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
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
Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.
Day 3
Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of the precipitous Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this 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 sailing here early in the season, an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen can be implemented.
Day 4
Today you 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, you may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses are likely sights. You can take an alternate route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.
Day 5
The northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the Seven Islands. Here you 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.
Day 6
While retracing your route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, you 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.
Day 7
Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet, your next stop. Alternatively, you 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. You arrive in Longyearbyen later at night.
Day 8
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
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 Plancius | Quadruple Porthole | $4,000 | NA | Jun 6th, 2024 | Jun 13th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Triple Porthole | $5,000 | NA | Jun 6th, 2024 | Jun 13th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Porthole | $5,600 | NA | Jun 6th, 2024 | Jun 13th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Window | $6,050 | NA | Jun 6th, 2024 | Jun 13th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Deluxe | $6,400 | NA | Jun 6th, 2024 | Jun 13th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Superior | $7,300 | NA | Jun 6th, 2024 | Jun 13th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Quadruple Porthole | $4,000 | NA | Jun 13th, 2024 | Jun 20th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Triple Porthole | $5,000 | NA | Jun 13th, 2024 | Jun 20th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Porthole | $5,600 | NA | Jun 13th, 2024 | Jun 20th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Window | $6,050 | NA | Jun 13th, 2024 | Jun 20th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Deluxe | $6,400 | NA | Jun 13th, 2024 | Jun 20th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Superior | $7,300 | NA | Jun 13th, 2024 | Jun 20th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Quadruple Porthole | $4,000 | NA | Jun 27th, 2024 | Jul 4th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Triple Porthole | $5,000 | NA | Jun 27th, 2024 | Jul 4th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Porthole | $5,600 | NA | Jun 27th, 2024 | Jul 4th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Window | $6,050 | NA | Jun 27th, 2024 | Jul 4th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Twin Deluxe | $6,400 | NA | Jun 27th, 2024 | Jul 4th, 2024 |
m/v Plancius | Superior | $7,300 | NA | Jun 27th, 2024 | Jul 4th, 2024 |