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Norwegian Sea – Bear Island – Around Spitsbergen

Norwegian Sea – Bear Island – Around Spitsbergen

From USD $6,150

Description

You board the vessel at midday in Vlissingen and head north. Crossing the North Sea, you stand an excellent chance of spotting minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises.

Please Note: This is an English and German speaking voyage

Trip Name
Norwegian Sea - Bear Island - Around Spitsbergen
Days
17
Overview
Vessel Type: Expediton Length: 91m Passenger Capacity: 116 Built / Refurbished : 1989 / 2015 The ice-strengthened vessel “Ortelius” is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica, providing us with possibilities to adventure remote locations such as the Ross Sea. “Ortelius” was built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, was named “Marina Svetaeva”, and served as a special purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. The vessel is re-flagged and renamed “Ortelius”. Ortelius was a Dutch / Flemish cartographer. Abraham Ortelius (1527 – 1598) published the first modern world atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Theatre of the World in 1570. At that time, the atlas was the most expensive book ever printed.  The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. “Ortelius” is a great expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers. The vessel is manned by 34 highly experienced Russian nautical crew, 15 international catering staff, including stewardesses, 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides/lecturers) and 1 doctor. ”Ortelius” offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar/lecture room and a sauna.  Our voyages are primarily developed to offer our passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program, trying to spend as much time ashore as possible. As the number of passengers is limited to approximately 100 on the “Ortelius”, flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities.  

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1: Northward bound
You board the vessel at midday in Vlissingen, headed north. Far north.
Day 2 - Day 2 – 5: Sea life on the move
Crossing the North Sea, you stand an excellent chance of spotting minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. Several other cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are also native to these seas.
Day 3 - Day 6: Porting in the Paris of the North
You arrive in Tromsø, nicknamed the “Paris of the North,” located in an area rich with Norse and Sámi history. Enjoy exploring this sub-Arctic Norwegian town, said to have been inhabited since the last ice age.
Day 4 - Day 7: Sea life on the move
Crossing the North Sea, you stand an excellent chance of spotting minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. Several other cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are also native to these seas.
Day 5 - Day 8: Bear Island explorations
Bear Island is an isolated island between northern Norway and Svalbard. Some of possible landing sites are:Sørhamna, which features the remains of a whaling station active between 1905—8, and Tunnheim, where coal mining was attempted between 1916—25 before the settlement was destroyed in WWII. Alternately, you may explore the west coast for a scenic landing opportunity.
Day 6 - Day 9: Traveling Tusindøyane (protected area until August 15)
At the southern reaches of Edgeøya, you enter the realm of the historic whalers and trappers. Tusindøyane, meaning “the thousand islands,” consists of numerous small islands all under special protection for the summer. You arrive after August 15, when the protection is lifted, so you can enjoy landings that are rare these days. On Ækongen, among rocks covered in fantastic lichen, you find remains of the 17th-century whalers and early 20th-century trappers. Bölscheøya is another option, with walking opportunities on the relatively flat islands. Red-throated divers may be seen on the lakes in this area, with chicks ready to fledge.
Day 7 - Day 10: Along east Edgeøya
The aim is to next explore the rarely seen glacier fronts of eastern Edgeøya, with a visit to Ryke Yseøyane. This area has terrain not too dissimilar to Tusindøyane and yields a good chance of spotting polar bears.
Day 8 - Day 11: The longest glacier in Spitsbergen
You then sail by the fully protected islands of Kong Karls Land, reaching the immense front of the Austfonna ice cap. At Bråsvellbreen you’ll be able to see meltwater waterfalls flowing into the sea. In the afternoon, you may attempt a Zodiac cruise at Isisøyane. This will take you near the ice front, with spectacular views and a chance to see polar bears.
Day 9 - Day 12: Views of the Kvitøya ice cap
Today you attempt to reach the rarely visited Kvitøya, far to the east and close to Russian territory. The enormous ice cap covering this island leaves only a small area bare. You land at the western tip of Andréeneset, where the Swedish explorer S. A. Andrée and his companions perished in 1897. (Your voyage will end far better.) Another objective for the day is Kræmerpynten, where a sizable group of walruses reside.
Day 10 - Days 13 - 14: Stop at the Seven Islands
The northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the Seven Islands. Here you reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. You may also land on one of the Seven Islands, Sjuøyane, in a high Arctic environment where walruses may be encountered.
Day 11 - Day 15: Route to Raudfjorden
Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.
Day 12 - Day 16: The splendors of Prins Karls Forland
Reaching the western coast of Spitsbergen, the search is on for walruses in Forlandsundet. Fuglehuken, on the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland, is home to the northernmost population of harbor seals in the world. The goal is a decent walk to see wildlife, 17th-century whaler graves, and the remains of the trapping era.
Day 13 - Day 17: Journey’s end in Longyearbyen
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Day 14 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
14-08-201930-08-2019USD $0Quadruple Porthole
14-08-201930-08-2019USD $0Triple Porthole
14-08-201930-08-2019USD $0Twin Porthole
14-08-201930-08-2019USD $0Twin Window
14-08-201930-08-2019USD $0Twin Deluxe
14-08-201930-08-2019USD $0Superior

Inclusions

    • Visit Bear Island
    • See Kvitøya & Sjuøyane
    • Meet Polar Bear & Walrus
    • Enjoy Shore based walking, Zodiac Cruising & Shore program
    • Enjoy Whale safari

Map