Enjoy a guided group tour of colourful Longyearbyen. Late afternoon sees us warmly welcomed on board the Greg Mortimer.
Experience a rare chance to explore wondrous islands, on our inaugural Franz Josef Land voyage. From Svalbard, cross the Barents Sea to a world few have seen. Enter the Russian Arctic National Park and watch for polar bears, whales, walrus and seals. Enjoy long tundra walks and geological oddities. Get up close to spectacular bird cliffs and visit fascinating historic huts of explorers like Fridtjof Nansen. Highlights - Photograph unique stone spheres at Champ Island - Kayak beneath towering bird cliffs of Cape Flora* - Visit Nansen’s winter camp at Cape Norway - Search for rorqual and elusive bowhead whales - Watch for polar bears on land and ice *surcharge applies
Day 1 - Longyearbyen; Embarkation Day
Enjoy a guided group tour of colourful Longyearbyen. Late afternoon sees us warmly welcomed on board the Greg Mortimer.
Day 2/3 - At sea
Settle into life on board the ship with entertaining and informative talks, while seabird and whale watching speeds your Barents Sea crossing. Enter Russia’s Arctic National Park into a world of mystery and remote wilderness rich in arctic wildlife.
Day 4/7 - Franz Josef Land
From mysterious Bell Island to majestic Champ Island, we explore the central-most of the 191 islands in the archipelago. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife sightings including the elusive bowhead whale and the Arctic’s top predator, the polar bear.
Day 8/11 - Franz Josef Land
We discover new landings as we make our way west to Prince George Land and Alexandra Land. Cliffs around the islands host massive nesting colonies of seabirds such as guillemots, dovekies, and kittiwakes. Eighty-five per cent of the archipelago is dominated by gigantic tidewater glaciers and towering icebergs.
Day 12/13 - At sea
After final landings in Franz Josef Land, clear Russian customs and relax on your return crossing of Barents Sea to Svalbard.
Day 14/15 - Longyearbyen; Disembarkation
Possible landing or two as we round Svalbard’s northwest coast and sail south looking out for walrus and various whales. Back in Longyearbyen, bid new friends goodbye and transfer to airport. Itinerary and map are a guide only. The itinerary is subject to ice and weather conditions.
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.
One of the most exhilarating ways to experience Antarctica and the Arctic.
The experience of sea kayaking in the humbling wilderness of Antarctica or the European Arctic is guaranteed to stir your soul. Paddle between brash ice and icebergs of all shapes and sizes, skim past penguin rookeries or under soaring bird cliffs, or drift quietly as you watch wildlife unobtrusively, absorbing the majestic scenery.
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.
Complimentary expedition gear: backpack and water bottle on every voyage, Haglöfs parka for polar expeditions
GREG MORTIMER
The Greg Mortimer, named after the Australian adventurer and Polar tourism pioneer (Greg Mortimer OAM), this unique vessel utilises some of the latest advancements in naval design & technology to revolutionise the small ship expedition cruising experience. The X-BOW makes sailing smoother and faster while protecting the vulnerable environments visited using a virtual anchoring system. Shore excursions are made easier, with four sea-level Zodiac loading decks & a specially-crafted activity platform, designed in close consultation with our world-renowned expedition & activity leaders. Unlike many new ships, the Greg Mortimer is not striving for absolute luxury. It will of course, be brand new, modern and comfortable in every way, but will stay true to a relaxed, comfortable and homely style of travel, purely focused on the expedition and destination. Ship Features: - Highly qualified and experienced expedition team and international crew - X-BOW® hull, designed to offer faster and more comfortable travel enabling the ship to pierce through waves and maintain speed of travel, lower fuel consumption and reduced air pollution emissions - All cabins feature twin or king bedding configuration and private bathroom. 80% of cabins include a private balcony. 60% of cabins can accommodate a third person - Purpose-built activities preparation areas including four Zodiac launching platforms for fast and safe transition off the ship as you embark on multiple daily excursions - Observation lounge and viewing platforms offer spectacular panoramic views of scenery and wildlife. - State-of-the-art lecture theatre, two hot tubs/plunge pools, art room, library, gym, wellness centre and more!
Luxury star rating: | 4 |
Guests #: | 120 |
Crew #: | 62 |
Ice Class: | 1A |
Speed: | 12 |
Refurbished: |
Year built: | 2019 |
Length: | 104m |
Width: | 18 |
Draft: | 5 |
Tonnage: | 7400 |
Registry: | Bahamas |
Elec Outlets: | 220V 2 Round plug |
We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.