E-mail a friendShip: Kapitan Khlebnikov
Itinerary: North of 80°: Canada & Greenland
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy
| Days 1-2 : | Ottawa to Resolute |
|---|---|
| Days 3-4 : | Lancaster Sound |
| Day 5 : | Qaanaaq (Thule), Greenland |
| Days 6-7 : | Smith Sound, Kane Basin & the Lincoln Sea |
| Days 8-10 : | Eastern Ellesmere Island |
| Days 11-12 : | Coburg Island |
| Days 13-14 : | Resolute to Ottawa |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||
| Triple | Twin | Suite | Corner Suite | Single Twin | ||
| 14 | Aug 16, 2009 | $10,990 | $14,890 | $16,990 | $19,290 | -- |
| Destinations : Arctic, Baffin Island, Canada, Greenland Activities : Helicopter Tour, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching |
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This 14-day icebreaker expedition attempts to sail to the highest latitudes of the Canada Arctic into the Lincoln Sea. Landings are intended on Ellesmere Island, Greenland and Baffin Island.
Days 1-2 : Ottawa to Resolute
Arrive in Ottawa; transfer independently to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier for an overnight stay in Canada\'s museum-filled capital. Next morning, fly north to Cornwallis Island and the strategically located hamlet of Resolute. After an afternoon embarkation, the Kapitan Khlebnikov sails in the evening.
Days 3-4 : Lancaster Sound
Sailing along the south coast of Devon Island, we follow the 19th-century explorers into Lancaster Sound, renowned for beluga and bowhead whales. With luck you\'ll also see narwhals, polar bears and Arctic seals among the floes, and up to two-dozen bird species. At Dundas Harbour, a fjord ringed by steep mountains, we land by Zodiac to explore the tundra, with good chances of seeing musk ox. Early Thule winter houses provide evidence that this coast has been inhabited for centuries. The Kapitan Khlebnikov continues north into Baffin Bay, battling the notorious gyre (circular current) of ice that thwarted early whalers. Meanwhile, your Expedition Team offers a series of presentations on Arctic wildlife, geology, glaciology and history.
Day 5 : Qaanaaq (Thule), Greenland
We make our way to Greenland and sail along the western coast, with its steep fjords and gigantic blue-white icebergs drifting past iron-red cliffs. Narwhals are common at this time of year. We plan to sail up Murchison Sound to Qaanaaq (Thule), administrative capital of northern Greenland and the world\'s northernmost municipality (pop. 300).
Days 6-7 : Smith Sound, Kane Basin & the Lincoln Sea
As we push north into Smith Sound, you feel almost as if we\'re sailing off the map. We follow the American Polar Route, landing (if conditions permit) at Pim Island, where most of Adolphus Greeley\'s 1881-84 expedition struggled ashore and died at Starvation Camp. We move on to Kane Basin, with plans to land on the Greenland coast and view wildlife, explore the icecap and perhaps hike to a glacier. Our ultimate goal is the Lincoln Sea at the top of Greenland.
Traditionally, the Lincoln Sea is covered by the thickest ice in the Arctic Ocean. The ice can be up to 15 m (49 feet) thick, making navigation impossible, even for our polar-class icebreaker. When satellite photos taken in May 2002 were compared to more current images, we noted that an area of open sea had developed, through which it might be possible to sail. Although we cannot be certain that an open passage will be found in 2009, we look forward to attempting to sail as far into Robeson Channel and the Lincoln Sea as conditions permit.
Days 8-10 : Eastern Ellesmere Island
Next we steer back to Ellesmere Island, where you explore Buchanan Bay and head inland to massive twin glaciers. Sailing via Alexandra Fjord, we plan to visit Skraeling Island, where archeologists have unearthed artifacts of Small-Tool cultures dating from 4500 BC, as well as Viking chain mail suggesting the Norsemen ventured further north than previously imagined. A landing is planned at Starvation Camp, Pim Island, where members of Aldolphus Greeley’s 1881-84 expedition died.
Days 11-12 : Coburg Island
We arrive at Coburg Island in the entrance to Jones Sound, where we plan a Zodiac trip along the spectacular seabird cliffs of this wildlife reserve. An estimated 30,000 pairs of Black-legged Kittiwakes crowd the rocky ledges, along with 160,000 pairs of Thick-billed Murres. Most of the murre chicks have already fledged by the time we arrive, so expect to see them diving and feeding in the fish-filled waters along the shore. In the afternoon we plan helicopter flights over Devon Island, viewing the tidewater glaciers on the eastern coast and ideally making landings.
Days 13-14 : Resolute to Ottawa
We disembark in Resolute and fly back to Ottawa for a final night at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Next morning, continue home independently.
Price Includes:
* Air transportation from the staging point to the port of embarkation, as well as your return flight from the port of disembarkation.
* Hotel accommodations: 1 night pre-expedition and 1 night post-expedition lodging with breakfast at the hotel named in the itinerary. The number of guests per hotel room is the same as the cabin occupancy you have booked on board the ship. Travelers who reserve a suite on board the ship are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel.
* All meals onboard the ship, including a complimentary glass of house wine with every dinner.
* All shore landings and excursions by Zodiac according to the daily onboard program.
* All helicopter transfers and aerial sightseeing according to each day's onboard program.
* Formal and informal educational presentations by our Expedition Team and guest lecturers as scheduled during the voyage.
* An onboard multimedia artist who, in the tradition of early expeditions, will chronicle the voyage and produce for each traveler a remarkable memento of the experience - a digital work on CD combining narrative, photography and video in the artist's individual style.
* A specially designed expedition parka that is yours to keep. Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic book.
* Round-trip transfers between the host hotel and the airport for your flights out of and back to the staging point, and between the ship and the local airport at the port(s) of embarkation and disembarkation - plus all baggage handling aboard ship.
* All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
Not Included:
Airfares to or from the gateway city, whether on scheduled or charter flights; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel; baggage, cancellation and travel insurance (please note that emergency medical insurance is mandatory); excess baggage charges; laundry, bar, beverage and other charges of a personal nature; telecommunications charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard. Any possible helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group will be charged at an hourly rate to be announced on board.
-Additional fuel surcharge of $22/night on ship, per person, for Arctic departures between Jun - Sep 2008.
- Additional fuel surcharge of $58/night on ship, per person, for Antarctic departures between Oct 2008 - Mar 2009.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy.
-Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Single supplement of 1.7 times the twin rate for travelers who want to guarantee single room.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person is required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Kapitan Khlebnikov
click to enlarge
Kapitan Khlebnikov breaking ice
The KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV was built in Finland in 1981 and is a powerful polar class icebreaker, which has sailed to extremely remote corners of the globe with adventurous travelers since 1992. No other expedition vessel has navigated more polar waters. It was the first ship ever to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1996-97.
The ship\'s interior provides passenger facilities necessary for excellent comfort, with accommodations in 54 first class outside cabin and suites. The vessel carries a maximum of 112 passengers.
All cabins are outside, with windows that can be opened for fresh or cooler air. In addition, passengers may control the flow of air into the cabin by adjusting the vent. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower, toilet and wash-basin. Cabin floors are carpeted. The cabins have ample cupboard and drawer space, and a large desk. The second bed in each cabin is a convertible sofa bed, which is made up each night by the stewardess and converted back into a sofa during the day. Triple cabins have two lower berths and one upper berth. Each cabin is equipped with an \'in-cabin\' music system. All cabins have robes for use while on board, which will be collected on the last day of the voyage. These are available for purchase if passengers wish to take one home.
There is ample storage space under the beds to store most luggage. If not, passengers should alert the cabin stewardess who can store it for the duration of the voyage. Hair dryers, quality soap and shower gel are available in each cabin.
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Triple 135 sq. ft. Cabins include twin bunk beds and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window |
Twin135 sq. ft. Cabins include one twin bed and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, 2 wardrobes, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window |
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Suite 193 sq. ft. Cabin includes separate living area, TV/VCR, refrigerator, convertible sofa, double bed 2 desks, 2 chairs, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, 2 wardrobes, and picture window |
Corner Suite 285 sq. ft. Cabin includes separate living area, TV/VCR, refrigerator, convertible sofa, double bed 2 desks, 2 chairs, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, 2 wardrobes, and picture window |
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Single Twin 135 sq. ft. Cabins include one twin bed and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, 2 wardrobes, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window |
