ocean adventurer spitsbergen polar bear cruise

Spitsbergen In Depth: Big Islands, Big Adventure

  • Overview

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    The 14-day Spitsbergen in Depth: Big Island, Big Adventure itinerary offers the most extensive exploration of Spitsbergen while experiencing all the adventure the island has to offer. This is one of the best regions to see polar bears, walrus and reindeer; plus, the impressive 14th of July Glacier and Alkefjellet cliff are both birdwatching utopias. You’ll also get a glimpse of 16th-century whaling culture at secluded landing sites. This route may include visiting the northernmost Svalbard island of Nordaustlandet if conditions allow.

    The Arctic has been inspiring explorers for centuries, and our expeditions offer the chance for you to discover why.

    IMPORTANT VOYAGE INFORMATION: 

    This voyage has a mandatory charter flight component with an additional cost of AU$1,800 per person.

    Duration: 14 days
    Passengers: 132 passengers
    Embarkation Point: Oslo, Norway
    Disembarkation Point: Oslo, Norway
    Physical rating: Soft Adventure
    Fly/Cruise: Mandatory extra flight
    Single Supplement: 1.7x - 2.0x twin rate or share options
  • Itinerary
    • Day 1 - Oslo, Norway | Arrival Day

      Your Arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway’s vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy before retiring at your included airport hotel.

    • Day 2 - Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen | Embarkation day

      This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, where you’ll have some time to explore before embarkation. As your ship sets sail, enjoy great vistas of the mountainous landscape that serves as a backdrop for this historic town.

    • Day 3/13 - Circumnavigating Spitsbergen

      Expect a new adventure every day as we begin our circumnavigation by heading north and around the island of Spitsbergen, exploring smaller, outlying islands. The variety of incredible wildlife and geological formations found here is astounding. We plan to circumnavigate the island of Spitsbergen, but if conditions are favorable, we will also attempt a circumnavigation of the whole Svalbard archipelago. Every expedition will be different, depending on the weather and ice, but we do hope to visit a few of our favorite landing sites, including the 14th of July Glacier, Ny London, Phippsøya, Alkefjellet and the seldom-visited Kvitøya.

      The names may seem strange to you, but each has its own unique appeal. For birders, the 14th of July Glacier is home to purple sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle geese and arctic terns, while Alkefjellet is home to nesting Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres).

      If you’re looking for confirmation that reindeer are real, then you’ll want to have your camera ready for visits to sites like Ny London, Sundneset and Alkhornet. As for the largest land carnivore in the world, searching for polar bears is a constant activity for our Expedition Team. Phippsøya and Isbukta are two of the bears’ preferred places for hunting, which translates into great potential for you to capture them in action.

      A big part of appreciating Spitsbergen comes from understanding the culture—not just how people live today, but also how this land was first explored. Whaling was a key industry, and you will see old blubber ovens from the 16th century, plus other evidence of whaling at landing sites such as Smeerenburg. Colorful tundra meadows are complemented by glaciers, and sometimes there is a rare chance to spot beluga whales.

    • Day 14 - Depart Longyearbyen

      Your adventure ends in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

    Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your captain and expedition leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.

  • Adventure Activities

    Mandatory Transfer Package: Spitsbergen

    MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES: Spitsbergen
    - One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Oslo airport hotel, with breakfast
    - Charter flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen
    - Arrival and departure transfers in Longyearbyen
    - Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo

    USD$ 816 per person

    Paddling Excursion

    If you’re interested in kayaking and would like to try something less in depth than Sea Kayaking, you can still enjoy the benefits of adding an on-water experience to your expedition with a Paddling Excursion. Sign up for a onetime paddle on our sit-on-top kayaks, which are stable and unencumbered— perfect for anyone with little to no kayak experience. Expert guides take rotating groups of passengers on calm days to connect with the sea.

    USD$ 190 per person

    Kayaking

    Kayaking is probably one of the most intimate and inspiring ways you can explore the rugged coastlines and calm bays of the Polar regions.

    Kayaking in the Polar Regions is highly weather-dependent, however we guarantee at least one outing throughout your voyage, but your kayak guides will take you out as many times as possible throughout your voyage.

    USD$ 649 per person

    Hiking

    There are options on most excursions for shorter walks, often to take advantage of excellent lookouts, that don’t require hiking boots and other equipment. Hiking participation is optional and your Expedition Team will advise you of what you can expect prior to each excursion.

    Included

    Endless Arctic nights

    Svalbard is the Arctic North as you always dreamed it existed. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snow-drowned peaks and glaciers, of vast icefields and forbidding icebergs, an elemental place where the seemingly endless Arctic night and the perpetual sunlight of summer carry a deeper kind of magic. One of Europe's last great wildernesses, this is also the domain of more polar bears than people, a terrain rich in epic legends of polar exploration.

    The Polar Bear

    To many people, the polar bear is the Arctic. The sight of such an impressive silky white bear wandering the frozen Arctic seas in search of seals symbolizes the cold, isolated nature of the Arctic so well. Polar bears are marine mammals because they spend so much of their lives away from land. In the high Arctic where there is always some sea ice to travel on, polar bears range over ice floes in the pack ice hunting seals all summer. In some areas (e.g. southern Hudson Bay, southern Svalbard) they are simply forced to come ashore. Polar bears rarely venture inland.

  • Inclusions

    Expedition Gear

    Comfortable expedition boots and a high quality expedition parka, specifically designed for the polar regions.

    Transfers

    Transfers are included on your embarkation and disembarkation days, as well as the day prior to embarkation from the airport to your hotel, should you arrive early

    Inclusions / Exclusions

    Included in your Expedition

    - All shipboard accommodation and meals
    - All shore excursions and lectures in the itinerary
    - Photographic journal of your expedition
    - Comprehensive pre-departure information
    - Service taxes and port charges
    - Emergency evacuation insurance up to USD$500,000
    - 000 per person

    Not included in your Expedition

  • Map
    Screen shot 2017 06 28 at 1.55.39 pm
  • Gallery
  • Vessel

    OCEAN ADVENTURER

    The new and improved Ocean Adventurer is designed to carry 132 travelers in comfort to the most remote corners of the world. Originally built in Yugoslavia in 1976, this nimble, ice-strengthened ship has become a passenger favourite over the years and underwent refurbishments in 1999 and 2002 with the most significant being in 2017. With the latest rounds of refurbishments guests will enjoy: A refreshed, contemporary new look and feel throughout the ship. - The addition of six new twin cabins and three new suites. - All existing cabins will be furnished with all new soft furnishings and brand new bathrooms. - Main common areas such as the Lounge and Dining Room will be remodeled as well as the Bar. - Major technical enhancements – include two new Rolls Royce engines, which will significantly increase fuel efficiency and minimized carbon footprint.

    Features & Facilities
    • Recently refurbished
    • superior accommodation
    • Lounge/Dining Room
    • Bar
    • Gym
    • Internet/Wifi
    • Library
    Key Facts
    Luxury star rating: 4
    Guests #: 132
    Crew #: 87
    Ice Class: 1A
    Speed: 14
    Refurbished:
    Technical Specs
    Year built:
    Length: 100m
    Width: 16
    Draft:
    Tonnage: 4376
    Registry: Bahamas
    Elec Outlets: 220V / 2 Round Pin
Check Voyage Dates, Pricing and Availability
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Ready to book your expedition?

We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.

  • Confirm your booking today with just USD$ 1,000 per passenger.
  • Pay your 25% deposit 5 day later.
  • Final payment due 120 days prior to departure.
ocean adventurer triple cabin

Triple

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Triple cabin with upper and lower bunks, porthole and private facilities. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 9,792pp
USD$ 9,792pp
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ocean adventurer lower deck twin cabin

Lower Deck Twin

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Two lower berths with private facilities and a porthole. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 11,288pp
USD$ 11,288pp
ocean adventurer main deck porthole cabin

Main Deck Twin Porthole

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Two lower berths with private facilities and porthole. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 12,784pp
USD$ 12,784pp
ocean adventurer main deck window cabin

Main Deck Twin Window

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Two lower berths with private facilities and window. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 13,736pp
USD$ 13,736pp
ocean adventurer deluxe twin cabin

Deluxe

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Two lower berths with private facilities and window. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 15,232pp
USD$ 12,948pp
ocean adventurer superior twin cabin

Superior

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Two lower berths with private facilities and window. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 15,232pp
USD$ 12,948pp
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ocean adventurer suite twin cabin

Suite

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Two lower berths with private facilities and window. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 19,108pp
USD$ 16,242pp
ocean adventurer owners suite twin cabin

Owner's Suite

30 Jun 2021 - 13 Jul 2021
Brand new cabin with double bed, private facilities and window. Please note this voyage may require a charter flight at an additional cost.
USD$ 20,604pp
USD$ 17,514pp