freezing winter morning, head to the port, jump aboard a ship, sail to the middle of a frozen sea and casually take a swim in ice-cold waters? No? Neither did I up until I found out about the Icebreaker adventure in Finland!🙃

In a land filled with surreal experiences at every turn, being one of the top recommended activities is no mean feat and the Icebreaker cruise is worthy of that accolade. However, our decision to go on one wasn’t straight forward. Nish & I had so many questions on our minds before we booked our cruise. Would it be worth to travel all the way to Kemi just for the Icebreaker? What if the harsh weather plays spoil sport? If you’re in the same dilemma, fret no more! Here’s everything you need to know from what to expect & options available to estimated budget & duration for a truly epic Icebreaker experience in Finland.

Icebreaker Sampo vs Polar Explorer

First, let me clear up one of the first and most common confusion when it comes to icebreaker cruises in Finland – choosing between Sampo and Polar Explorer. In all honesty, there is no right or wrong. In terms of the overall experience, nothing separates the two. The itinerary offered by the two operators is fairly similar too. However, there are some minor aspects which may swing the decision in favor of one over the other.

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Budget

Icebreaker Sampo has been welcoming tourists for far longer and is, consequently, more popular & expensive than Polar Explorer. A 4 hour cruise on Sampo costs €340/person including a 3 course meal on board while Polar Explorer offers a 3 hour cruise at a relatively cheaper price of €240/person with buffet lunch served at a restaurant en route to the icebreaker rather than on board. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Dining on board definitely sounds more enticing & worthy of the heavy price tag but one look at where we stopped for lunch and you’ll understand why we picked Polar Explorer over Sampo. The Swedish restaurant – Kukkolaforsen – was set on the banks of a partially frozen river along Finland-Sweden border. I can’t remember what was on the menu that day as I was glued to one of the windows, gazing at the landscape outside. Absolutely magical to say the least!

Duration

Another factor to consider before booking your cruise is the number of hours to be set aside for the icebreaker experience. While Icebreaker Sampo sets sail from the Port of Kemi which is a short 20 minute drive from the city center, Polar Explorer begins its ice smashing journey from a port in Sweden. The free pick-up & drop-off shuttle service from our hotel in Kemi was convenient and efficient but we spent close to 4 hours commuting to & from Sweden for a 3 hour icebreaker cruise. So, if you only have half a day to spare in Kemi, Icebreaker Sampo would be the smarter choice.

Other Important Details

• Icebreaker cruises in Finland operate between late December and early April when winter’s at its peak. However, the exact timetable tends to vary from year to year. You can check the latest schedule for Polar Explorer here and Icebreaker Sampo here
• Being one of the top attractions in Finland, the tickets tend to be sold out really fast. Make sure you book at least 3 months in advance to avoid disappointment
• Both operators offer two cruises every day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We would strongly recommend opting for the morning cruise as days tend to extremely short during winter and it gets dark as early as 3 pm
• Last but not least, dress up warm! Don’t forget your beanies, earmuffs and a good pair of gloves. You will be required to take off some layers before getting into your survival suits for swimming but there is no need to panic. The neoprene survival suits will be enough to keep you warm and comfortable

And that’s it! You’re all set for your first icebreaker adventure. Is there anything else you’d like to know more about? Tell us in the comments!😃

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