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North Spitsbergen – Kvitoya – Farthest North

North Spitsbergen – Kvitoya – Farthest North

From USD $4,600

Description

Join our expedition to the north of Svalbard to take in the lovely landscapes and wonderful wildlife. We will attempt to land on Kvitøya, a site of historical significance, and home of a large walrus population.

Trip Name
North Spitsbergen - Kvitoya - Farthest North
Days
9
Overview
Vessel Type: Polar Class Expedition Ship Length: 107.6 metres Passenger Capacity: 170 Built: 2019 Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, meeting the latest and highest Lloyd’s Register demands for ice-strengthened cruise vessels. Hondius also exceeds the requirements of the Polar Code as adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), allowing you to enjoy the polar regions as much as possible while impacting them as little as possible. Upon completion, Hondius will be the most flexible, advanced, innovative ice-strengthened vessel in the polar regions. It is optimized for exploratory voyages that provide you the utmost first-hand contact with the Arctic and Antarctica. Hondius offers high-quality accommodation for 170 passengers in six grand suites with balconies (27 square meters, 291 square feet), eight junior suites (19 to 20 square meters, 205 to 215 square feet), eight superior cabins (20 to 21 square meters, 215 to 226 square feet), 11 twin deluxe cabins, (19 to 21 square meters, 205 to 226 square feet), 14 twin window cabins (12 to 14 square meters, 129 to 151 square feet) as well as 28 twin porthole cabins, two triple porthole cabins, and four quadruple porthole cabins that vary in size from 12 to 18 square meters, or 129 to 194 square feet. The passenger capacity certificate for Hondius is 196 persons. One deck consists of a large observation lounge and separate lecture room, which are reserved for a wide variety of interactive workshops, exhibitions, and performances particular to Hondius. Though elegantly designed in stylish mid-century modern décor, this vessel holds true to Oceanwide’s distinctive cozy and informal atmosphere.  It is our philosophy to keep sea time short so that we can focus instead on fast, effective access to shore and near-shore activities. To give you the maximum contact with the nature and wildlife you traveled so far to see, we employ a tough fleet of rigid-hull inflatable Zodiac boats that guarantee swift and safe landing operations for the passengers. Hondius has two separate gangways and a sheltered indoor Zodiac embarkation platform that can also be used for special outdoor activities, such as kayaking.   Our top priority is taking advantage of every wildlife and terrain opportunity as it occurs. To keep our itineraries flexible itineraries and our response time rapid, Hondius is equipped with advanced stabilizers and two main engines capable of powering the vessel up to 15 knots. But Hondius sacrifices no warmth to achieve its keen polar edge: You will have 72 crew and staff members (including expedition and hotel staff) at your service while on board, ensuring that what little time you do spend on the ship you will spend comfortably entertained.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1: Largest town, biggest island
You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Day 2 - Day 2: The first of the fjords
Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears. In the evening you sail by the island of Moffen, where you can find a large herd of walruses.
Day 3 - Day 3: Fjord-fueled hikes
You next sail through Beverleysundet, formerly navigated by the Swedish-Russian Arc-of-Meridian Expedition in 1898. From here you push east along Scoresby Island into Rijpfjord, where the German Wehrmacht operated the weather station Haudegen (now off-limits) until September 1945. The aim in Zorgdragerfjord is to have one group walk the eastern shore while another walks the north side of Arkvatnet, through Havsuldalen to the entrance of Duvefjorden.
Day 4 - Day 4: The great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen
Pushing east to Nordaustlandet, you reach the area where the Italian captain Sora tried to rescue the Nobile Expedition in 1928. The focus here is the great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen, though you may also land at Firkantbukta, getting the chance to gain some altitude and take a few higher- elevation photos. Alternately we sail to Behounekodden (the telegraphist of Nobile) and Soraberget.
Day 5 - Day 5: Ice cap at Kvitøya
Today you try to reach the rarely visited Kvitøya, far to the east and close to Russian territory. The enormous ice cap covering this island leaves only a small area bare. You land at the western tip of Andréeneset, where the Swedish explorer S. A. Andrée and his companions perished in 1897. Another objective for the day is Kræmerpynten at the far east of the island, where a sizable group of walruses resides.
Day 6 - Day 6: Farthest North
We sail due North toward the North Pole and if sea ice allows, we expect to reach your northernmost point, at the 82nd parallel. While retracing your route southwest, keep watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales and a very rare narwal. This is the time of year when we have seen Ross’s gulls in the area.
Day 7 - Day 7: Stop at the Seven Islands
In the Seven Islands at Rossøya we could land at the northernmost land in Spitsbergen. On Vesle Tavleøya we can see the marks of the Swedishe-Russian Arc of Meridian Expedition (1899). On Phippsøya we usually meet a flock of walruses. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again.
Day 8 - Day 8: Incredible Krossfjorden scenery
Today we sail into Krossfjorden in the main island of Spitsbergen, where you’ll pass through staggeringly scenic alpine mountaintops, active glaciers, and rich vegetation.
Day 9 - Day 9: There and back again
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Day 10 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $4,600Quadruple Porthole
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $5,700Triple Porthole
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $6,400Twin Porthole
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $6,900Twin Window
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $7,300Twin Deluxe
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $8,300Superior
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $8,850Junior Suite
17-08-202425-08-2024USD $10,300Grand Suite With Private Balcony

Inclusions

    • Zodiac Cruising & Shore Program
    • Shore-Based Walking
    • Kvitøya
    • Bowhead Whale
    • Polar Bear
    • Walrus
    • Bearded Seal
    • Ringed Seal

Map