Sea and sun are the hallmarks of most summer vacations, but the Land of the Ice Bears cruise is one of few to offer an unlimited quantity of both. Dreamed up by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic, the getaway features a never-setting sun and plenty of polar bears-just part of the reason it's a Luxist Awards' nominee in the Best Summer Cruises category.

Fly from the United States to Oslo, where you'll spend your first full day taking in the sights and sounds of metropolitan Scandinavia. Then board the fully stabilized ice-class expedition cruise ship that will transport you to Svalbard, a remote archipelago 350 miles beyond Norway's North Cape. This is the farthest that vessels are allowed to travel without an ice-breaker; still, there are plenty of floes bobbing in the icy fjords.

The wildlife, however, is anything but frozen. From the comfort of Zodiac boats and kayaks, you'll observe a plethora of creatures-reindeer, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, and of course, polar bears-frolicking amid the thawing tundra and surrounding seas. In the evening, you'll retire to your ship and its myriad amenities, including a bar, restaurant, gallery, library and lounge.

Spots on the Land of the Ice Bears cruise start at $7,500 per person (based on double occupancy) and run as high as $14,000 for the finest cabins, not including airfare. But for those intent on catching plenty of summer sun and really cooling off, this cruise is hard to beat.

Vote for the Luxury Family Summer Vacation that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.