E-mail a friendShip: Antarctic Dream - OW
Itinerary: North Spitsbergen
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Purple Saxifrage on a Arctic hillsidePhoto by: Rinie van Meurs
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| Day 1 : | Longyearbyen / Embark |
|---|---|
| Day 2 : | Glaciers and Wildlife on the Western Coast |
| Day 3 : | Andoya and Monaco Glacier |
| Day 4 : | Hinlopen Strait |
| Day 5 : | Seven Islands |
| Day 6 : | West Spitsbergen |
| Day 7 : | Prins Karls Forland - Longyearbyen |
| Day 8 : | Longyearbyen / Disembark |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||
| Twin Private Inside | Twin Private - Amundsen Deck | Superior - Shackleton Deck | Suite | ||
| 8 | Jun 12, 2009 Jun 19, 2009 |
$4,020 | $4,800 | $5,340 | $5,990 |
| Jun 19, 2009 - Bilingual voyage: English & German | |||||
| Destinations : Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, 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 Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.
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 fertile 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, patrolling 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
Depending on the weather we may now sail to the mouth of Liefdefjorden and go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andøya. Many Common Eiders and Pink-footed Geese nest here, and the rarer King Eider may also be seen. We hope to sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes and on previous voyages Polar Bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.
Day 4 : 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 5 : 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 6 : West Spitsbergen
Retracing our route westwards, we visit Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. On the offshore island of Ytre Norskøya, we visit a 17th century Dutch whaling site, whose large graveyard is a poignant reminder of the hardships and dangers of life here at the time. The island’s bird life is prolific, with colonies of Little Auks, Black Guillemots, Brünnich’s Guillemots, Puffins and Arctic Skuas accessible to visitors.
Day 7 : Prins Karls Forland - Longyearbyen
We land at the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland near Fuglehuken, where Barentsz probably set foot on Spitsbergen for the first time. Seabirds nest on the cliffs and along the coast we see Harbour Seals the only population in Spitsbergen. Further we also will observe the remains of the Polar Bear hunting era, with demolished set guns and bear traps. At the opposite site of Forlandsundet at Sarstangen is a haul out place for Walruses. Alternatively we sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and Arctic Foxes search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. The reindeer may seem unbothered by human presence, but this is not really the case. The animals must survive the harsh winter, when temperatures plummet and food is hard to find, so they preserve what energy they can, fleeing only when it is absolutely necessary. In the afternoon we cruise through beautiful Borebukta, following a glacier front before continuing to Longyearbyen.
Day 8 : 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. |
