![](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20160830-Svalbard-1522-scaled.jpg)
North Spitsbergen Explorer - 8 Days
Aboard Ortelius – 108 passengers
The best opportunity to experience deep field pack ice and exotic wildlife. 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.
Tour Dates
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Jun 12 - Jun 19, 2025 (8 days)
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Jun 19 - Jun 26, 2025 (8 days)
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.
The Seven Islands
The northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the Seven Islands. Here we may reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. At Phippsøya there is a walrus haul-out site, while Rossøya is the northernmost landmass in Spitsbergen. The vessel may sail deeper into the pack ice when wheeling around west again.
Sailing in the pack ice
While we retrace our route west, keep watch for polar bears, ringed seals, and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. This is also the habitat of ivory gulls. About 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of Spitsbergen, we’ll 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 wildlife
Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet, at Poolepynten. But if we cannot go there, we might sail to the mouth of Isfjorden, where we may see different species of rorqual whales. Our intended landing site is Alkhornet, where seabirds nest on the cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation. Another possibility is the glacier front in Ymerbukta, where you can see congregations of various eider duck species.
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.
Route Map
![](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/OTL03-25-North-Spitsbergen-Explorer-Into-the-pack-ice-©-Oceanwide-Expeditions.jpg_Oceanwide-Expeditions-768x710.jpg)
Trips and Rates
Please note, rates are Per Person in USD
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:
- On Basecamp departures all activities are free
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:
- On Basecamp departures all activities are free
Availability & prices are subject to change at anytime. Please contact us for the real time availability & prices.
Cabin Descriptions
![](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/01-Superior-1.jpeg)
Superior
The 6 Superior cabins are the most spacious and the only cabin category with a double bed. They are all located on deck 5. Features: 2 windows (minimum), 1 double bed, 1 single (sofa) bed, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Refrigerator, Coffee & tea maker, Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
198 – 220 square feet / 18.4 – 20.4 square meters.
![Ortelius twin deluxe cabin](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/02-Twin-Deluxe-1.jpeg)
Twin Deluxe
There are just 2 Twin Deluxe cabins located on deck 5. Features: 3 windows, 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Small sofa, Refrigerator, Coffee & tea maker, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
190 square feet / 17.7 square meters
![Ortelius, twin window cabin](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/03-Twin-Window-1.jpeg)
Twin Window
The 12 Twin Window cabins are all located on deck 5. Features: 2 windows, 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
188 – 190 square feet / 17.5 – 17.7 square meters
![Ortelius, twin porthole cabin](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/04-Twin-Porthole-1.jpeg)
Twin Porthole
The most abundant cabin category, most of which are located on deck 4 (there are 2 on deck 3). Features: 2 portholes, 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
123 – 163 square feet / 11.4 – 15.1 square meters
![Ortelius, triple cabin](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05-Triple-scaled.jpeg)
Triple Porthole
2 Triple cabins located forward on deck 3. Features: 2 portholes, 1 upper berth & 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
![Ortelius, quad porthole cabin](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/06-Quad-scaled.jpeg)
Quad Porthole
4 Quad cabins midship on deck 3. Features: 2 portholes, 2 upper berths & 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
133 – 152 square feet / 12.4 – 14.1 square meters
Deck Plan
![](https://polarcruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ORT-Deck-Plan.jpg)
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).