15-day Icebreaker expedition to the North Pole
July 22 - August 5 and August 3 - August 17, 2008

Itinerary

Day 1: Moscow, Russia.
After your arrival at Moscow international airport you will be transferred to a 5 star hotel located in the center of the city. Our representatives will meet you at the lobby of the hotel. Please, note: If your time of arrival does not match the time of the group transfer, please, contact us for booking an individual transfer for you.

Day 2: Moscow to Murmansk, Russia
We will escort you to the airport for the 2-hour charter flight to Murmansk. There we’ll board a nuclear-powered icebreaker “Yamal”, one of the most powerful ships in the world.

Day 3: Barents Sea. On your first full day at sea, relax and explore the sophisticated vessel that will be home for the next two weeks. Specialists begin presentations on Arctic wildlife, geology, history and other areas of interest. There will be briefings of your upcoming helicopter flights, as well as environmental guidelines for visiting this remote part of the planet. And, of course, you have many opportunities to view seabirds and whales as we sail north.

Day 4-7: Into the Ice Pack. Surrounded by endless polar vistas, the Yamal begins breaking through the multi-year pack ice, surging northward at speeds of up to 12 knots in conditions that few vessels have the power to negotiate. You're welcome to watch the ship's awe-inspiring progress around the clock, as helicopters come and go on reconnaissance flights. Also observe the experienced captain and his officers review the latest ice charts transmitted via satellite. Plus, take your own helicopter flight and enjoy incredible aerial views of the Yamal as she crashes its way toward the Pole, leaving massive blocks of ice in its wake. Along the way, the gangway will be lowered and everyone is invite onto the ice for an invigorating walk. And as usual we'll keep watch for a diverse array of Arctic wildlife.

Day 8: The North Pole. This is the day we plan to reach the ultimate destination. The ship buzzes with anticipation until the moment we've all been waiting for - when you actually stand at the top of the world. You have plenty of time to wander out onto the ice and survey the expanse of white and blue stretching hundreds of kilometers in all directions. There are inevitable reflective moments as you take in the reality of where you are and recall the past adventurers who struggled in vain or lost their lives trying to reach the point where you now walk so easily. Of course, there wil be time for a celebration on the ice - and for those who dare - a brief plunge into the Arctic Ocean!

Day 9-11: Southward Bound. Your goal achieved, there's nowhere to head but south. Our exact route will vary with local ice and weather conditions. As ever, the helicopter pilots are always at the ready for reconnaissance flights and excursions over the spectacular, constantly changing ice and sea. As you watch the fascinating progress of the Yamal from one of the decks, keep an eye out for more wildlife; your chances of spotting polar bears are excellent as we near Franz Josef Land. Meanwhile, the naturalists and other specialists on the expedition team continue to illuminate various aspects of the vast polar wilderness.

Day 12-14: Franz Josef Land, Barents Sea, Murmansk A remote world of jagged mountains and massive icebergs, Franz Josef Land was not discovered until 1873 and remains relatively unexplored. The most northerly point in Russia, this archipelago of 191 islands is a naturalist's paradise. Polar bears and Arctic fox often come very close to the ship; seals are plentiful, and you can spot beluga whales and narwhals offshore; and the high, rocky cliffs are home to huge colonies of seabirds. Explore the dramatic coast via Zodiac (as local conditions permit) and enjoy spectacular aerial views flying over glaciers and volcanic plateaus in the helicopters. We also plan to go ashore at early exploration sites such as Cape Norway, where Norwegian explorers Nansen and Johansen survived the winter of 1896-97 after a bold attempt to reach the North Pole. (Please note that all of our landings in Franz Josef Land are subject to government permission, variable timing restrictions and weather conditions.) On the final leg of our journey south across the Barents Sea, there are seabirds and whales to look out for, and of course the expedition team's presentations provide helpful context for your unique adventure. Then it's time to say farewell to the Yamal and its crew as you disembark in Murmansk, fly back to Moscow for a final night

Day 15 Moscow After breakfast, you will be transferred to the international airport for your flight home.

Rates
Our discounted rates start at USD 20,585 per person in an outside twin cabin.

Rates include:
-Two nights at the 5-star hotel in Moscow
- Airfares Moscow-Murmansk-Moscow
- Transfers between the airport, ship and airport
- Baggage transfer between the airport and the ship
- Voyage aboard the vessel "Yamal" as indicated in the itinerary
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by helicopters (as included in planned group excursions)
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and the service of an experienced guide
- Four meals a day
- Pre-departure materials
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
- Special expedition parka

Please Note: A Total Solar Eclipse will be best seen in August, 01 in the point not far from the Franz Josef Land archipelago. Poseidon Arctic Voyages offers travelers the unique opportunity to observe a Total Solar Eclipse during the 15 days North Pole cruise on board the Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker “Yamal”. A total eclipse is usually visible for about 3 minutes from a point in the centre of the path of totality. There’s enough time to make unique photos of Solar Eclipse with the Arctic landscapes on the background.

To read about the Yamal and accommodations, click here.

To see Yamal's deck plan, click here.

Call us for our lowest rates and receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne when you sail.
1-800-334-6544 (U.S.) or +1-212-480-4521 (International)

CruiseNorway offer savings on sailings to ALL passengers worldwide. Inquire about rates for this program. We offer the right cruise at the right price. Call 1-800-334-6544 (U.S.) or +1-212-480-4521 (International) or visit How to Book form.