A frozen fairytale of iceberg-strewn fjords, snowy peaks, and puzzle-piece sea ice – as animals take their first steps following winter.


See Svalbard still wearing its winter coat on our Svalbard Spring Micro Cruise.The wildlife is waking up and the sun has reintroduced itself following the long, dark winter. The light it casts as it rises and sets is deliciously soft and beguilingly coloured, adding an otherworldly glow to the snow-wrapped land and frozen seascape.


Svalbard in springtime is Svalbard at its most compelling.


Emerging from the depths of winter, the archipelago presents its wilder side in the early season. Nature has turned the page on the year before. A fresh page of white snow lies before us. We are the pioneers, the first readers of nature’s new bestseller. 


This intrepid adventure shows off the best of the season as our agile expedition ship charts a path through the ice. Smothered in an unbroken blanket of snow, hemmed in by splintering sea ice, and awakened by wonderfully soft light, Svalbard in the spring is all about new beginnings and sublime scenery. 


Spotting wildlife in the early season requires patience, but there’s nothing like witnessing Arctic animals – reindeer, walruses, Arctic foxes, polar bears – against the springtime backdrop.


Highlights


• The best time to visit for quintessentially Arctic scenery of frozen seascapes, crystalline icebergs, and snow-covered mountains

• A chance to encounter wildlife, including whales, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, walruses, seals, and polar bears, against a snowy backdrop

• See Europe’s last great wilderness wrapped in the soft light of the early season, lit up by pastel sunrises and sunsets

Sail past striking Fuglefjella (Bird Mountain), a fine example of plateau mountainous landscape, as we leave Longyearbyen.

Explore Poolepynten, a headland on Prins Karls Forland, home to a walrus colony and burial site.

Take a Zodiac cruise of Fjortende Julbreen, a stunning glacier, and Fjortende Julibukta, a scenic bay in Krossfjord.

Land at Sallyhamna, a hut built in 1937, rich in history and cultural remains from the 1600s whaling period.

Search the ice edge, a dynamic setting of texture and light, home to seals, seabirds, and polar bears., seals, seabirds, and polar bears.

Explore the island of Kvitøya, taking in the walrus colony and cultural remains of the Andreeneset headland.

Take a Zodiac cruise to see Storisstraumen and a ship cruise to Bråsvellbreen of the Austfonna ice cap, Europe's third-largest glacier by volume and area.

Marvel at Alkefjellet, a stunning bird cliff, nesting location of Brünnich guillemot.

See the historical site at Bruceneset in beautiful Alicehamna bay, during a Zodiac cruise or hike. 

Land at Hamburgbukta to view remains from the 1600s whaling industry. 

Visit Ny-Ålesund Research Station, the world’s northernmost year-round research facility, and Kongsfjorden, with landings and cruises to its two glaciers, Kronebreen and Kongsbreen.

Alkhornet showcases the change in geology from plateau to edge-dominated, alpine mountainous landscape.

Return to Isfjorden and Longyearbyen.

Disembark in Longyearbyen at 9am.

We don’t follow a fixed itinerary

We prefer to embrace spontaneity and make the most of every opportunity nature presents to us. This is how we believe a true, authentic expedition should run. After all, the thrill of adventuring into the unknown is more rewarding than a journey that runs on tracks!

So all our listed itineraries are for guidance only. The day-to-day activities may vary depending on the ice, the weather, and the wildlife. Landings are subject to site availability and permissions, and always in line with AECO regulations.

Signature Twin/Double

$19,995 USD pp
Signature Twin/Double
For 2 Guests Comfortable Twin or Double Bed Ensuite shower and toilet 15 m² Located on deck 1 Window Desk & chair Wardrobe Cabins 1 - 4

Signature Penthouse (Double)

$22,995 USD pp
Signature Penthouse (Double)
For 2 Guests Comfortable double bed Ensuite shower and toilet 15 m² Located on deck 3 Windows Desk & chair Wardrobe Cabin Number: 8

Signature Single

$22,995 USD pp
Signature Single
For 1 guest 10 m² Located on decks 1 and 2 Window Wardrobe Cabin 5 - 7

Signature Penthouse (Double)

$17,500 USD pp
Signature Penthouse (Double)
Cabin 3 Sleeps 2 in a double bed Ensuite shower and toilet Window

Signature Twin - Cabins 1–2 & 4–5

$17,500 USD pp
Signature Twin - Cabins 1–2 & 4–5
Sleeps 2 in lower twin berths Ensuite shower and toilet Window

Signature Single - Cabins 6–7

$20,500 USD pp
Signature Single - Cabins 6–7
Sleeps 1 in a lower berth Ensuite shower and toilet Window

Signature Twin - Cabins 1–2 & 4–5

$17,500 USD pp
Signature Twin - Cabins 1–2 & 4–5
Sleeps 2 in lower twin berths Ensuite shower and toilet Window

Signature Penthouse (Double)

$17,500 USD pp
Signature Penthouse (Double)
Cabin 3 Sleeps 2 in a double bed Ensuite shower and toilet Window

Signature Single - Cabins 6–7

$20,500 USD pp
Signature Single - Cabins 6–7
Sleeps 1 in a lower berth Ensuite shower and toilet Window

Vessel Type: Ice Class Small Ship

Length: 45 meters

Passenger Capacity: 12

MV Freya is a high-strength ice-class expedition vessel originally built for lighthouse construction, now refitted to provide first-class Arctic exploration. Its sturdy 1A ice-class hull allows access deep into the pack ice, offering unique perspectives on remote regions. The ship accommodates small groups with seven characterfully decorated cabins, including twin, double, and single options, all with ensuite bathrooms and windows. Multiple observation decks, a sauna, and an outdoor hot tub ensure guests can relax and enjoy panoramic views of the Arctic environment.

Life on board is centred around a cosy saloon-style dining room and bar, complemented by a comfortable lounge for lectures, presentations, or quiet reading. Guests are welcome on the open bridge to observe navigation and wildlife spotting firsthand. MV Freya also carries two Zodiacs for closer shore landings and wildlife encounters. Designed for intimate, itinerary-free expeditions, the vessel provides a seamless blend of adventure, comfort, and immersive engagement with the Arctic wilderness.

Cabin layout for Freya

Vessel Type: Ice-Strengthened Expedition Vessel

Length: 41.8 m

Passenger Capacity: 12

Vikingfjord is a purpose-built micro-expedition vessel designed for only 12 guests, combining ice-strengthened capability with modern Scandinavian comfort. Its 1B-rated hull allows access deep into pack ice and remote terrain that larger ships cannot approach, while its energy-efficient engine and advanced NOx filtration system deliver a 95% emissions reduction. Multiple viewing points — including an L-shaped observation lounge, bridge lounge, and extensive open-deck platforms — give uninterrupted sightlines across the Arctic environment from every angle.

Interiors are contemporary and restful, with eight ensuite cabins arranged in single, twin, and suite layouts. Social spaces include a light-filled lounge with a bar and library, a cosy dining room lined with windows, and open access to the bridge. On-deck amenities such as the sauna and outdoor hot tub extend the experience outdoors, providing rare vantage points in warmth and comfort. Vikingfjord operates as a true small-ship expedition platform: quiet, compact, environmentally progressive, and designed to maximise immersion in the polar landscape.

Cabin layout for Vikingfjord

Inclusions


SVALBARD
• Expert Svalbard Expedition Leader
• Lectures on Svalbard
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Polar Bear protection guides for shore landings
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner + alcoholic drinks with evening meal)
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings
• Transfers from airport to hotel and to vessel for embarkation + vessel to airport/hotel after disembarkation

ANTARCTICA
• Expert Antarctica Expedition Guide Team
• Lectures on Antarctica
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner )
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings

Exclusions


• Flights
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Any additional expenses such as museum entry
Spitsbergen Small Ship CruiseSmall Ship Cruise
10 Days from
$1,750 USD per day

or call us on

NZ Freephone
0800 945 3327

AUS Freephone
1800 107 715

to help you make your reservation

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