Itinerary Notes
Included
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board; beer and wine during dinner; group helicopter flightseeing as part of the daily program all shore landings per the daily program; leadership throughout the voyage by the experienced expedition leader; all Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program; formal and informal presentations by the expedition team and special guests as scheduled; photographic journal documenting the expedition (2020); waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings; official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep; coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock; complimentary reusable water bottle (2020); hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin; comprehensive onboard materials, including a map and informative Arctic Reader; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; all luggage handling aboard the ship; Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a maximum benefit of $500,000 per person; Russian invitation letter for visa application provided after final payment.
Exclusions
Mandatory transfer package (cost is $1,995 for 2020 and 2021 and includes one night’s pre- and post-expedition hotel accommodation in Helsinki with breakfast, roundtrip charter flights to/from Helsinki and Murmansk, transfers to and from the ship, transfers between the airport and hotel in Helsinki); international airfare; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above; meals ashore unless otherwise specified; baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance (strongly recommended); excess baggage fees on international flights; mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned; laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges unless specified; phone and internet charges; voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew; arrival and departure transfers in Helsinki; helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group; hot air ballooning at the North Pole.
Payment & Cancellation
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 180 days – full refund except for $1,250 admin fee
179 to 120 days – 100% of deposit
119 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost
Terms & Conditions
This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.
Arrival & Departure
The North Pole cruise begins and ends in Helsinki, Finland (HEL). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Plan flights to arrive to Helsinki any time on day 1 of the itinerary. Depart from Helsinki anytime on the final day of your trip, however, AdventureSmith strongly suggests that a flexible air ticket be held for your journey home in case you need to change your travel arrangement following a delay of the return flight from the Arctic. Airport transfers in Helsinki are not included. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.
Internal Flights
Group charter flights between Helsinki and Murmansk are required on this trip’s itinerary; see the Mandatory Transfer Package information listed in this trip’s Exclusions. The flight to the Arctic is expected to depart after breakfast on day 2 of the itinerary. Although the flight will have a scheduled departure time, there is significant variability based on weather conditions. Be prepared to depart the hotel for the airport on the group transfer at any time. There is a strict luggage limit of 44 lbs (20 kg) checked luggage and 11 lbs (5 kg) cabin baggage on the flights to and from Murmansk. There is no option to pay for additional luggage. On day 13 of the itinerary, the ship is scheduled to arrive at the pier by 8:00am local time. Disembarkation follows breakfast, with a transfer to the airport for the return charter flight to Helsinki.
Activities
Be one of the few to see the top of the world from a hot air balloon! Optional hot air ballooning may be available for an additional fee, yet is highly weather dependent. The four-person basket is an excellent platform for aerial photography. This activity costs $495 per person (2020 & 2021) and is booked and paid for on board the day of the activity. Interested parties can submit their name for priority.
Additional included activities include helicopter rides for thrilling aerial sightseeing, hiking with experienced staff, daily chats and lectures by onboard scientists and other special guests, the right-of-passage polar plunge into icy ocean waters, Zodiac cruising and photography.
Room Configuration
Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth goes unsold, you will not be penalized. Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at 1.7x the per-person listed rate in Twin cabin and 2x the per person listed rate in Mini Suite, Suite, Victory Suite and Arktika Suite.
Families & Children
At date of embarkation, a minimum age restriction of 8 years and minimum height and weight requirements (weight of 64lbs or 29kg and 48 in. or 1.2 m. tall) must be met. Children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times, and may not participate in adventure options.
Travel Insurance
Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of up to $500,000 USD per paying traveler provides coverage between the first and last day of ship-based travel and is included in the cost of this trip. For ship- and land-based trips, additional days of travel pre- and post-expedition are not covered. Travelers should have a minimum $50,000 USD (or equivalent) of international emergency medical coverage. In addition, we highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and other benefits. Our partners at Travelex offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. You must purchase your travel insurance policy within 15 or 21 days of booking (depending on plan) for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.
Itinerary Notes
Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditions, wildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition.
