HIGHLIGHTS
JAN
MAYEN
There
are few places more removed from the tourist track than Jan Mayen.
Accessible only by boat, the island’s designation as a nature
sanctuary protects its pristine Arctic ecosystem, including important
breeding sites for hundreds of thousands of seabirds. The landscape is
dominated by the heavily glaciated Beerenberg, an impressive
stratovolcano considered to be the northernmost active volcano on the
earth’s surface. The island is uninhabited except for
personnel who work at the Norwegian weather station, which we hope to
visit. We also hope to explore more of the island on foot to discover
remnants of the island’s whaling history.
SPITSBERGEN
The
fjords and islands on the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen offer
dramatic scenery and some of the High Arctic’s best wildlife
viewing opportunities. This remote wilderness is home to impressive
colonies of nesting seabirds, a variety of seal and whale species, and
a high concentration of polar bears stalking the ice. In this varied
landscape of mountains, tidewater glaciers, and flowering tundra we
also find sites significant in the history of early polar pioneers. We
may also visit Ny Ålesund, a research settlement complete
with museum, post office, and gift shop. There may even be a chance to
swim in the Arctic Ocean.
ICELAND
Explore
the Westfjords area of Iceland where mass tourism disappears
— only about 10% of Iceland's visitors ever see the region.
Visit the tiny island of Grimsey which lies exactly on the Arctic
Circle. Grimsey is remarkable for majestic basalt rocks and bird
colonies where one can see the Atlantic puffins, known also as the
"clowns of the sea".
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Triple Classic | Main Deck Suite | Single Suite | Classic Suite | Superior Suite | Deluxe Suite | Premium Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 27, 2025 | Jun 08, 2025 | 6,795 | 9,395 | 13,995 | 9,995 | 10,195 | 11,395 | 12,495 | 16,095 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Triple Classic | (Mid-range)
Superior Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 27, 2025 | Jun 08, 2025 | 6,795 | 10,195 | 16,095 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland (hotel night)
Welcome
to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of our
expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this metropolis rich
in history and culture, we’ve arranged pre-cruise hotel
accommodations. Relax and take a stroll through town, enjoying both
medieval and classic 18th-century architecture. The famous Edinburgh
Castle rises majestically above it all.
Day
2: Welcome Aboard!
Enjoy
the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Each corner of
Edinburgh’s old streets opens beautiful unexpected vistas of
green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. In the afternoon, you
will be transferred from the hotel to the ship in the nearby Port of
Leith. Before dinner, there’s time to explore the Sea Spirit,
your home-away-from home for the next days.
Day
3: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Kirkwall
is a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of life. The town is the
capital of the remote and amazing Orkney archipelago. Kirkwall is first
mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in 1046. Such a long history has left a
rich heritage that we explore today. The most famous are the sandstone
St Magnus Cathedral, considered the finest medieval building in the
north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the
Earl’s Palace.
Included
tour “Ancient treasures of Orkney with St Magnus
Cathedral.” Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of
Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. This tour passes through
the gentle rolling landscape of Orkney and into the Neolithic Heartland
of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its
wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of
Stenness, we will stop at the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle
of stones dating back almost 5000 years. We then continue on to the
5000-year-old village of Skara Brae, beautifully interpreted in the
visitor centre. See the remarkable dwellings revealed from beneath the
sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago.
Hear
some of the stories from your guide today en route back to Kirkwall.
Once back in the island capital we will take a tour of St Magnus
Cathedral, built by the Vikings during their 500 year reign over the
islands.
Day 4: Fair Isle,
Shetland Islands
Fair
Isle is a real paradise for birdwatchers. Huge number of birds inhabits
the lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs. Over 345 species have been
recorded here – more than anywhere else in Britain. During
our walk across the island, we hope to see northern fulmars,
kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic skuas.
Day
5: Torshavn, Faroe Islands
National
Geographic Traveler had designated Faroe Islands as
“authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”. It
seems that the Nature spares no colours in
“painting” the islands. Deep-green hills, bright
blue sea, colourful houses and boats, orange-red puffins’
beaks make the sceneries unforgettable, meanwhile traditional wooden
dwellings with turf roofs look like they belong in a fairy tale.
The
rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking heritage and their love of the
sea. Today we will explore Tórshavn, the capital and largest
city of Faroe Islands.
Tórshavn
is a unique city, where history meets modernity, where picturesque old
turfed houses and modern buildings stand side by side...
Day 6: At sea
Presentations
and workshops by our expert staff, as well as our range of onboard
recreation facilities, ensure that this day at sea is not idly spent.
Seabird viewing and whale sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open
decks as well as exterior stateroom windows and balconies.
Day
7: Jan Mayen
Jan
Mayen hosts the landscapes of breathtaking beauty and northernmost
subaerial active volcano on the planet – the Beerenberg. The
island is wild and uninhabited not including members of Norwegian
weather station. The signboard at the entrance door says (translated
from the Norwegian): “Theory is when you understand
everything but nothing works. Practice is when everything works but
nobody understands why. On this station, we combine theory and practice
in a way that nothing works and nobody understands why”.
Northern fulmars, Kittiwakes, and Brünich’s
guillemots breeding on steep cliffs and slopes represent the birdlife
of Jan Mayen.
Day
8: At Sea
The
lectures of our invited speakers prepare us for meeting with the unique
Arctic wildlife and awesome landscapes of Svalbard.
Day
9-12: Exploring Svalbard
This
is a real expedition in a true High Arctic wilderness. As such, our
route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on the
weather and sea ice conditions we encounter. Our experienced captain
and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans
as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best
possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented to us
by Nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.
Polar
bears and other quintessential Arctic wildlife can be spotted anytime,
anywhere in and around Svalbard. We exploit every opportunity to
experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery,
and to walk in the footsteps of the historic polar expeditions that
came before us.
We
anticipate exploring the spectacular fjords, coasts, and islands in the
western part of Svalbard. This area contains the
archipelago’s most impressive scenery and some of the
Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and
narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. Immense
tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. Fields of
flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox.
Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to walrus and a wide
variety of whales. The whole area is alive with migratory birds,
including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer’s
fecundity in 24-hour daylight.
To
complete the Arctic experience we also explore places rich with
history. Our area of exploration contains the historical remnants of
whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins,
staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole, and
even an abandoned polar research station. The days are filled with
memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts,
and enough stunning scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and
overwhelm your emotions.
Day
13: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
After
breakfast we say farewell in the town of Longyearbyen, the
administrative capital of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard. We
provide a transfer to the airport and a flight to Oslo. Now when the
first emotions have subsided you will have time to look back to your
unforgettable Arctic experience and maybe to make plans for your next
polar adventure?
Sea Spirit (Luxury Expedition, 114-guests)
The ice-strengthened small all-suite expedition ship Sea Spirit (originally Renaissance V) was built in 1991 in Italy. From that time she has changed several operators and regions of navigation, cruising in Singapore, Alaska, Pacific Basin, Arctic and Antarctica. The vessel was modified in late 2010. Providing spacious suites for accommodation of maximum of 114 passengers (the smallest suite is 20 sq. meters) the Sea Spirit at the same time features maneuverability and friendly atmosphere of small ships. All suites have private facilities and exterior views. Some of the suites feature private balconies for enjoying fantastic landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 1
pre-voyage night on Day 1 in Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre;
- Flight
Longyearbyen - Oslo on the day of disembarkation;
- 10-Jun-24:
LYR - OSL SK4491 (direct)
- Group
transfer to the ship on day of embarkation
- Shipboard
accommodation;
- All
meals on board throughout the voyage;
- Tea
and coffee station 24 hours daily;
- All
scheduled landings/excursions (subject to weather and ice conditions);
- Leadership
throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader &
Expedition Team;
- Branded
Poseidon Expeditions parka;
- Rubber
boots for shore landings for the time of the cruise;
- Welcome
and Farewell cocktails;
- All
port fees;
- Group
transfer upon disembarkation;
- Pre-departure
materials;
- Digital
Voyage Log;
- Wi-Fi
on board.
RATES
DO NOT INCLUDE:
- International
Airfare;
- Visa
and passport fees (if applicable);
- Luggage
and trip cancellation insurance;
- Soft
drinks and alcoholic beverages other than those for special events and
celebrations;
- Fuel
surcharge may be applied for all bookings;
- Personal
expenses such as laundry and telecommunication charges;
- Mandatory
Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a minimum benefit of US$ 200,000 per
person;
- The
cost of any applicable medical tests (such as COVID-19) or vaccinations
required either by a national government or Poseidon Expeditions
before, during or after the cruise;
- Staff
gratuities.
