Itinerary Notes
Included
Accommodations aboard the M/S Expedition; all meals on board; Zodiac excursions with an expert expedition team; lectures and educational programs; Longyearbyen airport transfers depending on your flight details; insulated, waterproof boots supplied for USA sizes 6-16; exclusive MS Expedition parka, see the MS Expedition Parka Sizing Chart. Select departures feature a German language program to include 2 German-speaking expedition staff to provide educational content in German; contact AdventureSmith for more details.
Exclusions
Airfares to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point; adventure option of kayaking; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; hotel accommodations; trip Cancellation Insurance with emergency medical evacuation insurance (required); 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. Should the price of marine fuel increase dramatically, a fuel surcharge may be instituted.
Payment & Cancellation
In order to confirm this trip, a nonrefundable deposit of $1000 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 90 days – 100% of deposit (may be applied to future trip by trip operator)
89 to 60 days – 100% of deposit (may be applied to future trip by trip operator) and 50% of the remainder of payments made
59 to 0 days – 100% of deposit (may be applied to future trip by trip operator) and 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 11-day Realm of the Polar Bear In-Depth Cruise begins and ends in Longyearbyen, Norway (LYR). Longyearbyen is only accessed via flights from Oslo, Norway (OSL). Plan flights to arrive to Longyearbyen no later than 2:00pm on day 1 of the itinerary; airport transfer is included. We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. For guests already in Longyearbyen on day 1, a baggage drop is available between 9:00am and 12:00pm noon. A group transfer is provided to the ship for boarding at 4:00pm. Plan flights to depart Longyearbyen no earlier than 2:30am on day 11; transfers to the airport or a centrally located hotel are included. Early morning disembarkation and transfers, as well as luggage storage for those with later flights, can be arranged. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.
Activities
Various optional activities may be available on your Realm of the Polar Bear cruise, including the new Citizen Science Program, an interactive information gathering initiative aimed at better understanding marine mammals in Antarctica. With a little guidance beforehand, learn which angles and types of wildlife the program is looking for during your voyage and put your photography skills to the test! The reward is making meaningful contributions to science.
Arctic kayaking is available for an added cost. The following table details which departures have kayaking as an option. The per-person cost for (K) kayaking is $749 in the 2020 season. Kayaking excursions are dependent on weather but kayakers can expect approximately 4 trips per cruise. Must book prior to departure; limited availability. Contact AdventureSmith Explorations for availability and to reserve space.
2020 Season:
Jun 26 – Jul 06, 2020 – K
Jul 13 – Jul 23, 2020 – K
Jul 30 – Aug 09, 2020 – n/a
Aug 09 – Aug 19, 2020 – n/a
Room Configuration
Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a quad, 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 be guaranteed the rate with no single supplement. For those who desire single occupancy, cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7x the twin rate, excluding Category 1 and 1A cabins.
Families & Children
Minimum child age is 12 years old. An adult over the age of 21 must accompany every 2 children under the age of 18. The ratio of adults to children traveling together must be one adult per two children and two adults per four children (17 and under).
Travel Insurance
Travelers are required to have travel insurance with a minimum medical, evacuation and repatriation coverage of USD $200,000 covering all applicable dates of travel, personal injury and emergency medical evacuation. It is strongly recommended that you extend coverage to include personal liability, cancellation, curtailment, and all other expenses that may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience while traveling. Our partners at Travelex Insurance 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.
