Exploring Spitsbergen
- Polar Cruises
Explore the lush tundra's, mountains and pack ice of Spitsbergen during this cruise through Norway's Svalbard archipelago.
North Spitsbergen
Sailing along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen, will give us the best opportunities to spot the King of the Arctic. We sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seal. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. Polar bears are often seen here.
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Day 1
Day 1: Embarkation and departure from Longyerbyen
You arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the surrounding area of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plants have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden, where in the mouth of the fjord we may see our first Minke whale.
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Day 2
Day 2:
We sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded seal. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. Polar bear are often seen here.
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Day 3
Day 3:
Depending on the weather we may now sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwake. As well, Polar Bear have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.
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Day 4
Day 4:
Today we will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded seal, Ringed seal, Polar bear, and Ivory gull. At the entrance there is the possibility to see Blue whale. We’ll navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s guillemot. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, we’ll attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, Pink-footed goose, breeding Ivory gull, and walrus.
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Day 5
Day 5: At Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet we will just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole.
We will try reach our northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar Bear inhabit this region, along with Ivory Gull. The ship may sit for several hours in the pack ice, before turning west again.
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Day 6
Day 6: We will retrace our route westwards to keep watch for the Polar Bear
Retracing our route westwards, our route takes us through and along the pack ice, keeping watch for Polar Bear and the elusive Greenland Whale (Bowhead). About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen we sail along the edge of the continental shelf, where Fin Whale forage in summer in the upwelling’s along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of the Kongsfjorden we have also good chances to see Minke Whale.
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Day 7
Day 7: Sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden
In Forlandsundet at Sarstangen is a haul out place for Walrus. Alternatively we sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and Arctic Fox search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. At nighttime we arrive in Longyearbyen.
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Day 8
Day 8: The last day of our voyage. We disembark the vessel in Longyearbyen
We disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, for the flights south to Oslo and onward home.
Dates & Rates
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Plancius North Spitsbergen
- Plancius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 27th May - 3rd Jun 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 6,000
- Twin Window
- EUR 5,000
- Twin Porthole
- EUR 4,600
- Triple Porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 3,300
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Plancius North Spitsbergen
- Plancius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 3rd Jun - 10th Jun 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 6,000
- Twin Window
- EUR 5,000
- Triple Porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 3,300
-
Plancius North Spitsbergen
- Plancius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 10th Jun - 17th Jun 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 6,000
- Twin Deluxe
- EUR 5,300
- Twin Window
- EUR 5,000
- Triple Porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 3,300
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Hondius North Spitsbergen
- Hondius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 174
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 21st Jun - 28th Jun 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Hondius Suite
- EUR 8,600
- Grand Suite private...
- EUR 7,450
- Junior Suite
- EUR 6,450
- Superior
- EUR 6,000
- Twin deluxe
- EUR 5,300
- Twin window
- EUR 5,000
- Twin Porthole
- EUR 4,600
- Triple porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple Porthole
- EUR 3,300
-
Hondius North Spitsbergen
- Hondius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 174
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 28th Jun - 5th Jul 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Hondius Suite
- EUR 8,600
- Grand Suite private...
- EUR 7,450
- Junior Suite
- EUR 6,450
- Superior
- EUR 6,000
- Twin deluxe
- EUR 5,300
- Twin window
- EUR 5,000
- Twin Porthole
- EUR 4,600
- Triple porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple Porthole
- EUR 3,300
-
Plancius North Spitsbergen
- Plancius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 17th Jul - 24th Jul 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 6,000
- Twin Window
- EUR 5,000
- Twin Porthole
- EUR 4,600
- Triple Porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 3,300
-
Plancius North Spitsbergen
- Plancius
- 7 nights
- shipMaxPassengers 116
- Learn more about this vessel
Dates
- 26th Aug - 2nd Sep 2019
- Embark: Longyearbyen
- Disembark: Longyearbyen
Prices from
- Superior Cabin
- EUR 6,000
- Twin Deluxe
- EUR 5,300
- Twin Window
- EUR 5,000
- Twin Porthole
- EUR 4,600
- Triple Porthole
- EUR 4,100
- Quadruple cabin
- EUR 3,300
Related Trips
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Exploring Spitsbergen
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Jewels of the Arctic
Jewels of the Arctic
- Polar Cruises
The wildlife watching around Spitsbergen and East Greenland is excellent with Arctic foxes, bearded seals, walrus, beluga whales and the ultimate wildlife encounter – the mighty polar bear.