Around Spitsbergen

15 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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Small Ship Cruise
Sail around Spitsbergen taking in the wildlife, whaling history, and stunning landscapes. Visit historic whaling stations and search for walruses and reindeer. Head to Hornsund to explore the glaciers and the hunting grounds of the Polar Bear.
From$6,250
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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Visit the Svalbard Museum
    • Visit a large colony of Kittiwake which nest in a canyon
    • Seeing Bearded Seal and Polar Bear.
    • Visit to Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen, or to Colesbukta, an abandoned Russian coal mining settlement.

What's this trip about?

    Sail around Spitsbergen taking in the wildlife, whaling history, and stunning landscapes. Visit historic whaling stations and search for walruses and reindeer. Head to Hornsund to explore the glaciers and the hunting grounds of the Polar Bear.

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Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityLongyearbyen
End CityLongyearbyen

Travel Themes

  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Antarctica

Attractions

  • Spitsbergen

Activities

  • Nature
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
    • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
    • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
    • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
    • Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
    • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
    • AECO fees and governmental taxes.
    • Comprehensive pre-departure material.

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: We will embark our vessel in Longyearbyen, in the late afternoon
After arriving in Longyearbyen, the ‘capital’ (actually the administrative centre) of Spitsbergen, you may wish to visit the Svalbard Museum which has an interesting collection on the history of Spitsbergen, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the evening we sa...
Day 2: We make a nice walk from Tryghamna to a large seabird cliff, Alkhornet
From Trygghamna we walk to Alkhornet a large seabird cliff. Below the cliff is a den of Arctic Fox which scavenge off fallen eggs and chicks. Reindeer graze on the lush vegetation. In Forlandsundet we visit a haul out the place of Walrus.

Day 3: We visit a

17th-century whaling settlement on Smeerenburg
Today we visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th-century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen. We also land on Ytre Norskøya where there are many graves dating from whaling days.

Day 4 - 15: We see Walrus, take excursions and see whale skeletons
Today we start by sailing either to Sorgfjord or to Murchison Bay, on the north side of which there is an extensive dry tundra, home to many reindeer. There is also is a Swedish research station here. The next days we continue through Hinlopen Strait were we are surround...
Day 16: Our final morning, we will disembark the ship in the morning in Longyearbyen
Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,250
Price per day$417
Last Updated: 5/15/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Oceanwide Expeditions.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Oceanwide Expeditions Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
Excellent
147
Great
8
Average
0
Disappointing
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Terrible
4
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Other Oceanwide Expeditions Reviews

C

Collin

Jan 2022

Written on

Terrible Customer Service for Cancellations

I booked an Antarctic Peninsula trip two years ago through Oceanwide Expeditions that I have been looking forward to for a long time. My goal is to scuba dive on eve...

B

Bob

Sep 2020

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Reviewsby Oceanwide Expeditions

Seeing Antarctica the Right Way

We dreamed of this trip for 26 years before finally pulling the plug and spending the money. For us it would be a once in a lifetime experience. And it turned out to...

G

Graham

Sep 2020

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Reviewsby Oceanwide Expeditions

Trip of a lifetime

If I could I would have awarded this 10 stars. I booked this expedition to achieve my lifetime ambition which I had held since I was 12, of visiting Antarctia. At th...

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Tour Operator

Oceanwide Expeditions

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Oceanwide Expeditions offers since 1996 unique, small-group polar expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica. We own, manage and operate the vessels: m/v Plancius (116 pax), m/v Ortelius (116 pax), s/v Rembrandt van Rijn (33 pax) and s/v Noorderlicht (20 pax). The Dutch ”Plancius Foundation“ (1981-1996) was the predecessor of Oceanwide Expeditions, the first cruise operator ever to organize since 1983 on a yearly basis expedition cruise voyages to and around Spitsbergen.

"Experience true emotions in the polar regions, with Oceanwide Expeditions”

Keeping days at sea short and implementing fast gangway operations allow us to give our guests maximum time ashore to explore. We offer two landings per day, morning and afternoon (weather permitting). Sailing schedules and land programs are flexible, and will always be adapted to local sea ice and weather conditions and wildlife opportunities. Our fleet of inflatable zodiacs are ready in no time for taxi shuttles to shore , and cruises among ice-floes and the local wildlife. While cruising and actively exploring the polar regions, we are sure that you will become increasingly fascinated by these unique wildernesses, places of drama, wildlife, history and true emotion. Welcome aboard!

“Join us for a quality discovery cruise in the Arctic and Antarctica”

Discover the pristine and mysterious polar planet with us! We are pioneers of ship-based exploratory tourism in the Arctic and Antarctica and awarded as ‘World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator’. We are organising unique expedition cruise programs to the polar regions for guests who want to actively enjoy the spectacular scenery, explore nature and wildlife of some of the world’s most stunning and pristine shorelines, above and below the oceans, at sea and on land.

“Oceanwide Expeditions brings your polar experience to a higher level”

The regions we visit during our wildlife expeditions contain hardly any infrastructure and are almost only reachable by boat. Oceanwide Expeditions operates, so to speak, on the borderline of land and water, where daily guided excursions guarantee intensive and individual nature and wildlife experience in small groups. Our carefully prepared and unique voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory and environmentally friendly travel program, which is flexible and guarantees much time for adventure packed activities, combined with educational lectures on board. For special activities we provide industry leading equipment: tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, kayaks, diving compressors, scuba tanks and weights, rubber boots with grip sole, polar jackets, sledges (pulkas), mountaineering hard wear.

“What makes us different”

Oceanwide Expeditions own and operate a modern fleet of small ice-strengthened expedition vessels which comply with highest international safety standards and allow our professional crew to navigate safely through pack-ice and remote narrow waterways. The size, capacity and capability of our small ships have proven to be a successful formula for exploring the remote regions for many years. Our expedition vessels offer a comfortable, friendly, intimate and informal atmosphere. Oceanwide Expeditions is known for exceptional standard of service offered to all passengers on board the ships. Our ships provide cosy and comfortable accommodation and on-board life. Our chefs prepare excellent international and well balanced international cuisine. Our friendly international crew, expedition and hotel staff, most of whom have been with the company for many years, will be anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with their guests. Qualified and experienced expedition guides share their knowledge in lectures on board during sea days and during field excursions; our guides come from all over the world and speak several languages.

What they’re known for
Thrilling expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic that include guided on-shore excursions for exploring wildlife and natural landscapes.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
    • Pre- and post- land arrangements.
    • Passport and visa expenses.
    • Government arrival and departure taxes.
    • Meals ashore.
    • Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory).
    • Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
    • The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Ship & cabin information
s/v Noorderlicht
The ‘Noorderlicht’ was originally built in 1910 in Flensburg, Germany as a three-masted schooner. For most of her existence she served as a light-vessel on the Baltic. In 1991 the present owners purchased the hull and re-rigged and refitted her thoroughly, under the rules of “Register Holland”. The ‘Noorderlicht’ now has a well-balanced two-masted schooner rig and is capable of sailing the seven seas • The qualified captains have a great experience of the oceans. Together with the rest of the crew, they will do everything possible to ensure that you have a wonderful and unforgettable journey • Ice class: The Noorderlicht has no ice class. She was anchored year around near Flensburg (Germany). Due to heavy ice conditions in the winter time, the bow of the Noorderlicht was strengthened. The vessel is not an ice breaker but has a strengthened bow • The ‘Noorderlicht’ provides accommodation for 20 travelers in comfortable twin shared inside cabins • All cabins have upper and lower berths, a cupboard and wash basin with hot and cold water. Shared shower (4) and toilet (5) facilities are conveniently located. All cabins have a small hatch in the ceiling which vary in size, except cabin 6 which has a small, locked porthole in the ceiling but ventilation slots in the door. On occasion and depending on weather situation those hatches will be opened by the crew to allow fresh air ventilation of the complete lower deck (including cabin 6) while passengers go ashore.
Passengers: 20 in 10 cabins Staff & crew: 5 Length: 46 meters (153 feet) Breadth: 6,5 meters (22 feet) Draft: 3,2 meters (11 feet) Ice class: Strengthened bow Displacement: 300 tonnes Propulsion: 360 hp diesel Speed: 7 knots maximum
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
oceanw-AroSpiOceExp

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