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Heading to the Arctic for 19 days: from the Shetland Islands to Spitsbergen, among cliffs, volcanoes, and polar bears

Main features
Boat type: ship
Number of cabins: 80
Maximum capacity: 170 travelers
Crew members: 71

Cabins

Quadruple cabine with porthole
Capacity: 4 Berths maximum
Standard comfort cabin located on the lower deck, perfectly suited to families travelling with children or passengers who are not looking for a twin cabin or a more luxurious category. Equipped with two portholes, it benefits from plenty of natural light. The sleeping area has bunk beds, one above and one below, as well as a small sofa ideal for relaxing. The cabin also has a private bathroom with shower and toilet, a flat-screen TV, a desk with chair, as... more+ well as a telephone and Wi-Fi connection available at an additional cost. A hairdryer, wardrobe, storage cupboard and safe complete the facilities of this functional and pleasant cabin. It is an excellent choice for those wishing to travel simply and comfortably. 
Triple cabin with porthole
Capacity: 3 Berths maximum
Standard comfort cabin located on the lower deck, perfectly suited to families travelling with children or passengers who are not looking for a twin cabin or a more luxurious category. Equipped with two portholes, it benefits from plenty of natural light. Sleeping arrangements include an upper berth and two lower berths, offering flexible accommodation options, as well as a small sofa ideal for relaxing. The cabin also has a private bathroom with shower... more+ and toilet, a flat-screen TV, a desk with chair, as well as a telephone and Wi-Fi connection available at an additional cost. A hairdryer, wardrobe, storage cupboard and safe complete the facilities of this functional and pleasant cabin. It is an excellent choice for those wishing to travel simply and comfortably. 
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NB : The pictures, information, and visuals presented are not contractually binding. The itinerary and program indicated may be modified without notice due to weather conditions or for technical reasons (captain's decision). Sailing times may vary depending on sea conditions and weather.

Itinerary

Itinerary
Vlissingen Mer du Nord
Your adventure begins in Vlissingen. In the early afternoon, you’ll board your expedition ship,... more+ where the crew will welcome you before departure. After completing boarding formalities and settling into your cabin, the ship will cast off and set course for the north… far to the north. As you sail on, the Dutch coastline gradually recedes, giving way to the vast expanse of the North Sea. This first day marks the start of an expedition to the high latitudes, combining exploration, marine wildlife observation, and preparation for the spectacular Arctic landscapes that await you in the days ahead. 
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Mer du Nord Dogger Bank
The voyage continues across the North Sea toward the high latitudes, passing over the famous Dogger... more+ Bank, a vast underwater plateau known for its rich biodiversity. This area provides an ideal habitat for many marine species, making this crossing an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife. From the ship’s decks, keep your eyes peeled: you may spot white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, minke whales, or—with a little luck—orcas swimming in these fish-rich waters. Between observing marine life and contemplating the vastness of the North Sea, this day offers a first glimpse of the natural richness that will accompany your expedition to the Arctic. 
Included activities: Wildlife observation, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Dogger Bank Aberdeen
A bus tour takes you to Fowlsheugh, a seabird cliff located south of Aberdeen. More than 100,000... more+ pairs of seabirds of various species can be seen there. You can also join an excursion to the Ythan Estuary, where the beaches are teeming with harbor seals, gray seals, and birds resting on the shores. We’ll have at least one expedition guide on our team who will share their knowledge of bird species and be available to help you identify, photograph from the deck, and learn more about the birds we see. In addition to the outdoor sessions, our guide will focus on Arctic bird species and related information during onboard recaps and lectures. 
Included activities: Bus Tour to Fowlsheugh, Excursion to the Ythan Estuary, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Aberdeen
You arrive in Aberdeen, the “City of Granite,” a frequent winner of the Britain in Bloom... more+ competition. This marks the true beginning of your journey. Several species of cetaceans, including orcas, are native to these waters. To the south, you’ll see the Girdle Ness Lighthouse, designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous Scottish writer who gave us classics such as *Treasure Island* and *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde*. Other passengers will join you in Aberdeen. 
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Aberdeen Fair Island
We plan to spend the day on Fair Island, a Shetland island whose approximately seventy residents... more+ are known for their beautiful knitwear. It’s a fantastic place with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you might even spot some gray seals. 
Included activities: Tour of Fair Island, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Fair Island Jan Mayen
You’ll sail north to Jan Mayen Island, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. Your two days at... more+ sea will be anything but relaxing. Keep a close watch for any spouts of water in the surrounding waters, signaling the arrival of a minke whale, a fin whale, an orca, or a blue whale. 
Included activities: Wildlife Viewing on Jan Mayen, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is a rugged volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped peak of Mount Beerenberg. From the... more+ slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high volcano, jagged glaciers plunge into the icy sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the weather station. You can also hike to the ruins of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station, nestled amid thick beds of moss in this rugged volcanic landscape. 
Included activities: Tour of the Jan Mayen Weather Station, Visit to a whaling station, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Jan Mayen Sailing to the ice floe
Under the midnight sun, you’ll sail north along the pack ice in search of bowhead whales, harp... more+ seals, polar bears, and a wide variety of seabirds. You’ll then change course at approximately 79° north, heading west toward the rocky edges of the western Spitsbergen continental shelf. Here, you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and, near the glacial mouths of Spitsbergen’s gaping fjords, minke whales surfacing. 
Included activities: Minke whales sighting, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Sailing to the ice floe Spitsbergen
Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a... more+ place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife, where walruses sometimes come ashore. Walruses sometimes beach themselves there. You can also sail through St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, disembarking at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, arctic foxes scavenge below for eggs and chicks that have fallen to the ground, and reindeer graze on the sparse vegetation. 
Included activities: Visit of Alkhornet, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Spitsbergen Longyearbyen
You’ll land in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the... more+ Svalbard archipelago. Take a stroll through this former mining town, where the parish church and the Svalbard Museum are fascinating attractions. Although the landscape may seem barren, more than a hundred plant species have been recorded here. In the early evening, the ship departs from Isfjorden, where you may spot the first minke whale of your trip. 
Included activities: Visit Longyearbyen, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Longyearbyen Raudfjorden
On the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can admire this vast fjord teeming with glaciers, and... more+ perhaps even spot bearded seals and ringed seals. The cliffs and coastline are also home to thriving seabird colonies, lush vegetation, and the chance to spot polar bears. We’ll try to land at Alicehamna or Buchananhalvøya.

 
Included activities: Excursion to Alicehamna or Buchananhalvøya, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Raudfjorden Monacobreen
Depending on weather and sea ice conditions, we may sail into Liefdefjorden, disembark at Texas... more+ Bar, and sail within sight of the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) long Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this steep glacier are a prime feeding ground for thousands of black-legged kittiwakes, and the ice shelf is a popular hunting ground for polar bears. If ice conditions prevent us from sailing here early in the season, we will sail along the west coast of Spitsbergen. 
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Monacobreen Hinlopen Strait
Our goal is to sail through the Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar... more+ bears. At the entrance, there’s even a chance to spot blue whales. After cruising by Zodiac through the pack ice of Lomfjord, you’ll be able to see the cliffs of Alkefjellet, home to thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the eastern side of Hinlopen Strait, we’ll try to land on Nordaustlandet. There, we’ll be able to spot reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. We may take an alternate route if ice prevents entry into the Hinlopen Strait. 
Included activities: Zodiac cruise, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Hinlopen Strait Nordaustlandet
The northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, at Chermsideøya or... more+ Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands. Here, we can reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, and the ship may remain anchored for several hours amid the pack ice before heading west again. 
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Nordaustlandet Kongsfjorden
As we retrace our route westward, keep an eye out for polar bears and the elusive Greenland right... more+ whales. About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, we sail along the edge of the continental shelf. This is where fin whales feed during the summer in upwelling zones (where cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface) that stretch along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you have a good chance of spotting minke whales.
 
Included activities: Polar bears watching, more+
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Kongsfjorden Poolepynten
Walruses sometimes strand themselves in Forlandsundet, at Sarstangen or Poolepynten, in Johns... more+ Fjord, or south of the mouth of Isfjorden, to come ashore at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs; Arctic foxes search for eggs and chicks that have fallen to the ground; and reindeer graze on the sparse vegetation. 
Accommodation: Night on board
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Poolepynten Longyearbyen
Even the greatest adventures must come to an end. The ship arrives in Longyearbyen early in the... more+ morning. It’s time to disembark, taking with you memories of an exceptional expedition into the heart of the Arctic’s wild landscapes. A bus transfer is provided between the port and Longyearbyen Airport to facilitate your departure. This final leg marks the end of a journey rich in discoveries, featuring majestic glaciers, pack ice, iconic wildlife, and spectacular panoramas of the Far North. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner

included

The price includes
Coffee and tea
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
Free use of waterproof neoprene hiking boots and snowshoes
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
AECO fees and governmental taxes
Comprehensive pre-departure material
Wi-Fi
A free reusable Dopper water bottle to use during and after your expedition
Activities included in the program
Meals included in the program
The price does not include
Any airline ticket, whether for a scheduled flight or a charter flight
Passport and visa fees
Government arrival and departure taxes
Meals ashore
Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges
The customary tip at the end of the trip for the stewards and other onboard service staff (guidelines will be provided)
Baggage insurance
Personal Insurance
Cancellation insurance
A fuel surcharge of €25 or $29 per passenger per night for all departures from November 15 through December 31, 2026
Meals not included in the program
Filovent cancellation cover more+
Filovent comprehensive cover more+
Additional information
All passengers receive a daily data allowance of 1.5 GB, which resets every 24 hours.
Optional services
Flights not included in the programme are available on request

Activities

Wildlife observation
included
Bus Tour to Fowlsheugh
included
Excursion to the Ythan Estuary
included
Tour of Fair Island
included
Wildlife Viewing on Jan Mayen
included
Tour of the Jan Mayen Weather Station
included
Visit to a whaling station
included
Minke whales sighting
included
Visit of Alkhornet
included
Visit Longyearbyen
included
Excursion to Alicehamna or Buchananhalvøya
included
Zodiac cruise
included
Polar bears watching
included

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