HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, the starting point of our
trans-Atlantic expedition
- Sail
to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of
life, and the capital of the remote and amazing Orkney archipelago
- Visit
Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, a real paradise for birdwatchers with over
345 species recorded here
- Sail
to Torshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark which the National Geographic
Traveler had designated as “authentic, unspoiled and likely
to remain so”. Enjoy the deep-green hills, bright blue sea,
colourful houses and boats, orange- red puffins’ beaks make
the sceneries unforgettable
- Journey
to Jan Mayen which hosts the landscapes of breathtaking beauty and
northernmost subaerial active volcano on the planet – the
Beerenberg
- Explore
Spitsbergen with Polar bears and other quintessential Arctic wildlife
that can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard
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 |
|---|
ITINERARY
Day
1: Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland (hotel night)
Welcome
to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of our
trans-Atlantic expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this
metropolis rich in history and culture, we’ve arranged
pre-cruise hotel accommodations near the city center. Relax and take a
stroll through town, enjoying both medieval and classic 18th-century
architecture. The famous Edinburgh Castle rises majestically above it
all.
Day
2: Welcome Aboard!
Enjoy
the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Each corner of
Edinburgh’s old streets opens beautiful unexpected vistas of
green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. In the afternoon, you
will be transferred from the hotel to the ship in the nearby Port of
Leith. Before dinner, there’s time to explore the Sea Spirit,
your home-away-from home for the next nine days.
Day
3: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Kirkwall
is a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of life. The town is the
capital of the remote and amazing Orkney archipelago. Kirkwall is first
mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in 1046. Such a long history has left a
rich heritage that we explore today. The most famous are the sandstone
St Magnus Cathedral, considered the finest medieval building in the
north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the
Earl’s Palace.
Included
tour “Ancient treasures of Orkney with St Magnus
Cathedral.” Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of
Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. This tour passes through
the gentle rolling landscape of Orkney and into the Neolithic Heartland
of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its
wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of
Stenness, we will stop at the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle
of stones dating back almost 5000 years. We then continue on to the
5000-year-old village of Skara Brae, beautifully interpreted in the
visitor centre. See the remarkable dwellings revealed from beneath the
sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago.
Hear
some of the stories from your guide today en route back to Kirkwall.
Once back in the island capital we will take a tour of St Magnus
Cathedral, built by the Vikings during their 500 year reign over the
islands.
Day
4: Fair Isle, Shetland Islands
Fair
Isle is a real paradise for birdwatchers. Huge number of birds inhabits
the lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs. Over 345 species have been
recorded here – more than anywhere else in Britain. During
our walk across the island, we hope to see northern fulmars,
kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic skuas.
Day
5: Torshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark
National
Geographic Traveler had designated Faroe Islands as
“authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”. It
seems that the Nature spares no colours in
“painting” the islands. Deep-green hills, bright
blue sea, colourful houses and boats, orange- red puffins’
beaks make the sceneries unforgettable. We stop at the capital of the
Faroes —Torshavn.
Included
tour “Kirkjubøur.” During the
Middle Ages, Kirkjubøur was the ecclesiastical and cultural
centre of the Faroes. Here was the Bishop’s residence until
the Reformation, when the Faroese diocese was abolished. The imposing
ruin of Saint Magnus Cathedral still dominates the site. Construction
of the Cathedral is thought to have begun in the late-thirteenth
century, as the style of the building is from the best period of Gothic
architecture, common to West Norwegian church building of that time.
Tradition has it that it was never finished; yet recent research has
revealed that it was probably roofed at one time. The Roykstovan,
standing on the wide, stone foundation of a portion of the
Bishop’s palace, has been the home of the farmers in
Kirkjubøur for centuries and occupied by the same Faroese
family for 17 generations.
Covered
with a traditional turf roof, it is a large building made of logs,
which are said to have come drifting all the way from Norway some 700
years ago. The farmhouse interior reflects the lifestyle of a large
Faroese farm. On our way to and from Kirkjubøur, we have a
magnificent view to the west of the islands of Koltur, Hestur, Sandoy,
and Vágar.
Day
6: At sea
Presentations
and workshops by our expert staff, as well as our range of onboard
recreation facilities, ensure that this day at sea is not idly spent.
Seabird viewing and whale sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open
decks as well as exterior stateroom windows and balconies.
Day
7: Jan Mayen
Jan
Mayen hosts the landscapes of breathtaking beauty and northernmost
subaerial active volcano on the planet – the Beerenberg. The
island is wild and uninhabited not including members of Norwegian
weather station. The signboard at the entrance door says (translated
from the Norwegian): “Theory is when you understand
everything but nothing works. Practice is when everything works but
nobody understands why. On this station, we combine theory and practice
in a way that nothing works and nobody understands why”.
Northern fulmars, Kittiwakes, and Brünich’s
guillemots breeding on steep cliffs and slopes represent the birdlife
of Jan Mayen.
Day
8: At sea
The
lectures of our invited speakers prepare us for meeting with the unique
Arctic wildlife and awesome landscapes of Spitsbergen.
Day
9-12: Exploring Spitsbergen
This
is a real expedition in a true High Arctic wilderness. As such, 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.
Polar
bears and other quintessential Arctic wildlife can be spotted anytime,
anywhere in and around Svalbard. We exploit every opportunity to
experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery,
and to walk in the footsteps of the historic polar expeditions that
came before us.
We
anticipate exploring the spectacular fjords, coasts, and islands in the
western part of Svalbard. This area contains the
archipelago’s most impressive scenery and some of the
Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and
narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. 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 walrus and a wide
variety of whales. The whole area is alive with migratory birds,
including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer’s
fecundity in 24-hour daylight.
To
complete the Arctic experience we also explore places rich with
history. Our area of exploration contains the historical remnants of
whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins,
staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole, and
even an abandoned polar research station. The days are filled with
memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts,
and enough stunning scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and
overwhelm your emotions.
Day
13: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
After
breakfast we say farewell in the town of Longyearbyen, the
administrative capital of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard. We
provide a transfer to the airport or to the town center if you wish to
spend more time here. In this case, be sure to see the excellent
Svalbard Museum and take advantage of quality shopping and dining
opportunities in this fascinating Arctic settlement.
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
- Group
transfer to the ship 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 airport or central location upon disembarkation
- 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
- Tips
for the local guides and drivers
- Emergency
evacuation insurance to a minimum coverage of US$ 200,000 per person
- Staff
gratuities.
