E-mail a friendShip: Antarctic Dream - OW
Itinerary: Around Spitsbergen
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Enjoy the play of light as the sun sets over Spitsbergen during your Arctic cruise
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | Longyearbyen / Embark |
|---|---|
| Day 2 : | Glaciers and Wildlife on the Western Coast |
| Day 3 : | Andoya and Monaco Glacier |
| Day 4 : | Seven Islands |
| Day 5 : | Laagoya & Sorg Fjord |
| Day 6 : | Hinlopen Strait |
| Day 7 : | Nordaustlandet |
| Day 8 : | Freemansundet |
| Day 9 : | Hornsund Glaciers and Wildlife Sightings |
| Day 10 : | Ahlstrandhalvøya - Recherchefjorden |
| Day 11 : | Longyearbyen / Disembark |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||
| Twin Private Inside | Twin Private - Amundsen Deck | Superior - Shackleton Deck | Suite | ||
| 11 | Jun 26, 2009 Jul 6, 2009 Jul 16, 2009 Jul 26, 2009 Aug 5, 2009 Aug 15, 2009 |
$5,700 | $6,870 | $7,650 | $8,550 |
| All voyages are bilingual, English & German | |||||
| Destinations : Arctic, Svalbard Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Sea Kayaking, Whale Watching |
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Day 1 : Longyearbyen / Embark
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbye
Day 2 : Glaciers and Wildlife on the Western Coast
Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly green slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich’s Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, who patrol the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research centre. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole.
Day 3 : Andoya and Monaco Glacier
Near the mouth of Liefdefjorden, we will go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andøya. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest here, and the more rare king eider may also be seen. Sailing into Liefdefjorden, we will cruise near the face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes and occasionally polar bears are seen on the glacier.
Day 4 : Seven Islands
Today we will reach our northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, along with ivory gulls. We may sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in our spectacular surroundings and seeing a Ross gull, before we turn south again.
Day 5 : Laagoya & Sorg Fjord
We will visit Laagöya today, a low island with a big lagoon where a big herd of walrus tends to congregate. Sabine’s gulls nest on the island, as well. At Sorg Fjord we may find another herd of walruses not far from the graves of 17th century whalers. On a nature walk, we may encounter families of ptarmigans.
Day 6 : Hinlopen Strait
Today we will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, and ivory gulls. We'll navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, we'll attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses.
Day 7 : Nordaustlandet
Near Torrelneset, we will explore the polar desert of Nordaustlandet, next to the world’s third largest ice cap, which meets the sea nearby. We will walk along beautiful coastline covered in smooth rocks, sculpted by the surf over thousands of years. We may encounter walruses along the way. Sailing south of Nordaustlandet we will have good chance to see Greenland whales.
Day 8 : Freemansundet
In Freemansundet we plan to land at Sundneset on the island of Barentsøya to visit an old trapper's hut and then take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen Reindeer and Barnacle Geese. Later we cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya. After a Zodiac cruise through the shallow bay, we land on a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks, which have drifted here from Siberia. We can also climb to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of Kitttiwakes, together with Black Guillemots and piratical Glaucous Gulls. During the breeding season, the base of the cliffs is patrolled by Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears, especially females with young cubs, searching for young birds that have fallen from the nesting ledges.
Day 9 : Hornsund Glaciers and Wildlife Sightings
We start the day quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area and very good chances of encounters with seals and Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research projects. Behind the station the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks.
Day 10 : Ahlstrandhalvøya - Recherchefjorden
Today we land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Here piles of Beluga skeletons (the Beluga is a small white whale), the remains of 19th century slaughter, are yet another reminder of the consequences of thoughtless exploitation.
Day 11 : Longyearbyen / Disembark
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
Arctic Fuel Surcharge: $50/night for the 2009 season.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Antarctic Dream - OW
The Antarctic Dream is a Dutch built ice-reinforced vessel, that was completely refurbished in July 2005. It features a spacious dining room, library, auditorium, gym, sauna, laundry, and boutique. Cabins all have private baths, queen or twin beds, closed circuit TV, and inter-cabin phone service. Satellite email and phone service is available in the library as well.
The Antarctic Dream's expeditions offer you the ideal introduction to the Great White Continent. Departing from and finishing in the port of Ushuaia, we take in the most exciting sights of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Our program is orientated to the viewing of wildlife and the breathtaking scenery of narrow waterways, glaciers, icebergs and the rugged mountains. The Captain and the expedition leader will assess conditions daily with the intention of maximizing your time ashore. This means taking full advantage of opportunities to land passengers with our zodiacs and making best use of the light of the long summer days.
On board lectures are offered by geologists, historians, naturalists, expedition leaders, and the captain himself. Join the captain and the rest of our 40 crew members for an awe-inspiring journey of discovery and adventure.
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Twin Private Inside 1 cabin with two singe beds, 2 cabins with queen beds, no porthole or window |
Twin Private - Amundsen Deck 11 cabins with queen beds, 8 with two single beds, and a small porthole. |
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Superior - Shackleton Deck 6 cabins with queen beds, 10 with two single beds, and a large window. |
Suite 3 cabins with queen beds, 1 with two single beds, large windows to 2 sides, and a bath. |
