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Tribune News Service

It was a cool, clear night as the National Geographic Endurance sailed out of Storefjord, one of the many beautiful fjords along the eastern coast of Greenland.
We were just a few days into “Iceland’s Wild West Coast to East Greenland”, a voyage offered by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, but I was eager to leave my stateroom behind.
While other guests were getting cosy in their beds after the day’s adventures, I headed up to the top deck with a small overnight bag. I was going to spend the night in an igloo.
Built in 2021, the National Geographic Endurance has many of the amenities and spaces you would expect to find on a modern, purpose-built expedition ship: a cosy library, an X-shaped bow that can easily slice through sea ice, a garage full of flat-bottomed Zodiacs, and inflatable kayaks for exploring.
But the vessel – along with sister ship National Geographic Resolution – also has an unexpected feature: a pair of geodesic glass igloos that guests can reserve for an overnight stay during their sailing.

I had heard and read plenty about the igloos in the months leading up to my trip. So, when I had the opportunity to spend the night in one, I gleefully jumped at the chance.
So what was it like to sleep in an igloo on an expedition cruise in the Arctic?
First, a little history. The igloos on National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution are the brainchild of Sven-Olof Lindblad, the founder of Lindblad Expeditions.
He has “always been fascinated by igloos”, he explained in a post on Instagram. The fact that people figured out how to build structures from blocks of ice, he added, is “amazing”. When he heard about igloos made of clear materials being used for viewing the Northern Lights in Finland, he was even more intrigued. He decided to add a couple to each of the line’s new polar ships.
The igloos and the hot tubs have enthralled guests, according to its website. One of them was travel blogger The Gastronomic Traveler from Taiwan.
In an Instagram post he wrote: “I used the word ‘unreal’ a lot during my expedition with @lindbladexp @natgeoexpeditions because well … just truly unreal experiences! Including … spending the night in a glass igloo aboard the ship! Part of it overhangs the ship. It was so cool. The bed was surprisingly warm with hot water pouches despite the igloo not having any heat inside. It also helps that the igloos are next to the infinity edge hot tubs and a quick run to the saunas. Eye mask and sunglasses necessary.”

The igloos are located on the back corners of the ship near the two infinity-style hot tubs. Roughly a third of each structure is, as the blogger described, cantilevered over the edge of the ship, which adds a bit of dramatic flair.
They are made up of a series of interconnected, triangle-shaped windows. Those that face outward are transparent, while those that face inward – towards the areas accessible to other guests – have frosted panes for privacy. A sign on the door instructs other guests not to enter whenever the igloos are in use.
These novel, glamping-style domes – which can each comfortably accommodate up to two guests at a time – are available at no extra cost to travellers booked on one of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ cruises.
You can only book them once you are actually on the ship. They are available for one night of your voyage on a first-come, first-served basis, but guests staying in suites get priority booking.
As soon as I boarded the ship in Reykjavik, Iceland, I headed straight to reception to reserve my igloo stay. A few days later, I found a letter in my stateroom inviting me to meet the receptionist, Marija, on Deck 8 near the spa for a quick rundown.

When we met at the appointed time, Marija confirmed I would be staying in the igloo on the ship’s starboard side. She showed me around the small but comfortable space, pointing out the thick sleeping mask I would need to wear if I wanted to get any sleep – the sun does not really set this far above the Arctic Circle in August – and the hot-water bottle I could use to stay warm in the unheated, uninsulated space.
There was also a dressing gown and a fleece-lined cape I could throw on if I needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night – several steps away inside the spa – as well as a pair of slippers, a water bottle and some tissues. She also showed me how to change the colour of the lights, which only further enhanced the already Instagrammable vibes.
The igloo was mine from after dinner that night until breakfast the next morning. Marija even arranged to have a cup of coffee sent up bright and early, which was a thoughtful touch.
So, after enjoying yet another of executive chef Sara Henstam’s delicious meals, I headed to my cabin to get ready for bed – sort of. I brushed my teeth, swapped my contact lenses for glasses and packed a small overnight bag with a few essentials.
When I arrived at my igloo, I changed into my pyjamas and snuggled beneath the crisp, white duvet atop the queen-sized bed. I kept my eyes open as long as I could, gazing at the rugged fjord scenery outside the windows. But eventually, I donned my eye mask and drifted off to sleep. Even with outside temperatures in the high 30s Fahrenheit – just above zero degrees Celsius – the igloo was warm enough that at one point I even ditched the hot-water bottle.

In the morning, as promised, a waiter knocked on the door and delivered a steaming mug. It was around 6am – still about an hour before breakfast in the ship’s main restaurant, Two Seven Zero – so I decided to take advantage of the igloo’s prime location.
I changed into my swimsuit, donned my dressing gown and stepped outside to enjoy a quiet moment of solitude in one of the hot tubs, watching the northern fulmars that soared behind the ship wherever it went. Then I tiptoed to the spa and spent a few more blissful minutes in the sauna.
Eventually, my magical time in the igloo came to an end. I headed back to my stateroom and freshened up for the day’s adventures – a long hike on Clavering Island. At breakfast, my fellow guests were eager to hear all the details about my night, curious as to whether they should try to reserve one of the igloos themselves.
I endorsed the stay wholeheartedly. Like diving into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic during the polar plunge or kayaking among crackling, bright blue icebergs, it was a bucket-list experience on a bucket-list trip.
After all, when would they ever have the chance to sleep under the stars while sailing among polar bears and narwhals at the top of the world?
Sarah Kuta


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Travel blogger The Gastronomic Traveler from Taiwan enjoys a cup of coffee while looking out across Arctic waters from the glass igloo aboard the National Geographic Endurance cruise ship, operated by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. Photo: Instagram/gastronomictraveler

The National Geographic Endurance (pictured) and its sister ship the National Geographic Resolution offer guests a night under the stars in a glass igloo. Photo: TNS

An igloo aboard the National Geographic Endurance. Photo: TNS

The igloo is surprisingly warm and the frosted glass offers privacy, while the side of the igloo facing away from the ship has clear glass. Photo: Instagram/solindblad

The National Geographic Endurance cruise ship is purpose-built for the Arctic. Photo: TNS

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Cantilevered over the ship’s edge, the National Geographic Endurance’s glass igloos let passengers enjoy an incredible night amid the fjords


Cantilevered over the ship’s edge, the National Geographic Endurance’s glass igloos let passengers enjoy an incredible night amid the fjords.


For a unique Arctic cruise experience, spend a night in a glass igloo atop a cruise ship

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Cantilevered over the ship’s edge, the National Geographic Endurance’s glass igloos let passengers enjoy an incredible night amid the fjords

Cantilevered over the ship’s edge, the National Geographic Endurance’s glass igloos let passengers enjoy an incredible night amid the fjords