Fjords & Spitsbergen

HIGHLIGHTS

• UNESCO World Heritage sites: Bryggen, former Hanseatic port of Bergen (embarkation port), the Geiranger Fjord.
• Possibility of a walk at the foot of the most beautiful glaciers in Europe, the Briksdal, from Olden.
• Sail into universally known and recognised West Norwegian Fjords to the ice floe landscapes of Spitsbergen.
• Cross the Arctic Circle.
• Landscape: fjords, vertiginous cliffs, ice floes, jagged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, steep-sided valleys, sheer cliffs, huge glaciers.
• Wildlife: Minkewale, polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic terns, seals, walruses.

ITINERARY

MAY 21, 2022 BERGEN

Embarkation 5/21/2022 from 16h00 to 17h00
Departure 5/21/2022 at 18h30

Located at the end of Byfjord, Bergen was the capital of Norway in the 12th and 13th Centuries and has preserved some very beautiful monuments from the time when it was home to royalty. Wandering through Bergen’s streets means going back in time, in search of the hidden treasures that have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. A veritable openair museum, Bergen is home to a thriving artistic community of painters, potters, jewellers. The Bergen cable car offers you a splendid panorama over the port and the surrounding fjords. Do not miss the visit to the old quarter with its narrow streets, a testimony of the power of the hanseatic League that controlled trade in Northern Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

MAY 22, 2022 OLDEN

Arrival 5/22/2022 midday
Departure 5/22/2022 late afternoon

With its two wooden churches, one red and the other white, plus its breathtaking view of the mouth of the river Oldeelva, Olden looks just like a picture post card. Located a few kilometres from the Jostedalsbreen park, home to one of the last glacier polar icecaps, this little village is a definite must for exploring the blue languages of the Briksdal or Kjennalen glaciers. Make sure you find some time to visit the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Absolutely amazing. Another gem is lake Lovatn and its turquoise waters inviting you to quiet contemplation.

2 possible excursions to this stopover

MAY 23, 2022 HELLESYLT

Arrival 5/23/2022 mid morning
Departure 5/23/2022 late morning

Hellesylt is a small village located 20 kilometres from the Geiranger site. Here, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Norwegian village. Colourful houses, wooden walkways, rustic stalls where you can have a refreshment before heading off to discover more of the local colour. The surroundings are simply magnificent with cliffs, mountains and lakes with peaceful waters. The village is crossed by a river whose charming cascade tumbles into the fjord waters.

MAY 23, 2022 GEIRANGER

Arrival 5/23/2022 midday
Departure 5/23/2022 early evening

A must-see stopover in Norway, located halfway between Bergen and Trondheim, Geiranger offers the stunning beauty of a natural decor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The splendour of the sheer cliffs, dark rock and crystalline water are the stars of the show here. The sides of the fjord offer many possibilities for hiking: the Eagle’s Road takes you up to a steep stretch offering a gorgeous panoramic view. A visit to Geiranger village will immerse you in the rhythm of life in the little local community.

1 possible excursion to this stopover

MAY 24, 2022 AT SEA

Arrival 5/24/2022
Departure 5/24/2022

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

MAY 25, 2022 LEKNES, LOFOTEN

Arrival 5/25/2022 early afternoon
Departure 5/25/2022 evening

Way beyond the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands are truly considered to be in “another world”. A jewel of nature in its most pristine state, this archipelago with its jagged coastline offers you majestic settings of high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and fjords of a deep blue, where countless bird colonies make their nests. Whether you visit Å, or Nusjford, listed by UNESCO, enjoy authentic and memorable moments.

MAY 26, 2022 SAILING IN TROLLFJORDEN

Arrival 5/26/2022
Departure 5/26/2022

According to legend, trolls were the guardians of this 2-km long fjord accessible via the Raftsund Strait, between the Vesterålen Archipelago and the Lofoten Islands. Dominated on both sides by vertical rock faces that stand up to 1,000 metres high in parts, Trollfjorden welcomes you in a magical atmosphere which its narrowness helps to create. During this unforgettable journey, you will indeed have the impression that you’re grazing the surrounding mountains and that you’ll never see the end of this marine cul-de-sac. After a delicate U-turn, your ship will finally head back in the opposite direction: this will perhaps be the opportunity to observe, for want of trolls, seals and eagles, which are often present in this site, unique on earth.

MAY 27, 2022 TROMSO

Arrival 5/27/2022 early morning
Departure 5/27/2022 midday

In the north of the Arctic circle you’ll discover Tromsø, a secluded town located in the county of Troms. Norwegians call it the “Paris of the north”. You’ll soon see why when you discover its extensive neoclassical architectural heritage. A stunning example is the Arctic cathedral, a major monument whose stylistic purity echoes the outline of the mountains surrounding the town.

Sailing by Bjornoya (Bear Island)
MAY 28, 2022 SAILING BY BJORNOYA (BEAR ISLAND)

Arrival 5/28/2022
Departure 5/28/2022

Halfway between Norway and Spitsbergen, you will sail not far from the coastlines of Bjørnøya, the southernmost island of Svalbard. From your ship, observe this isolated piece of land discovered in 1596 by the Dutch navigator Willem Barents, then looking for the Northwest Passage. Following a tough fight between a polar bear and the members of the expedition, he dubbed the place Bear Island. Regularly covered by a thick layer of fog, Bjørnøya shelters a meteorological station built in 1923, which is still in operation. Declared a nature reserve in 2002, the island is above all home to an enormous colony of sea birds: skuas, guillemots, puffins, Tridactyl gulls, petrels, gulls and little auks all coexist here.

MAY 29, 2022 AT SEA

Arrival 5/29/2022
Departure 5/29/2022

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

MAY 30, 2022 HORNSUND

Arrival 5/30/2022 early morning
Departure 5/30/2022 late afternoon

Nestling between millennial glaciers and carved mountains, and considered to be “the crown of Arctic Norway”, Spitsbergen is a place that never sees the night. Your ship will take you closer to this fascinating archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to be Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.

MAY 31, 2022 BELLSUND, SPITSBERGEN

Arrival 5/31/2022 early morning
Departure 5/31/2022 late afternoon

You will head to the Bellsund fjord to follow in the footsteps of the first explorers who came from the Norwegian coast, or those of the many fur traders seeking game and trophies. Boasting an astonishingly rich wildlife, the arms of the fjord separate to form two lush valleys. Give free rein to your imagination in the heart of this majestic natural environment where time seems to stand still.

JUNE 1, 2022 LONGYEARBYEN, SPITSBERGEN

Arrival 6/1/2022 early morning
Disembarkation 6/1/2022 at 07h00

Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

For your serenity, PONANT selects a flight and organises the transfer between the port and the airport. This package is included in your cruise fare.

Disembarkation Day - Longyearbyen/Paris

Disembarkation.
Meet and greet at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT.
Flight Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 4 h 30.
We highly recommend you stay one night in Paris after this flight.

This programme includes:
Flight Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT in economy class.
Transfer as mentioned in the programme.
English-speaking assistance.

Please note:
Due to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
Flight included in the programme is as of today, operated in economy class, on a European airline.
For passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris after this flight.
Programme and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.