Expedition Svalbard | M/S Sjøveien | IExpedition

Expedition Svalbard with M/S Sjøveien 2025

  • Overview

    Our classic expedition ship, M/S Sjøveien, offers a truly unique experience in the untamed wilderness of Svalbard. With space for only 12 passengers, it's akin to travelling on a private yacht. The ship features spacious cabins, observation decks, beautiful wooden decks, classic details, and a wood-fired hot tub.

    Summer arrives at the end of June. The midnight sun reigns supreme, and purple saxifrage decorates the slopes. The surrounding ice gradually recedes, providing good opportunities to explore the seldom-visited eastern parts of the archipelago. Whales are more common in the waters and more snow-free areas open up for longer hikes.

    Autumn arrives in late August, when the landscape's snow-free features are at their most prominent. The midnight sun is brushing the horizon, preparing for the polar night, giving us beautiful sunsets and a warm light, perfect for photography.

    Expedition Highlights

    • Only 12 passengers

    • Totally refurbished expedition ship

    • Hot tub on deck

    • 2 experienced guides

    • Every trip is unique

    Duration: 12 days
    Passengers: 12 passengers
    Embarkation Point: Longyearbyen
    Disembarkation Point: Longyearbyen
    Physical rating: Soft Adventure
    Fly/Cruise: Cruise only
    Single Supplement: 2.0x twin rate or share options
  • Itinerary
    • Day 1 - Longyearbyen, Svalbard

      We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.

    • Day 2/11 - Expedition cruising

      Explore Longyearbyen on your own before meeting up your fellow travellers and guides for lunch. In the afternoon we board the expedition ship and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden - the Arctic expedition has begun! We are now in a part of the world where we are completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary will depend on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our aim is to head out on Zodiac cruises every day and to go ashore when the opportunity arises. Here are some examples of places we may visit:

      Northwest Spitsbergen
      The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is located in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. Two other courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. The Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon, and the American journalist Wellman started with an airship. Interesting remnants of these expeditions can still be seen here.

      Magnificent fjords
      Svalbard offers visitors countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore some of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, is lined with snow-capped mountain peaks and here we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest in the area. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier and are greeted by the many kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots that nest on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by magnificent glaciers. It is also a favourite haunt of seals and the bird cliffs are abuzz with activity.

      Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet
      Ice conditions permitting, we enter the Hinlopen Strait. Here we find Alkefjellet, an impressive basalt cliff that is home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay of Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.

      Eastern Svalbard
      The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by a huge ice cap and has fascinated naturalists and historians alike. Here the giant glacier Bråsvellbreen stretches for 180 kilometres! The 15-20 metre high ice edge is punctuated by hundreds of by hundreds of waterfalls. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent scenery and vast tundra. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent scenery and vast tundra. There is a good chance of seeing walrus, arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer.

      Southwest Spitsbergen
      The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks, often reaching above the clouds. On a clear day you can see the summit of the highest mountain, Hornsundtind, at 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt of some of Svalbard’s polar bears and bearded seals can often be seen resting on the fjord ice.

    • Day 12 - Longyearbyen

      In the morning we leave the ship in Longyearbyen and begin our journey 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
  • Inclusions
    Inclusions / Exclusions

    Included in your Expedition

    - Coffee and tea
    - All meals on board
    - 1 night in a hotel in Longyearbyen
    - Guiding ashore and talks on board
    - All excursions and activities
    - Comprehensive information material before the expedition
    - Lunch day 2

    Not included in your Expedition

    - Personal expenses such as bar and shop charges
    - Gratuity to the ship’s crew
    - Travel and cancellation insurance
    - Flight to/from Longyearbyen
  • Map
    Screenshot 2024 01 22 at 17.28.41
  • Gallery
  • Vessel

    M/S Sjøveien (meaning the Seaway) was built in Bergen in 1964 for the Norwegian Government and she worked for them in various capacities. From 1979 until 1995 she was used as a training ship for mariners. Since 1995 she has been in private ownership and during the many years since, worked for the Norwegian coast guard. After being a hotel ship for the past few years, she has now been refurbished into a classic and exclusive passenger ship and started her career in Svalbard the summer of 2017. She is a true beauty with wooden decks and classic details. There is a lot of deck space on the main deck and there is also an excellent area on top of the bridge, from where you have wonderful views of the magical Svalbard scenery. You also find a wood-fired hot tub out on deck. 

    You are welcomed by an international crew and the bridge is open for visitors.

    Features & Facilities
    Key Facts
    Luxury star rating:
    Guests #: 12
    Crew #:
    Ice Class:
    Speed:
    Refurbished:
    Technical Specs
    Year built:
    Length: 41m
    Width: 8
    Draft:
    Tonnage:
    Registry:
    Elec Outlets:
Check Voyage Dates, Pricing and Availability
All available dates
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.

Twin Cabin with portholes

10 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025
twin beds
USD$ 11,390pp
USD$ 10,990pp

Twin Cabin with windows

10 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025
twin beds
USD$ 12,090pp
USD$ 11,690pp

Double Cabin Superior

10 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025
double bed & windows
USD$ 12,690pp
USD$ 12,290pp

Twin Cabin for single use

10 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025
twin beds
USD$ 15,490pp
USD$ 15,090pp