Ship: Akademik Shokalskiy
Itinerary: Spitsbergen, East Greenland & Iceland
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Cruising in the ZodiacPhoto by: Gerald Cubitt
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | Longyearbyen |
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| Days 2-4 : | Spitsbergen Exploration |
| Days 5-6 : | Greenland Sea |
| Days 7-12 : | Eastern Greenland |
| Day 13 : | Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) |
| Day 14 : | Reykjavik / Disembark |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||
| Triple Shared Bath | Twin Shared Bath | Twin Private Bath | Superior | Amundsen Suite | ||
| 14 | Jul 17, 2010 | $6,490 | $7,690 | $8,990 | $10,390 | $11,790 |
| Destinations : Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard Activities : Cultural Activities, History, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Paddling, Photography, Whale Watching |
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- All of the Akademik Shokalskiy's departures include optional sea kayaking. Sea Kayaking Supplement is $495 per person for Arctic voyages, $795 per person for Antarctic voyages.
- Guaranteed No Fuel Surcharge on cruise dates before April 2010.
-Single Travelers: OPTIONAL single supplement of 70% for Standard Twins. There is no single supplement for travelers willing to share.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
-Optional sea kayaking is $495 per person
This 14-day active adventure begins in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen and ends in Reykjavik, Iceland. During this expedition visit islands governed by three different Arctic countries: Norway, Denmark/Greenland and Iceland. The exact course depends on local weather and ice conditions. Expect to sail past magnificent fjords, cruise in Zodiacs past towering sea cliffs and encounter polar bears and walrus in their natural habitat.
Day 1 : Longyearbyen
Your flight will take you into the High Arctic, to Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen Island, the main settlement of Svalbard. You may have time before the official trip begins to explore this quaint town of just over a thousand people. You’ll be met at Longyearbyen Airport and be transferred to the pier for embarkation in the late afternoon. Once aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, you'll be introduced to your expedition team and provide an overview of adventures to come. Set sail in the evening, en-route to Kongsfjorden on the western coast of Spitsbergen, arriving by the time breakfast is served.
Days 2-4 : Spitsbergen Exploration
Spitsbergen is the largest of the Svalbard Islands, an Arctic archipelago, first visited by Europeans in 1596. Spend the next three days exploring, taking advantage of local weather and ice conditions to seek polar bear and walrus.
Anticipate visits to the 14th of July Glacier, the settlement of Ny Alesund and Monaco glacier. Sightings of Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Ducks, Kittiwakes and Glaucous Gulls are possible.
The temperature drops as you continue northward, crossing 80°, 965 km (600 miles) from the North Pole. Polar bear and walrus are known to inabit the waters around Phippsoya, a small archipelago, the most northerly in Svalbard!
Days 5-6 : Greenland Sea
While at sea, the Expedition Team will deliver illustrated presentations about the wildlife and cultures you will encounter in Greenland, the second of the three Arctic countries you visit during this expedition. Greenland is under home rule, but its international relations are conducted by Denmark. The naturalists assist with seabird identification from the deck of the ship. You may participate in as many, or as few shipboard activities as you choose.
Days 7-12 : Eastern Greenland
The coast of eastern Greenland is wild, rugged and often ice-bound, an excellent habitat for wildlife that require ice floes to thrive. Sail the ice edge searching for walrus and polar bear. The expedition team will lower Zodiacs from time to time to cruise at ocean level or to go ashore.
Compare cultures as you visit the remains of ancient Thule settlements and a remote modern-day village. At all times, be on the alert for musk oxen, because 40% of the world's population lives on the eastern coast of Greenland.
Before leaving Greenland, plan to sail into Scoresbysund, the largest fjord complex in the world, and the birthplace of many icebergs.
Day 13 : Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
The history of the Westman Islands is as shrouded by the mists of time as a Norse Saga. It is known that westman was the name used by the Norse to refer to Irishmen. In the 1600s, a fleet from the Ottoman Empire that included Barbary pirates raided the islands, capturing 400 Icelanders.
You'll learn more of the history of the islands on a walking tour of the town of Heimaey. You'll see a documentary about the 1973 eruption of Eldfell. Like the rest of Iceland, the Westman Islands are volcanically active, creating, as recently as 1973, a new island, Surtsey.
Day 14 : Reykjavik / Disembark
In the morning we arrive at Reykjavik, the main port and capital city of Iceland, also the capital of the third Arctic country you visit. From here transfer either to hotels in Reykjavik or to Keflavik International airport for flights back home. Iceland is a country well worth exploring. You may wish to consider spending time here on your own before flying out.
Ship Description: Akademik Shokalskiy
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Cruising around icebergs in the Arctic
Akademik Shokalskiy is a terrific expedition ship, sister ship to the Polar Pioneer. Built in Finland in 1983, she is ice-strengthened and has stabilizers for more comfortable travel. In 1998 she was refurbished to provide comfortable accommodation for 46 passengers, an ideal number for expedition cruising. On board are a combined bar/lounge and a dedicated lecture room/library (stocked with a good collection of reference books and videos). All cabins have outside portholes, plus ample storage space. The spacious bridge (always open to us) and the decks are ideal for viewing during your Antarctica travel.
The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced navigators in the world and their enthusiasm for exploration is legendary. Akademik Shokalskiy is not a luxury vessel. Accommodation is simple yet comfortable and the meals, prepared by European chefs and served by Russian stewardesses, are wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Naiads with outboard motors enables us to make landings and explore magnificent places where few others have ever been.
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Triple Shared Bath 2 cabins with 2 lower and 1 upper berth, shared facilities, sink in the cabin and porthole window |
Twin Shared Bath 8 cabins with shared baths (106-124 sq. ft.) Cabins have two lower berths (except for 315 which has 2 lower, 1 upper), sofa, writing desk, bookshelf, 2 wardrobes, cabinets, and 1 square window/ porthole |
Twin Private Bath12 cabins with private bath with shower (100-125 sq. ft.) Cabins have one lower and one upper berth (Some cabins have 2 lower berths), sofa, drawers, refrigerator, writing desk,bookshelf, 2 wardrobes, and 1 square window/ porthole |
Superior1 cabin (171 sq.ft) with one double bed, 1 sofa bed, private facilities, and 3 opening windows |
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Amundsen Suite 1 cabin (250 sq.ft) with one double bed, 1 sofa bed, private facilities, and 5 opening windows |
