9-day Kingdom of the Polar Bear

Depart Oslo by air, bound for Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen; transfer to the Spitsbergen Hotel upon arrival.

Free time in morning, followed by lunch at the Spitsbergen Hotel and sightseeing in Longyearbyen, including a visit to the Svalbard Museum. Embark the MV Polar Star at 3:30 p.m., sailing for Barentsburg at 4 p.m. Upon arrival in Barentsburg, enjoy sightseeing and free time on your own. Take in a folklore show at the Culture House (tickets included) before returning to the ship. We sail from Barentsburg at 9 p.m. By night, we sail out of the Icefjord, northbound along the coast of Prins Karls Forland.

We arrive at Ny-Alesund at 9 a.m. Depart on guided town walk, focusing on the history of coal mining and Arctic exploration, followed by free time. We sail from Ny-Alesund at 11:30 a.m., passing the “Seven Icebergs” before reaching Spitsbergen’s northwestern corner. We arrive at the Magdalenefjord and Smeerenburgfjord in the afternoon.

Reaching the Woodfjord, we can see Nordauslandet (the second-largest island in the Svalbard archipelago) on the horizon. Crossing the 80th Parallel North, we sail by Moffen Island before heading farther east towards the Hinlopen Strait and more remote parts of Spitsbergen.

Depending on ice and weather conditions, we sail south through the Hinlopen Strait, which is lined by fjords on each side. We aim to visit the astonishing “birds cliff” of Alkefjellet by the Lomfjord and to land by Zodiac launch for shore excursions at interesting sites, including, if possible, Vibebukta near the Austfonna glacier.

We have entered the realm of the Polar bear. A possible alternate route early in the season is north along the Nordauslandet, via the Wahlenbergfjord or Murchinsonfjord, and then on in the direction of Sjuoyane. Another possible routing later in the season is via Sorport, toward Storfjord and Edjeoya—where we make Zodiac landings—and farther on around the Sorkapp, or South Cape.

Reaching the very south of Spitsbergen, we sail northbound along the island’s western coast and into the beautiful fjord of Hornsund, where we embark on yet more Zodiac landings.

We return to the Icefjord in the afternoon, making possible landings near the Billefjord and Skansebukta. Come evening, celebrate your Svalbard adventure and reminisce with the crew at the captain’s farewell party.

We cruise into Longyearbyen at 2 a.m., with 2:15 a.m. airport transfers for passengers departing on early morning flights to Oslo. If you have a later departure or are staying on in Spitsbergen, you may disembark by 8 a.m. for a transfer from the harbor to the Spitsbergen Hotel for breakfast on your own and/or luggage storage.

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Triple accommodations On Request
Single Supplement 75%
USD Rates valid for North, Central and South American residents only. Rates are pp double occuppancy, capacity controlled and subject to withdrawl without notice. Cruise fuel surcharge is additional and will be advised at time of booking. Restrictions apply. Ships' registry: Norway
*Early Booking Rates are valid for bookings received by Dec. 1, 2009

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