Attire Onboard: Comfort, Warmth & Casual Elegance
Overall, dress for comfort and the weather while on board. This is a true expedition voyage, and the shipboard atmosphere is far more relaxed and informal than traditional classic ocean cruises. During the day, it is completely acceptable—and practical—to wear comfortable jeans, technical hiking pants, fleece pullovers, zip-up jackets, and warm sweaters throughout the ship’s lounges, observation decks, and casual dining venues.
In the evening, the dress code elevates slightly: gentlemen typically wear tailored trousers and a collared shirt (sport coats are optional but not required), while ladies wear stylish sweaters, slacks, or casual evening attire. Jeans are discouraged in the main dining rooms during evening dinner service.
• Laundry Service Onboard
Do not overpack clothing for shipboard evenings. Silversea provides complimentary self-service guest launderettes on multiple decks (complete with washers, dryers, and detergent). In addition, full valet laundry and pressing service is available with items returned impeccably clean in just 9 hours.
Attire for Shoreside Adventures & Silversea Suite Gear
Weather in the high Arctic is notoriously dynamic and rapidly changing. Bright sunshine can give way to offshore fog, gusty katabatic winds, or sea spray within minutes. The cardinal rule of Arctic expedition cruising is simple: be ready for anything.
One of the finest advantages of sailing with Silversea Expeditions is that essential polar gear is provided. Upon arriving in your suite on embarkation day, you will find high-performance gear waiting for you:
Silversea provides each guest with:
- Complimentary Heavy-Duty Expedition Parka: A windproof, seam-sealed waterproof outer shell with a custom zip-out Polartec fleece jacket that can be worn independently or together. (This parka is yours to keep and take home!).
- Expedition Knapsack: A durable, water-resistant daypack ideal for holding your camera, extra layers, sunscreen, and water during shoreside excursions.
- Insulated Water Bottle: Refillable stainless steel bottle for maintaining hydration on tundra hikes.
Essential Greenland Packing Checklist
In addition to the complimentary gear provided in your suite, Ignacio Maza recommends packing the following items based on real-world Arctic conditions:
• Ignacio Maza’s Recommended Arctic Gear List
- Warm Base & Mid-Layers: Technical moisture-wicking synthetic or merino wool layers that can be added or shed easily as exertion levels change. Polartec and quick-drying fabrics are ideal.
- Neck Gaiter & Wool Scarf: Essential for Zodiac cruising. Wind chill when motoring across icy fjords can be biting; a buff or fleece neck warmer prevents cold drafts.
- Warm Wool or Fleece Beanie: A snug hat that covers your ears completely.
- Thermal Underwear / Long Johns: Crucial on windy days and especially during Zodiac tours where you sit motionless for 60 to 90 minutes without generating body heat.
- Waterproof Gloves: High-quality ski gloves or insulated Gore-Tex gloves, plus lightweight liner gloves that allow you to operate phone cameras without freezing bare fingers.
- Quick-Drying Hiking Pants & Waterproof Rain Overpants: Technical pants for walking, plus loose waterproof shell pants to slip over them for Zodiac spray and wet landings.
- UV Sunglasses & High-SPF Sunscreen: Solar reflection off polar ice, glaciers, and open water is surprisingly intense. Bring a brimmed hat for sunny days as well.
- Waterproof Hiking Boots: Sturdy footwear with ankle support and gripping lugs for rocky tundra and moraine trails once ashore.
- Insect Repellent & Mosquito Head Net: Yes, Arctic mosquitoes exist! During warm summer spells in sheltered valleys, swarms can appear. A compact mesh head net weighs ounces and will save your day.
- Swimsuit: Needed to enjoy the ship’s heated outdoor pool and hot tubs while glaciers glide past, or for bathing in natural thermal hot springs like Uunartoq.
- Sleep Eye Mask: In high summer, the midnight sun rises at 3:00 AM and does not set until 11:00 PM or midnight. Suite blackout drapes help, but an eye mask ensures deep rest.
What About “Wet Landings”? Footwear Logistics Simplified
In many of Greenland’s most spectacular fjords, historic Norse ruins, and remote Inuit settlements, there are no commercial docks or piers. In these locations, expeditions conduct “wet landings.” The Zodiac tender noses directly onto a gravel beach or rocky shoreline, and guests swing their legs over the inflatable pontoon directly into calf-deep arctic seawater before walking up the beach.
The secret to effortless wet landings is pre-ordering knee-high rubber boots (known as “wellies”) through Silversea’s gear partner, Ship to Shore Traveler (shiptoshoretraveler.com). You simply order your size online prior to departure.
Ship to Shore delivers the heavy-duty neoprene-lined rubber boots and collapsible walking sticks directly to your suite before you board. At the conclusion of your voyage, you leave them in your suite, and Silversea’s expedition team packages and ships them back to Ship to Shore. You avoid having to pack heavy, bulky boots in your checked luggage.
What About the Weather? Understanding Greenland Microclimates
During the primary summer cruising season (July and August), Greenland’s coastal weather is typically brisk, clean, and invigorating. Most days see evening lows in the low 40s°F (5°–7°C) and daytime temperatures climbing into the high 40s or low 50s°F (10°–12°C). On still, sunny afternoons in sheltered southern fjords, temperatures can even approach the low 60s°F.
• The “Refrigerator Effect” in Ilulissat
Be aware that temperatures drop dramatically when your vessel arrives at Ilulissat Icefjord (Disko Bay), the furthest north point on many western itineraries. As your ship navigates among thousands of mammoth icebergs calved from the world’s fastest-moving glacier, the ice creates its own intense microclimate: “Imagine cruising inside your open refrigerator, and you get the exact idea,” notes Ignacio. Bundle up with full thermal layers and your hooded parka for deck viewing.
Essential Insider Tips for Greenland Travelers
To round out your preparations, keep these crucial practical insights in mind:
| Topic | Ignacio’s Firsthand Insight | Actionable Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Local Currency | The currency is the Danish Krone (DKK), but physical cash is virtually unnecessary. | Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are widely accepted everywhere, even in tiny village souvenir cooperatives. |
| Charter Flight Limits | Silversea charter flights to/from Greenland enforce strict baggage limits due to polar runway lengths. | Strict limit: 50 lbs (23 kg) for checked bags and 17 lbs (8 kg) for carry-on luggage per person. Do not overpack. |
| Kayaking Excursions | Paddling among icebergs requires putting on drysuits and spray skirts, but is an absolute MUST. | Book kayak slots early through Silversea. Gliding silently past ancient ice is one of life’s greatest polar thrills. |
| Polar Bear Expectations | Do not expect to see polar bears in Southwest or West Greenland. | Bears inhabit the far north and remote eastern pack ice, far away from inhabited human settlements. |
| Camera & Phone Batteries | Arctic cold saps lithium-ion batteries rapidly, and you will take 3x more photos than you expect. | Carry a compact portable power bank in your inside jacket pocket to keep your phone and cameras warm. |
| Connectivity & Wi-Fi | High-latitude polar satellite reception is intermittent and slower than at home. | Embrace the digital detox. Download books, offline maps, and reading material prior to flight departure. |
| Recommended Reading | “White Eskimo” by Stephen R. Bown. | Captures the extraordinary life of Danish-Inuit polar explorer Knud Rasmussen, who crossed Greenland by dogsled. |
Explore Our Polar & Luxury Expedition Guides
Continue your polar research with firsthand expert insights and companion guides from Vincent Vacations advisors: