HIGHLIGHTS
ARCTIC
WILDERNESS
The
unique Arctic ecosystem of Spitsbergen is almost entirely protected in
a network of nature reserves and national parks. Our voyage takes us to
Nordre Isfjorden Nasjonalpark, Forlandet Nasjonalpark, and the
spectacular Nordvest-Spitsbergen Nasjonalpark. Each has its own claim
to Svalbard’s magnificent natural history.
By
land and sea we encounter a wealth of wildlife—including
walrus, Arctic fox, reindeer, and a variety of whales and
seals—in one of the High Arctic’s most pristine and
protected environments. We also encounter a surprising wealth of hardy
plant life and striking geology throughout the area.
POLAR
BEARS
Svalbard
boasts one of the Arctic’s highest concentrations of polar
bears. They are the world’s largest land carnivores and have
become a symbol of the imperiled Arctic wilderness. This is one of the
best places in the world to view polar bears hunting in their preferred
habitat: the pack ice.
During
our sojourn to the ice edge we hope to come across this majestic
creature employing various strategies to catch seals in the
ever-shifting labyrinth of the pack ice. But these wide-ranging and
opportunistic Arctic nomads can just as well be found at other places
and times during our voyage.
HUMAN
ENDEAVOR
Our
area of exploration is rich with historical sites including early
whaling camps, trappers’ cabins, deserted coal mining
operations, and an abandoned polar research station. It also contains
the staging areas for many historic expeditions to the North Pole,
including those of Roald Amundsen and Walter Wellman.
Modern
human endeavor in this area can be experienced at Ny Ålesund,
a former mining town that is now home to a multinational community of
Arctic researchers. In addition to a museum, gift shop, and post
office, visitors to this extreme northern settlement find a famous bust
of Amundsen and a historic airship mast.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | Triple Classic | Main Deck Suite | Single Suite | Classic Suite | Superior Suite | Deluxe Suite | Premium Suite | Owner's Suite |
Jun 25, 2024 | Jul 06, 2024 | 9,195 | 12,795 | N/A | 13,595 | 13,895 | 15,595 | 17,095 | 21,895 |
Jul 05, 2024 | Jul 16, 2024 | 9,195 | 12,795 | N/A | 13,595 | 13,895 | 15,595 | 17,095 | 21,895 |
Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 26, 2025 | 8,895 | 12,295 | 18,295 | 13,095 | 13,395 | 14,995 | 16,495 | 21,095 |
Jun 25, 2025 | Jul 06, 2025 | 8,895 | 12,295 | 18,295 | 13,095 | 13,395 | 14,995 | 16,495 | 21,095 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | (Starting from) Triple Classic | (Mid-range) Superior Suite | (High-end) Owner's Suite |
Jun 25, 2024 | Jul 06, 2024 | 9,195 | 13,895 | 21,895 |
Jul 05, 2024 | Jul 16, 2024 | 9,195 | 13,895 | 21,895 |
Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 26, 2025 | 8,895 | 13,395 | 21,095 |
Jun 25, 2025 | Jul 06, 2025 | 8,895 | 13,395 | 21,095 |
ITINERARY
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: Welcome Aboard!
Today
you have a flight to Longyearbyen (regular airline flight), 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.
Please
Note:
The
Jun 25, 2024
sailing is not just any cruise, but a photo cruise,
designed specifically for amateur photographers of all skill levels. It
will be a cool and unforgettable journey. You will have the opportunity
to photograph some of the most pristine and remote wilderness areas in
the world, and to develop your photography skills in the company of
like-minded fellow travelers.
Day
3-11: Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge
The
goal for this voyage is a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, the largest
island of the Svalbard archipelago. Along the way, we hope to
experience the many facets of this incredible High Arctic territory.
Our exact schedule and route will be shaped by weather and ice. During
this mid-summer voyage, we hope ice conditions will be favorable for a
circumnavigation, though we expect there will still be plenty of sea
ice around to support ice-dependent animals such as polar bears and
walrus. In addition to seeing Spitsbergen from every angle, this
itinerary offers the appealing possibility of setting foot on all four
of Svalbard’s main islands.
As
you cruise along the coastline of Spitsbergen, you will have the
opportunity to capture breathtaking images of snow-capped mountains,
icy glaciers, and rugged coastlines.
The
first of many pristine natural areas on this itinerary is South
Spitsbergen National Park, a vast region of varied landscapes including
polar deserts and impassible mountain ranges. The centerpiece of this
park is Hornsund, a picture-perfect fjord where countless mighty
glaciers cascade from soaring mountaintops into icy inlets. The park
also includes the southern shores of Bellsund, a picturesque bay where
we find the remains of historical whaling operations, including cabins,
wooden boats and thousands of whale bones—a scene from the
distant past, literally frozen in time. Throughout the park, there is
always a high probability of wildlife sightings. There are also plenty
of possibilities for world-class hiking through wild polar landscapes
with fascinating geology. Wildflowers are especially abundant during
this time.
Next
along our route is the wildlife-rich Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve,
a pristine and rarely visited wilderness containing hundreds of
uninhabited islands. On the large islands of Edgeøya and
Barentsøya, we discover broad tundra valleys supporting the
territory’s densest population of endemic Svalbard reindeer.
We may see newborn reindeer calves at this time of year. The valleys
are also important breeding areas for ground-nesting birds such a
geese, eiders and sandpipers. Arctic foxes prowl the vast landscape,
seeking to provide food for their growing cubs. Shallow, murky seas are
ideal feeding grounds for walrus, which can be seen resting in large
numbers on gently sloping beaches. Historical sites throughout the
islands provide glimpses into the region’s bygone era of
trapping and hunting.
During
this voyage, we expect to encounter the densest concentrations of sea
ice in the enormous Northwest Svalbard Nature Reserve. In this remote
and isolated region, ice can persist very late into the summer, giving
it a truly polar character. This reserve covers the rugged northwestern
parts of Spitsbergen and the entirety of Nordaustlandet, the second
largest island in Svalbard. Here we find the massive Austfonna ice cap,
part of which meets the sea along the 45-kilometer ice cliff known as
Bråsvellbreen—one of the great wonders of the
Arctic world. The polar desert environment supports little in the way
of vegetation but hosts prodigious numbers of seabirds at breeding
sites such as the spectacular sea cliffs of Alkefjellet. The
probability of encountering polar bears and walrus in this icy
wilderness is very high.
At
this time of year, the edge of the polar pack ice will likely be close
to Nordaustlandet. We hope to sail along this dynamic boundary between
sea and ice, where we have an unparalleled opportunity to witness the
dramatic interplay between polar bears and seals. We will take the ship
as close as safely possible to the jumbled and constantly shifting ice
floes in the hope of observing polar bears in their preferred habitat.
Finally,
we reach Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the crown jewel of
Svalbard’s scenic wonders. Here we find deep fjords flanked
by serrated mountain ranges and immense tidewater glaciers calving
icebergs into turquoise waters. During our voyage, the seabird breeding
season is in full swing and the skies are filled with millions of
murres, guillemots and little auks. This is also a great time to
encounter marine mammals, including beluga whales and various Arctic
seals. Set among this incredible scenery and wildlife activity, we also
find evidence of Svalbard’s earliest sealers and whalers.
Human
habitation along our route can be found at Ny Ålesund, a
former mining town and airship base that is now home to an
international community of Arctic researchers. This is one of the
world’s most northerly settlements where we find a museum,
gift shop and post office.
The
ambitious Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge route offers a comprehensive view
of the Arctic’s many faces. Every day offers something new
and exciting. We will not miss a single opportunity to encounter
amazing Arctic wildlife, to witness incredible polar scenery, and to
walk in the footsteps of historic expeditions that came before.
Day
12: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
After
our final breakfast aboard, we will disembark in Longyearbyen. However,
the day promises further exploration in this charming town full of
attractions. Right after disembarkation, you will be offered a guided
sightseeing tour, which includes visits to the Svalbard Museum and the
Art Gallery. In the evening, you can relax in a comfortable hotel in
Longyearbyen.
Day
13: Regular flight back to Oslo
Today
marks the beginning of our journey back home. We will arrange your
transfer to the airport, where a regular flight will transport you to
Oslo. By now, you might already be dreaming up plans for your next
polar adventure!
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
- 1
pre-voyage hotel night on Day 1 in Oslo;
- 1
post-voyage hotel night on Day 12 in Longyearbyen;
- Round
trip Oslo - Longyearbyen - Oslo air transportation (regular flight);
- A
guided sightseeing tour upon disembarkation in Longyearbyen on Day 12;
- Group
transfer to the ship for embarkation on Day 2;
- 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;
- Group
transfer to the airport on Day 13;
- Pre-departure
materials;
- Digital
Voyage Log;
- Wi-Fi
on board.
RATES
DO NOT INCLUDE:
- International
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;
- Fuel
surcharge may be applied for all bookings;
- Personal
expenses such as laundry and telecommunication charges;
- 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.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Kayaking:
USD 655
- Photography:
Free