Kingdom of the Polar Bear II
9 days / 8 nights, Longyearbyen - Barentsburg - Ny Alesund - Hinlopen Strait – Nordauslandet - Kvitoya - Barentsoya – Edgeoya – South Cape - Hornsund - Icefjord | This variation on the traditional Kingdom of the Polar Bear itinerary includes the opportunity to visit Kvitoya along the island of Nordauslandet, Svalbard's second largest island.
| O2 | R2 | E3 | T2 | W2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,726 | $5,871 | $6,831 | $7,726 | $8,887 |
Rates in USD per person. Single supplement 75%. USD Rates valid for North, Central and South American residents only. Rates are pp double occuppancy, capacity controlled and subject to withdrawl without notice. Cruise fuel surcharge is additional and will be advised at time of booking. Restrictions apply.
| Departure | August 19th, 2010 |
| Price | From $5,726 per person in double See current Special below |
| Included | Transfer on scheduled arrivals/departures to/from the quayside Transfers on scheduled arrivals and departures to/from quayside 1 night Spitsbergen Hotel Scandinavian breakfast buffet 1 x Lunch at Spitsbergen Hotel Sightseeing tour of Longyearbyen, including Museum Accommodations onboard the MV Polar Star in select cabin category Three meals daily shipboard: breakfast, cooked lunch, 3-course dinner Program as described Shore excursions by zodiacs, one or two daily. (We normally dock at the quayside in Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund). Transfers on scheduled arrivals and departures to/from quayside 1 night Spitsbergen Hotel Scandinavian breakfast buffet 1 x Lunch at Spitsbergen Hotel sightseeing and visit to museum in Longyearbyen Accommodations onboard the M/V Polar Star in select cabin category Three meals daily shipboard: breakfast, cooked lunch, 3-course dinner. The meals are ample but not luxurious Program as described Shore excursions by zodiacs (once or twice a day) Transfer guide when arriving on Thursday (according to program) and throughout the stay in Longyearbyen and cruise guides during the cruise that will provide information, give talks and lead the shore parties English speaking Expedition guide |
| Not Included | Airfare & airport taxes Pre- and post land arrangements Personal items & equipment Beer, wine, mineral water (sold on board) Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended) $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | All prices are subject to alteration. Limited number of single cabins available. Prices for triple cabins available upon request. How demanding is this tour? The tour does not make any special physical demands of you, but most of the landings are by means of a zodiac. The terrain on shore is rugged, so participants should be steady on their feet. A sense of adventure is always an advantage. Great emphasis is placed on having qualified expedition leaders with comprehensive knowledge of Svalbard and arctic conditions. In conjunction with our experienced tour guides they ensure safety in the fields and ensures that the rules and regulations are kept. The expedition staff will on all departures lecture about arctic topics, both on shore, out on deck, as well as in our excellent observation lounge. There is a medical doctor onboard M/V Polar Star. |
| Tour Options | Flight Tromsø - Longyearbyen Flight Oslo - Longyearbyen Overnight in Oslo International flights available on SAS, please request. |
Norwegian Polar Institute: Polar Bears in Svalbard in pdf
Current Special
Day 1 ARRIVAL LONGYEARBYEN Arrive Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen; transfer to the Spitsbergen Hotel upon arrival.
Day 2 LONGYEARBYEN – BARENTSBURG (B, L, D) Free time in morning, followed by lunch at the Spitsbergen Hotel and sightseeing in Longyearbyen. Embark the MV Polar Star at 3:30 p.m., sailing for Barentsburg at 4 p.m. Upon arrival in Barentsburg, enjoy sightseeing and free time. Take in a folklore show at the Cultural House (tickets included) before returning to the ship. We sail from Barentsburg at 9 p.m. By night, we sail out of the Icefjord, northbound along the coast of Prins Karls Forland.
Day 3 NY - ALESUND We arrive at Ny-Alesund at 9 a.m. Depart on guided walk, focusing on coal mining and Arctic exploration, followed by free time. We sail from Ny-Alesund at 11:30 a.m., passing the "Seven Icebergs" before reaching Spitsbergen's northwestern corner. We arrive at the Magdalenefjord and Smeerenburgfjord in the afternoon.
Day 4 HINLOPEN STRAIT - NORDAUSLANDET (B, L, D) By night, we sail east to the Hinlopen Strait and Nordauslandet, second-largest island in Svalbard, passing Moffen Island and the 80th Parallel North. In the morning, we explore the northern Hinlopen Strait. Our first stop will be at the former Swedish research station at Kinnvika, on Nordauslandet. In the afternoon, we sail north to the northernmost point in Europe, Rossoya. (To land there, we will need calm weather and no drift ice.) We then journey east, along the northern coast of Nordauslandet.
Day 5 KVITOYA (B, L, D) We have reached the eastern parts of Nordauslandet. Our plan is to reach Kvitoya, easternmost island in Svalbard. The ice cap Kvitoyiokulen covers 98% of the island. We plan to land at Andreeneset, where the remains of the Andree Expedition were found in 1930. In the afternoon, we head south for Edgeoya and Barentsoya, the third- and fourth-largest islands of Svalbard.
Day 6 BARENTSOYA - EDGEOYA - SOUTH CAPE (B, L, D) As we near Edgeoya and Barentsoya, we have several possibilities for landings around the Freemansund, including the old trappers' hut at Sundneset on Barentsoya and at Kapp Lee on Edgeoya. Later, we land at Diskobukta on Edgeoya for a walk up the rim of a narrow gully occupied by thousands of kittiwakes—and the Polar foxes that prey on them. At night, we sail around the Sorkapp, or South Cape.
Day 7 HORNSUND (B, L, D) In the morning, we voyage into the fjords of the Hornsund area in southern Spitsbergen. Home to towering mountains and 14 magnificent glaciers, this is regarded as one of Svalbard's most spectacular areas. Possible excursions include the Polish research station at Isbjornhamna and the "bird mountain" of Sofiekammen.
Day 8 ICEFJORD (B, L, D) Returning to the Icefjord, we can explore the old Dutch whaling stations at Trygghamna, early coal mining works at Bohemanneset, and an old gypsum mine at Skansebukta. Come afternoon, celebrate and reminisce with the crew at the captain's farewell party, as we set sail for Longyearbyen.
Day 9 LONGYEARBYEN We cruise into Longyearbyen at 2 a.m., with 2:15 a.m. airport transfers for passengers with early flights to Oslo. If you have a later departure or are staying in Spitsbergen, you may disembark by 8 a.m. for a transfer to the Spitsbergen Hotel for breakfast on your own and/or luggage storage.
* Itineraries subject to change due to weather and ice conditions and may differ from one departure to another.