Discover Spitsbergen – Polar Bear & Arctic Exploration
- June 19-26, 2014
- Pre-Trip: 2 or 3 Night Oslo/Longyearbyen Package
- Post-Trip: Oslo Airport Overnight
From up-close encounters with glaciers to the region’s plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of non-stop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife, you’ll explore this landscape not only by ship but also on foot and by Zodiac. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land we dare only to explore a few months of the year. From the deck of our cruise ship, the MS Expedition, spend time searching for polar bears and whales, cruise through breathtaking fjords and admire massive glaciers, experience the midnight sun and learn about Arctic history and ecology from our expert guides. Join Jewish Singles from around the world, brave the Arctic waters and take an authentic polar bear plunge!
Your Value-Added Spitsbergen Cruise Package Includes
- 7 Night Arctic Cruise in a Stateroom of your choice
- All Transfers in Spitsbergen
- All Lectures, Excursions and Entertainment on board Ship
- All Gratuities to Exploration Staff and Onboard Personnel
- All Port Taxes and Government Fees
- All Meals and Snacks on board Ship
- Exclusive Amazing Journeys Cocktail Party
- Gifts and Prizes for All Participants
- Shabbat and Havdallah Services at Sea
- Carefree Hassle-Free Planning
- Fully Escorted by Amazing Journeys
- Hospitality Desk Staffed Daily
- VIP Treatment Throughout
Travel to Spitsbergen is complex. To make the journey easier, we have put together 2 pre-cruise options to take the guess-work out of planning for this amazing adventure. Because Spitsbergen is far away from everything, we highly recommend one of our pre-cruise packages to make your travels from Oslo to Longyearbyen a breeze. Click here to see our pre-cruise package options including hotels, transfers, flights and meals.
Thursday, June 19 – Longyearbyen
This morning, you’ll have some free time to explore Longyearbyen before we will transfer to the ship to begin our exploration cruise of Spitsbergen.
Longyearbyen is the largest settlement on archipelago of Svalbard with a population of about 2,060 people and about as many snowmobiles. Most of the inhabitants are Norwegians, and some are Russians. Located in the Advent Fjord at the entrance of the Advent Valley, this community has an infrastructure fit for a much larger city. Within the islands there are four inhabited settlements and some scientific stations. Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining settlement, has approximately 850 inhabitants. Sveagruva, the functional Norwegian mine has around 100 inhabitants and Ny Ålesund, a scientific settlement has between 30 and 150 inhabitants, depending on the season. All settlements are found on the west coast, the part of Spitsbergen with the mildest climate due to the warm Gulf Current.
Friday, June 20 – Wednesday, June 25 – Svalbard Archipelago/Spitsbergen
Each day will be planned to take advantage of local ice and weather conditions. Distances are relatively short in the Archipelago and as there are no ocean crossings, the seas are normally calm.
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 six days we will visit ice covered seas, fjords with breathtaking mountain scenery and glaciers flowing into the sea around us. We will spend time steaming through the ice in search of polar bears hunting seals. Ivory gulls will be a highlight for the birders, while we keep a constant lookout for walrus hauled out on ice floes or on sandy beaches. We will visit, ice permitting, spectacular bird cliffs filled with thousands of murres (guillemots), as well as kittiwakes and glaucous gulls. A little auk colony will also be on our agenda.
Our shore stops will be highlighted with flowers nearing, or at the peak of, their bloom. We will have the opportunity to observe and discuss some of their adaptations to what we consider a harsh environment. At one or more of our stops, we hope to see Svalbard’s unique subspecies of reindeer. They are much smaller than their southern relatives, but still carry impressive antlers. We also have the possibility of seeing Arctic foxes. This is also a land of history: from whaling to reaching for the pole, to trapping, coal mining and war. We will visit some of these historic sites.
We may cruise in Zodiacs along the ice edge viewing seals or walrus, in fjords with glaciers spilling down to the sea or in front of spectacular seabird cliffs. We will have opportunities to walk on shore, observe and photograph the Arctic flora and fauna. As we are in the land of the polar bear, your expedition staff will carry rifles and flare guns on shore for your protection. Krossfjord, Konigsfjord, Monaco Glacier, Hinlopen Strait, Northeast Land, Edgeoya, Hornsund and Bellsund are just a few of the places that we may visit. By not having a set itinerary, we take on an expedition spirit and are free to take advantage of the best that Svalbard has to offer. The evening of our last full day of adventure will find the expedition ship anchored off Longyearbyen.
Thursday, June 26 – Longyearbyen
All good things must come to an end. It’s time to say good-bye and head for home, and dream about your next Amazing Journey. This morning, you will be transferred to a hotel in Longyearbyen where we will await our afternoon flight back to Oslo.
Please note that landings are based on ice, weather and wildlife conditions and are subject to change.
Rates (available until 2/28/14) | Double | Single |
Category 2 (view details) |
Sold Out | Sold Out |
Category 3 (view details) |
Sold Out | Sold Out |
Category 4 (view details) |
Sold Out | Sold Out |
Category 5 (view details) |
Sold Out |
Rates (after 2/28/14) | Double | Single |
Category 2 (view details) |
Sold Out | Sold Out |
Category 3 (view details) |
Sold Out | Sold Out |
Category 4 (view details) |
Sold Out | Sold Out |
Category 5 (view details) |
Sold Out |
A deposit of $750 is due with your reservation. Full payment is due March 7, 2014.
These rates are based on an all-inclusive, custom-designed package that differs from offerings seen in public advertising. Please note that payments for this trip will be charged in a foreign currency. Therefore, unless you have a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, you will see a small fee on your credit card statement. Please check with your credit card for more details.
For the convenience of Amazing Journeys passengers, all port taxes, government fees, gratuities to Exploration staff and Onboard personnel and program fees are included with the above rates. Click here to see our pre-cruise package options including hotels, transfers, flights and meals.
- We will match you with a roommate if desired.
- Early reservations receive priority cabin location.
We will sell-out. Don’t wait to sign up! Please note – This is a group exclusive vacation package. We are unable to make any of our package components available to anyone who is not part of our Amazing Journeys group.
All cabins where we provide roommate matches are non-smoking. Items listed on this website are subject to change at any time. By providing payment you agree to the terms and conditions as outlined on this website.
Air and Transfers: Roundtrip airfare from Oslo to Longyearbyen is required for this program and must be purchased by the guests either individually or as part of our pre-cruise package. International airfare has not been included. Transfers to the ship will be offered (cost is additional).
Cancellation Policy for the Cruise, Pre-Cruise and Oslo Overnight: From the time of reservation, the deposit is non-refundable; however it can be kept on file as a “Lifetime Deposit” with our tour operator, G Adventures. From March 7 – April 17, 2014, the cancellation penalty is 50% of the total cruise package price with the exception of the deposit which is kept on file as a “Lifetime Deposit” with tour operator. Cancellations made on or after April 18, 2014 and “no-shows” will receive no refund with the exception of the deposit which is kept on file as a “Lifetime Deposit” with tour operator. There is no refund in the event of interruption or cancellation by the passenger after the start of the cruise. Airfare is purchased at the time of ticketing and is 100% non-refundable.
Cancellation Insurance: Trip insurance is required and is available through Amazing Journeys, LLC. Information will be sent with your cruise confirmation.
Port taxes, Government Fees and Gratuities: Port taxes and government and immigration fees have been included in the rate. Gratuities have also been included in the rate. Port taxes, government fees and gratuities are based on July, 2013 rates and are always subject to change. Fuel surcharges may be added by G Adventures. Should oil costs go above $65 per barrel, and the cruise lines reinstate these fees, Amazing Journeys reserves the right to add them back at that time.
Proof of Citizenship: Passengers must present a valid passport (valid for at least six months beyond the last date of travel) to board the vessel. Non-U.S., Canadian or EU Citizens may be required to have visas.
Food and Drink: Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style and dinner is usually plated service with 3 different meal options. All meals will include a vegetarian option. Please advise of any special dietary requirements prior to coming onboard. Beverage service is available during meal times with an international wine selection and full bar menu. Afternoon tea will be served generally around 4pm or just after our afternoon excursion. We regret that some meal requests may not be available (i.e.Kosher). We recommend that you contact the Hotel Manager and discuss any special requests once on board.
Disabled Facilities: The ship is not designed for those with severe mobility restrictions or wheelchair dependent passengers and is unable to accept wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Embarkation and disembarkation from the ship require passengers to climb the gangway or step into zodiac boats. All shore excursions involve some walking and some excursions are walking tours only.
This tour is operated by G Adventures. Ships registry: Liberia
Images for this website were provided by G Adventures
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