HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore
Svalbard’s legendary northwestern coast, home to dramatic
mountain scenery, tidewater glaciers, rich polar history, and some of
the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing
- Look
for polar bears, walrus, seals, musk ox, eider ducks, Arctic foxes,
whales, and towering cliffs with thousands of nesting seabirds
- Visit
the remote and rarely visited Northeast Greenland National Park which
offers some of the most majestic scenery in the world
- Extensive
fjord systems provide access to the mountainous interiors, where
tidewater glaciers create colossal icebergs
- Coastal
plains are home to prehistoric-looking musk oxen and other wildlife
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Triple Classic | Main Deck Suite | Classic Suite | Superior Suite | Deluxe Suite | Premium Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Triple Classic | (Mid-range)
Superior Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
Day
1: Arrival to Oslo (hotel night)
Welcome
to Oslo, which in 2019 was awarded the prestigious title
“Green Capital of Europe”. We’ve arranged
a comfortable stay for you at an Oslo Airport hotel so that
you’re conveniently close for your flight to Longyearbyen on
Day 2.
If
you’re adventurous and have the time, take the handy airport
train into central Oslo – it’s a 20-minute ride and
trains depart and arrive frequently during the day. Near Oslo Central
Station are shops, cafes, the Botanical Garden, cultural attractions
and the attractive waterfront area.
Day
2: Embarkation in Longyearbyen
Today
you have a flight to Longyearbyen, the administrative center of
Svalbard and starting point of our Arctic expedition! At the
Longyearbyen airport, you will be greeted by our staff and transferred
to the pier where we will warmly welcome you aboard the deluxe
expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite
and explore the ship that will be your comfortable home during the
extraordinary adventure to come. Once underway, a full schedule of
events kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your
expedition staff. After the first of many delicious dinners on board,
step out onto the open decks to admire the gorgeous scenery in endless
evening light as we pass through the wildlife-rich waters of Isfjorden,
one of the largest fjords in Svalbard.
Day
3-5: Exploration of Svalbard
Svalbard
is a true High Arctic wilderness and flexibility will be the key in our
ability to maximize your experiences. Our route and exploration
opportunities here are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice
conditions we encounter. Our experienced captain and expedition leader
decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and
opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage
will be taken of the circumstances presented to us by Nature in this
wild and remote corner of the Arctic. We anticipate exploring in the
northwestern part of the island of Spitsbergen. This area contains the
archipelago’s most impressive scenery and some of the
Arctic’s best wildlife viewing. We will try to reach the
entrance of the Hinlopen Strait and see the beautiful fjords.
Jagged
snowy mountain peaks flank deep fjords and narrow channels. Immense
tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. Fields of
flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox.
Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to a wide variety of
marine mammals. Polar bears can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and
around Svalbard.
Also
in this area is Ny Ålesund, a former mining town that is now
home to an international community of Arctic researchers, complete with
museum, gift shop, and post office. This was also a staging area for
historic attempts to discover the North Pole.
Day
6-7: Across the Greenland Sea
From
Svalbard we head southwest across the Greenland Sea toward East
Greenland. In these far northern latitudes, it is possible to encounter
sea ice any time of the year. All along the way, we remain vigilant for
sightings of marine mammals such as seals, and the majestic polar bear.
In previous eras, a large number of different species of whales,
especially bowhead whales, lived in the Greenland Sea. But due to
hunting which lasted into the 20th centur, the whales were on the verge
of extinction. Now, fortunately, the populations are recovering, and
sometimes we can see these majestic animals passing by.
Day
8-11: East Greenland Adventure
This
is expedition cruising at its most authentic and it brings us new
opportunities to explore. We will go on a true arctic adventure and
feel the real breath of the Arctic. Our itinerary and exploration
opportunities in East Greenland are dependent on weather and sea ice
conditions. Again, you can be sure that our experienced captain and
expedition leader will take advantage of every opportunity so that you
can experience excellent wildlife viewing, discover incredible scenery
and go ashore wherever possible. The Franz Josef Fjord and Kong Oscar
Fjord systems are part of Northeast Greenland National Park, the
world’s largest and perhaps most remote. This whole area
contains some of the Arctic’s most magnificent scenery. Deep
fjords and narrow channels, flanked by ice-clad peaks up to 2000 meters
high, reach far into the mountainous heart of Greenland. Tidewater
glaciers create colossal icebergs that float with wind and tide
throughout the fjord system. On shore, fields of multicolored tundra
are home to musk oxen and Arctic hare. The landscape — vast,
open, and seemingly untouched since the beginning of time—is
a hiker’s paradise. Throughout this area, we also find
ancient Thule archeological sites, historical trappers’ huts,
and modern Inuit hunters’ cabins. To provide you with the
best experience possible, Days 3-5 and 8-11 might be reversed. This
allows our captain and expedition team to monitor the weather and sea
conditions; remember: flexibility is the key to polar expedition
cruising!
Day
12-13: Across the Greenland Sea
Following
our exploration of the Northeast Greenland coastline and fjords, we
head back across the Greenland Sea toward Svalbard. Presentations and
workshops by our expert staff ensure that these days at sea are not
idly spent; but that’s up to you! Seabird viewing and whale
sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open decks as well as exterior
stateroom windows and balconies.
Day
14: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen
After
filling up with one last buffet breakfast on board, we bid you farewell
in Longyearbyen and provide transfers. By this time, you may already be
making plans for your next amazing trip with us into the polar worlds!
Sea Spirit (Luxury Expedition, 114-guests)
The ice-strengthened small all-suite expedition ship Sea Spirit (originally Renaissance V) was built in 1991 in Italy. From that time she has changed several operators and regions of navigation, cruising in Singapore, Alaska, Pacific Basin, Arctic and Antarctica. The vessel was modified in late 2010. Providing spacious suites for accommodation of maximum of 114 passengers (the smallest suite is 20 sq. meters) the Sea Spirit at the same time features maneuverability and friendly atmosphere of small ships. All suites have private facilities and exterior views. Some of the suites feature private balconies for enjoying fantastic landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Round
trip Oslo - Longyearbyen - Oslo air transportation;
- 1
pre-voyage night on Day 1 in a hotel in Oslo;
- Group
transfer to the ship for embarkation on Day 2;
- Group
transfer upon disembarkation;
- Shipboard
accommodation;
- All
meals on board throughout the voyage;
- Tea
and coffee station 24 hours daily;
- All
scheduled landings/excursions (subject to weather and ice conditions);
- Leadership
throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader &
Expedition Team;
- Branded
Poseidon Expeditions parka;
- Rubber
boots for shore landings for the time of the cruise;
- Welcome
and Farewell cocktails;
- All
port fees;
- Pre-departure
materials;
- Digital
Voyage Log;
- Wi-Fi
on board.
RATES
DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare;
- Visa
and passport fees (if applicable);
- Luggage
and trip cancellation insurance;
- Soft
drinks and alcoholic beverages other than those for special events and
celebrations;
- Personal
expenses such as laundry and telecommunication charges;
- Fuel
surcharge may be applied for all bookings;
- Mandatory
Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a minimum benefit of US$ 200,000 per
person;
- Kayaking;
- The
cost of any applicable medical tests (such as COVID-19) or vaccinations
required either by a national government or Poseidon Expeditions
before, during or after the cruise;
- Staff
gratuities.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Sea
Kayaking: USD 655
- Photography
Workshop: Free
