15-day Icebreaker expedition to the North Pole July 23 - August 6, 2009

Itinerary

Day 1: Helsinki, Finland
A representative will meet you at the lobby of the luxurious hotel in Helsinki, Finland. Enjoy Helsinki on your own.

Day 2: Helsinki to Murmansk, Russia. Embarkation.
After a short Helsinki tour, you will be escorted to the airport for the 2-hour charter flight to Murmansk. There you will board the 2008-built nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory", one of the most powerful ships in the world. We depart Murmansk via the Kola Bay.

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. An engine tour of the 75,000 horsepower ship is also arranged.

Day 4-6: Towards the North POle, Into the Ice Pack. Surrounded by endless polar vistas, the Victory 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 ice-breaker 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 7: The North Pole. This is the day we plan to reach the ultimate destination, the Geographical North Pole. 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, including a barbeque - and for those who dare - a brief plunge into the Arctic Ocean!

Day 8-10: 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 vessel 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 11-14: 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 Victory and its crew as you disembark in Murmansk, fly back to Helsinki for a final night

Day 15 Helsinki After breakfast, go to the international airport for your flight home.

Please note that this itinerary is a guide only. The exact route and program varies according to weather and ice conditions and the wildlife encountered.

Rates
Our discounted rates start at USD 18,700 per person in an outside twin cabin including medical insurance covering emergency evacuation. Special deal for single guests, please call us.

Rates include:
-Two nights at the 5-star hotel in Helsinki
- Charter flight transfers between the hotel-airport-ship-airport-hotel
- Voyage aboard the vessel "50 Years of Victory" 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 experienced guides
- Four meals a day with tea/coffee/water and snacks available througout the day
- Waterproof boots are lent for the cruise
- Special expedition parka
- In-cabin bathrobe and hairdryer
- Informative pre-departure materials
- Expedition log with picture album on DVD
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
- Complex personal medical insurance covering risks of evacuation and repatriation (besides other risks).
Coverage: EUR 50,000. Insurance is provided by Closed Joint Stock Insurance Company "European Travel Insurance" – member of European Travel Insurance Group

Rates do not include the charter airfare Helsinki-Murmansk-Helsinki (USD 1295).

To read about the ship and accommodations, click here.

To see the deck plan, click here.

If you want something less expensive but spectacular, circumnaviagte Spitsbergen, Norway and encounter polar bears near the North Pole! Early booking discounts on the new ship MS Expedition

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