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
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 26, 2025 | 8,561 |
8,895 |
| Jun 25, 2025 | Jul 06, 2025 | 8,561 |
8,895 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Jul 05, 2026 | 9,812 |
10,195 |
| Jul 04, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | 9,812 |
10,195 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 26, 2025 | 8,561 |
8,895 |
| Jun 25, 2025 | Jul 06, 2025 | 8,561 |
8,895 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Jul 05, 2026 | 9,812 |
10,195 |
| Jul 04, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | 9,812 |
10,195 |
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in
Longyearbyen, Svalbard (hotel night)
Welcome
to Longyearbyen, 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 a quality hotel, which has
been arranged by us and is included in the price of the itinerary. You
will then be free to explore the charming, walkable town center.
We
recommend starting your discovery of this fascinating Norwegian High
Arctic territory at the excellent Svalbard Museum, where you can also
purchase hard-to-find polar books and maps. Afterward, you can enjoy an
excellent dinner at one of Longyearbyen’s many delightful
restaurants. If you are still awake at midnight, you will notice the
sun has not set. In fact, the sun will not set for the entire duration
of our time in Svalbard.
Day
2: Welcome Aboard!
After
breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours to enjoy Longyearbyen.
Take in the views of icy fjords and glaciated mountains surrounding
this historic former coal-mining town. Take advantage of shopping for
souvenirs or some last-minute necessities such as cold-weather gear.
Just remember, you will soon receive your very own parka to keep and
waterproof boots to borrow on board the ship. For lunch, Longyearbyen
offers quick and easy meal options including the most northerly pizzas
and kebabs in the world.
In
the afternoon, you will be 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. After
getting 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 24-hour daylight as we pass through the
wildlife-rich waters of Isfjorden.
Day
3-10: Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge (The
Jun 30, 2022 & Jul 06, 2023 voyages spend an extra day in
Svalbard)
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. We also
expect there will be enough sea ice around to support ice-dependent
animals such as polar bears and walrus.
During
this voyage, we expect to encounter significant sea ice concentrations
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.
Also
on our route is Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the crown jewel of
Svalbard’s scenic wonders. Here we find deep fjords flanked
by serrated mountain peaks and immense tidewater glaciers calving
icebergs into turquoise waters. The whole area is alive with migratory
Arctic seabirds. On this voyage, we are just in time to witness the
return of millions of murres, guillemots and little auks to the small
islands, mountainsides and sea cliffs where they breed within the park.
This is also a great area to encounter marine mammals, including
various kinds of whales and 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 gift shop
and a post office. We also visit a famous airship mast that was a
starting point of the North Pole expeditions by Umberto Nobile and
Roald Amundsen. This place played an important part in the history of
polar exploration.
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
11: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
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 night on Day 1 in Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen in
Longyearbyen;
- Group
transfer from the airport to the hotel on day 1;
- 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 airport or central location upon disembarkation;
- Pre-departure
materials;
- Digital
Voyage Log;
- Wi-Fi
on board.
RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare;
- Transfers
from the airport to the hotel if arriving prior to Day 1 of the program;
- 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;
- Mandatory
Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a minimum benefit of US$ 200,000 per
person;
- Kayaking;
- Staff
gratuities.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Kayaking:
USD 655
- Photography:
Free
