The Arctic is unforgiving; Riding in this icebreaker isn’t

While it may be frigid and wet on deck, the crew of a modern icebreaker can expect creature comforts inside the ship. Cabins on board the MSV Nordica are small but functional, with a desk, a TV and a bathroom. There are three big meals a day, but the ship has two gyms and two saunas to burn off the calories. There are movie nights, and the crew can use the ship’s satellite internet connection to keep in touch with family and friends.

In this Saturday, July 22, 2017 photo, Canadian Coast Guard Capt. Victor Gronmyr looks out over the ice covering the Victoria Strait as the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica traverses the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Thursday, July 13, 2017 photo, trainee David Kullualik is reflected in a deck door window looking out to sea as researcher Ilona Mettiainen reclines in a massage chair aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the Bering Sea to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Friday, July 7, 2017 photo, researcher Daria Gritsenko, left, plays "Hotel California" on the guitar as fellow researcher Ari Laakso, right, looks from aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Saturday, July 15, 2017 photo, researchers aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica put their feet up while watching the movie "El Dorado" starring actor John Wayne as the ship sails the Chukchi Sea to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Wednesday, July 12, 2017 photo, Nigel Greenwood, assistant ice navigator and retired Royal Canadian Navy rear admiral, climbs down the six flights of stairs from the bridge to the mess hall as he heads down for dinner aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the Bering Sea to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Saturday, July 8, 2017 photo, chief steward Mika Tiilikka prepares a strawberry cake aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Saturday, July 8, 2017 photo, reindeer is served during dinner aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Monday, July 10, 2017 photo, ice navigator Capt. David "Duke" Snider, from left, Canadian Coast Guard Capt. Victor Gronmyr, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Bill Woityra, assistant ice navigator Nigel Greenwood, and biologist Paula von Weller talk over dinner in the mess hall aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Monday, July 24, 2017 photo, boatswain Henri Helminen sits the sauna after working a shift aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the Lancaster Strait while traversing the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Thursday, July 13, 2017 photo, researchers Tiina Jaaskelainen, right, and Daria Gritsenko do yoga in the warm weather aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the Bering Sea to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Wednesday, July 12, 2017 photo, trainee Jussi Mikkotervo climbs out of the pool after touching up the paint aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the Bering Sea to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Sunday, July 9, 2017 photo, first engineer Kristian Autio does a check of the engine room aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Sunday, July 9, 2017 photo, boatswain Henri Helminen reads a book in his cabin after working a shift aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Tuesday, July 18, 2017 photo, trainee Jussi Mikkotervo works out on a punching bag aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the Beaufort Sea to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Saturday, July 8, 2017 photo, researcher Ari Laakso, right, plays ping pong with trainee Maatiusi Manning aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Thursday, July 6, 2017 photo, first officer Jukka Vuosalmi, right, and second officer Ilkka Alhoke look out from the bridge during a night shift while piloting the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Most of the 21 regular crew work 12-hour shifts. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

In this Thursday, July 6, 2017 photo, researcher Ari Laakso reclines in a massage chair aboard the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails the North Pacific Ocean to traverse the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Text from the AP news story, The Arctic is unforgiving; Riding in this icebreaker isn’t. 

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