Want to see what an actual Spitsbergen cruise is like? Visit our Spitsbergen Cruises Log or our Spitsbergen Gallery in our blog! (Will open in a new window.)

Sample Itinerary (North and Around Spitsbergen)
Please note: Itineraries can vary slightly depending on number of days.

Day 1: Once you arrive into Longyearbyen (a former mining town) and administrative capital, if time permits, you can visit the polar museum and parish church or just stroll around town.  In the early evening, the ship will sail out of Isfjorden. Depending on flight arrival time, you may need to arrive a day early and overnight before embarking on the ship.

Day 2: As we head north along the west coast at night we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden.  After breakfast, we will take to the Zodiacs for a cruise along the  14th of July Glacier and nearby green slopes with a colorful variety of flowers that will likely be in bloom. The nearby cliffs are home to large numbers of nesting  kittiwakes and nesting Brünnich’s guillemots. At the base of the cliffs, there are often Arctic fox looking for food and bearded seals swimming in the water.

The world's most northerly settlement is Ny Ålesund's research center which we will sail to in the afternoon. This area had once been a mining village served by the world's mostly northerly railway.  It is now, among other things, a breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese and Arctic terns.  The anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and again by Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole can still be seen with a short walk.

Day 3: As we sail on to the mouth of Liefdefjorden, we will go ashore for a walk on Andoya Island looking for the many common eiders, king eider, and pink-footed geese that are seen there.  Sailing on into Liefdefjorden, we cruise near the face of Monaco Glacier where if we are lucky, we will see polar bears on the glacier. The water in front of the glacier is also a great feeding area for kittiwakes so have your cameras ready.

Day 4:  Reaching the northern most point at Phippsoya, which is 81 degrees north, 540 miles from the geographic North Pole we may sit leisurely in the ice pack for several hours watching for polar bears and Ross gulls while taking in the beautiful surroundings before backing out to head south.

Day 5: A heard of walrus tend to congregate in the lagoon at Laagoya which is a low island. Sabine's gulls nest on the island as well. We'll move on to Sorg Fjord and take a nature walk where another herd of walrus and ptarmigan are often seen near the graves of 17th century whalers.

Day 6: Sailing into Hinlopen Strait as the ship is navigated through the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvoya, the home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, ivory gulls and thousands of Brunnich's guillemots we'll attempt landings at Augustabukta on Nordaustlandet.  Added to the abundant wildlife will be reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls and walrus to round out the day. Continuing on to Torrelneset, we will explore the polar desert area next to the world's third largest ice cap walking along the smooth rocked coast sculpted by the surf over thousands of years.

Day 7: Arriving in Freemansundet, we will plan to land at Sundneseton, the island of Barentsoya, with a visit to an old trapper's hut followed by a walk across the tundra encountering Spitsbergen reindeer and barnacle geese.  Later in the day, we cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeoya for a zodiac cruise through the shallow bay landing on a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks that have drifted in from Siberia.  We will climb to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of kittiwakes, black guillemots and Glaucous gulls. There is always a possibility of spotting polar bears and Arctic fox at the base of the cliff.

Day 8: Cruising quietly through the fjords of southern Spitsbergen, we will enjoy the scenery of towering mountain peaks and 14 magnificent glaciers. There are good chances of spotting polar bears and seals on the ice. If time permits, we may visit the Polish research station where behind it on the cliffs is home to thousands of nesting little auks.

Day 9: Today we land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden where there are piles of Beluga whale skeletons from the remains of 19th century slaughtering. Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally in pods.  As we cruise into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon, getting off the ship, we will explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many reindeer feed.

Day 10: Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.

Air from Oslo to Longyearbyen and return may be booked through our  office; cost is approximately $650 US (subject to change).  We are also happy to make hotel arrangements for you in Oslo or Longyearbyen if needed, contact our office for more information

Registration
To confirm your space on these tours, please contact our office. 1.800.808.4492 or 206.463.1943

Deposit: 25% of trip cost

Cancellation Policy
In the event you must cancel your reservation, refunds will be made according to the following schedule: Deposit is nonrefundable. 90 to 61 days prior to departure, 50% of total is nonrefundable; less than 60 days prior to departure, 100% nonrefundable.

Fuel surcharge: If world fuel prices reach or exceed US Dollar 90 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure then the boat operator reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of $25 USD per night per passenger to be paid prior to travel.

Insurance
Because many advance logistical arrangements have been made prior to the running of this trip, we must adhere to the above policy. In light of this, we strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance. An application form will be sent to you upon request, or you may purchase it on your own. Because of the remote location, emergency medical evacuation insurance is required. Please check your personal insurance coverage and make sure it is applicable in foreign countries. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is a component of the insurance program IWA offers.

The MV Antarctic Dream

M/V “Antarctic Dream” is a Dutch built ice-reinforced vessel and served under the name Piloto Pardo for the Chilean Navy. The vessel was rebuilt as an unrestricted, worldwide passenger vessel and was completely refurbished in July 2005. M/v “Antarctic Dream” is registered in Panama. The vessel features a spacious dining room / observation lounge, bar, lecture room, fitness room plus sauna, boutique and passenger bridge.

The vessel is manned by 18 well-trained Chilean crew members. The on board staff consists of 1 expedition leader, 4 guides / lecturers, 1 hotel manager, 1 barman, 1 doctor, 3 chefs and 6 waitresses / cabin cleaners. The Antarctic Dream's expeditions offer you the ideal introduction to the Great White Continent. Departing from and finishing in the port of Ushuaia, we take in the most exciting sights of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Our program is orientated to the viewing of wildlife and the breathtaking scenery of narrow waterways, glaciers, icebergs and the rugged mountains.

Cabins of M/V Antarctic Dream

MV Antarctic Dream's Deck Plan