Coastal VoyagesSpitsbergen Expedition CruiseReturn to main Coastal Voyages page
Leaving Ny-Ålesund, the last outpost of civilisation, we’ll sail to the northernmost and eastern regions. We visit the remote polar regions, to experience the Arctic wilderness, drift ice, flora and fauna. The further north and east we sail, the more ice we’ll encounter. Seals, whales and walruses are common sights here. This is also polar bear country and where we’ll have our best chance of seeing these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. On board the ship there will be lectures about the wildlife, Arctic conditions and the history of the region. Spitsbergen
Over 170 species of plants, and more than 100 types of migratory birds flourish in this national park, alongside its more famous residents; reindeer; seals, arctic foxes and polar bears. Spectacular cliffs dominate the coastline with deep hidden fjords offering protection to small picture perfect settlements. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the west coast, some 400 kilometres long, is surprisingly rich in wildlife and in places you’ll see some quite luxuriant vegetation, with tiny beautiful flowers growing amongst the rocks. Historical monuments are found all along the coast and give testimony to a heroic polar history. The Dutch explorer, Willem Barents first saw this coastline in 1596, and the impressive peaks inspired the name Spitsbergen. Climate & TemperaturesSpitsbergen, in spite of its proximity to the North Pole, has a relatively mild climate compared to other areas at the same latitude. In Longyearbyen the average summer temperature is 6ºC, and the highest ever recorded is 21.3ºC. The summers often bring fog, but rain is scarce, with an average annual rain- and snowfall of only 200-300mm.
Day-By-Day Itinerary:
Departures:Every Thursday from 5th June to 14th August 2008 Prices:
* single supplement - limited availability
Your holiday price includes:Return economy class flights from London Heathrow to Longyearbyen inc. applicable taxes and charges; voyage in cabin grade of your choice incl. Full board, overnight stay at Spitsbergen Hotel on a half-board basis; dinner at an Oslo airport hotel; transfers as applicable. Not included:Travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities, luggage handling, fuel surcharge CABINS
N.B. All cabins have private facilities
FLIGHT DETAILS
Thursday Departures to Longyearbyen Flight Supplements:
Your ShipBuilt in 1969 the Polar Star is the first icebreaker to be fully converted for expedition cruising, and will as such rank high among the small fleet of arctic expedition cruise ships. All the cabins are outside and have a window or porthole. The ship has a comfortable dining room, a large panorama loung, a lecture room, a library and a bar. She is specially equipped for expedition cruising in polar waters and has a fleet of Zodiacs, (inflatable rubber boats), available for the excursions.
SHIP SPECIFICATION
We are acting as agents for Norwegian Coastal Voyage Limited ATOL 3584 on the above cruise Return to Shenfield Travel's main Cruise page
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Join our expedition cruise of the Spitsbergen Archipelago on board the M/V Polar Star. Sailing so close to the North Pole – only some 600 miles away – you’ll experience the unique wildlife, majestic landscape and overwhelming silence of the Arctic Ocean
The starkly beautiful Svalbard Archipelago, perhaps better known as Spitsbergen, lies 400 miles north of mainland Norway; just 600 miles from the North Pole itself. Two thirds of the land is covered by glaciers, yet from April to August the sun never sets.
