Poseidon Expeditions - your polar cruise operator
TOP CHOICE FOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS
25 Jun - 06 Jul 2024
12 days
11 days
Dates | days | Activities | Special Offers | Rates from | |
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Best of Svalbard 6 Jul - 17 Jul 2023 |
12 |
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CALL NOW FOR THE BEST PRICE |
US$ 8 895 per person |
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Best of Svalbard 5 Jul - 16 Jul 2024 |
12 |
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SUPER EARLY BIRD SPECIAL |
US$ 9 195
US$ 7 816 per person |
Request a quote |
Welcome to Oslo, which in 2019 was awarded the prestigious title “Green Capital of Europe”. We’ve arranged a comfortable stay for you at an Oslo Airport hotel so that you’re conveniently close for your flight to Longyearbyen on Day 2.
If you’re adventurous and have the time, take the handy airport train into central Oslo – it’s a 20-minute ride and trains depart and arrive frequently during the day. Near Oslo Central Station are shops, cafes, the Botanical Garden, cultural attractions and the attractive waterfront area.
Today you have a flight 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 the pier where we will warmly welcome you aboard the deluxe expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship that will be your comfortable home during the extraordinary adventure to come. Once underway, a full schedule of events kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your expedition staff.
This is not just any cruise, but a photo cruise, designed specifically for amateur photographers of all skill levels. It will be a cool and unforgettable journey. You will have the opportunity to photograph some of the most pristine and remote wilderness areas in the world, and to develop your photography skills in the company of like-minded fellow travelers.
The goal for this voyage is a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Along the way, we hope to experience the many facets of this incredible High Arctic territory. Our exact schedule and route will be shaped by weather and ice. During this mid-summer voyage, we hope ice conditions will be favorable for a circumnavigation, though we expect there will still be plenty of sea ice around to support ice-dependent animals such as polar bears and walrus. In addition to seeing Spitsbergen from every angle, this itinerary offers the appealing possibility of setting foot on all four of Svalbard’s main islands.
As you cruise along the coastline of Spitsbergen, you will have the opportunity to capture breathtaking images of snow-capped mountains, icy glaciers, and rugged coastlines.
The first of many 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. The park also includes the southern shores of Bellsund, a picturesque bay where we find the remains of historical whaling operations, including cabins, wooden boats and thousands of whale bones—a scene from the distant past, literally frozen in time. Throughout the park, there is always a high probability of wildlife sightings. There are also plenty of possibilities for world-class hiking through wild polar landscapes with fascinating geology. Wildflowers are especially abundant during this time.
Next along our route is the wildlife-rich Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve, a pristine and rarely visited wilderness containing hundreds of uninhabited islands. On the large islands of Edgeøya and Barentsøya, we discover broad tundra valleys supporting the territory’s densest population of endemic Svalbard reindeer. We may see newborn reindeer calves at this time of year. The valleys are also important breeding areas for ground-nesting birds such a geese, eiders and sandpipers. Arctic foxes prowl the vast landscape, seeking to provide food for their growing cubs. Shallow, murky seas are ideal feeding grounds for walrus, which can be seen resting in large numbers on gently sloping beaches. Historical sites throughout the islands provide glimpses into the region’s bygone era of trapping and hunting.
During this voyage, we expect to encounter the densest concentrations of sea ice in the enormous Northwest Svalbard Nature Reserve. In this remote and isolated region, ice can persist very late into the summer, giving it a truly polar character. This reserve covers the rugged northwestern parts of Spitsbergen and the entirety of Nordaustlandet, the second largest island in Svalbard. Here we find the massive Austfonna ice cap, part of which meets the sea along the 45-kilometer ice cliff known as Bråsvellbreen—one of the great wonders of the Arctic world. The polar desert environment supports little in the way of vegetation but hosts prodigious numbers of seabirds at breeding sites such as the spectacular sea cliffs of Alkefjellet. The probability of encountering polar bears and walrus in this icy wilderness is very high.
At this time of year, the edge of the polar pack ice will likely be close to Nordaustlandet. We hope to sail along this dynamic boundary between sea and ice, where 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 in their preferred habitat.
Finally, we reach Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the crown jewel of Svalbard’s scenic wonders. Here we find deep fjords flanked by serrated mountain ranges and immense tidewater glaciers calving icebergs into turquoise waters. During our voyage, the seabird breeding season is in full swing and the skies are filled with millions of murres, guillemots and little auks. This is also a great time to encounter marine mammals, including beluga whales and various Arctic seals. Set among this incredible scenery and wildlife activity, we also find evidence of Svalbard’s earliest sealers and whalers.
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.
The ambitious Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge route offers a comprehensive view of the Arctic’s many faces. 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.
After filling up with one last buffet breakfast on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen and provide transfers. By this time, you may already be making plans for your next amazing trip with us into the polar worlds!
Itinerary, landings and all other activities during the cruise depend strongly on ice and weather conditions and are subject to the decisions of the Expedition Leader and the Captain of the vessel. Encounters with any mentioned wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
Triple Suite |
US$ 7 816
US$ 9 195 |
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Main Deck Suite |
US$ 10 876
US$ 12 795 |
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Classic Suite |
US$ 11 556
US$ 13 595 |
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Superior Suite |
US$ 11 116
US$ 13 895 |
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Deluxe Suite |
US$ 12 476
US$ 15 595 |
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Premium Suite |
US$ 13 676
US$ 17 095 |
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Owners Suite |
US$ 17 516
US$ 21 895 |
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Super Early Bird discount (15% off Triple, Main Deck, and Classic Suites; 20% off Superior, Deluxe, Premium, and Owner’s Suites) is available for new bookings confirmed by May 31, 2023.
Cruise rates are quoted per person and based on passengers sharing a cabin. Single supplement: 1.5 for all cabin categories.
Free option
A polar cruise designed for photographers of all skill levels is a perfect way to experience the beauty and grandeur of the polar regions while also improving your photography skills. With breathtaking scenery, amazing wildlife, and expert guidance, you are sure to capture stunning images that will be treasured for a lifetime.
Throughout the cruise, you will have the chance to capture the most breathtaking scenery on the planet from the comfort of your cruise ship as well as have access to photography workshops and tutorials.
In addition to the photography activities, you will also have the opportunity to learn about the polar regions and their ecosystems from expert naturalists and guides. This knowledge will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the region, which will in turn enhance your photography.
Our goal is to create a supportive and collaborative environment that enables you to be inspired as a photographer. With our team's expertise and your own unique perspective, we are confident that you will capture incredible images that you will treasure for years to come.
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