Having previously travelled to Antarctica, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to go on an Arctic cruise and properly understand the difference between the two destinations.

You can always do research, but that doesn't compare with experiencing somewhere first-hand, and the trip has made me feel much more confident selling the Arctic to my clients.

One of the biggest differences for me was the wildlife. In Antarctica, it's very easy to spot penguins, seals – even whale pods – while cruising. The joy of the Arctic is that you’re on the search for the wild.

We were very lucky with animal sightings during our seven-day voyage. We spotted two polar bears within the first two days. The first sighting was incredible, as we watched a bear cross a mountain before disappearing into the distance. We even had to cancel a landing because there was a polar bear nearby!

The second sighting came when we travelled to 80 degrees north, a circle of latitude around 600 miles shy of the North Pole. That's where you'll see the famous Arctic pack ice, and that's where we saw the second polar bear in its natural habitat. It was one of those moments where you are almost speechless.

AE Expeditions

We also saw a minke whale breaching, a pod of around a dozen beluga whales swimming towards us, an Arctic fox and a pack of reindeer. The Arctic fox was particularly difficult to spot because it was shedding its winter coat and its fur blended right into the shoreline.

The expedition team played a huge role in these experiences. They were always outside with binoculars searching for wildlife. I sat in the observation lounge with my own binoculars hoping I might spot a polar bear myself, but the expedition team always beat me to it.

Because the ship is relatively small, the experience felt very intimate. The guides would often sit with guests at breakfast, lunch or dinner, allowing us to hear about their careers, how they ended up working in expedition cruising and some of their own experiences in the polar regions.

You do not usually get the opportunity to spend that kind of time with the crew, so that really elevated the whole experience.

Davide Rossi

The first thing I noticed about the ship was how spacious everything felt. My twin cabin had more than enough storage for a seven-day voyage, the beds were very comfortable, and one feature I particularly appreciated was the heated bathroom floor – especially after returning from a wet landing or a zodiac excursion!

There were also excellent onboard facilities, including a large gym, two Jacuzzis and a sauna with large windows looking out over the ice-scapes. We were fortunate with the weather and spent quite a bit of time enjoying the sunshine from the Jacuzzis, despite being in the Arctic.

Without doubt, one of the ship’s biggest selling points is the hydraulic viewing platform. It sits just above sea level and provides totally unobstructed, breathtaking views of the Arctic. I normally have a short attention span, but I stood there watching the ship cutting through ice and the snow falling for a very, very long time.

The remote, alien feel of the Arctic is another aspect that stayed with me. It's almost unbelievable. You are technically in Europe, it is summer – but it's snowing. It was a pinch-me moment.

AE Expeditions

Any client who enjoys nature, wildlife and adventure will love this cruise. However, guests do need to be comfortable with the fact this is an expedition cruise – emphasis on expedition. The team encourage guests to spend as little time onboard as possible; you can expect to make one to two landings every day.

But that's a huge part of the appeal, and there are different activity levels available. We had children onboard aged around eight and 11 who seemed to have a fantastic time, which showed me that these voyages can appeal to a wide range of travellers.

I would not necessarily sell the Arctic over Antarctica or vice versa. It depends entirely on what is important to the client. If somebody wants guaranteed wildlife sightings, Antarctica may appeal more. But the Arctic should absolutely be on people’s bucket-lists. It's a really special place and unlike anything I've ever seen before.

The entire experience was impossible to fault. The expedition team went above and beyond, and the intimate nature of the ship meant that guests quickly became friends with one another.

I had already been converted to expedition cruising through previous experiences, and this trip only reinforced that feeling. This is my kind of cruising!

As told to TTG's Dea Jusufi.