Our shortest Spitsbergen voyage!

We will embark on the Akademik Sergey Vavilov and sail out of Isfjorden (Ice Fjord) and begin our exploration up the northwest coast of Spitsbergen.  We stop in Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) and visit the town site of Ny Alesund.  One of the northernmost communities in the world, Ny Alesund is rich in history and scientific discovery. From Kongsfjorden we continue north and around the northern coast of Spitsbergen, stopping in numerous bays before heading south down Hinlopenstretet, the strait that separates Spitsbergen from Nordaustlandet, the other main island in the Svalbard archipelago.  Leaving the bird cliffs of Hinlopenstretet behind, we head north again for Phippsoya, our northernmost point at around 80 degrees North latitude. We hope to go ashore and cruise the polar pack ice edge as we explore this region before returning to the northern coast of Spitsbergen and the stunning Monacobreen (Monaco Glacier).  Over the course of the voyage we will visit numerous bird colonies showcasing Brunnich’s guillemot (also known as the thick-billed murre), little auk (dovekie), barnacle and pink-footed geese and the Arctic tern.

Activities

Easy ship travel, optional walks and Zodiac rides, optional sea kayaking

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Our shortest Spitsbergen voyage for those short on time!

Duration: 9 days Start Location: Longyearbyen End Location: Longyearbyen

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Longyearbyen (Embark)

  Arrive into Longyearbyen, Norway and board the ship in the late afternoon.

• Day 2 : Krossfjorden and Ny Alesund

  Our voyage heads north as we cruise the bird cliffs of the 14th of July Glacier before stopping in Ny Alesund, a former mining town steeped in history.

• Day 3 : Raudfjorden

  We visit Raudfjord, an excellent place for hiking, kayaking and zodiac cruising amidst wildflowers, reindeer and seals.

• Day 4 : Hinlopenstretet and Alkefjellet

  Today we head into the Hinlopen Strait, exploring the sea ice and searching for polar bear and thick-billed murre colonies.

• Day 5 : Phippsoya – northernmost point

  We head to Phippsoya at 81 degrees north latitude-- only 540 nautical miles from the North Pole and our best chance to view polar bears.

• Day 6 : Liefdefjorden and Monacobreen

  We visit the Monaco Glacier, a spectacular spot for kayaking and hiking.

• Day 7 : Fuglesangen and Smeergenburg

  We visit the large dovekie colony on Fuglesangen Island and the former whaling station of Smeerenburg.

• Day 8 : Poole Pynten, Prins Karls Forland

  We will witness a walrus haul-out on Prince Charles Island.

• Day 9 : Longyearbyen (Disembark)

  We will come into Longyearbyen in the morning and prepare to disembark following breakfast onboard our vessel.

• 

  Akademik Sergey Vavilov

  Built in Finland in the late 1980s for the Russian Academy of Science, Akademik Sergey Vavilov's original mission was to perform sensitive hydro-acoustic ocean research. As such, she is exceptionally quick, quiet and stable.

  • Intimate viewing of Arctic wildlife, icebergs and more
  • Kayaking and camping options ramp up the adventure quotient
  • 2 fully enclosed lifeboats for safety in all conditions
  • Unmatched stability and superior speed means efficient time at sea
  • Onboard gym, two saunas and library allow you to relax between shore visits
  • Comfortable, friendly atmopshere: just 96 guests

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

• Andrew Prossin

  Andrew is the Managing Director of One Ocean Expeditions Inc. (our partner in the Polar Regions) and brings his passion for polar regions and their conservation into any discussion he can. An adventurer in his own right, Andrew is an accomplished ocean racing sailor. He led a team that won a race across the Atlantic Ocean in a 30-foot sailboat; he has sailed around Cape Horn in a Southern Ocean gale and competitively raced yachts and high performance dinghies all over the world. Andrew is also a published photographer and an avid snowboarder, spending his quiet time in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Andrew grew up on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada and has brought his East Coast sense of humor with him all along the way. After earning a degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, he played a strategic planning role for a major Canadian player in the transportation industry. With around five years in the corporate world under his belt but searching for a life of meaning, Andrew decided to "run away to sea". What started as a three-month commitment to manage a ship transformed itself into a very successful entrepreneurial career in expedition cruising where he could apply his experience and his passion. With a reputation for innovation and attention to detail, Andrew has become well known in the expedition cruise industry for the high quality expedition cruise programs he develops. He is also noted for his attention to vital areas of safety and his commitment to environmental protection.

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