Arctic, Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen In Depth: Big Islands, Big Adventure

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Spitsbergen is the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, and on this voyage we’ll attempt a circumnavigation of the island. Lying entirely within the Arctic Circle, Spitsbergen is rugged, wild, unspoiled—utterly unforgettable. When it comes to viewing arctic wildlife, Spitsbergen is known as one of the most prolific destinations.

The island and surrounding area offers one of the best opportunities to view polar bears, and with luck you’ll be able to see the world’s largest carnivores in their natural habitat. Walrus populations love Spitsbergen as well, feeding in the food-rich icy waters around the island. Whales and seabirds will also entertain you during the sailing portions of the expedition, and you may catch a sighting of reindeer or fox when taking Zodiac excursions to shore.

Highlights

• Encounter arctic wildlife: polar bears, walrus, reindeer

• View numerous arctic bird species

• Explore the polar desert

• Take advantage of continuous daylight

• Hike the tundra

• Cruise in a Zodiac

• Enjoy optional kayak adventure opportunities

Day 1 — Arrive in Oslo, Norway

Your Arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway’s vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy before retiring at your included airport hotel.

Day 2 — Embarkation Day in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, where you’ll have some time to explore before embarkation. As your ship sets sail, enjoy your first view of the island’s rugged, glacier-topped mountains rising majestically from icy waters.

Days 3 to 13 — Exploring Spitsbergen

Expect a new adventure every day as we begin our journey by heading north and around the island of Spitsbergen, exploring smaller, outlying islands. We plan to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, but if conditions are favorable, we will also attempt a larger circumnavigation of the region, including many of the outer islands in the Svalbard archipelago. Every expedition will be different, depending on the weather and ice, but some of the places we may visit include the 14th of July Glacier, Ny London, Phippsøya, Alkefjellet and the seldom-visited Kvitøya. These names may seem strange to you, but each site has its own unique appeal. There is no shortage of natural beauty in Spitsbergen, where colorful tundra meadows are complemented by immense glaciers. For birders, the 14th of July Glacier is home to puffins, purple sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle geese and Arctic terns, while Alkefjellet’s cliffs are teeming with nesting Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Always on the lookout for wildlife, be sure to have your camera ready to capture reindeer when we visit sites like Ny London, Sundneset and Alkhornet. Searching for the iconic polar bear is a constant activity for your Expedition Team. Phippsøya and Isbukta are often home to sea ice, the bears’ preferred habitat for hunting, which translates into great potential for you to view and capture them in action. A big part of appreciating Spitsbergen comes from understanding the history—not just how people live today, but also how this land was first explored. Whaling was a key industry, and you will see remains of outposts from the 16th century, plus other evidence of whaling at landing sites such as Smeerenburg.

Day 14 — Disembark in Longyearbyen & fly to Oslo

Your adventure ends in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your return group charter flight to Oslo.

Please Note:

Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

10 July, 2024 to 23 July, 2024
Ocean Adventurer

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Triple Cabin. From

$20,800 AUD pp

A Triple Cabin has two lower berths and one upper berth, private facilities, and a porthole with exterior views.

Lower Deck Twin. From

$24,000 AUD pp

A Lower Deck Twin cabin has two lower berths, private facilities, and a porthole with exterior views.

Main Deck Twin Porthole. From

$26,600 AUD pp

A Main Deck Twin Porthole cabin has two lower berths, private facilities, and a porthole with exterior views.

Main Deck Twin Window. From

$29,100 AUD pp

A Main Deck Twin Window cabin has two lower berths, private facilities, and two windows with exterior views.

Superior Cabin. From

$31,700 AUD pp

A Superior cabin has two lower berths, private facilities, and windows with exterior views. Note: this cabin has either corner or parallel bed configuration.

Suite. From

$40,000 AUD pp

A Suite has a double bed, windows with exterior views, private facilities. Cabin 403 has a bathtub; other Suites have showers.

Owner's Suite. From

$42,800 AUD pp

An Owner's Suite has a double bed and private sitting room. One features a large panoramic window facing aft, and the other two suites face port and starboard.

Deluxe. From

Sold Out

Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.

Additional charges:

MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE: 995 USD pp

Ocean Adventurer

Vessel Type: Comfortable Expedition

Length: 90 metres

Passenger Capacity: 118

Built / refurbished: 1975 / 1998 / 2017 - re-named to the Ocean Adventurer in June 2017

Ocean Adventurer is designed to carry 132 travelers in comfort to the most remote corners of the world. Originally built in Yugoslavia in 1976, this nimble, ice-strengthened ship has become a passenger favourite over the years and underwent refurbishments in 1999 and 2002 with the most significant being in 2017.

With the latest rounds of refurbishments guests will enjoy:

• A refreshed, contemporary new look and feel throughout the ship.

• The addition of six new twin cabins and three new suites.

• All existing cabins will be furnished with all new soft furnishings and brand new bathrooms.

• Main common areas such as the Lounge and Dining Room will be remodeled as well as the Bar.

• Major technical enhancements – include two new Rolls Royce engines, which will significantly increase fuel efficiency and minimized carbon footprint.

Kayaking

Kayaking in the Arctic is probably one of the most intimate and inspiring ways you can explore the rugged coastlines and calm bays of the regions we visit.

Special Offers

Would you like to learn about our current promotions? Get in touch to learn more! We have special offers available for Antarctica and Arctic cruises!

Inclusions

• Voyage in selected cabin category
• Rubber boots for use throughout the voyage
• Expedition Parka to keep
• Experience Expedition leader and team
• All shore landings and zodiac cruises as specified in the itinerary
• All meals while on board the ship
• Soft Drinks, Juice, Tea and Coffee while on board the ship
• Beer and Wine with dinner
• Lectures and presentations on board held by Expedition team and guest speakers as scheduled
• Photographic journal of the expedtion
• Luggage handling on board the ship
• Emergency Evacuation insurance up to a maximum of USD$500,000.00 per person
• All port charges/taxes
• Transfers between Longyearbyen town center and port on embarkation and disembarkation day

Exclusions

• International and Domestic airfares unless specified
• Passport and Visa costs if applicable
• Meals ashore unless specified
• Travel insurance including cancellation insurance
• Mandatory waterproof pants - required for zodiac cruises and landings
• Any items of a personal nature including medical costs incurred on board
• Phone and Internet charges incurred on board
• Gratuities
• Transfers other than those specified in inclusions
• Pre and post voyage accommodation unless stated in the itinerary
• Optional excursions (Eg kayaking where available)
• Arrival and departure transfers in Oslo
• Mandatory Transfer Package. Includes: One night pre-voyage hotel accommodation at Oslo airport hotel
Charter flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, Arrival and departure transfers in Longyearbyen, Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo. PACKAGE PRICE: From USD$895.00 per person
• Gratuities or tips are always at your discretion. We recommend that you budget $10 to $15 per person per day, if you are pleased with the service on board. Gratuities are collected anonymously at the end of each voyage. They are distributed among staff and crew. Payment can be made in cash or charged to your shipboard account.