Ship: MV Plancius
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 | ||
| Triple Private | Twin Private | Superior | ||
| 11 | Jun 28, 2010 Jul 8, 2010 Jul 28, 2010 Aug 7, 2010 Aug 17, 2010 |
$5,500 | $6,850 | $7,650 |
| All dates: Optional kayaking: $480 per person. Jun 28, 2010 - Bilingual services available in English and German. Jul 8, 2010 - Scuba diving option $780/person. |
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| Destinations : Arctic, Svalbard |
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- 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.
- Standard twin cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.8 times the shared price. Superior cabins and suites available for single occupancy at 2 times the shared price.
The chances that we can complete a full Spitsbergen Circumnavigation (based on our experiences from 1992 until 2008) are about, 20% in the first half of July, 55% in the second half of July, 90 % in the first half of August, 95% in the second half of August. In case we can not complete a full circumnavigation we will mostly resort to a programme in Northeast or Southeast Spitsbergen.
If ice conditions are favourable we may sail around Nordaustlandet, passing another Nordkapp and visiting Kvitøya, the place where the Swedish Explorer Andree perished, instead of sailing through the Hinlopen Strait. The area between Kong Karls Land and Edgeøya offers great chances of observing Greenland Whales.
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, 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 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. Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally. Indeed, there is a good chance that we will come across a pod. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon we can explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many Reindeer feed.
Day 11 : Longyearbyen / Disembark
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.
Ship Description: MV Plancius
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MV Plancius
M/V “Plancius” started her life in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named “Hr. Ms. Tydeman”. In June 2004, the vessel was taken out of active service for rebuilding.
Still under construction, but available for Polar expeditions in June 2009, the vessel shall be completely rebuilt as a 112-passenger vessel and shall comply with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea), is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and will fly the Dutch flag.
The vessel will be comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxurious vessel. Our voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel program, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet our demands to achieve this.
M/V “Plancius” can accommodate 112 passengers in 54 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 triple private cabins, 40 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters).
The vessel is manned by 30 international crew members (inc. 10 stewardesses/cabin cleaners), 6 hotel staff (4 chefs, 1 purser and 1 steward-barman), 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor.
Triple Private4 cabins with private facilities, bunk bed and 1 lower twin bed. |
Twin Private40 cabins with private facilities and two lower twin beds. |
Superior10 cabins with private facilities and two lower twin beds or one queen bed. |
