AdventureSmith Explorations
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Land of the Ice Bears: Arctic Svalbard
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trip specifics

price
2012
 Cabin
 Double
 Category 1
 $8,240
 Category 2
 $8,790
 Category 3
 $9,120
 Category 4
 $9,670
 Category 5
 $11,430
 Category 6
 $13,330
 Category 7
 $15,230
 Solo Cat 2
 $10,980
 Solo Cat 3
 $11,400
Cost Per Person Double Occupancy
Share rate available in Cat 1 & 2.
 
Flights: $725 per person
round trip Oslo/Longyearbyen
 
Alternative Itineraries
13 day Fjords of Northern Norway
From - $9,990
 
16 day Legendary Norwegian Coast 
From - $11,740

26 day Remote Arctic Russia
From - $23,690
 
These alternative itinerary dates are marked with crosses below. Call our experts for more details. 
duration
11 days
trip dates
May 27 - Jun 11, 2012 †
Jun 08 - Jun 18, 2012
Jun 15 - Jun 25, 2012
Jun 22 - Jul 02, 2012
Jun 29 - Jul 09, 2012
Jul 06 - Jul 16, 2012
Jul 13 - Jul 24, 2012 †
Jul 22 - Aug 16, 2012 †
Aug 13 - Aug 28, 2012 * †
* Reverse Itinerary
 Alternative Itins
trip level
Adventure Level 1 - OnAdventure Level 2 - OffAdventure Level 3 - Off
view explanation
highlights
Oslo
Svalbard
accomm types
Small Ship


carbon free cruising
special offer
Save $725 With Free Arctic Charter Air: Book one of the following 2012 Land of the Ice Bears small ship Arctic cruise d...  view details
Land of the Ice Bears is a small ship expedition cruise to Arctic Svalbard. A remote archipelago situated just over 350 miles north of Norway's North Cape, Arctic Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, mountains and massive sheets of ice. During summer, when the sun never sets, the tundra experiences a warm awakening. It is carpeted with wildflowers. Ice-peppered fjords ring with the thunderous sound of glacial ice crashing to the sea. Walrus raise their sleepy heads to observe us. And everyone holds their breath as a polar bear is spotted and cameras click wildly. Experience nature in its purest form in the High Arctic.

This is as far north as it is possible to cruise without an icebreaker, and you’ll experience the legendary midnight sun. Cruise the Arctic aboard the National Geographic Endeavour, a fully stabilized ice-class expedition ship, are able to probe the ice in search of wildlife. This small ship cruise is undertaken in the spirit of discovery. Nature is full of wonderful surprises and we are guided by her. Our pace is unhurried and our options are many, so the day-by-day itinerary below is a thoughtfully considered framework based on our long experience in this region.

We offer a few longer alternative Arctic cruise itineraries for travelers interested in a more in depth exploration of the Arctic. Alternative Arctic cruises are posted below this itinerary, and dates are marked with crosses. Call our Arctic small ship cruise experts for more information.

Day 1 - U.S./Fly Overnight to Oslo

Fly from Newark to Oslo aboard SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Day 2 - Oslo, Norway

Arrive in Oslo and check in to the Continental Hotel. Highlights include a stroll among the famed Vigeland sculptures set in park lands and a visit to the Polar Ship Fram Museum, with its excellent exhibits on the history of Arctic exploration.

Accommodations: Continental Hotel
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Oslo/Longyearbyen/Embark Ship

Depart Oslo on our private charter flight over beautiful vistas to Longyearbyen. Upon arrival board the National Geographic Endeavour to begin your Land of the Ice Bears Arctic Cruise.

Accommodations: National Geographic Explorer
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 4-9 - Exploring Svalbard

This cruise in the Svalbard archipelago is truly exploratory by design. This is as far north as it is possible to cruise without an icebreaker, and you’ll experience the legendary midnight sun. With our fully stabilized ice-class expedition ship, the National Geographic Endeavour, travelers are able to probe the ice in search of wildlife, and our exact day-to-day movements will remain flexible, depending on local conditions.

Svalbard lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the summer midnight sun never sets. In true expeditions style, we let nature dictate our day-to-day movements here, and by this, is one of the great attractions of the expedition. We remain flexible to maximize our opportunities to observe the Svalbard’s amazing wildlife: polar bear, reindeer and walrus. Keep eyes pealed for seals and arctic foxes and search for the very symbol of the Arctic — majestic polar bears. Cruising in Svalbard’s fjords, venture to the foot of stunning tidewater glaciers. We take our Zodiacs and kayaks to cruise among beautiful icebergs, and experience the geology, wildlife and wildflowers that give color and vitality to the High Arctic.

Accommodations: National Geographic Explorer
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Longyearbyen/Disembark/Oslo

End the Land of the Ice Bears cruise in Longyearbyen. Explore Longyearbyen on your own before we fly to Oslo. Overnight Radisson SAS Airport Hotel.

Accommodations: Radisson SAS
Included Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 11 - Oslo/U.S.

After breakfast, proceed to the airport for the flight to the U.S. aboard SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Alternative Itineraries


Svalbard's Ice Bears + Fjords of Northern Norway
Day 1 - U.S./Fly Overnight To Oslo, Norway
Day 2 - Oslo/Continental Hotel
Day 3 - Oslo/Longyearbyen/Embark
Day 4-7 - Exploring Arctic Svalbard
Day 8 - Bear Island
Day 9-10 - Exploring Nordland
Day 11 - Lofoten Islands & Trollfjord
Day 12 - Tromso/Disembark/Fly to Oslo/Overnight
Day 13 - Oslo/Home

Ice Bears + the Legendary Norwegian Coast
Day 1 - U.S./Bergen, Norway
Day 2 - Bergen, Norway/Embark Ship
Day 3 - Nordfjord
Day 4-5 - Exploring the Fjords of Norway
Day 6 - Lofoten Islands
Day 7 - Tysfjorden
Day 8 - Tromso
Day 9 - At Sea
Day 10 - Bear Island
Day 11-14 - Exploring Svalbard
Day 15 - Longyearbyen/Disembark/Oslo
Day 16 - Oslo/Home

Remote Arctic Russia on an Epic Exploration
Day 1 - U.S./Oslo, Norway
Day 2 - Oslo/Overnight Hotel
Day 3 - Oslo/Tromso/Embark Ship
Day 4 - Finnmark
Day 5 - Murmansk, Russia
Day 6-7 - At Sea/Franz Josef Land
Day 8-12 - Franz Josef Land
Day 13-14 - Franz Josef Land/At Sea
Day 15 - Kanin Peninsula, White Sea, Russia
Day 16-17 - Solovetsky Islands, White Sea
Day 18 - Morzhovets
Day 19 - Murmansk (clearance only)
Day 20 - At Sea
Day 21 - Bear Island
Day 22-24 - Exploring Svalbard
Day 25 - Longyearbyen, Svalbard/Disembark/Fly To Oslo
Day 26 - Oslo/Home

Extend Your Arctic Cruise

Optional pre voyage 4 day extension to Norwegian Fjords and post voyage 4 day extension Exploring Iceland are available. Please call for details.

Notes on Itinerary: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Single Travelers: We will make arrangements for roommate shares for solo travelers at the double occupancy rate in categories 1 and 2. We match you with a cabin mate(s) of the same gender. Even if we are unable to find a cabin mate for you, no single supplement will be charged.

Land Cost Includes: One night pre-cruise and one night post cruise hotel in Oslo; Shipboard accommodation, meals, shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage; Leadership by experienced expedition staff; Presentations by noted naturalists and other experts; Zodiac cruising and transfers to and from the ship for shore excursions; Comprehensive pre-departure information kit and Arctic handbook; Group transfers and baggage handling as per itinerary; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges.

Not Included: Any airfare, Roundtrip flight Oslo/Longyearbn; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals in Oslo; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided).

Family Cruises: Travelers aged 17 years old and under save $500. Specially skilled staff who are trained in organizing activities that inspire curiosity in young people of all ages. These staff members have gone through a course designed by travel experts with years of experience in childhood and environmental education. This course has also been created in conjunction with the National Geographic Education department and NG Kids Magazine. And don't worry – even though these are educational travel gems, the primary emphasis is on "fun". After all, you are on a family cruise vacation!

Arrival/Departure: The Land of the Ice Bears cruise begins and ends in Oslo, Norway. Embarkation time may vary as it is based upon arrival of group flights from Los Angeles, California. Disembarkation is after breakfast on day 11 of the outlined itinerary.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to confirm a reservation with final payment due 90 days prior to departure. All prices and payments are in US dollars and no other currencies can be accepted. A special cancellation policy applies to all Antarctica trips, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. All requests for cancellations must be received in writing.
Cancellations received 120 days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of $250 per person ($150 of which is a Travel Certificate). Between 119-90 days, per person deposit amount is forfeited. Between 89-60 days, per person cancellation fee of 25% of trip cost. Between 59-30 days, per person cancellation fee of 50% of trip cost. Between 29-0 days, no refund.
For your party of 8 or more, you will each receive 5% off your expedition. A 10% deposit is due at time of reservation, and an additional 25% is required 120 days in advance. Please see AdventureSmith Explorations
Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage is required for this trip. Consider TraveEx Select or Max policies to ensure the best level of coverage. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.
TraveEx Insurance

Accommodations Aboard: The 148 passenger National Geographic Explorer is a state-of-the-art expedition ship, and the newest addition to the Lindblad fleet. It is a fully stabilized, ice-class vessel, enabling it to navigate polar passages while providing exceptional comfort. It carries kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac landing craft. An Undersea Specialist operates a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and sophisticated video equipment, extending access to the underwater world.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. Passengers must be able to navigate the 30-stair gang-way un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in Zodiacs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations 'Terms & Conditions'. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.


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