HOME | About us | In the News | Once Booked | Ship Index | Cruise Search | Discounts | Testimonials

Africa Cruises Alaska Cruises Antarctica Cruises Arctic Cruises Asia Cruises Caribbean Cruises Central America Cruises European Cruises Galapagos Cruises Mediterranean Cruises North America Cruises South America Cruises South Pacific Cruises South & Central
America Tours

Ship:  Akademik Ioffe

Itinerary:  Spitsbergen in Depth: 15 days in the Arctic

click to enlarge
  Kayaking the Antarctic waters

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries |  cancellation policy | Testimonials

Day 1 :	Embarkation Day - Longyearbyen
Day 2 :	14th of July Glacier, Ny Alesund, Lilliehookbreen
Day 3 :	Smeerenburg, Norskoya
Day 4 :	Monacobreen, Worsleyneset, Moffen Island
Day 5 :	Phippsoya, Parryoya
Day 6 :	Kraemerpynten, Andreeneset
Day 7 :	Vibubukta, Torellneset
Day 8 :	Alkefjellet, Sparraneset
Day 9 :	Sundneset, Dolerittneset
Day 10 :	Rosenbergdalen, Diskobukta
Day 11 :	Hamburgbukta, Isbukta
Day 12 :	Gashamna, Isbjornhamna, Brepollen
Day 13 :	Bourbanhamna, Calypsobyen
Day 14 :	Poolepynten, Alkhornet
Day 15 :	Longyearbyen
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Main Deck Triple	Main Deck Twin	Upper Deck Twin	Twin Private	Superior Twin	Peregrine Suite	Cook Suite
15	Jul 8, 2010	$6,290	$8,190	$8,890	$9,590	$10,290	$10,790	$11,690
		Optional kayaking: $495 per person
Destinations : Arctic, Europe, Norway

---

- GUARANTEED NO FUEL SURCHARGE FOR CRUISES FROM APR 2009- MAR 2010
-Single Travelers: OPTIONAL single supplement of 70% for Standard Twins. There is no single supplement for travelers willing to share.
- All of the Akademik Ioffe's departures include optional sea kayaking. Sea Kayaking Supplement is $695 per person for Antarctic voyages and $495 per person for Arctic voyages
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

Day 1 : Embarkation Day - Longyearbyen

The principal community of Svalbard is Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen. The small town is a short flight from Oslo. You’ll embark Akademik Ioffe in the afternoon, with 108 other adventurers as eager as you to see walrus and polar bear in the wild.

Day 2 : 14th of July Glacier, Ny Alesund, Lilliehookbreen

Your first day on the water will be spent on the western coast of Spitsbergen. At the 14th of July Glacier, you should find tundra flowers in bloom. Ny Alesund is a research station with a transient population of between 35 and 200. The indigenous Svalbard reindeer may be grazing, so keep your camera handy. Lilliehookbreen affords wonderful vistas from the ship’s decks.

Day 3 : Smeerenburg, Norskoya

Steaming northward, we go ashore at Smeerenburg on Amsterdam Island. Dutch whalers established a community here in 1619. The literal translation of the town name is Blubber Town. You’ll learn about whaling as you explore the blubber ovens that remain to remind us of the archipelago’s economic past. At Norskoya you will learn more about the Arctic whaling industry, and you will hike to the summit of a hill for a panoramic view and the opportunity to take unforgettable photos.

Day 4 : Monacobreen, Worsleyneset, Moffen Island

You’ll awake this morning to find the ship at anchor near the Monaco Glacier at the head of Liefdefjorden. Tens of thousands of birds are often found on the water at the base of the glacier. Later we’ll sail to Worsleyneset to hike and learn more about the human history of Svalbard. You may need a long lens approaching Moffen Island, a walrus sanctuary. We adhere to strict guidelines that keep us at a distance so we don’t disturb them.

Day 5 : Phippsoya, Parryoya

An archipelago within an archipelago, Seven Islands comprises the northernmost portion of Svalbard. They lie about 10 degrees from the North Pole. Ice seldom completely disappears from the islands during the Arctic summer. Polar bear and walrus exploit the ice, as did trappers. You will visit abandoned trappers’ cabins and watch for wildlife.

Day 6 : Kraemerpynten, Andreeneset

The island of Kvitoya, the easternmost island of Svalbard, is also the easternmost part of the Kingdom of Norway. It earned the name White Island because it is almost completely covered by a dome of white ice. Andreeneset is one of the few places on the island that is ice free. There we’ll visit the campsite of S. A. Andrée’s expedition. He and two companions died on the island after making an unsuccessful attempt to fly over the North Pole in a hydrogen balloon.

You will be back of beyond, when visiting Kraemerpynten, the habitat of polar bear and walrus. We plan to lower the Zodiacs, so you can cruise through the ice.

Day 7 : Vibubukta, Torellneset

At Vibubukta, you will hike through a polar desert – a landscape completely different from any you have encountered during this voyage – and discover a skeleton of a whale 1 km (.62 miles) from shore.

In the Hinlopen Strait, we’ll visit Torellneset on the island of Nordaustlandet. Be on the lookout for walrus and evidence of isostatic rebound – the rise of a landmass after an ice sheet retreats. The weight of an ice sheet during an Ice Age depressed the land that lay under it.

Day 8 : Alkefjellet, Sparraneset

During the night we will have rounded the tip of Ny Frisland and entered the Hinlopen Strait. Our goal today will be to visit Alkefjellet on the Spitsbergen’s east side. With your binoculars scan the cliff face. Thick billed Murres or Brunich Guillemots nest there in the thousands. Fox and polar bears are often seen patrolling the base of the cliffs, waiting for a meal to drop from the sky – chicks that have fallen from the nest before they are ready to fly.

You will have the opportunity to compare the polar desert and hiking experience of Sparraneset with that of Vibubukta, today.

Day 9 : Sundneset, Dolerittneset

The landscape will change once again, so we take you ashore to hike, track birds and learn of the lifecycle of polar ponds and flowers. With luck, we’ll encounter more walrus. Luck does play a part, because these huge marine mammals are surprisingly shy.

Day 10 : Rosenbergdalen, Diskobukta

Today, we’ll visit a colony of Kittiwakes that have chosen to nest in a cavern. We’ll approach at rising tide for the best view.

Day 11 : Hamburgbukta, Isbukta

There should be plenty of fast ice in July, which means we will be on the alert for seals and polar bears. Seals are the favorite food of polar bears. The rare ivory gull is often seen near a polar bear kill, so we hope to add a sighting to our birding list.

Day 12 : Gashamna, Isbjornhamna, Brepollen

The contemporary Arctic and its place in our world experience will be the focus when you visit Polish Polar Station Hornshund. First established in 1957 as part of Poland’s contribution to International Polar Year, the base was modernized in 1978 to permit year-round research. Current studies contribute to our understanding of the magnitude of the Earth’s electric field, glacier dynamics and the detection of climate change.

Day 13 : Bourbanhamna, Calypsobyen

The narrow sound near Bournbonhamna is a favored route of beluga whales. We’ll search for whales before going ashore. Mining is still carried out in Svalbard. Today, however, we’ll visit one of the old mines. Then we’ll hike the tundra and search for tiny flowers that bloom under the midnight sun.

Day 14 : Poolepynten, Alkhornet

Poolepynten, on an island off the west coast of Spitsbergen, is a walrus haul-out. The tusked marine mammals have been protected since 1952; their population growing from 100 to about 2,000 in more than half a century. We will go ashore to watch the huge creatures loll or dive.

North and west of Longyearbyen on the opposite shore of Isfjorden is Alkhornet. The summit is 428 meters (1400 feet) above sea level. Murres, also known as guillemots, nest in the mountain’s cliff faces. There will be time to hike across tundra, which is not a stroll in the park, as only reindeer maintain the grounds.

Day 15 : Longyearbyen

You will disembark after breakfast to make your way home.

Ship Description: Akademik Ioffe

click to enlarge
 

Widely regarded as the finest expedition ship operating in Polar waters, the Akademik Ioffe offers a high level of comfort - in her appointment, stability and strength.

As a working scientific research vessel, the Akademik Ioffe forms the ideal platform from which to travel Antarctica and the Arctic. Including all the equipments needed for exploring, from Zodiac landing craft to kayaks and camping gear, even snowshoes.

The Akademik Ioffe is a well-equipped, ice-rated ship capable of carrying 110 passengers. In terms of stability and speed, she is 'state of the art' and, while not luxurious, she's very comfortable and kept in top condition.

All cabins have an outside view, with portholes or a window, and are comfortably furnished. Most of them have semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) or private facilities. On-board facilities include a spacious top deck, where you can enjoy spectacular views, and a refreshing sauna and plunge pool - a great place to relax after your shore excursions during your travels. There is also a well-stocked library, a comfortable lounge and a friendly bar. Other facilities include an exercise room, gift shop and laundry.

Main Deck Triple Bunk beds and a sofa bed. Facilities are shared and there are 2 Portholes. There are 2 cabins in this category.	Main Deck Twin Bunk beds and shared facilities. Portholes. There are 18 cabins in this category.
Upper Deck Twin One lower berth and one sofa bed and semi-private facilities (one bathroom between two cabins). Windows. There are 12 cabins in this category.	Twin Private One lower berth, one sofa bed, and private facilities. Windows. There are 18 cabins in this category.
Superior Twin 2 lower berths, sofa and private facilities. Windows. There are 10 cabins in this category.	Peregrine Suite The Peregrine Suite is one of our fine premium cabins. 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, and private facilities. Windows. There are 5 cabins in this category.
Cook Suite The Cooke Suite is our finest premium cabin. 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, and private facilities. Windows. There is 1 cabin in this category.