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Peregrine Travel Centre

Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen

From NZD $27,450

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Description

Discover remote islands within the Arctic Circle on our 12-night Svalbard and Norway Arctic Experience cruise on board a boutique expedition ship. Your journey around Norway’s outlying Svalbard archipelago will take you into a realm of incredible scenery visited only by a few. These remote regions reveal their secrets as you come ashore to rugged landscapes bordered by tundra where wildflowers blossom. This unique arctic environment attracts guillemots and little auks with large haul-out sites of walrus watched closely by stealthy polar bears. As we cruise to the world’s northernmost settlements, take in the unforgettable views of vast glaciers where beluga swim under the midnight sun, and listen out for cracking sounds as they calve huge icebergs into the deep and beautiful fjords.

Trip Name
Spitsbergen
Days
13
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Length: 125 meters Passenger Capacity: 192 Built: 2022-2023 Arriving in early 2023, SH Diana will be the largest ship in our fleet, providing elegant and spacious 5-star accommodation for 192 guests in 96 spacious staterooms and suites, the vast majority with large balconies. Operated by an onboard team of 140 she will provide the highest levels of personal service and take Swan Hellenic back to its roots when she launches, exploring the Mediterranean and its famous sites of antiquity. Now sit back, relax and take a moment to get to know this amazing new ship, purpose-designed for our unique cultural expedition cruises. Named after the Ancient Roman goddess of light, the moon, hunting and the wilderness, SH Diana been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth. Building on the outstanding amenities of her sister ships, she adds a dedicated Multifunctional Room next to the Observation Lounge, a Private Dining Room for special occasions, and two tenders which bring guests a comfortable alternative to Zodiacs for expedition landings. A Polar Class 6 ice-strengthened hull combines with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as comfortable as possible. SH Diana has been designed for immersive experiences, with extensive outside deck areas, multiple observation points and bright, open and relaxing public spaces with unobstructed views. The pleasure and safety of our guests is paramount at all times, cared for by our attentive crew and seasoned expedition leaders. Cutting edge hygiene technology protects the health of all on board to the highest standards and includes air conditioning with UV sanitisation systems. SH Diana’s 96 staterooms , including 11 suites, are each a superbly comfortable home from home and all feature panoramic sea views, a flame-effect fireplace, original works of art, plush couches, premium pocket sprung mattresses, en-suite bathrooms with glass-enclosed rain showers, and Egyptian cotton towels, bathrobes and sheets. A pillow menu offers customised head and neck comfort during rest, while a large flat screen TV, espresso machine with Illy premium coffee, tea making facilities with the finest Kusmi teas, and a minibar with refreshments enhance relaxation at any time. In-room dining is of course available at all hours.

Itinerary



Day 1 - DAY 1 LONGYEARBYEN
Longyearbyen is the world’s most northerly town and with it comes the world’s most northerly high street and pub. On Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island, Longyearbyen is home to The North Pole Expeditions Museum which chronicles early efforts to reach the pole by air. The nearby Svalbard Global Seed Vault preserves duplicates of seeds held in gene banks worldwide. The surrounding Arctic waters are populated by whales including bowheads and narwhals, while walruses are regularly seen hauling.
Day 2 - DAY 2 - 4 SVALBARD
Located deep inside the Arctic Circle, approaching the Svalbard archipelago feels a lot like sailing towards the edge of the world. Known as the kingdom of the polar bears, we’ll be hoping to spot some of its subjects as we explore some of the most varied polar landscapes in the Arctic. Down in our Zodiac boats, we’ll get close to the gargantuan glaciers, rapidly retreating from the oceans that they feed. In the north of the archipelago, past the magnificent fjords, the remaining sea ice offers the perfect hunting ground for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, the landscape is punctuated with large areas devoid of snow and ice alongside vast tundra and exposed beaches. Alongside Svalbard’s 3,000 polar bears, this Arctic wildlife hotspot is also home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seal, the arctic fox and many species of marine mammals and seabirds.
Day 3 - DAY 5 ICE EDGE
Today, we aim to take the ship further north of Svalbard along the sea ice, as close to the edge of the polar ice pack as possible, at about 79° north. Here, among the shifting ice, keep a sharp eye out for polar bears in their natural habitat, while harp seals haul out on the edge. Huge bowhead whales ply these frigid waters and can sometimes be seen breaching, fluking or breaking through the ice. The sight is one that leaves you feeling truly respectful of any life that makes this frozen landscape home.
Day 4 - DAY 6 HINLOPEN STRAIT
Hinlopen Strait is a waterway that divides Svalbard’s largest island, Spitsbergen, from its second-largest island, Nordaustlandet. Whilst often congested with ice, this is a scenic place with interesting history and rich wildlife, including polar bears and several species of ducks and geese. The name is probably derived from the director of a Dutch whaling company in the 17th century. Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait, in the heart of the Arctic Ocean promises an unforgettable experience and offers offers breathtaking panoramas.
Day 5 - DAY 7 - 9 SVALBARD
Located deep inside the Arctic Circle, approaching the Svalbard archipelago feels a lot like sailing towards the edge of the world. Known as the kingdom of the polar bears, we’ll be hoping to spot some of its subjects as we explore some of the most varied polar landscapes in the Arctic. Down in our Zodiac boats, we’ll get close to the gargantuan glaciers, rapidly retreating from the oceans that they feed. In the north of the archipelago, past the magnificent fjords, the remaining sea ice offers the perfect hunting ground for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, the landscape is punctuated with large areas devoid of snow and ice alongside vast tundra and exposed beaches. Alongside Svalbard’s 3,000 polar bears, this Arctic wildlife hotspot is also home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seal, the arctic fox and many species of marine mammals and seabirds.
Day 6 - DAY 10 BEAR ISLAND
The greatest bird cliff in the Barents Sea is on Bear Island, or Bjørnøya, Svalbard’s southernmost island. Thousands of breeding seabirds - Atlantic puffin, northern gannet, glaucous gull, great skua, black-legged kittiwake, little auk, common guillemot and Brünnich’s guillemot colonies nest on the steep cliffs south of Sørhamna around Kapp Kolthoff. Only Zodiacs can come alongside, where distinctive sea stack rock columns, impressive sea caves and tunnels, such as Perleporten, have been created by the battering seas.
Day 7 - DAY 11 SKARSVAG & NORTH CAPE
With just 60 permanent human residents, Skarsvåg is as stark, remote and naturally beautiful as Norway gets. Just a little further north is the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe above the Arctic Circle. From here the only thing standing between you and the North Pole 2,100km away is the Svalbard archipelago. Back in Skarsvāg, the island’s famous bird cliffs are home to thousands of puffins, gannets and cormorants. If you have some energy to burn, the hike to the Cape Knivskjellodden, the northernmost point on Magreøya, is worth the effort for the incredible cliff face views of the North Cape Plateau.
Day 8 - DAY 12 ALTA & HAMMERFEST
Alta, or the city of Arctic light, sits above the Arctic Circle at 70° N. From mid-May to the end of July, as with many places north of here, the midnight sun glows and it never gets dark. Even with long summer days, the temperature rarely reaches above 10° C. Stop by the distinctive Alta Church - or Northern Lights Cathedral - that represents the waving aurora borealis. Nearby, at the head of the Alta Fjord, learn about the thousands of UNESCO-listed prehistoric rock carvings and paintings found here. The coastal town of Hammerfest in Finnmark is the most populated town in the north, known locally for its cuisine. Here, the World Heritage attraction, Struve Geodetic Arc measures the triangulation of the 26° E meridian. North of the Arctic treeline, Hammerfest is also a jumping-off point for adventure activities, climbing and hiking - scale Mount Tyven via the Tyventrappa Sherpa stairway for far-reaching views. Learn about how the town was rebuilt after being burnt to the ground in WWII at the Museum of Reconstruction Museum.
Day 9 - DAY 13 TROMSØ
Known as the Arctic gateway, Tromso is a remote Norwegian city at 69° north, 250 miles above the Arctic Circle, where you can take in the soft glow of the midnight sun. Learn more about early polar explorations at the Polar Museum. Famed for the Northern Lights on winter nights, you can find out more about this natural spectacle at the Science Centre.
Day 10 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $27,450Oceanview D4
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $28,678Oceanview M4
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $34,817Balcony D5
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $36,433Balcony M5
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $40,023Balcony D6
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $45,151Junior Suite
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $46,358Suite
05-07-202317-07-2023NZD $53,811Premium Suite
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $34,817Balcony D5
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $36,433Balcony M5
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $40,023Balcony D6
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $45,151Junior Suite
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $46,358Suite
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $53,811Premium Suite
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $27,450Oceanview D4
17-07-202329-07-2023NZD $28,678Oceanview M4

Inclusions

    • Take a stroll through the high street of Longyearbyen, the world’s most northerly town, and follow in the footsteps of polar explorers
    • Sail past Spitsbergen’s most beautiful glacier, Monacobreen, as it calves icebergs
    • Spy on hundreds of polar bears, seals, walruses, whales and arctic foxes in their natural habitat
    • Inspect tundra-loving wildflowers such as tufted saxifrage and arctic white campion in Wijdefjorden
    • Learn more about this isolated polar region from our on board team of experts

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