HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit
the weather station at Jan Mayen
- Walk
to the remains of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station amid the thick
moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape
- Visit
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest
island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former
mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum
- Enjoy
North Spitsbergen’s natural beauty, wildlife, and pack-ice
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Quad Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior |
|---|
| May 25, 2025 | Jun 10, 2025 | 5,760 | 7,080 | 8,040 | 8,720 | 9,240 | 10,480 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Quad Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Window | (High-end)
Superior |
|---|
| May 25, 2025 | Jun 10, 2025 | 5,760 | 8,720 | 10,480 |
Please
Note: This
is a combination cruise consisting of a few smaller cruises.
PLA01b25:
Birding
Day
1: Sights of the Granite City
You
arrive in Aberdeen, the Granite City, frequent winner of the Britain in
Bloom competition. This is the true start of your trip. Several
cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are native to these seas.
To the south you see the lighthouse on Girdle Ness that was designed by
the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish writer
who gave us such classics as Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde. More passengers join you in Aberdeen.
Day
2: Birds, seals, and world-famous knits
We
plan to stay the day on Fair Isle, an island in the Shetlands whose
seventy-odd inhabitants are known for their beautiful knitwear. This is
a fantastic location with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you
may even spot grey seals.
Day
3 – 4: Jan Mayen marine life
You
sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles
northeast of Iceland. Your two days at sea do not pass idly, however.
Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas,
heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale.
Day
5: Snow-capped seaside volcano
Jan
Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of
Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high
(7,545 feet) volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea.
With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the
weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th-century
Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic
landscape.
Day
6 – 8: Under the midnight sun & along the ice edge
Basking
in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in
search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of
seabirds. You then change direction after about 79° north,
cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west
Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and
– near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords
– surfacing minke whales.
Day
9: The Arctic island of Spitsbergen
Forlandsundet,
between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls
Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses
sometimes haul out here. Alternatively, you might sail into
St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at
Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for
fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
Day
10: Journey’s end in Longyearbyen
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You
disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen,
taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next
adventure lies. But if you’re still craving additional
chances to spot the Arctic’s most iconic apex predator, stay
on board for our seven-night North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile
landscapes, sea ice & wildlife voyage.
PLA02-25
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
You touch
down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the
largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this
former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for
fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more
than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early
evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first
minke whale of your voyage.
Day
2-7: North Spitsbergen’s natural beauty, wildlife, and
pack-ice
This
voyage will take you into the pack ice and along the remote shorelines
of rugged north Spitsbergen. Places we might visit include the
following:
Raudfjord
On
the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can enjoy this expansive fjord
spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and
bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support thriving seabird
colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.
Monaco
Glacier
Depending
on the weather and sea ice, we could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise
within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco
Glacier. The waters in front of this precipitous glacier are a favorite
feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a
popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent us from
sailing here early in the season, we may sail along the west coast of
Spitsbergen.
Highlights
of Hinlopen
We
aim to sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals,
and polar bears. At the entrance, there is even the possibility to spot
blue whales. After cruising among the ice floes of
Lomfjordshalvøya in the Zodiacs, you can view the bird
cliffs of Alkefjellet, with their thousands of
Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen
Strait, we may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here we may see
reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. We can take an alternate
route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.
The
Seven Islands
The
northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the
Seven Islands. Here we may reach 80° north, just 870 km (540
miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region,
so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before
wheeling around west again.
Sailing
the continental shelf
While
retracing our route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive
Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of
Spitsbergen, we sail the edge of the continental shelf. Here fin whales
forage during the summer in the upwelling zones (where cold,
nutrient-rich water wells up from below the sea’s surface)
that run along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you
have a good chance of sighting minke whales.
Forlandsundet,
St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet
Walruses
sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet. Alternatively, we might sail into
St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at
Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for
fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
Day
8: There and back again
Even
great adventures must eventually come to an end. The vessel arrives
back in Longyearbyen in the early morning, and bus transportation to
the airport will be provided.
Plancius (Expedition, 108-guests)
MV Plancius offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. The vessel has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers
and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for
those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO
fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any
airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre-
and post- land arrangements.
- Transfers
to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen.
- Passport
and visa expenses.
- Government
arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals
ashore.
- Baggage,
cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess
baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry,
bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The
customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other
service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Birding
- Snowshoeing
- Photo
Workshop
