Your experience begins with a choice of pickup from selected locations in central Kemi or direct arrival at the main building, where a large free parking area is available. After check‑in you have time to visit the area before the included transfer brings you to harbor in Kemi to board the Icebreaker Sampo. Once on board, you will be welcomed with a non‑alcoholic drink before joining a guided tour that introduces the vessel’s history and operations. The cruise travels through the frozen Gulf of Bothnia, where you can experience floating among the ice in a thermal survival suit. When conditions permit, you may also step out onto the frozen sea. Throughout the cruise, warm indoor lounges and an onboard café‑restaurant offer comfortable spaces to relax. Lunch is included on afternoon departures and served in the ship’s restaurant. At the end of the experience, you will receive a participation certificate as a keepsake before returning to drop of locations.
Welcome to a unique arctic adventure from Kemi! The Icebreaker Sampo cruises on the frozen sea in Kemi during the winter season with over 35 years of experience. Icebreaker Sampo Cruise includes 4h icebreaker cruise, ice floating experience, walking on ice, guided tour around the vessel, diploma, welcome drink, lunch buffet on board and entrance to the SnowExperience365 exhibition room.
Main Building Area: In the main building area, guests can explore indoor exhibitions, browse for souvenirs, or relax in the reception café. The Seaview Restaurant on the second floor is also open to guests with pre-booked reservations. The outdoor winter park is built each year from mid-January until early April, weather permitting. Exhibitions: There are two exhibitions located inside the main building: the SnowExperience and the Gemstone Exhibition. In the SnowExperience, you can immerse yourself in the true feeling of winter in a 400-square-meter cold experience room featuring ice slides and ice sculptures. The Gemstone Exhibition showcases enchanting jewelry and gemstones from Finland and around the world, with over 700 different types of gemstones and semi-precious stones on display.
The bus will pick you up outside at the front of your pickup place. Please be ready and wait outside at the location latest 5 minutes before marked pick up time. Notice that shuttle bus might have delays depending on traffic and departure from earlier pick up location. Shuttlebus has "Icebreaker shuttle bus" reading at the front of the windshield. If you're travelling by car, you can start your journey at Kemi's SnowCastle area, where there's plenty of free parking. Be sure to arrive well on time for cruise check-in. Driving your own car to the harbour is not allowed. Lunch in restaurant of Icebreaker Sampo is included to afternoon cruise price (at 13:30 pm). ❄️ Morning Cruise with transfer from Kemi Pick-up from Kemi: 07:00 Hotel Toivola (Kiveliönkatu 1, Kemi) 07:10 Hotel Scandic Kemi (Hahtisaarenkatu 3, Kemi) 07:15 Hotel Merihovi (Keskuspuistokatu 6, Kemi) 07:20 Kemi Railway Station (Rautatiekatu 3, Kemi) Please wait outside at the pickup point. SnowCastle of Kemi: 07:30 Arrival at SnowCastle area 07:30–08:15 Check-in for the cruise and optional breakfast at SnowCastle area’s restaurant (available by advance reservation only) 08:30 Departure from SnowCastle area to the harbor Icebreaker Cruise 08:45 Arrival at the harbor 09:00–12:30 Icebreaker Sampo cruise 12:40 Departure from the harbor SnowCastle of Kemi: 12:55 Arrival at SnowCastle area 12:55–14:00 Optional lunch at the restaurant (extra service, book in advance or purchase tickets at the SnowCastle area’s reception) 12:55-14:00 Time for visiting exhibitions. Entrance to exhibitions is included in the cruise price 14:15 Departure from the SnowCastle area Return to Kemi: 14:25 Kemi Railway Station 14:30 Hotel Merihovi 14:35 Hotel Scandic Kemi ❄️ Afternoon Cruise with transfer from Kemi Pick-up in Kemi: 10:45 Hotel Toivola 10:55 Hotel Scandic Kemi 11:00 Hotel Merihovi 11:05 Kemi Railway Station Please wait outside at the pickup point. SnowCastle Area, Kemi 11:30 Arrival at SnowCastle area 11:30–12:45 Check-in for the cruise and additional time for visiting exhibitions. Entrance fee to exhibitions including in the cruise price. 13:00 Departure from SnowCastle area to the harbor Icebreaker Cruise 13:15 Arrival at the harbor 13:30–17:30 Icebreaker Sampo cruise and lunch 17:40 Departure from the harbor Return to Kemi: 17:50 Short 5-minute stop at the SnowCastle area 18:05 Kemi Railway Station 18:10 Hotel Merihovi 18:15 Hotel Scandic Kemi 18:25 Hotel Toivola Note: Return times are estimates and might vary slightly depending on traffic. If you have problems with arriving to cruise please contact our Cruise check-in. Contact number to check in is available during cruise days and when programs are in progress.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From Kemi: Icebreaker Sampo Cruise with icefloating program lasts about 6–7 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
Prices start at $467 per person for this Lapland experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 4 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. The bus will pick you up outside at the front of your pickup place. Please be ready and wait outside at the location latest 5 minutes before marked pick up time. Notice that shuttle bus might have delays depending on traffic and departure from earlier pick up location. Shuttlebus has "Icebreaker shuttle bus" reading at the front of the windshield. If you're travelling by car, you can start your journey at Kemi's SnowCastle area, where there's plenty of free parking. Be sure to arrive well on time for cruise check-in. Driving your own car to the harbour is not allowed. Lunch in restaurant of Icebreaker Sampo is included to afternoon cruise price (at 13:30 pm). ❄️ Morning Cruise with transfer from Kemi Pick-up from Kemi: 07:00 Hotel Toivola (Kiveliönkatu 1, Kemi) 07:10 Hotel Scandic Kemi (Hahtisaarenkatu 3, Kemi) 07:15 Hotel Merihovi (Keskuspuistokatu 6, Kemi) 07:20 Kemi Railway Station (Rautatiekatu 3, Kemi) Please wait outside at the pickup point. SnowCastle of Kemi: 07:30 Arrival at SnowCastle area 07:30–08:15 Check-in for the cruise and optional breakfast at SnowCastle area’s restaurant (available by advance reservation only) 08:30 Departure from SnowCastle area to the harbor Icebreaker Cruise 08:45 Arrival at the harbor 09:00–12:30 Icebreaker Sampo cruise 12:40 Departure from the harbor SnowCastle of Kemi: 12:55 Arrival at SnowCastle area 12:55–14:00 Optional lunch at the restaurant (extra service, book in advance or purchase tickets at the SnowCastle area’s reception) 12:55-14:00 Time for visiting exhibitions. Entrance to exhibitions is included in the cruise price 14:15 Departure from the SnowCastle area Return to Kemi: 14:25 Kemi Railway Station 14:30 Hotel Merihovi 14:35 Hotel Scandic Kemi ❄️ Afternoon Cruise with transfer from Kemi Pick-up in Kemi: 10:45 Hotel Toivola 10:55 Hotel Scandic Kemi 11:00 Hotel Merihovi 11:05 Kemi Railway Station Please wait outside at the pickup point. SnowCastle Area, Kemi 11:30 Arrival at SnowCastle area 11:30–12:45 Check-in for the cruise and additional time for visiting exhibitions. Entrance fee to exhibitions including in the cruise price. 13:00 Departure from SnowCastle area to the harbor Icebreaker Cruise 13:15 Arrival at the harbor 13:30–17:30 Icebreaker Sampo cruise and lunch 17:40 Departure from the harbor Return to Kemi: 17:50 Short 5-minute stop at the SnowCastle area 18:05 Kemi Railway Station 18:10 Hotel Merihovi 18:15 Hotel Scandic Kemi 18:25 Hotel Toivola Note: Return times are estimates and might vary slightly depending on traffic. If you have problems with arriving to cruise please contact our Cruise check-in. Contact number to check in is available during cruise days and when programs are in progress. Pickup points include Hotelli Toivola.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 180 participants.
The cruise ship has stairs. This cruise is not recommended for passengers with reduced mobility.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
The Arktis Ice Breaker Cruise is a one of a kind experience. You can have an all in one experiences in one trip with the professional guides and crews. Enjoyed the Ice floating, Sauna and the cozy hot tub while in the middle of the amazing views. It is a 10/10 experience.
This is an all-day adventure. It took several hours to get here from our hotel. Once we did, we were ready to be on our way, but we were kept for nearly an hour in their terminal to give us the opportunity to shop. We were anxious to get underway as the shopping was pretty much restricted to tourist tchotchkes. Arrival at the terminal seemed pretty chaotic as you had to check in and instructions were not very clear. Our ticket included a lunch, which considering how many passengers on the ship had to be fed, was pretty good. The most exciting part was seeing all the ice and then going way north to the arctic. Those who wanted could descend down to the ice and walk on the frozen Baltic Sea. There was also an option to put on special protective suits and float in the icy water. This experience was well supervised by the staff. A long day, but worth the trip.
Overall, this experience was worthwhile. It was something to be up in the Arctic on an icebreaker. It started off on the rocky side, however. One we arrived at the terminal, we were kept waiting for nearly an hour to give us time to shop. We were not interested in the tourist tchotchkes. A few minutes would have been plenty, especially since it took several hours by bus to get there. Lunch was included, and considering they were serving a large group, it was pretty good. A highlight was being able to get out and walk on the frozen Baltic Sea. If you wanted to, you could also sign up for a dip in the water wearing the provided protective gear. Participants were monitored closely for safety.
A very nice experience of being on an ice breaking ship, touring the bridge, and getting in the icy waters in the survival suit for a short period of time. Lunch was included on ship and it was plentiful and delicious. There is a bar to get drinks too. After your plunge, you are treated to a taste of certain liquors/gin/vodka in an ice shot glass. When the ship stopped in/on the ice, you could go outside and take pictures, play cornhole, push a sled, etc for a bit of time.
Beautiful experience on icebreaker. A tour of the ship is made (commander's room, radar, electrical app., engines). Stop on the pack where you can walk, and bathe with thermal suits in the Arctic sea. Beautiful landscape.
I had already had this experience in 1991 and remarkably since then nothing has changed in the organization of the cruise. Punctual and well organized also the transfer by coach from the hotel. Instead, the ice castle has changed, which at the time was much more impressive and located in an area closer to the boarding. Now it's a bit disappointing and the ice sculptures are in a covered and refrigerated area inside the building from which you leave for the cruise. They confirmed to me that they have reduced everything because of the costs and because in any case from other parts of the world there are similar constructions. So it's time to stop saying it's the greatest ice construction, because it's not like that anymore. As far as shipping is concerned, I have been confirmed that at present the ship can only travel pre-established corridors for technical reasons, as the depth of the sea has decreased over the years and would risk reaching the bottom. The experience is still very nice, however, and even floating disguised as a conduit is fun.
A must do activity ! It is an awesome experience to be traveling through ice on this 1960 ship that you can extensively visit during the cruise. Ice floating was relaxing and a very unique thing to do.
Had a really wonderful experience 🙏🇫🇮🙏 highly recommend for everyone to have once in a lifetime experience ✌️👍.I recommend to go for at least once.
Thank you for the fantastic review! 🙏 We’re delighted you had such a great time and would recommend us. It means a lot to usI! ✨😊
Everything good experience especially the ice floating and the crew were down to earth. Had good experience to learn more about the legendary ice breaker.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! ✨ We are really happy to hear you enjoyed the ice floating and that our crew made you feel welcome. It’s great that you also learned more about the Sampo icebreaker it’s a special part of our story =) You’re welcome back anytime!
Very good experience. The staffs are very helpful and friendly. Everyone should experience this once in life.
Thank you for the great review! 😊 Our team will be happy to know they helped make your experience memorable. ❄️😊 We really appreciate your kind words!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Kemi: Icebreaker Sampo Cruise with icefloating program | 6–7 hours | 4.0 (20) | $467 | |
 From Rovaniemi: Icebreaker Arktis Cruise with icefloating | 10–11 hours | 5.0 (2) | $466 | View |
 Rovaniemi: Arctic Explorer Icebreaker Cruise with Ice Floating | 8h 30min | — | $406 | View |
 Northern Lights Rovaniemi: Guaranteed Viewing & Unlimited Mileage | 8 hours | 4.9 (2,603) | $161 | View |
 Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Hunt Max 8 + Pro Photos & 100% Refund | 4–12 hours | 4.9 (883) | $231 | View |
 Rovaniemi: 100% Money-Back Guarantee Aurora Tour + Free Photos | 4–6 hours | 4.9 (882) | $161 | View |
 Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Hunt + Photos & 100% Guarantee Refund | 4–6 hours | 4.8 (804) | $138 | View |