Selar

What Selar does

Selar (legal entity Polarsea, S.A.S., headquartered in Lorient, France) operates a luxury Arctic expedition cruise business built around a single 70-meter, wind- and solar-powered sailing vessel that carries up to 36 passengers. The vessel is designed for near-zero-emission Arctic cruising — the company states it is powered by renewable energy approximately 90% of the time and emits 90% less CO2 than conventional ships in the region — with silent operation, anti-roll fins, and an open bridge policy aimed at immersive wildlife observation. Selar offers all-inclusive itineraries to Norway, Svalbard, and Greenland, ranging from 6 to 13 days and priced between roughly $7,943 and $45,921 per person, with activities spanning wildlife observation, glacier hiking, kayaking, snorkeling with orcas, ski touring, freediving masterclasses, and Northern Lights viewing.

The business sells expeditions direct-to-consumer via its website (selar.cc), with a 48-hour cabin hold and tiered deposit schedules, and supplements distribution through partner travel agencies and B2B/full-charter enquiries. A key differentiator is co-creation with named celebrity explorers — Amos Nachoum, Caroline Côté, Arthur Guérin-Boëri, Loury Lag, Mathieu Blanchard, and Birgit M. Liodden — each anchoring a specific themed itinerary. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Sophie Galvagnon, whose polar-navigation credentials are central to the brand, and operations are supported by a crew that includes expedition leaders, hospitality, culinary, and technical roles.

The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or external investors; revenue is generated entirely from one-time expedition bookings and private charters. Selar has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, software products, or recurring revenue streams, and its growth is constrained by the single-vessel, seasonal-Arctic model while being supported by earned media in outlets such as Vogue France, Financial Times, The Guardian, Robb Report, Paris Match, and Le Figaro.

Name

Selar

Legal name

Polarsea, S.A.S.

Website

https://selar.cc

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Selar (Polarsea, S.A.S., France) operates a 70-meter, wind- and solar-powered Arctic expedition vessel carrying 36 passengers on luxury itineraries to Norway, Svalbard, and Greenland, selling all-inclusive cruises direct-to-consumer and via partner travel agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arctic Expedition Cruises

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Expedition Cruise Lines (Polar & Remote Regions) (THAEABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising) (THAAAEAK)

Keywords

• Arctic expedition cruises
• Luxury polar travel
• Wildlife observation tours
• Solar sailing vessels
• Sustainable expedition travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Lorient

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Expedition Cruise Bookings: Selar generates revenue through the sale of all-inclusive Arctic expedition cruises. Customers pay for their cabin (double occupancy) on a per-person or full-cabin basis. Pricing varies by destination, duration, and expedition type. Payment terms include either full payment at booking or a tiered deposit structure (40% on signing, 60% balance 4 months before departure for standard bookings; 10% deposit, 30% at 12 months, 60% at 4 months for some expeditions). Revenue is primarily one-time per expedition, with repeat customers and referrals being a key segment.
2. Private Charter: The ship is available for full private charters with family or friends, offering unparalleled customization. B2B and full charter bookings have specific payment terms defined in commercial agreements.
3. B2B / Partner Agency Bookings: Selar works with partner travel agencies that sell expeditions to end customers. Partner agencies assist with flight bookings and travel logistics after customer booking confirmation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Selar operates the world's first solar-powered sailing expedition vessel offering all-inclusive Arctic expedition cruises to Norway, Svalbard, and Greenland. Each expedition accommodates up to 36 passengers and includes guided wildlife observation, kayaking, glacier hiking, zodiac cruises, snorkeling, and Northern Lights viewing led by 5 guides and celebrity explorers. Pricing ranges from $7,942 to $45,921 per person for 6-13 day journeys, with private charter and B2B booking options also available.

Product overview

Selar operates as a luxury polar expedition company offering a fleet of solar-powered sailing vessels for Arctic exploration. The core product is the 70-meter Captain Arctic expedition ship, a first-of-its-kind wind and solar-powered vessel accommodating 36 passengers. The company offers modular expedition packages organized by destination (Svalbard, Norway, Greenland) and season, including themed journeys led by notable explorers, photographers, and adventurers. All expeditions feature guided outdoor activities (kayaking, hiking, zodiac cruises, polar plunges), all-inclusive dining, and prioritize sustainability with low-carbon footprint operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Svalbard in the Midnight Sun 12-day Arctic expedition to Svalbard archipelago featuring wildlife encounters (polar bears, walruses, reindeers, whales), glacier walks, and kayaking under the midnight sun at latitudes above 80° North, priced from $23,839 per person.
• In Pursuit of Northern Lights 7-day Norway expedition focused on aurora borealis viewing, featuring Lofoten Islands exploration, hiking, kayaking, photography workshops, and encounters with reindeer in Arctic fjords, priced from $9,266.50 per person.
• Rise of the White Kingdom 9-day spring expedition to Svalbard co-created with filmmaker Caroline Côté, offering wildlife observation as Arctic fauna awakens after polar night, with activities including Nordic skiing, pulka trekking, and polar bear tracking, priced from $13,870 per person.
• In Wild Waters with Arthur Guérin-Boëri 8-day Norwegian expedition co-designed with five-time world freediving champion Arthur Guérin-Boëri, featuring guided cold-water snorkeling with orcas, breathing workshops, and immersive Arctic experiences, priced from $9,711.50 per person.
• Dancing with Orcas 7-day Norway expedition offering swimming with human-friendly orcas in Tromsø region, humpback whale observation, and Northern Lights viewing during Arctic winter, priced from $7,942.50 per person.
• Into the Heart of the Arctic with Loury 6-day spring expedition to Svalbard guided by explorer Loury Lag and Mathieu Blanchard, featuring polar bear tracking, glacier hiking, optional bivouac camping, and wildlife observation during the Arctic awakening, priced from $9,313 per person.
• Honoring Wildlife with Amos Nachoum 12-day Svalbard expedition led by legendary wildlife photographer Amos Nachoum, offering photography masterclasses, wildlife observation, and encounters with polar bears, walruses, and Arctic fauna.
• Guardians of the Arctic 10-day founding expedition to Svalbard's private land led by Birgit M. Liodden, combining historical Arctic exploration heritage, citizen science research, and visits to newly discovered islands in the Recherche Lagoon, priced from $22,960.50 per person.
• Untamed Greenland 13-day Greenland expedition departing from Constable Point, exploring Scoresby Sund fjord system with cathedral icebergs, muskox observation, Inuit cultural encounters, and polar bear tracking, priced from $18,134 per person.
• Ski & Sail in the Viking Fjords 7-day ski touring expedition in Norway combining daily ski touring descents from ship's deck, kayak adventures, snowshoe hiking, and Northern Lights viewing with evening sauna sessions, priced from $11,914 per person.
• Selar Solar Sailing Expedition Vessel (Captain Arctic) The 70-meter first solar-powered sailing expedition ship for Arctic cruises, accommodating 36 passengers in private cabins, emitting 90% less CO2 than conventional ships, powered by wind and solar energy approximately 90% of the time, with silent operation for minimal wildlife disturbance.
• Private Charter / Full Vessel Charter Full vessel charter service offering exclusive use of the solar sailing ship for families, friends, corporate incentive trips, or themed group expeditions, with fully customized itineraries and specific commercial payment terms defined per agreement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% lower CO2 emissions than conventional Arctic cruise ships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sophie GalvagnoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder, CEO, Captain, and Ice Specialist of Selar. Sophie is the youngest woman to receive the Maritime Merit, first French woman officer on icebreakers, and first female commander of commercial polar ships. She has 17 years of navigation experience and has seen over 550 polar bears. She is the primary strategic leader and brand ambassador of the company.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ponant: French-headquartered luxury expedition cruise line operating small ships to polar and remote regions, including Svalbard and Greenland. Directly comparable as a French-rooted, premium expedition brand competing for the same HNW adventure traveler in the Arctic.
• Hurtigruten: Norwegian expedition cruise operator with a long-established Svalbard and Norwegian coast presence, including expedition-format voyages. Comparable as a polar expedition competitor targeting adventurous travelers, though operating larger ships and broader itineraries than Selar.
• Quark Expeditions: Polar expedition specialist operating small ships to the Arctic and Antarctic with onboard naturalists and adventure activities. Directly competes for the same polar-experience-seeking traveler with similar expedition-led format.
• Poseidon Expeditions: Small-ship polar expedition cruise operator running Arctic and Antarctic voyages with onboard naturalists and adventure activities. Directly comparable in vessel size, expedition format, and Arctic focus.
• Lindblad Expeditions: Small-ship expedition cruise line partnered with National Geographic offering polar itineraries with expert guides. Comparable premium expedition model targeting experiential adventure travelers, though with a larger fleet and broader geographic reach.
• Aurora Expeditions: Australia-headquartered small-ship polar expedition cruise line with Svalbard and Greenland itineraries led by expedition teams. Comparable business model and target customer, focused on small-ship adventure polar cruising.

Emerging players

• Secret Atlas: Boutique small-ship polar expedition operator running Svalbard and Greenland voyages with adventure activities and small groups. Comparable as a niche, sustainability-positioned expedition operator competing for similar high-end adventure travelers.
• Swan Hellenic: Small-ship cultural and expedition cruise brand with newbuild vessels focused on polar and remote regions. Comparable as a recently-launched boutique expedition operator competing for the HNW expedition segment.

Broad incumbents

• Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours: Operates Scenic Eclipse, a discovery yacht with polar capability and expedition amenities. Comparable as a luxury expedition player, though larger and broader-portfolio than Selar's single boutique vessel.
• Silversea Cruises: Luxury cruise brand operating small expedition ships (Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud) to polar regions. Comparable in premium positioning and Arctic itineraries, but as a broader luxury incumbent with multiple ships and global itineraries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/selar_expeditions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selar-expeditions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Selar