HIGHLIGHTS
- Cruising
along the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, an area rich in natural
variety and cultural history
- Experience
the relatively warm West Spitsbergen Current which is mostly ice-free
- Head
out in the Zodiacs for cruises within the park and for landings to see
wildlife and historical sites
- Enter
fjords, searching the ice and the shores for seabirds, walruses, seals,
and polar bears
- Witness
some of the largest bird colonies of the Northern Hemisphere, located
on Bear Island
- Watch
Common Guillemots, Brünnich's Guillemots, Little Auks,
Black-legged Kittiwakes, Northern Fulmars, and Glaucous Gulls found
along the cliff
- Kayak
in a small group under the guidance of certified kayak instructors
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
ITINERARY
Please Note: The Jun 30, 2020 sailing is a
return trip. Its itinerary will be the reverse of this sailing.
Day
1
Longyearbyen
is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian
administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the
archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the
Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen's airport can be used all-year
round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels,
restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the
port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center,
where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and
offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and
international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is
the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of
Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around
Longyearbyen and even in town.
Day
2-4: Svalbard Northern Region
There
are several deep fjords and prominent glaciers in the northern reaches
of Svalbard, as well as the northern hemisphere's widest glacier front.
Ice conditions will dictate how much can be accessed in terms of
cruising bird islets like the Andøyane Islets or approaching
glaciers like Monaco Glacier and Seliger Glacier. The Northern Region
is also known to have several walrus haul-outs and areas defined as
“Arctic Desert”. Walks and hikes ashore to have a
closer look at flora and wildlife are a possibility in the spectacular
Northern Region of Svalbard.
Day
5 - 8: Svalbard Southern Region
Svalbard's
Southern Region and specifically Spitsbergen's west coast is less
ice-clogged than the rest of Svalbard due to the moderating influenced
of the Gulf Stream. Several fjords cut into the western coast of
Spitsbergen and have been used by trappers and hunters, as well as the
different mining companies that tried to exploit the riches of the
archipelago's largest island of Spitsbergen. Remains of huts and mines,
as well as active commercial and scientific settlements can be found
and visited. Depending on the time of the season, glaciers can be
visited on foot or by sea. Northern places like Magdalenefjorden and
Hornsund will reveal fascinating views of geological formations, craggy
mountains, spectacular glaciers and a variety of seabirds and seals.
Day
9: Cruise & Explore Bear Island (Svalbard)
Almost
half way between Tromsø and Svalbard is isolated Bear Island
– considered the southernmost island of the Svalbard
Archipelago. The unglaciated island is an impressive Nature Reserve of
steep, high cliffs that are frequented by seabirds, specifically at the
southern tip. Brünnich's Guillemots, Common Guillemots, Black
Guillemots, Razorbills, Little Auks, Northern Fulmars, Glaucous Gulls,
Black-legged Kittiwakes, and even Atlantic Puffins and Northern Gannets
nest along the cliffs south of Sørhamna. Because of the
large numbers of birds and the isolated location, Bear Island has been
recognized as an Important Bird Area. It was once a hotspot for whaling
and walrus hunting, and at one stage even mining. Bear Island received
its name because of a polar bear encountered by early explorer Willem
Barentsz. Today polar bears rarely visit the island and its only
settlement is a meteorological station manned all-year round on the
north side.
Day
10: Tromsø
Tromsø
surprised visitors in the 1800s: they thought it very sophisticated and
cultured for being so close to the North Pole—hence its
nickname, the Paris of the North. It looks the way a polar town
should—with ice-capped mountain ridges and jagged
architecture that is an echo of the peaks. The midnight sun shines from
May 21 to July 21, and it is said that the northern lights decorate the
night skies over Tromsø more than over any other city in
Norway. Tromsø is home to only 69,000 people, but it's very
spread out—the city's total area, 2,558 square km (987 square
miles), is the most expansive in Norway. The downtown area is on a
small, hilly island connected to the mainland by a slender bridge. The
13,000 students at the world's northernmost university are one reason
the nightlife here is uncommonly busy.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Guided
Zodiac, land and sea tours, and shoreside activities led by the
Expeditions Team
- Parka
- Enrichment
lectures by a highly qualified Expeditions Team
- Spacious
suites
- Butler
service in every suite
- Unlimited
Free Wifi
- Personalised
service – nearly one crew member for every guest
- Choice
of restaurants, diverse cuisine, open-seating dining
- Beverages
in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and
spirits
- In-suite
dining and room service
- Onboard
entertainment
- Onboard
gratuities