Far in the north of Europe lies an expedition destination that awakens the longing of explorers like no other: Svalbard – myth and adventure at the same time. In these nautically demanding waters, the HANSEATIC nature plays to its full strengths: small, agile, and with the highest ice class for passenger ships. If conditions are favourable, she forges her way through the drift ice fields of the Hinlopen Strait and dares the circumnavigation. Mighty glaciers, deep fjords, and untouched wilderness: the habitat of polar bears, Arctic foxes, whales, and walruses awakens true feelings of discovery within you. Again and again, captain and crew redefine the route, with weather and ice conditions determining the flexible course. During a walk with your experts in Ny-Ålesund, you will learn fascinating details about climate research – while perhaps Arctic terns perform their aerial manoeuvres.Fascinating are the more than 2,000 glaciers. The Lilliehook Glacier is one of them. When you enjoy the view from the Zodiac of the mighty 11 km (7 mi.) long ridge of Lilliehook Glacier, one of Svalbard’s largest glaciers, you will feel the silent power of the Arctic – because it leaves no one untouched. No less impressive is the Smeerenburgfjord, where glacier panoramas once again unfold. Pointed mountains frame the Liefdefjord, at the end of which rises the mighty Monaco Glacier. The chances are good here, as well as elsewhere on your Svalbard expedition, to observe polar bears from a respectful distance on deck.If conditions permit, you will advance into the waters of north-eastern Svalbard – only about 1,000 kilometres from the North Pole. Will the pack ice clear the way through the narrow Hinlopen Strait? The success of a circumnavigation depends on this passage. Will the venture succeed? If the HANSEATIC nature, with her reinforced hull, safely finds her way through the area, further adventures await on the east coast of Svalbard, such as at the cliffs of Alkefjellet. The “guillemot mountain” is populated by thousands of seabirds of various species, including thick-billed murres, kittiwakes, glaucous gulls, and eider ducks.With the Zodiacs, you land in Palanderbukta on the largely ice-capped island of Nordaustlandet. Perhaps, during walks across the barren tundra, you will spot reindeer and Arctic foxes, Svalbard poppies, and purple saxifrage. Walrus herds like to rest on the flat rocky shores of Torellneset. The mighty bulls can weigh over one tonne and reach 3.5 metres in length – weighty impressions from a respectful distance. If weather and ice conditions allow, the journey continues through the narrow Freemansundet between Barentsøya and Edgeøya. Can reindeer be observed on Barentsøya amid blooming nature? All this may only be surpassed by the appearance of whales. Perhaps the largest and heaviest animal in the world will show itself: the blue whale.At the end, in Hornsund, the view of the glacier front of the Samarinbreen creates yet another of many lasting memories – framed by imposing mountains. Alongside Barents, Amundsen, and today’s researchers, you too now belong to Svalbard’s explorers.
A flexible itinerary allows us to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions to travel through the northern stretches of Svalbard to points visited by famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Amundsen and Nobile. Destinations might include the narrow waterways and striking mountains of Krossfjord and Raudfjord. The ship may visit the historic settings of Ny Alesund, Ny London or Amsterdamoya. And of course, we hope to see distinctly Arctic wildlife from walrus hauled out in noisy groups on remote shorelines, to reindeer grazing alpine slopes, and from ptarmigan in their camouflaged hiding places, to mighty polar bears striding the shores in search of their next meal.
