Svalbard Exploration

Welcome to Oslo. You will be greeted by the dedicated staff when you walk out the Arrival Hall at Oslo Airport. A group transfer will take you to the hotel in your pre-cruise package for rest.

The remainder of the day is yours to explore at leisure. You may wish to walk along the Aker Brygge waterfront, visit the Fram Museum to discover Norway’s proud polar heritage, or admire the sweeping architecture of the Oslo Opera House. Spend the night in Oslo and prepare for your journey north.

A complimentary Air2Sea transfer will be available from Oslo Airport (OSL) from 12pm to 6pm on a 2-hour frequency (12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm). Pre-reserved is required. Please leave some time between flight arrival and shuttle bus departure.

If you will travel from other places or arrive earlier, your hotel room will be available for check-in starting from 3pm.

Early this morning, transfer to Oslo Airport for your charter flight to Longyearbyen, the gateway to Svalbard.

Perched at 78°N and nestled amid dramatic mountains and glacial valleys, this northernmost town in the world serves as the embarkation point for your voyage.

Before boarding the ship, you might have the chance to explore the unique charm of this town, known as the “city of the midnight sun”. The renowned “Global Seed Vault” is also worthy a visit.

After a free time at the town, a transfer will take you directly to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. After embarkation and a safety briefing, settle into your cabin and take in the first breathtaking views as the ship sails under the glow of the midnight sun.

This region represents the classic heart of Svalbard exploration, where glaciers, fjords, wildlife, and human history intersect. Relatively stable conditions often allow for a combination of Zodiac cruising and shore activities, making it an ideal introduction to both the natural environment and the human story of the High Arctic.

This high latitude region is defined by remoteness, openness, and uncertainty. Landings are secondary to the experience of navigating among ice, bird cliffs, and uninhabited coastlines. It is here that the true scale and raw character of the Arctic are most strongly felt.

Possible landing and cruising sites may include:

Hinlopen Strait: A narrow waterway separating Spitsbergen from Nordaustlandet, known for bird cliffs, drifting ice, and rich marine life. Zodiac cruising provides excellent opportunities for wildlife observation.
Alkefjellet: Towering basalt cliffs that host one of Svalbard’s most spectacular seabird colonies. Thousands of birds nest along the vertical rock faces, creating an extraordinary scene best appreciated from the water.

The pack ice represents the highest latitude and most unpredictable environment of the voyage. The boundary where drifting sea ice meets open water. The vessel navigates slowly along the ice edge, with opportunities to observe seals and, potentially, polar bears from the ship. Activities here are primarily ship based, with no fixed landing plans.

One of the northernmost permanent research settlements in the world, hosting international scientific institutions focused on climate, glaciology, and polar ecology. Ny-Ålesund is also closely linked to the legacy of polar exploration, having served as a base for Roald Amundsen and other pioneers during the early era of Arctic aviation. A visit here offers insight into both the historic and modern dimensions of human presence in the High Arctic.

In the morning, the ship returns to Longyearbyen. After breakfast, disembarkation procedures take place, followed by a transfer to the airport. Board the dedicated charter flight back to Oslo, Norway, concluding your journey through the Arctic landscapes of Svalbard.