Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Helsinki, Finland
Arrive in the Finnish capital and make your way to the group hotel located right at Helsinki airport. The hotel is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. You will have the rest of the day to explore explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District. If you do plan to visit Helsinki city centre, take advantage of the convenient, 40-minute rail service from the airport.
Day 2
Fly to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and embark
This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter f light to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3
Exploring Svalbard
You’ll sail around the shores of this magical archipelago, constantly searching for natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your expedition will afford ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna. Sailing north into Krossfjorden, have your camera handy, ready to capture some of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly active Lilliehöök Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny-London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided walk. Sightings of wildlife, such as the endemic Svalbard reindeer, might be possible here.
After cruising overnight, wake up to the stunning sight of the magnificent Monaco Glacier, another prolific iceberg producing glacier. To make this even more thrilling, help your Expedition Team to scan the shorelines and ice edge for marine mammals. Possible landing sites include Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and Alicehamna. At Smeerenburg you can see the remains of an abandoned settlement that was established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. Here, at what was once one of Europe’s most northerly outposts, you’ll have time to explore ashore and learn about Spitsbergen’s whaling history.
Afterwards, cruising to Magdalenefjorden rewards you with panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers reflected in the crystal-clear waters. We hope to round out the day in Alkhornet, taking in the towering cliffs teeming with nesting seabirds, such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Sightings of reindeer are possible here too. Later, in the evening, swap stories with your shipmates and crew one last time, at the captain’s farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 4
Exploring Svalbard
You’ll sail around the shores of this magical archipelago, constantly searching for natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your expedition will afford ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna. Sailing north into Krossfjorden, have your camera handy, ready to capture some of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly active Lilliehöök Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny-London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided walk. Sightings of wildlife, such as the endemic Svalbard reindeer, might be possible here.
After cruising overnight, wake up to the stunning sight of the magnificent Monaco Glacier, another prolific iceberg producing glacier. To make this even more thrilling, help your Expedition Team to scan the shorelines and ice edge for marine mammals. Possible landing sites include Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and Alicehamna. At Smeerenburg you can see the remains of an abandoned settlement that was established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. Here, at what was once one of Europe’s most northerly outposts, you’ll have time to explore ashore and learn about Spitsbergen’s whaling history.
Afterwards, cruising to Magdalenefjorden rewards you with panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers reflected in the crystal-clear waters. We hope to round out the day in Alkhornet, taking in the towering cliffs teeming with nesting seabirds, such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Sightings of reindeer are possible here too. Later, in the evening, swap stories with your shipmates and crew one last time, at the captain’s farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 5
Exploring Svalbard
You’ll sail around the shores of this magical archipelago, constantly searching for natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your expedition will afford ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna. Sailing north into Krossfjorden, have your camera handy, ready to capture some of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly active Lilliehöök Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny-London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided walk. Sightings of wildlife, such as the endemic Svalbard reindeer, might be possible here.
After cruising overnight, wake up to the stunning sight of the magnificent Monaco Glacier, another prolific iceberg producing glacier. To make this even more thrilling, help your Expedition Team to scan the shorelines and ice edge for marine mammals. Possible landing sites include Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and Alicehamna. At Smeerenburg you can see the remains of an abandoned settlement that was established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. Here, at what was once one of Europe’s most northerly outposts, you’ll have time to explore ashore and learn about Spitsbergen’s whaling history.
Afterwards, cruising to Magdalenefjorden rewards you with panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers reflected in the crystal-clear waters. We hope to round out the day in Alkhornet, taking in the towering cliffs teeming with nesting seabirds, such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Sightings of reindeer are possible here too. Later, in the evening, swap stories with your shipmates and crew one last time, at the captain’s farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 6
Exploring Svalbard
You’ll sail around the shores of this magical archipelago, constantly searching for natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your expedition will afford ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna. Sailing north into Krossfjorden, have your camera handy, ready to capture some of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly active Lilliehöök Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny-London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided walk. Sightings of wildlife, such as the endemic Svalbard reindeer, might be possible here.
After cruising overnight, wake up to the stunning sight of the magnificent Monaco Glacier, another prolific iceberg producing glacier. To make this even more thrilling, help your Expedition Team to scan the shorelines and ice edge for marine mammals. Possible landing sites include Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and Alicehamna. At Smeerenburg you can see the remains of an abandoned settlement that was established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. Here, at what was once one of Europe’s most northerly outposts, you’ll have time to explore ashore and learn about Spitsbergen’s whaling history.
Afterwards, cruising to Magdalenefjorden rewards you with panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers reflected in the crystal-clear waters. We hope to round out the day in Alkhornet, taking in the towering cliffs teeming with nesting seabirds, such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Sightings of reindeer are possible here too. Later, in the evening, swap stories with your shipmates and crew one last time, at the captain’s farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 7
Disembark in Longyearbyen and fly to Helsinki
Our adventure ends in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your return group charter flight to Helsinki, included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package. Upon arrival in Helsinki, you’ll transfer to your included hotel for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Onward flight home
After breakfast, you can make your way to the airport for your onward flight home, or stay to explore Finland’s culturally-rich capital on your own if you’ve made prior arrangements.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
All meals while on the ship are included.
Typical meals
The ship’s galley offers good-quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus, including vegetarian dishes. If there is one constant on board, it is that you’ll enjoy delicious meals. While meal times may change due to landings and wildlife sightings, you’ll always be served three well-prepared meals per day. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this adventure – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.
Breakfast: Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal.
Lunch: Three-course set meal or the occasional buffet or barbecue.
Dinner: Three courses with a starter of soup, salad or anti-pasto, a choice of three mains with at least one vegetarian and one seafood option and a dessert of sweet pudding or ice cream or fruit, tea and coffee.
Drinks: Complimentary coffee, tea, cocoa and water stations are available around the clock, while soft drinks and juices are available during meals and when the bar is open—all included in the cost of your package. Enjoy complimentary select beer, wines and select cocktails during bar service hours and dinner as part of the “Raise a Glass and Stay Connected Free” program. Premium wines and champagne are available at extra cost and can be billed to your shipboard account. The well-stocked bars on the ship are open late morning, afternoon and evening, though hours may occasionally change to accommodate the expedition schedule.
Magdalenefjorden Scenic Cruise & Shore Landing
Cruise into Magdalenefjorden, a classic Spitsbergen fjord ringed by serrated peaks and tidewater glaciers. From deck and Zodiac, frame mirror-calm waters and ice-blue seracs while your guides position the vessel for the best photography and wildlife viewing.
Conditions permitting, land on a gravel beach to feel the Arctic scale around you and pause for photos and reflection. Learn how glaciers sculpted this amphitheatre of rock and ice, and listen for kittiwakes and fulmars riding the katabatic winds.
Alkhornet Bird Cliffs & Tundra Hike
Hike the gentler slopes beneath Alkhornet’s towering bird cliffs, where limestone walls shelter colonies of fulmars and Brunnich’s guillemots. Your guides set an unhurried pace across springy tundra, pointing out saxifrages, moss campion and signs of Arctic fox.
With wide views over Isfjorden, watch for the distinctive, short-legged Svalbard reindeer grazing on lush patches below the cliffs. The setting delivers crisp sea air, birdsong echoing from the rock and a palpable sense of high-latitude solitude.
Zodiac Cruising: Glaciers, Fjords and Icebergs
Embark on frequent Zodiac cruises to thread among ice-choked fjords and sculpted icebergs. These nimble boats bring you close to shorelines, bird cliffs and glacier faces that larger ships cannot approach, maximizing wildlife encounters and photographic opportunities.
Your polar experts adjust routes to the day’s conditions, helping you safely navigate brash ice as you scan for walrus, seals and seabirds. Expect brisk air, the hiss of meltwater and the subtle aromas of sea and kelp carried on Arctic breezes.
Onboard Enrichment: Expert Lectures & Daily Recaps
Deepen your understanding of the Arctic through expert-led lectures on wildlife, sea ice, geology and exploration history. Between landings, gather in the lounge as your team decodes polar bear behavior, seabird ecology and the forces shaping Svalbard’s landscapes.
Evenings bring concise daily recaps with maps, images and plans for the next day’s adventures. This rolling seminar at sea transforms sightings into insight, enriching every Zodiac cruise and shore walk with context and meaning.
Captain’s Farewell Dinner & Toast
Celebrate your voyage at the captain’s farewell dinner, a convivial evening that gathers guests and crew to share highlights from the ice. Enjoy a multicourse menu as glasses are raised to the spirit of exploration and the teamwork that brought the Arctic to life.
Your Expedition Team may present a slideshow of memorable moments, inviting you to pause for photos and reflection. It’s a warm, shipboard tradition that adds a graceful coda to days spent among fjords and glaciers.
Sea Kayaking in the High Arctic
Slip into stable expedition kayaks to paddle quietly among brash ice, low to the water and far from engine noise. Under the guidance of certified kayak leaders, trace cliff lines and glacier fronts where seabirds wheel and echoes carry across still water.
All equipment is provided; routes are chosen to suit conditions and experience. This small-group adventure offers a rare, contemplative perspective on Svalbard’s scale and silence. Optional experience at additional cost; bookable on tour and weather/ice permitting.
Ny-London Historic Walk on Blomstrandhalvøya
Walk among the weathered relics of Ny-London, where early 20th-century entrepreneurs attempted to quarry marble in the high Arctic. Follow your guides past rusted winches, rails and huts, learning how industry once tried—and failed—to tame this ice-fringed wilderness.
Hear the story of “Camp Mansfield” and trace stone foundations that now sit between tundra wildflowers and Arctic moss. The site offers sweeping views across Kongsfjorden, and a good chance to spot the endemic Svalbard reindeer grazing quietly nearby.
Monaco Glacier & Liefdefjorden Wildlife Watch
Join your team to scan the ice edge of Liefdefjorden for signs of life near the mighty Monaco Glacier. From the ship and Zodiacs, look for seals hauled out on floes and seabirds feeding in the nutrient-rich waters at the glacier’s face.
Guides interpret the currents, wind and ice that shape animal behavior while you keep a respectful distance in hopes of glimpsing polar bears patrolling the pack. Expect crisp air, echoing gull calls and the soft crackle of sea ice around the hull.
Smeerenburg Whaling Heritage Walk (Amsterdamøya)
Step ashore at storied Smeerenburg, the 17th-century Dutch whaling station whose name means “Blubber Town.” Stroll between low turf mounds and traces of tryworks as guides chart the rise of Arctic commerce and its enduring imprint on these remote shores.
Amid sweeping views of ice-streaked seas, discuss how shifting sea ice and technology transformed the industry. This contemplative landing invites you to pause for photos and reflection on human ambition at the edge of the map.
Krossfjorden & Lilliehöök Glacier Zodiac Cruise
Explore the sculpted ice world of northwest Spitsbergen on a cruise by Zodiac beneath the towering face of the Lilliehook Glacier. Glide through brash ice and bergy bits, pausing to listen for the crack and roar of calving ice and to watch kittiwakes wheel above the inlet’s blue-white amphitheatre.
Your Expedition Team shares insight into glacier dynamics and Svalbard’s geology while you scan the fjord for bearded and ringed seals. Photographers relish mirrored reflections and ever-changing light as ice, sea and sky create a minimalist Arctic palette.
