9 Day Spitsbergen Expedition Cruise
9 Day Spitsbergen Expedition Cruise
Follow in Amundsen’s footsteps to these islands of extraordinary beauty with their glacial landscapes, migratory bird life and remote settlements. Here, where the sun never sets in summer, you lose touch with time, whilst slowly savouring a mountainous beauty unmatched anywhere in the world.
The Plancius
Originally built as an oceanographic research vessel for the Dutch Navy and subsequently completely re-built as a polar exploration vessel and modified to include 53 cabins in different configurations: 9 twin, 2 triple and 4 quads with porthole plus 26 twin, 2 twin de-luxe and 10 superior cabins with window. All cabins have private WC/shower and deck level bunks other than the triples (1 deck level and 2 bunks and quads which have 2 two bunks).
Deck 3 has a restaurant cum lecture room and deck 5 an observation lounge with glazed surrounds for maximum panoramic views of shoreline scenery and wildlife. Deck 4 also has free run deck space fore and aft down both sides for viewing.
The ship has gangways on both starboard and port sides and carries ten 40 HP zodiac inflatables all of which make for swift shore landings.
The ship’s crew is multi-national in the hospitality areas but deck officers are invariably Russian being acknowledged for their polar navigation skills and seamanship.
The Expedition Leaders
Cruises are led by experienced leaders with a strong and academically based enthusiasm for the Polar Region in general and their specialist subject in particular. As eclectic a group by way of nationality, gender, career path, experience and academic discipline as it is possible to find, they nonetheless find common ground in their love of nature and the environment.
Some of those who have led expeditions in recent years are: Robin Buzza who moved to Spitsbergen after rowing from England to the North Cape in an open boat. During his 25 years in Spitsbergen he’s spent a winter in a trapper’s cabin and dog sledded over the greater part of the archipelago.
Rolf Strange has published several books including ‘Rocks and Ice’ on the geography and geology of Svalbard and has worked as a guide and zodiac driver for Oceanwide Expeditions for over a decade doing somewhere over a 100 trips.
Ian Stone, a Polar historian and honorary research associate at the Polar Research Institute at Cambridge.
Morten Jorgensen has worked for the Danish Ornithological Society and as an observer for the Danish Polar Centre.
Day 1 Oslo
Scheduled SAS flight to Oslo. Overnight at Clarion Oslo Airport Hotel.
Day 2 Oslo – Longyearbyen
Early morning scheduled SAS flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen. Transfer to your ship. Evening sail north along the west coast.
Day 3
Zodiac along the sculpted front of Glacier. Kittiwakes, Brünnich’s Guillemots nest; Arctic Foxes patrol and Bearded Seals cruise the fjord. Later we sail to Ny Ålesund with its Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns.
Day 4
Sail to the mouth of Leifdefjorden and go ashore on the tundra island of Andøya. King and common Eiders and Pink-footed Geese nest here. We might also sail alongside the impressive Monaco glacier. Polar bears can occasionally be seen.
Day 5
In Hinlopen straits we get a chance to see Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls. On Lomfjordshalvøya we zodiac up to the to the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet. Later land in Palanderbukta to see Spitsbergen Reindeer, Walrus and a rare Ivory Gull colony.
Day 6
At 81 degrees north we will be just over 500 miles from the geographic North Pole at Phippsøya, the northernmost point of our voyage. Taking our time we might see Polar Bears, Ivory Gulls and possibly even a Ross Gull, before it is time for us to journey south again..
Day 7
Retracing our route westwards, visit Raudfjord, a fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and Seals. At Ytre Norskøya the bird life is prolific, with colonies of Little Auks, Black Guillemots, Puffins and Arctic Skuas.
Day 8
Depending on conditions either land near Fuglehuken or sail south to Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on the cliffs at both, with the former having the only harbour seal population in Spitsbergen and at the latter Arctic Foxes search for fallen eggs and chicks, while reindeer graze. Later cruise through beautiful Borebukta following a glacier front.
Day 9 Longyearbyen – UK
Dock at Longyearbyen in time for your return SAS flight(s) to the UK via Oslo.
What's Included
- Prices include return SAS flights from Heathrow to Longyearbyen via Oslo
- Passenger service charges and airport departure taxes
- Overnight hotel accommodation in twin bedded room(s) as per itinerary either in Oslo and or Longyearbyen
- 7 or 10 nights onboard ship according to selected cruise in chosen cabin category
- All meals throughout the voyage on board the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Programme of lectures by naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- Transfers in Longyearbyen
- Pre-departure information pack.
Typical Tour Price
Prices from £3875pp
