West Svalbard Arctic Wildlife: Sea Spirit

Arctic

Participate in an expedition cruise in continuous Arctic daylight. Discover bears, seals and whales in their natural habitat amongst the Arctic pack ice as we explore far above the Arctic Circle – only 600 miles from the North Pole. The mountains of Svalbard provide a continuous, spectacular backdrop and the expedition reaches all the way to seldom-visited, glacier capped White Island. All this in exclusive comfort on board the luxurious M/V Sea Spirit

  • Spectacular coasts, fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen
  • Reach the Polar pack ice of the North and Northeast coast
  • Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, walrus and seals
  • Huge concentrations of birdlife
  • The luxury expedition vessel Sea Spirit
I am still watching again and again at thousands of pictures and videos, I share it with my friends and family, I can speak about white picks of mountains, about purity of the air, about sleeping seals on the big ice-floe about icebergs, but I know that no pictures I can show, no stories I can tell will never express the depth of emotions, feelings and mood. You just have to see it.

Early Bird Prices 2025

*Super Early Bird Prices 2025 Season (15% reduced for Triple, Main Deck, Single and Classic Suites; 20% for Superior, Deluxe, Premium, and Owner’s Suites) are now in place for all new bookings confirmed by June 30, 2024. Discounted prices as shown.

Stewart's Take

A perfect peak-season Svalbard expedition cruise!

Overview

Participate in polar bear photo-safari cruise in continuous Arctic daylight. Discover seals and whales amongst the Arctic pack ice as we explore far above the Arctic Circle – only 600 miles from the North Pole. The mountains of Svalbard provide a continuous, spectacular backdrop and the expedition reaches all the way to seldom-visited, glacier capped White Island. All this in exclusive comfort on board the luxurious M/V Sea Spirit
Day 1: Arrive 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 program. Since guests will be arriving on various flights during the day, we ask you to stop by our Welcome Desk at the hotel where you will receive some preliminary information and suggestions for dining (on your own today). Depending on your flight’s arrival, you may have time to visit some of the town’s cafes, restaurants, shops and post office. If you notice that daytime has stretched well into the evening, get used to it! The sun won’t set for the entire duration our time in Svalbard! Day 2: Visit to Barentsburg & Coal Mine №3 Following an early breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the pier to embark a high-speed catamaran for our tour to Barentsburg, a little piece of Russian in the Svalbard Archipelago. With about 450 inhabitants, it’s the second-largest settlement on Svalbard. Along the way, guides will share their knowledge and stories about bird cliffs, abandoned settlements and other sights, with arrival expected mid-morning. While Norway has sovereignty over Svalbard, an international treaty gives some countries the right to mine on the archipelago. This has resulted in a functional Russian community – including schools, a hospital, cultural and sports buildings – all with a Norwegian postal code and phone numbers! A walking tour with local guide will take approximately one hour, with some time for yourself and a coffee or beer at the café. Back on board the catamaran at noon, we head out of Grønfjord back to Longyearbyen. You will be transferred to the hotel, where an included lunch will be served. This afternoon, we’ll learn why Longyearbyen was settled in 1906, the idea of an American mining industrialist, John Munro Longyear. While he sold his stake before WWI to a Norwegian company, mining remained the primary economic force here through the end of the 20th century. Just one mine remains functional, but we can visit a closed mine, Number 3. Support buildings, equipment and the mine itself – mostly intact from the final production days 25 years ago – will give you a true sense of the operation. Following a guided tour, enjoy a festive underground dinner with your fellow travelers before transferring back to the hotel. Day 3: Tour of Surrounding Area, Svalbard Museum & Welcome Aboard There’s time for a leisurely breakfast this morning and getting luggage ready for the ship. At 11:00, local guides will accompany you on a motorcoach tour of the area followed by the excellent Svalbard Museum. Return to the hotel for an included lunch and briefing. Later this afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the pier and your home-away-from-home, the expedition vessel Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship; enjoy some coffee, tea and snacks in the lounge. After getting underway, a full schedule of activities kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your expedition staff. After the first of many enjoyable dinners aboard, 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 4-9: West Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge The itinerary for this voyage focuses on the spectacular fjords, coasts and islands of western Spitsbergen, the main island of the Svalbard archipelago. This area contains Svalbard’s most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Our exact schedule and route will be shaped by the weather and ice conditions we encounter. Polar bears and other iconic Arctic animals can be spotted at anytime, anywhere in our area of exploration. South Spitsbergen National Park One of the pristine natural areas on this itinerary is South Spitsbergen National Park, a vast region of varied landscapes including polar deserts and impassible mountain ranges. The centerpiece of this park is Hornsund, a picture-perfect fjord where countless mighty glaciers cascade from soaring mountaintops into icy inlets. At this time of year, we are sure to encounter fast ice—that is, sea ice that is fastened to the shore. This situation offers an excellent chance of observing polar bears on the hunt for ringed seals. The park also includes the southern shores of Bellsund, a picturesque bay where we find the remains of historical whaling operations, including wooden boats, cabins and thousands of whale bones—a scene from the distant past, literally frozen in time. This area also offers great hiking opportunities through landscapes rich with Arctic flora and birdlife, as well as fascinating geology. Northwest Spitsbergen National Park 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. Forlandet National Park Our area of exploration also includes gorgeous Forlandet National Park. Here we find Prins Karls Forland, one of the best places in Svalbard to observe herds of walrus hauled out on land. Also along the route is North Isforden National Park, where we have the chance to observe endemic Svalbard reindeer grazing and Arctic fox romping in lush tundra meadows. 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 museum, gift shop and post office. In addition to exploring the terrestrial environment and inshore waterways of western Spitsbergen, we make a special effort to reach the edge of the polar pack ice. At this dynamic boundary between solid sea ice and open ocean, we have an unparalleled opportunity to witness the dramatic interplay between polar bears and seals. We will take the ship as close as safely possible to the jumbled and constantly shifting ice floes in the hope of observing polar bears hunting in their preferred habitat. At this time of year, the ice edge is not far from mainland Spitsbergen and our sailing time in open seas will be relatively short. The West Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge route offers a stunning variety of Arctic landscapes and animals with minimal sailing time between excursions. 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 10: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard After filling up with one last buffet breakfast on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen. We provide transfers to the airport or to the town center in case you plan to stay longer in Svalbard. By this time, you may already be making plans for your next amazing trip with us into the polar worlds!

Luxury Expedition Ship M/S Sea Spirit

MS Sea Spirit, luxury, small expedition ship

Sail aboard the remarkably comfortable Sea Spirit and experience the polar regions in grand style with spacious suites. Carrying a maximum of 112 passengers this outstanding vessel, approved for polar waters, is equipped with rubber inflatable boats - called Zodiacs- for shore transfers and cruising. Kayaking and camping options are available on select departures. All suites have facilities en suite and exterior views. Deluxe Suites, Premium Suites and the Owner's Suite have private balconies for viewing the breathtaking landscapes of the Arctic, Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. Cruise with all the comfort of home - king-size beds (twin beds for those who prefer them), an open bar, balconies and a hot tub. Plus enjoy the amenities of a fine hotel, while a resident photographer helps you take brag-worthy photos.

For full information about this vessel click here...

Included
  • OSL-LYR-OSL flights;
  • 1 pre-voyage hotel night;
  • Group transfer to the ship on day of embarkation;
  • Group transfer to airport or central location upon disembarkation;
  • Shipboard accommodation;
  • All scheduled landings/excursions (other than optional);
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader & Expedition Team;
  • All meals on board throughout the voyage;
  • Tea and coffee station 24 hours daily;
  • A pair of rubber boots on loan for shore landings;
  • Branded Poseidon Expeditions parka;
  • Welcome and Farewell cocktails;
  • All port fees;
  • Pre-departure materials;
  • Digital Voyage Log;
  • Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a maximum benefit of US 100,000 per person (for those 85 years of age and younger).
Excluded
  • Airfare;
  • 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;
  • Staff gratuities.
  • Special conditions: In case fuel price increases significantly fuel surcharge may be applied for all bookings.
Deposits Reservations require a deposit of 20% at the time you receive a booking confirmation from Expeditions Online. A payment link will be sent to you and this may be paid by major credit card. Bookings within 120 days of departure require full payment. Final Payments Balances are due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellations All requests for cancellation must be received in writing. Reservations cancelled more than 120 days prior to departure are subject to a USD 750 per person cancellation fee (or equivalent currency). Reservations cancelled from 119 to 91 days prior to departure are subject to 20% per person cancellation fee. We strongly recommend that you obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance. Booking Terms Please read carefully the General Booking Conditions for Expeditions Online. This voyage is operated by Poseidon Expeditions and you additionally travel under their terms and conditions as the operator as well as of the Shipping Company/transport carrier. Details will be forwarded to you at the time of booking.
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