HIGHLIGHTS
- Traverse
through icy waters and landscapes in seven action-packed days
- Explore
and discover the unique ecology of this mountainous and glacier-clad
island - and experience the true majesty of the high Arctic
- Cruise
up to 80 degrees north, and get as close as possible to the pack ice
north of Svalbard - a constantly shifting wilderness of ice and sea
which stretches to the North Pole and beyond
- Experience
areas of Svalbard not easily accessible by any other means of
exploration as we carefully navigate around this breathtaking
archipelago
- Enjoy
frequent shore landings on Zodiacs and embark on exploratory mini
cruises in the fjords and glacial landscapes - from historical sites,
to glacier fronts, to remote lonely beaches
- Watch
wildlife such as reindeer and polar foxes busy amassing energy for the
brutal polar winter
- Enjoy
the sight of countless birds - Arctic guillemots, fulmars and
razorbills that fish in our ship's wake
- On
the sandy shores, huge walruses bask in the midnight sun, and whales
and seals forage along the edge of the pack ice
- On
the ice itself, we may even see the king of the Arctic, the polar bear,
on its never-ending search for prey
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Cat. F | Cat. G | Cat. E | Cat. D | Cat. C | Cat. B | Cat. A | Freydis
Suite | Brynhilde
Suite |
|---|
| Jul 06, 2025 | Jul 12, 2025 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 6,695 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Cat. F | (Mid-range)
Cat. C | (High-end)
Brynhilde
Suite |
|---|
| Jul 06, 2025 | Jul 12, 2025 | N/A | 6,695 | N/A |
Day
1: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen - Embarkation
Board
your flight in Norway and arrive in Longyearbyen, Svalbard - the
world's northernmost... everything! This remarkable little city is not
only the northernmost town in the world (if one excludes the tiny
research community of Ny-Ålesund, slightly further north on
Svalbard), but also hosts the world's northernmost civilian airport,
schools, bank and supermarket. The town's rugged frontier edge belies a
core of warm Nordic hospitality and coziness - hyggligt, as we say in
Denmark!
Immediately
after landing in Longyearbyen, you find yourself in a different world.
The chilly Arctic breeze can be felt as soon as you step onto the
tarmac, and the famous signpost outside the terminal reminds visitors
how far north they really are; as well as to keep watch for bears! The
snow-capped mountain Hjorthfjellet looms over the airport on the far
side of Adventfjorden, and off in the distance can be seen the
saw-toothed peaks and languid glaciers of northern Spitzbergen.
After
arrival, you will board the awaiting Ocean Albatros. After our
mandatory safety briefing and lifeboat drill, head onto the outer decks
to enjoy a glass of champagne while watching your expedition vessel
leave civilisation behind... And set a course for adventure!
Day
2: Northwest Spitsbergen
One
of the largest protected wilderness areas in Europe, North West
Svalbard was declared a national park in 1973. The area is famed for
its history, which documents some of the earliest human arrivals on
Svalbard. While Norse explorers may have sighted these icy shores
during the Viking Age, the first definite arrival was the expedition of
William Barents, the legendary Dutch explorer for whom the Barents Sea
is named. While now protected from human distruption, when Barents
arrived in 1596, he noted the vast numbers of whales and seals which
were soon prey to English and Dutch whalers, who arrived within a
decade of Barents to pillage the area's wildlife. The area occupied the
triple point between land, sea and ice, and as such was the perfect
location from which to harvest the gentle giants of the oceans. Sites
used to dismember whale carcasses and render them for their precious
oil include the Dutch settlement of Smeerenburg, where the remains of
16th Century blubber ovens and building foundations can still be seen.
Other sites such as nearby Ytre Norskøya record the darker
side of this industrialised slaughter, where hundreds of young men who
hoped to make their fortunes are buried thousands of miles from home.
Today,
all that remains from this period of history are bones and the scant
remnants of human habitation. Slowly reclaimed by creeping Arctic
nature, the region is now a nature lovers paradise. Tiny Arctic poppies
and purple saxifrage defy the brutal conditions to flower in the brief
summer, while geese, eider ducks and other seabirds return to the
island to raise their young. Walrus can be found hauled out on beaches,
and we must always be on careful lookout for wandering polar bears in
this now again wild region.
Day 3:
Northeast Svalbard
In
the morning we cruise into the vast icy wilderness of northeastern
Svalbard. This region does not recieve the ocean currents which keep
western Svalbard warm and wet, and thus the environment is radicaly
different, with rocky polar desert landscapes. Vast glaciers flow from
the mountains into the sea, which is often choked with ice, even in
summer.
While
it may appear barren, the truth is it is anything but. Hardy animals
such as Arctic foxes eke out a living on these chilly shores,
constantly on the lookout for prey. In the cliffs above the sea,
hundreds of thousands of seabirds crowd on rocky ledges, carefully
tending their precious eggs. While the coastal waters of the area are
cold, they are incredibly productive; shellfish grown in abundance, and
these in turn are preyed upon by walrus, which are common in the area.
The
exact locations we visit will depend on the sea, wind and ice
conditions in the area, which vary year on year, and can change rapidly
even in summer - this is the essence of polar exploration, moving with
the rhythms of Mother Nature, and taking the opportunities to explore
which she provides!
Day 4:
North Svalbard
Now
we reach some of the northernmost pieces of land on Earth - the
northerly coasts of Svalbard, barren landscapes almost permanently
beset by ice. With luck we may reach the island of Nordaustlandet and
hopefully the seven (or nine, depending on how you count) smaller
islands of Sjuøyane in the far north of Svalbard. The almost
vegetation-free, rocky islands are located around 1000 km farther north
than mainland Norway’s famous Nordkapp.
Weather
permitting, we will land and walk upon these most northern landmasses.
The high Arctic islands are quite barren, and only moss and lichens
cover the stones. The birdlife is rich in this area, with flocks of
grazing geese and some of the rarer gull species frequently seen on
these islands. Definitely bring your binoculars!
At
the end of the day, we will start cruising towards the Arctic ice pack,
which stretches from Svalbard to the North Pole.
Day 5:
Into the Ice
An
icy breeze touches your exposed cheeks. The scent of snow and sea fills
your nostrils. Sunlight reflects off the floating ice, illuminating the
clouds overhead. Enter an environment like no other, the vast
shape-shifting realm of floating ice which crowns our planet. The vast
ever-changing ice pack to the north of Svalbard stretches from this
already isolated archipelago to the North Pole, and onwards across the
Arctic Ocean towards the northern shores of Chukotka and Alaska.
The
Arctic ice pack is one of Earth's largest habitats, although unlike
most it varies hugely year on year, expanding in winter and retreating
in summer. The location of the sea ice around Svalbard can also vary
wildly - however, your Expedition Leader will work hard to maximise our
chances of finding and exploring this impossibly remote environment. At
first glance, this stark white wilderness seems barren, empty and
lifeless. This frigid wilderness holds on to its mysteries, and of
course wildlife sightings are at the whims of Mother Nature. With a
little perseverance however, the ice reveals its secrets.
As
Ocean Albatros pushes through the narrow channels in the ice, tiny
cod-like fish can be seen silhouetted against the ice in the clear
water. Kittiwakes and Gloucous Gulls follow the vessel as it distrubs
the water. Further out on the ice, black dots appear; moving closer,
they resolve into seals, basking on the ice. A plume of water reflects
the sunshine - a pod of belugas perhaps, or maybe even the vast gentle
bowhead whale crushing the ice from below as its massive body surfaces.
There, beyond the banks of rucked ice - a yellowish dot pads along the
ice, the head swinging from side to side: the King of the Arctic
continues his never-ending quest for prey. This is the kingdom of the
polar bear, the vast icy wastes at the top of the world.
Day 6:
Kongsfjorden area, Northwest Spitzbergen
During
the ‘night’ (what is night, when the sun never
sets?), Ocean Albatros will have repositioned past the saw-toothed
mountains of Prins Karls Forland and arrived in magnificent
Kongsfjord. Surrounded by craggy mountains, bounded by the magnificent
Kongsbreen and Kongvegen Glaciers, and crowned by the Three Crowns (a
set of pyramidal mountains said to represent the monarchies of Norway,
Sweden and Denmark), this is surely one of the most beautiful and
tranquil corners anywhere in the world.
Our
first landing will be at the small settlement of Ny Ålesund.
Situated further north than Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund is
Earth's northernmost settlement, if a group of scientific stations, a
post office and a single shop open for a few hours can be described as
such... You will have to judge for yourself!
These
islands' geographical location has made them the staging post for
exploratory and scientific expeditions for centuries - a proud legacy
which continues to this day. The setting is spectacular, and the
scientific projects are as fascinating as the history of the town,
which has hosted the Nobile, the Norge and the Fram, Amundsen, Nansen
and Nordenskiöld, all legends of polar exploration who passed
this lonely outpost seeking to push the boundaries of humanity. The
remnants of these expeditions (such as the mooring mast of the Norge)
can still be seen today.
Day
7: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen - Disembarkation
On
the final morning of our expedition, we arrive in Longyearbyen,
Svalbard - the world's northernmost... everything! Even this small town
will feel like a metropolis after days of splendid isolation in the
wilderness of the Arctic!
After
enjoying exploring Longyearbyen and a fond farewell to the crew and
fellow guests of Ocean Albatros, return to Svalbard Airport and join
your flight back to the Norwegian mainland- with memories to last a
lifetime.
Ocean Albatros (Luxury Expedition, 184-guests)
With a total of 95 comfortable staterooms and suites, all with unobstructed sea view, most with their own balcony, the Ocean Albatros will definitely become one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world. Like it's sistership the Ocean Victory it offers two restaurants, a wellness area, an Albatros Nordic Bar, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and other state-of-the-art amenities.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 7-day/6-night
cruise
- Cruise
on Ocean Albatros in a shared outside double room with a private
bathroom in the category chosen
- English-speaking
expedition staff
- Guided
walks with the expedition team
- Nature
hikes and Zodiac cruises per itinerary
- Information
briefings and lectures by the expedition team
- Full
board on the ship
- Dinner
drink package
- Free
coffee, tea, and afternoon snacks on the ship
- Welcome
and farewell cocktails
- Taxes,
tariffs, and landing fees
- Digital
visual journal link after the voyage, including voyage log, gallery,
species list, and more
Exclusions
- Optional
Transfer Package: Flights between Oslo - Longyearbyen - Oslo and Group
Transfer between Longyearbyen Airport and the vessel. To be booked 11
months prior to departure at additional cost.
- Extra
excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Single
room supplement and cabin upgrades
- Meals
not on board the ship
- Beverages
(other than coffee and tea and dinner-drink package)
- Tips
for the crew (we recommend USD 16 per person per day)
- Personal
expenses
- Travel,
cancellation, and senior insurance
- Anything
not mentioned under ’Inclusions’
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Kayaking
(optional)
- Zodiac
Cruises
