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. 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. Take in a folklore show at the Cultural 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 walk, focusing on 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.

By night, we sail east to the Hinlopen Strait and Nordauslandet, second-largest island in Svalbard, passing Moffen Island and the 80th Parallel North. In the morning, we explore the northern Hinlopen Strait. Our first stop will be at the former Swedish research station at Kinnvika, on Nordauslandet. In the afternoon, we sail north to the northernmost point in Europe, Rossoya. (To land there, we will need calm weather and no drift ice.) We then journey east, along the northern coast of Nordauslandet.

We have reached the eastern parts of Nordauslandet. Our plan is to reach Kvitoya, easternmost island in Svalbard. The ice cap Kvitoyiokulen covers 98% of the island. We plan to land at Andreeneset, where the remains of the Andree Expedition were found in 1930. In the afternoon, we head south for Edgeoya and Barentsoya, the third- and fourth-largest islands of Svalbard.

As we near Edgeoya and Barentsoya, we have several possibilities for landings around the Freemansund, including the old trappers’ hut at Sundneset on Barentsoya and at Kapp Lee on Edgeoya. Later, we land at Diskobukta on Edgeoya for a walk up the rim of a narrow gully occupied by thousands of kittiwakes—and the Polar foxes that prey on them. At night, we sail around the Sorkapp, or South Cape.

In the morning, we voyage into the fjords of the Hornsund area in southern Spitsbergen. Home to towering mountains and 14 magnificent glaciers, this is regarded as one of Svalbard’s most spectacular areas. Possible excursions include the Polish research station at Isbjornhamna and the “bird mountain” of Sofiekammen.

Returning to the Icefjord, we can explore the old Dutch whaling stations at Trygghamna, early coal mining works at Bohemanneset, and an old gypsum mine at Skansebukta. Come afternoon, celebrate and reminisce with the crew at the captain’s farewell party, as we set sail for Longyearbyen.

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

* Itineraries subject to change due to weather and ice conditions and may differ from one departure to another.

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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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