Please note: The itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on  ice and weather conditions. We must be flexible in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is the key for expedition cruises.

**Want to see what an actual Spitsbergen cruise is like? Visit our Spitsbergen Cruises Log or our Spitsbergen Gallery in our blog!

Sample Itinerary (North and Around Spitsbergen)
Please note: Itineraries can vary slightly depending on number of days. Please inquire for exact itinerary that corresponds to number of days.

Day 1: On arrival into Longyearbyen (a former mining town), if time permits, you can visit the polar museum and parish church which are both time well spent. Or just stroll around the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago.  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: The ship will head north along the west coast, arriving by morning in Krossfjorden.  After breakfast, we will take to the Zodiacs for a cruise along the  14th of July Glacier. The slopes near the glacier are very green with a nice variety of flowers that will likely be in bloom. On the nearby cliffs, there are large numbers of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting. At the base of the cliffs, there are often Arctic foxes looking for food and bearded seals swimming in the water.

The afternoon takes us to Ny Ålesund's research center, the world’s most northerly settlement. As we approach the village, we see the breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese and Arctic terns. This area had once been a mining village which had been served by the world's most northerly railway. 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 can still be seen with a short walk.

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

Day 4:  As we travel to the northern most point at 81 degrees north, 540 miles from the geographic North Pole we may sit in the ice pack for several hours watching for polar bears and Ross gulls while taking in the beautiful surroundings. Departing from Phippsoya we will head south again.

Day 5: Walrus are the focus today as there is a large herd that tends to congregate at Laagoya, a low island with a large lagoon. 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 ptarmigans are often seen near the graves of 17th century whalers.

Day 6: As we sail into Hinlopen Strait, navigating the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvoya, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, ivory gulls and thousands of Brunnich's guillemots we'll attempt landings at Augustabukta on Nordaustlandet.  This area is home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls and walrus. Continuing on to Torrelneset, we will explore the polar desert area next to the world's third largest ice cap. The walk along the coast will be covered with smooth rocks, sculpted by the surf over thousands of years.

Day 7: Today 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 keeping our eyes open for Spitsbergen reindeer and barnacle geese.  As the day progresses, 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 from Siberia. For those that have the energy, we can 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 here too.

Day 8: Our day starts quietly cruising the fjords of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery with towering mountain peaks and 14 magnificent glaciers. There are good chances of encountering polar bears and seals on the ice. If time permits, we may visit the Polish research station where it is home to thousands of nesting little auks.

Day 9: Today we land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Unfortunately, there are piles of Beluga whale skeletons ( a small white whale) from the remains of 19th century slaughter. Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally if we 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 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.

Date & Rate Information

*LEGEND

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 Plancius

M/V Plancius started her life in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named “Hr. Ms. Tydeman”. In June 2004, the vessel was taken out of active service as a research vessel and was purchased for refitting as a polar expedition vessel in December 2006. 

Rebuilt in 2009 as a 112-passenger vessel, it complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea), is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the Dutch flag. 

The Plancius is comfortable and attractively decorated, but is not a luxury vessel. Our voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by a top-quality exploratory educational travel programme, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel fully meets our demands to achieve this and provide comfortable accomodations during our days at sea.

M/v “Plancius” was named after the Dutch astronomer, cartographer, geologist and vicar Petrus Plancius (1552 – 1622). Plancius theorised the existence of an accessible northern passage to Asia and his theory encouraged several northern discovery voyages at the end of the 16th century. A Dutch expedition - under the command of Willem Barentsz - discovered Spitsbergen, but got stuck in the pack-ice of Novaya Semlya (now Russian territory). Those discoveries gave rise of the 17th century whaling industry in Spitsbergen.

M/V Plancius can accommodate 112 passengers in 54 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 triple private cabins, 40 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). 

The vessel is manned by 30 international crew members (inc. 10 stewardesses/cabin cleaners), 6 hotel staff (4 chefs, 1 purser and 1 steward-barman), 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor.

Plancius Interior

Superior Cabin


Twin Private Cabin


Quadruple Cabin


Dining & Lecture Room

Buffet