Arctic & North Atlantic
Schedule 2006 & News
Scottish Islands
Around Iceland
Iceland - Jan Mayen - Bear Island - Spitsbergen
Faroe Islands - Jan Mayen - South Spitsbergen
Around Spitsbergen
Southwest Greenland
Disko Bay - Umanak
Thule
Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland
East Greenland
North Spitsbergen

M/V Polar Star - Remote Coast of

East Greenland

M/V Polar Star - Viking Trail to the Americas
M/V Polar Star - Northeast Canada
M/V Polar Star - Magic of Islands & Fjords

M/V Polar Star - Remote Coastal Region of the UK

Spitsbergen Grand Expeditions
Spitsbergen Expedition Cruise
Spitsbergen Adventure Cruise
MS Nordstjernen Anniversary Cruise

Special offers
General Conditions
 

 

AROUND SPITSBERGEN 2006

(Longyearbyen - Longyearbyen)

11 days / 10 nights, Longyearbyen - Ny Ålesund - Hinlopenstrait - Svenskoya - Barentsøya -
Edgeøya - Hornsund - Van Keulenfjorden - Recherchefjorden - Longyearbyen

Departures :

MLT08 Jul 03 - 13 / GMK08 Jul 05 - 15 / MOL08 Jul 07 - 17 / MLT09 Jul 13 - 23 / GMK09 Jul 15 - 25 / MOL09* Jul 17 - 27 /

 MLT 10* Jul 23 - Aug 02 / GMK10 Jul 25 - Aug 04 / MOL10 Jul 27  - Aug 06 / MLT11 Aug 02 - 12 / GMK11*  Aug 04 -1 4 /

MOL11 Aug 06 - 16 /  MLT12 Aug 12 - 22 /  GMK12* Aug 14 - 24 /  MOL12 Aug 16 - 26 /  MLT132 Aug 22 - Sep 01 /

GMK13 Aug 24 - Sep 03 /  MOL13 Aug 26 - Sep 05


SAILING EXPEDITIONS 

12 Days / 11 nights, NOO03* May 23 - Jun 03 / NOO04 Jun 03 - 14 /  NOO05 Jun 14 - 25 /

NOO06* Jun 25 - Jul 06 / Noo07 Jul 06 - 17

* Currently under charter.

Towards the very top of the Northern Hemisphere lies the Svalbard Archipelago. It is the most accessible high Arctic area in the world, yet its vast expanses of pristine nature appear almost completely untouched by humans. Large parts of Svalbard are national parks and nature preserves outside the few human settlements. There are no roads connecting the settlements, making Svalbard one of the few remaining areas of unspoiled wilderness. Surprisingly rich in fauna and flora, that has adapted to the demanding arctic conditions, many places are green and lush, with beautiful flowers in many colors. Fascinating geology, ancient rock formations, rich deposits of coal, fossilized plants, several hundred million years old, are still commonly found. Svalbard provides a wealth of wildlife, and our expedition cruises will reward you with views of colonies of nesting sea birds, mammals, reindeer, arctic fox, and the king of Svalbard, the polar bear, with an estimated number of 2,500 bears in the Svalbard area.

 

Day 1 Arrival Longyearbyen
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 2 Krossfjorden - Ny Ålesund

Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly green slopes near the glacier, a colorful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich’s Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, who patrol the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research centre. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole.
 

 

Day 3 Smeerenburg - Amsterdamøya
At Smeerenburg on Amsterdamøya, we visit the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station, the blubber pots now surrounded by hundreds of tree trunks washed ashore after floating from Siberia. Our voyage continues around the north coast of West Spitsbergen as we head for the Hinlopen Strait.

Day 4 Hinlopenstrait - Augustabukta - Nordaustlandet
Before turning south into Hinlopen Strait (if the pack-ice allows us) we will have reached our most northerly position. On and around the ice at the entrance to the strait, which divides West Spitsbergen from ice-clad Nordaustlandet, there is a good chance of seeing Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls. On the eastern side of Lomfjordshalvøya we take a Zodiac cruise through the ice floes to the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, where thousands of Brünnich?s Guillemots nest in a spectacular setting. The basalt pillars, rising hundreds of meters, and the overhanging ice cap with its waterfall are an awe-inspiring sight. Finally, on the eastern side of Hinlopen Strait we intend to make an evening landing in Augustabukta on the island of Nordaustlandet, the most northerly of the major Spitsbergen islands. Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the sparse vegetation of this largely ice-covered island, where Pink-footed Geese, Walrus and a rare Ivory Gull colony are also found

Day 5 Svartknausflya - Nordaustlandet
Today we go ashore at Svartknausflya, a 'polar desert', an area of Nordaustlandet that gets so little precipitation that not even hardy tundra plants can survive. The bare, sandy hills are a strong contrast to the world?s third largest ice cap, which plunges into the sea not far away.

Day 6 Svenskøya - Olgastreet

Sailing south-west through Olgastreet, we may encounter the magnificent, but rare, Greenland Whale, which was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century.
 


Day 7 Freemansundet - Barentsøya - Edgeøya

In Freemansundet we plan to land at Sundneset on the island of Barentsøya to visit an old trapper's hut and then take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen Reindeer and Barnacle Geese. Later we cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya. After a Zodiac cruise through the shallow bay, we land on a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks, which have drifted here from Siberia. We can also climb to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of Kitttiwakes, together with Black Guillemots and piratical Glaucous Gulls. During the breeding season, the base of the cliffs is patrolled by Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears, especially females with young cubs, searching for young birds that have fallen from the nesting ledges.

Day 8 Bölscheøya - Edgeøya - Aekongen - Sørkap

In the morning we land on the attractive island of Bölscheøya, in the archipelago of Tusenøyane, to the south of Edgeøya. Here too we see the remains of Walrus and Greenland Whales, but on a happier note we may also spot a variety of interesting birds, among them Grey Phalaropes, Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Divers and, if we are lucky, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a sub-species found only on Spitsbergen, Franz Josef and, occasionally, in Greenland. In the afternoon we hope to land on Aekongen where there is a complete Greenland Whale skeleton. There are also spectacular basalt rock-columns here, and we may also see Common Eiders with chicks. At night we sail to Sørkap, the southern tip of Spitsbergen.


Day 9 Hornsund
We start the day quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name ?Spitsbergen? - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area and very good chances of encounters with seals and Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research projects. Behind the station the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks.
 


Day 10 Ahlstrandhalvøya - Van Keulenfjorden - Recherchefjorden
Today we land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Here piles of Beluga skeletons (the Beluga is a small white whale), the remains of 19th century slaughter, are yet another reminder of the consequences of thoughtless exploitation. Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally. Indeed, there is a good chance that we will come across a pod. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon we can explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many Reindeer feed.

Day 11 Longyearbyen - Oslo
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.

Please note:
If ice conditions are favorable we may sail around Nordauslandet, passing another Nordkapp and visiting Kvitøya, the place where the Swedish Explorer Andree perished, instead of sailing through the Hinlopen Strait. In the area between Kong Karls Land and Edgeøya we have a good chance to observe Greenland Whales.
 

 

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Departure Dates
Voyage Date Port Date Port Vessel
MLT08 Jul 03  LYR Jul 13 LYR Prof. Multanovskiy
GMK08 Jul 05  LYR Jul 15 LYR Grigoriy Mikheev
MOL08 Jul 07  LYR Jul 17 LYR Prof. Molchanov
MLT09 Jul 13   LYR Jul23 LYR Prof. Multanovskiy
GMK09 Jul 15  LYR Jul 25 LYR Grigoriy Mikheev
MOL09* Jul 17  LYR Aug 27 LYR Prof. Molchanov
MLT10* Jul 23  LYR Aug 02 LYR Prof. Multanovskiy
GMK10* Jul 25  LYR Aug 04 LYR Grigoriy Mikheev
MOL10 Jul 27  LYR Aug 06 LYR Prof. Molchanov
MLT11 Aug 02  LYR Aug 12 LYR Prof.Multanovskiy
GMK11* Aug 04  LYR Aug 14 LYR Grigoriy Mikheev
MOL11 Aug 06  LYR Aug 16 LYR Prof. Molchanov
MLT12 Aug 12 LYR Aug 22 LYR Prof. Multanovskiy
GMK12* Aug 14  LYR Aug 24 LYR Grigoriy Mikheev
MOL12 Aug 16  LYR Aug 26 LYR Prof. Molchanov
MTL13 Aug 22 LYR Sep 01 LYR Prof. Multanovskiy
GMK13 Aug 24 LYR Sep 03 LYR Grigoriy Mikheev
MOL13 Aug 26 LYR Sep 05 LYR Prof. Molchanov
LYR = Longyearbyen     * currently under charter

 

Prices in US Dollars
Triple Non Private Twin Non Private Twin Private Superior Suite
3,160 3,720 4,380 4,940 5,530
         

Included

  • Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as per itinerary

  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship incl. 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 hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Spitsbergen and in Greenland

  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programs

  • Comprehensive pre-departure material

Not Included

  • Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights 

  • Pre and post land arrangements 

  • Transfers

  • Passport / visa expenses

  • Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance ( strongly recommended ) 

  • Excess baggage charges and aall items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges 

  • The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other personnel aboard ( information will be provided ) 

  • Fuel Surcharge

  • Service fee $ 25 

Please note:

All dates & rates are subject to change.

All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 25 participants (motor vessels) & 12 participants for the ?Noorderlicht?.

All rates are quoted per person in US Dollar, based on twin occupancy.

Twin non private and Twin private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price US Dollar rates apply for all sales outside the area of the European Union.

5% discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages.

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions, and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

 

News:

Oceanwide Expeditions is the proud winner of the prestigious award:

WORLD'S LEADING POLAR EXPEDITION OPERATOR 2005

 

Fuel surcharge not included: 

Due to the continuous increases of fuel prices a fuel surcharge of US $ 14.00 per night per passenger has been added to the Arctic and North Atlantic Expedition Cruises on board the vessels

m/v “Professor Molchanov”, m/v “Professor Multanovskiy”, m/v “Grigoriy Mikheev” and

m/v “Aleksey Maryshev”.

 

Disclaimer

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

 

Click on map for larger image

 

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 Copyright Five Stars of Scandinavia, Inc. 2006