A Taste of Spitsbergen
Overview
This Arctic adventure cruise is designed for the adventurous explorer who is long on ambition, but short on time. It delivers all the wonder and frozen majesty of Spitsbergen in a week full and exciting experiences.
Highlights
- Search for elusive polar bears and majestic whales
- Cruise through breathtaking fjords and admire huge glaciers
- Experience the energising and magical midnight sun
- Learn about Arctic history and ecology from expert guides
- Enjoy the pure silence of the Arctic tundra, broken only by the booming of breaking ice
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
- Shore landings & Zodiac cruises
- Experienced Expedition Team
- Presentations on board
- Loan of rubber boots during voyage
Full description
The ideal introduction to the Arctic, this expedition cruise offers the chance to experience the frozen majesty of Svalbard in just a week. An exploration of Spitsbergen's northwest coast should reveal wildlife, glaciers, fjords and more. Your expedition team will help you track polar bears, explore fjords and remote shorelines on Zodiac excursions, and uncover the history of the archipelago, all from the comfort and convenience of a dedicated polar expedition ship.
Prices & Dates *
Offers
Arctic 2021: Huge savings on voyages aboard the Ocean Adventurer and brand new Ultramarine
Arctic
Save up to 20% on Arctic 2021 voyages aboard the Ocean Adventurer and Ultramarine, plus enjoy an additional 10% discount if full payment is made by 15th Jun 2020!
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Arctic 2020: Up to 20% discount on select voyages aboard the M/V Hondius, M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Arctic
Book a select Arctic 2020 voyage aboard the M/V Hondius, M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius and save up to 20%
Discover MoreAirfares are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
2020 Departures - prices are per person, based on a twin cabin
| Departures | Duration | Vessel | Activities | Prices from (pp) | Special interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2020 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 31 May 2020 | 6 days | M/V Ortelius | £3,136 | ||
| 03 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 05 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Ortelius | £4,364 | German translator on-board | |
| 06 Jun 2020 * | 7 days | World Explorer | £5,800 | French translator on-board | |
| 09 Jun 2020 * | 7 days | Ocean Adventurer | £4,600 | ||
| 10 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 12 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Ortelius | £4,364 | ||
| 17 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 17 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 | ||
| 19 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Ortelius | £4,364 | German translator on-board | |
| 24 Jun 2020 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 | ||
| 24 Aug 2020 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 | Attempts to reach 82 Degrees North | |
| 28 Aug 2020 | 8 days | M/V Ortelius | £4,364 | Attempts to reach 82 Degrees North & Cleaning the Shores (see Other Information) |
* Return flights from Oslo, Norway to Longyearbyen are included
Activity Key:
Kayaking
Kayaking taster session
2021 Departures - prices are per person, based on a twin cabin
| Departures | Duration | Vessel | Activities | Prices from (pp) | Special Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 May 2021 * | 7 days | Ultramarine | £6,900 | ||
| 13 May 2021 * | 7 days | Ocean Adventurer | £5,000 | ||
| 16 May 2021 * | 7 days | Ultramarine | £6,900 | ||
| 18 May 2021 * | 7 days | Ocean Adventurer | £5,000 | ||
| 20 May 2021 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 21 May 2021 * | 7 days | Ultramarine | £6,900 | ||
| 27 May 2021 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 03 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Ortelius | £4,364 | ||
| 03 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Hondius | £4,364 | ||
| 04 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 | ||
| 07 Jun 2021 * | 7 days | Ultramarine | £6,900 | ||
| 10 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Ortelius | £4,364 | German translator on-board | |
| 10 Jun 2021 * | 7 days | Ocean Adventurer | £5,000 | ||
| 11 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 | ||
| 15 Jun 2021 * | 7 days | Ocean Adventurer | £5,000 | ||
| 18 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 | ||
| 25 Jun 2021 | 8 days | M/V Plancius | £4,364 |
* Return flights from Oslo, Norway to Longyearbyen are included
Activity Key:
Kayaking
Kayaking taster session
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
- Tea & coffee available around the clock
- All Zodiac transfers, cruising & shore landings as per the daily programme
- Presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
- Loan of rubber boots during voyage
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
- 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
- No surcharge guarantee
- Full financial protection »
Itinerary & Vessels
Itinerary & Vessels
Day 1: Embarkation, Longyearbyen
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there may be an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. Embark your ship this afternoon and set sail on your Arctic expedition.
Days 2-7: Exploring West & North Spitsbergen
Every expedition is unique, with the final itinerary dictated by weather, sea and ice conditions. However your Expedition Leader will ensure a full programme awaits, aiming to include a variety of key natural attractions and wildlife encounters. Perhaps sail into the beautiful Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich amount of vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. You may take a Zodiac cruise along the 5km face of the impressive Monaco Glacier, or marvel at the thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots that nest on the famed bird cliffs of Alkefjellet. Search for polar bears and whales around the northern island of Phippsoya; here you will reach 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Cruise along the edge of the pack ice before starting the journey south back to Longyearbyen.
Day 8: Disembark in Longyearbyen
This morning disembark the ship in Longyearbyen after breakfast.
Notes
- The above itinerary is for the 8 day voyage on the MV Plancius. Other departures may vary in duration and routing, please contact us for specific details.
- All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only - embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!
M/V Plancius
Antarctica
Grade: Simple
Type: Expedition Ship
The M/V Plancius is a traditional ex-research vessel, with proven experience in icy waters.
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M/V Hondius
Multi-destination
Grade: Superior
Type: Expedition Ship
New for 2019, the M/V Hondius is one of the strongest vessels of its category in the polar regions.
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M/V Ortelius
Antarctica
Grade: Simple
Type: Expedition Ship
A former scientific-research vessel, the Ortelius offers the classic small ship experience.
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Ocean Adventurer
Multi-destination
Grade: Standard
Type: Expedition Ship
An attractive ice-strengthened vessel, the Ocean Adventurer features plenty of outside deck space making this a great choice for a polar adventure.
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World Explorer
Multi-destination
Grade: Deluxe
Type: Expedition Ship
The World Explorer is a new state of the art, purpose-built expedition vessel, among the fastest and most luxurious in our fleet of small ships.
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Ultramarine
Multi-destination
Grade: Deluxe
Type: Expedition Ship
The spacious Ultramarine is a purpose-built expedition ship, offering a choice of adventure activities as well as the chance to explore by helicopter.
Discover MoreExcursions
Kayaking
from: Price on request
Duration variable Jan-Mar, Jun-Aug, Nov-Dec
Multi-destination
Paddle alongside seals, icebergs and more on a polar kayaking excursion.
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Kayaking Taster Session
from: Price on request
Variable Jan-Mar, Oct-Dec
Multi-destination
Explore the polar region on a sit-on-top kayak.
Discover moreOther Information
On the following special departure, join A Taste of Spitsbergen voyage with a twist:
Cleaning the Shores
M/V Ortelius: 28 August 2020
Included in this voyage are opportunities for passengers to help clean the shores of remote beaches in North Spitsbergen. Rubbish from the ocean, such as old fishing gear and plastic litter, piles up on the shores of Spitsbergen. This is very hazardous to the animals, which get entangled in nets and often starve to death after ingesting micro-plastics.
Supported by AECO and with the contribution of the Governor of Spitsbergen, this North Spitsbergen cleaning effort equips passengers with collecting bags and is supervised by expedition guides. On selected landing days, about 50 passengers may clean in the morning while the other 50 passengers embark on excursions elsewhere. In the afternoon, the groups will switch activities.
On a similar voyage to Spitsbergen in 2015, the participants picked up an estimated 13 cubic meters of garbage from three beaches in the areas of Raudfjorden, Rijpfjorden, and Mushamna. Each beach cleaned yielded 4 - 5 cubic meters of garbage consisting mainly of plastics, fishing rope, nets, and floats. The rubbish was sorted on board, and with the assistance of Sysselmannen and the Svalbard Environmental Fund, was disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
Find a holiday idea or suggested itinerary that inspires you, then send an enquiry or call us
Your dedicated travel specialist will create a quote based on your preferences
Together we’ll refine your itinerary until you’re happy and ready to book
From the moment you book until you return home we’re here for you no matter what
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