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Book Incredible Cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic

May 01, 2024 - 
May 08, 2024
This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700 - 850 meters (2,300 - 2,800 feet) and downhill skiing fro...
May 08, 2024 - 
May 15, 2024
This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700 - 850 meters (2,300 - 2,800 feet) and downhill skiing fro...
May 15, 2024 - 
May 22, 2024
Cruise along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen for a great chance of spotting Polar Bears. You’ll sail into beautiful fjords found on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a fantastically beautiful fjord crested with spectacular glaciers and home to Ringed and Bearded Seals. The sh...
May 22, 2024 - 
May 29, 2024
Cruise along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen for a great chance of spotting Polar Bears. You’ll sail into beautiful fjords found on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a fantastically beautiful fjord crested with spectacular glaciers and home to Ringed and Bearded Seals. The sh...
May 26, 2024 - 
Jun 06, 2024
Sailing between our home port of Vlissingen and our most cherished Arctic archipelago, Svalbard, this expedition adventure visits the Scottish port of Aberdeen, the islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen, and the amazing Spitsbergen ice edge, giving you the chance to search for whales, and ...
May 01, 2024 - 
May 08, 2024
This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700 - 850 meters (2,300 - 2,800 feet) and downhill skiing fro...
May 28, 2024 - 
Jun 06, 2024
Sailing between the Scottish port of Aberdeen and our most cherished Arctic archipelago, Svalbard, this expedition adventure explores the islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen as well as the amazing Spitsbergen ice edge, giving you the chance to search for whales, and other animals of the ...
Jun 06, 2024 - 
Jun 13, 2024
Sailing along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen, will give us the best opportunities to spot the King of the Arctic. We sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seal. The cliffs and s...
May 08, 2024 - 
May 15, 2024
This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700 - 850 meters (2,300 - 2,800 feet) and downhill skiing fro...
May 15, 2024 - 
May 22, 2024
Cruise along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen for a great chance of spotting Polar Bears. You’ll sail into beautiful fjords found on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a fantastically beautiful fjord crested with spectacular glaciers and home to Ringed and Bearded Seals. The sh...
Jun 08, 2024 - 
Jun 18, 2024
The North Spitsbergen cruise sails to some of the remotest locations of northern Europe. The expedition gives you the opportunity to spot historic whaling remains, glaciers, a variety of Arctic birds including the Little Auk, and polar bears....
Jun 10, 2024 - 
Jun 17, 2024
Join our adventurous expedition to the north of Svalbard’s largest island, taking in the area’s fantastically beautiful landscapes, thousands of seabirds, and possibly even polar bears. While searching for whales, seals, and other exotic wildlife among the sea ice, we’...

North Spitsbergen Explorer – Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife – Birding, Summer Solstice

Home Trips Arctic Cruises Svalbard Cruise North Spitsbergen Explorer – Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife – Birding, Summer Solstice

Sailing along the pack-ice of North Spitsbergen, will give us the best opportunities to spot the King of the Arctic. We sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seal. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. Polar bear are often seen here.

Trip Itinerary

Solstice

The midnight sun is a phenomenon that occurs during the Arctic summer, when the sun is visible for a full 24 hours in fair weather. The 2024 summer solstice in Longyearbyen falls on June 20th. The term solstice (Latin solstitium) means “sun-stopping” and describes the point on the horizon at which the sun appears to rise and set, stopping and reversing directions after this day. On the solstice, the sun does not rise precisely in the east but rather north of east, then later sets to the north of west, making the sun visible for a longer period of time. It will not be until late August that the sun fully goes down again, and then only for a few minutes. Join us in experiencing this fascinating phenomenon during our voyage through the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard.

Birding

We will have at least one expedition guide in our team who will share their expert knowledge about birds, helping you identify, photograph, and learn more about the species we see. In addition to outdoor sessions, our birding guide will provide related information on birds in onboard lectures. Participation is free of charge, but please sign up in advance.

Day 1

You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

Day 2-7

This voyage will take you into the pack ice and along the remote shorelines of rugged north Spitsbergen. Places we might visit include the following:

Raudfjord

On the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can enjoy this expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.

Monaco Glacier

Depending on the weather and sea ice, we could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this precipitous glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent us from sailing here early in the season, we may sail along the west coast of Spitsbergen.

Highlights of Hinlopen

We aim to sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar bears. At the entrance, there is even the possibility to spot blue whales. After cruising among the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in the Zodiacs, you can view the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, with their thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, we may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here we may see reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. We can take an alternate route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.

The Seven Islands

The northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the Seven Islands. Here we may reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again.

Sailing the continental shelf

While retracing our route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, we sail the edge of the continental shelf. Here fin whales forage during the summer in the upwelling zones (where cold, nutrient-rich water wells up from below the sea’s surface) that run along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you have a good chance of sighting minke whales.

Forlandsundet, St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet

Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet. Alternatively, we might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.

Day 8

Even great adventures must eventually come to an end. The vessel arrives back in Longyearbyen in the early morning, and bus transportation to the airport will be provided.

Please Note...

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.

Cabin Information

Ship name Cabin Name Price Sale Price Departs on Returns on
m/v Ortelius Quadruple Porthole $4,000 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Triple Porthole $5,000 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Twin Porthole $5,600 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Twin Window $6,050 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Twin Deluxe $6,400 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Superior $7,300 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Quadruple Porthole $4,000 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Triple Porthole $5,000 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Twin Porthole $5,600 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Twin Window $6,050 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Twin Deluxe $6,400 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024
m/v Ortelius Superior $7,300 NA Jun 18th, 2024 Jun 25th, 2024

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