DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Quadruple Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | Junior Suite | Grand Suite with private balcony |
|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 | Sep 06, 2026 | 5,900 | 7,250 | 8,500 | 9,200 | 9,900 | 11,100 | 12,650 | 13,700 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Quadruple Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Deluxe | (High-end)
Grand Suite with private balcony |
|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 | Sep 06, 2026 | 5,900 | 9,900 | 13,700 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
You
find yourself 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 plant species have been
recorded here. In the early evening, the ship sails out of Isfjorden,
where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Day
2 - 9: North Spitsbergen
Kongsfjorden and Blomstrandhalvøya
Blomstrandhalvøya,
located on the northern side of the fjord, offers shelter and the
opportunity to change plans if the weather changes. In the afternoon,
you visit Ny Ålesund, one of the northernmost settlements on
Earth. Once a mining village served by the world's most northerly
railway – the tracks are still visible – Ny
Ålesund is now a research center.
If
you're interested in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the
anchoring mast used by polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their
airships Norge (1926) and Italia (1928). In the evening, we will head
north along the coast, looking for whales.
The
immense Monaco Glacier
Depending
on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden, land at Texas Bar,
and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of the
precipitous Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a
favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the
ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. Another possibility is the
mouth of Wijdefjorden, boasting both the tundra landscape and the
glacier front of Nordbreen.
Or
Sorgfjord, a reminder of hard times
You
may turn to Sorgfjord, with sunken French and Dutch ships (17th
century) lying deep below the surface. You have the chance to find a
herd of walruses someway west of the graves of 17th-century whalers at
Eolusneset. A nature walk here can bring you close to families of
ptarmigans. The opposite side of the fjord at Heclahamna is also a
beautiful area for an excursion in a semi-desert region.
A
stop at the Seven Islands
At
Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, you reach about 80°
30' north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole.
Polar bears and walruses inhabit this region. From here the ship sails
northeastward toward the pack ice.
The
northernmost point at 83 North
In
the evening, we expect to reach our northernmost point at the edge of
the sea ice or some way into it. The landscape within the pack ice is a
beautiful and moving world. At this latitude, it makes its way from the
Polar Basin to the southwest and southward along the coast of Greenland.
In
the fringes of the sea-ice
Sailing
southwest along and sometimes in the sea ice, we will enjoy fantastic
opportunities to see bears, seals, various species of whale, and
sometimes even the visually striking narwhal. On earlier voyages in
this area, we have even encountered Ross's gulls, which winter in the
Polar Sea.
Whalers
from ages past
At
Zeeuwse Uitkijk on Ytre Norskøya, the remains of a whaling
station can be found. Here, once Europe's most northernmost outpost,
Dutch whalers processed whale blubber and buried their dead. We are not
allowed to visit the vicinity of their gravesites, but we may walk to
the top of the island, which offers splendid views across the open sea
and on the kittiwake colony on the east side.
An
alternative landing site for this landing could be Smeerenburg, a
former major whaling settlement. Many relics from this period,
including tryworks, can be seen there.
Bell
Sund's flora, fauna, and haunting history
Today,
you find yourself in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in
Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other
areas in the archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush
vegetation. Here, there are excellent opportunities to enjoy both
history and wildlife. A possibility is Ahlstrandhalvøya; at
the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, you may discover piles of beluga
skeletons. These remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting
reminder of the consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately,
belugas were not hunted to extinction, and you have a good chance of
coming across a pod. Alternately, while cruising the side fjords of
Bellsund, you can explore tundra - a favored feeding ground for
reindeer.
Day
10: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You
disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home Arctic memories that will
accompany you forever. The pioneering spirit you will have experienced
with us will stay with you wherever your next adventure lies.
Hondius (Expedition, 170-guests)
MV Hondius offers luxury accommodation for up to 180 passengers. The ship has a luxury standard while Oceanwide's signature cozy and informal atmosphere. Hondius the strongest ice-strengthened vessel will be in the polar regions and will be equipped with stabilizers, and great trips for advanced, innovative exploratory quality in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 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.
Excluded
from this voyage
- 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).
