Realm of the Polar Bear

Get a first glimpse of the midnight sun in Longyearbyen, Norway, Spitsbergen’s capital. Transfer from the city to the Expedition for a late afternoon embarkation at 4:00pm.

Each day is planned to take advantage of local ice and weather conditions. Svalbard is one of the few places on the planet that offers such a wealth and diversity of natural and cultural history sites. During these nine days, visit ice covered seas, fjords with breathtaking mountain scenery and glaciers flowing into the sea. Spend time moving through the ice in search of polar bears hunting seals. Ivory gulls will be a highlight for the birders. Keep a constant lookout for walrus hauled out on ice floes or on sandy beaches. Ice permitting, visit spectacular bird cliffs filled with thousands of murres (guillemots), as well as kittiwakes and glaucous gulls. Shore stops will be highlighted with tiny tundra flowers. The expedition team will be on hand to answer any questions about this spectacular wilderness, and onboard lectures hosted throughout the day are about anything from local wildlife to the history and exploration of the Arctic.

The goal is to offer the best possible opportunity to see wildlife in and around the Svalbard archipelago. Ice conditions sometimes allow for sailing through the Hinlopenstretet towards the east coast of Spitsbergen, then through Freemansundet towards the south. However, this is not always possible.

Some departures will explore alternative routes to maximize time in this remote destination. Early season voyages often provide the greatest opportunity to see large ice floes in the Arctic pack ice, which usually means excellent wildlife viewing. Later in the season, the group will cover more territory, which may allow the chance to explore the entire archipelago. This can lead into the less explored regions of Nordaustlandet and Kvitøya, or the continental edges where large whales are attracted by nutrient rich upwellings.

Disembark at approximately 8:00am this morning and be transferred to either the airport or the Radisson Blu Polar hotel, depending on the time of your flight. Those transferring to the hotel may have an opportunity to explore the town center at leisure before being transferred to the airport later in the day as per flight schedules.

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.