Voyage Overview
Enjoy the fantastically beautiful landscapes, adventurous landings, and shoreline hikes around Spitsbergen.
This expedition focuses on the versatility of north Spitsbergen’s visually stunning landscapes, vast spans of sea ice, and many opportunities to spot whales, polar bears, seabirds, walruses, and other such wildlife. For additional activities, check the tour description.
Trip Details
Duration: 8 Days
Ship: Hondius, Premium Ship, 132 passengers
Start at: Longyearbyen, Norway
End at: Longyearbyen
Trip Itinerary Overview:
Day 1: Embarkation
Day 2-7: North Spitsbergen
Day 8: Disembark Longbearbyen
Tour Dates
- April 2026 to September 2026
| Dates | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
Jun 13 – Jun 20, 2026 (8 days) | Available | view pricing chart |
Jun 20 – Jun 27, 2026 (8 days) | Available | view pricing chart |
Itinerary
Day 1: Embarkation in Longyearbyen, Norway
You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plants have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Day 2-7: North Spitsbergen’s natural beauty, wildlife, and pack-ice
This voyage will take you into the pack ice and along the remote shorelines of rugged north Spitsbergen. Places we might visit include the following:
Raudfjord
On the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can enjoy this expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears. We will try to land at Alicehamna or Buchananhalvøya.
Monaco Glacier
Depending on the weather and sea ice, we could sail into Liefdefjorden, land at Texas Bar and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this precipitous glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent us from sailing here early in the season, we may sail along the west coast of Spitsbergen.
Highlights of Hinlopen
We aim to sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar bears. At the entrance, there is even the possibility to spot blue whales. After cruising among the ice floes of Lomfjord in the Zodiacs, you can view the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, with their thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, we may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here we may see reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. We can take an alternate route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.
The Seven Islands
The northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet at Chermsideøya or Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands. Here we may reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again.
Sailing the continental shelf
While retracing our route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, we sail the edge of the continental shelf. Here fin whales forage during the summer in the upwelling zones (where cold, nutrient-rich water wells up from below the sea’s surface) that run along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you have a good chance of sighting minke whales.
Forlandsundet, St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet
Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet at Sarstangen or Poolepynten. Alternatively, we might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
Day 8: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen
Even great adventures must eventually come to an end. The vessel arrives back in Longyearbyen in the early morning, and bus transportation to the airport will be provided.
PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.
Trips & Rates
Please note, rates are Per Person in USD
Availability & prices are subject to change at anytime
| Cabin Category | Quad Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | Junior Suite | Grand Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Price in USD | $4,450 | $5,550 | $6,150 | $6,700 | $7,100 | $8,050 | $9,200 | $9,950 |
| Availability | Open | Limited | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Cabin Category | Quad Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | Junior Suite | Grand Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Price in USD | $4,450 | $5,550 | $6,150 | $6,700 | $7,100 | $8,050 | $9,200 | $9,950 |
| Availability | Open | Limited | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
Single Travelers:
- Can book into a share cabin in Quad – Twin Deluxe
- Can book a twin cabin at solo occupancy at 1.7x the per person share price
Adventure Options:
- Kayaking (full program, multiple paddles): $450/person for 2024 season and $470/person for 2025 season – requires experience
Single Travelers:
- Can book into a share cabin in Quad – Twin Deluxe
- Can book a twin cabin at solo occupancy at 1.7x the per person share price
Adventure Options:
- Kayaking (full program, multiple paddles): $560/person – requires experience
- On Basecamp departures all activities are free
Voyage Ship
Hondius
Hondius is the world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 passenger vessel, making her among the most structurally fortified and technologically advanced polar cruise ships on the seas. Using some of the latest sustainable technology, the ship employs LED lighting, steam heat, biodegradable paints and lubricants, and flexible power management systems to keep fuel efficiency high and CO2 emissions low. Hondius is also equipped with stabilizers that make her highly suitable for swift, safe, and nimble exploration of the polar waters.
Hondius Cabins & Deck Plan
Grand Suite with private balcony
DECK 7
The six Grand Suites are the only cabins on the ship with a private balcony. Grand Suites have 1 double window, private balcony, a sofa which can be setup as a single bed, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), refrigerator, coffee & tea maker, bathrobe, hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe.
291 sq. ft. (27 m2)
1-3
1 double bed + sofa bed
Junior Suite
DECK 7
The eight Junior Suites are on Deck 7, close to the bridge. Cabins have 1 double window, 1 double bed, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), refrigerator, coffee & tea maker, bathrobe, hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe.
205 to 215 sq. ft. (19 to 20 m2)
1-2
1 double bed
Superior
DECK 6
Eight Superior cabins featuring 2 windows, 1 double bed, sofa which can be setup us a single bed, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), refrigerator, coffee & tea maker, bathrobe, hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe.
215 to 226 sq. ft. (20 to 21 m2)
1-3
1 double bed + sofa bed
Twin Deluxe
DECK 6
The eleven Twin Deluxe cabins feature 2 windows, 2 single beds, sofa, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), refrigerator, coffee & tea maker, bathrobe, hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe.
205 to 226 sq. ft. (19 to 21 m2)
1-2
2 single
Twin Window
DECK 4
The fourteen Twin Windows are the only cabins on deck 4. Cabins feature 1 window, 2 single beds, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe. Please be aware that the view from some windows might be partially obstructed due to the design requirements of the ship. Please note that all cabins will not necessarily have the same layout and surface area, nor will they be identical to the examples used in the photos.
129 to 151 sq. ft. (12 to 14 m2)
1-2
2 single
Twin Porthole
DECK 3
Twin Portholes are the entry level twin occupancy cabin and the most abundant on the ship. Features: 2 portholes, 2 single beds, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe. Please note that all cabins will not necessarily have the same layout and surface area, nor will they be identical to the examples used in the photos.
143 to 172 sq. ft. (13 to 16 m2)
1-2
2 single
Triple Porthole
DECK 3
There are just two Triple cabins onboard. Triples are reserved for a party of 3 traveling together or solo travelers booking into a share cabin with guests of the same gender. Cabins feature 2 portholes, 1 upper & 2 lower berths, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe.
172 sq. ft. (16 m2)
3
3 single
Quadruple Porthole
DECK 3
Quad cabins are for a group of four traveling together or solo passengers looking for the lowest priced share cabin. Quad cabins feature 2 portholes, 2 upper & 2 lower berths, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flat screen TV, desk & chair, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair dryer, cabinet, safe deposit box & wardrobe.
165 to 172 sq. ft. (15.3 to 16 m2)
4
4 single
Inclusions/Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Exclusions:
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Adventure Options
Solo Travelers
An expedition cruise to the Polar regions is a fantastic trip for solo travelers. On most ships, there is the option to share a cabin with another guest of the same gender to keep the pricing down. Solo occupancy cabins are also an option for guests who prefer to have their own space. Please reach out for more information and pricing for solo travelers.
