Pre-departure information

IMPORTANT

Greenland consists of a wide variety of lifestyles, from urban towns to small and very remote communities. Indigenous people follow centuries-old ways of life, in terms of hunting, trapping and fishing. The people are friendly, but sometimes reserved. Please always ask permission before taking photos. 

Natural resources and climate are perhaps the two most important factors shaping Greenland and its inhabitants. Access to natural resources often dictate where people settle, while the relatively cold climate and unpredictable weather influence cultural norms, traditions and mentalities.

Hunting, trapping and fishing still play an important role in large parts of Greenland. This is something we as visitors must respect. Please note:

• You will see blood on the grounds from hunting
• You will see different animal skins strung up to dry
• Never approach or pet a sled dog. They are not tame as regular pets.

It is very important that you read the AECO Community Guidelines, where you find more insights on what's important to know, when visiting Greenland. You can also read them here.

FLEXIBLE ITINERARY

Please note: The itinerary of your expedition cruise is never set in stone. Factors such as weather and ice conditions play an important role in where the ship can venture.The daily schedule is decided by the Captain and the Expedition Leader, who both have great experience of the areas we are travelling in. Remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

To participate in this expedition cruise, you must be in generally good health and have good mobility. Due to the limited health system in Greenland and the requirements for information to be available in case of emergency or illness, we ask everyone to complete our Medical Form and return it to info@polar-quest.com. Open the form, save it to your computer/tablet. Fill it in (if required also by your physician) and send it to us. 

We also ask you to bring a list/description of your medication.

If you occasionally are in need of an extra hand, you must have someone travelling with you. Our guides need to be available for all passengers on board and can unfortunately not provide extra attention to someone in need of special assistance.

DIETARY REQUESTS

Due to limited kitchen space on board and restricted supply access in remote areas, dietary flexibility is limited. Our chefs are able to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets, as well as avoid key allergens. This information must be provided in your personal information form no later than 90 days prior to departure.

Please note that we are unable to cater to extensive personal preferences or detailed dietary instructions. If you have allergies that could lead to serious health issues, we kindly ask that you confirm with the chef on your first day on board that your information has been received.

FLIGHTS

Departure to Svalbard
Most flights to Longyearbyen (LYR) on Svalbard depart from or via Oslo with Norwegian or SAS, and some departures also include a stopover in Tromsø. As the number of flights is limited and seats tend to sell out quickly, we recommend booking your flight well in advance of departure.
During a stopover in Tromsø, passport control and baggage handling may apply.

Domestic flights in Iceland
The journey ends in Ísafjörður (IFJ) in Iceland, and Icelandair operates the route between Ísafjörður and Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV). As this route is operated by smaller aircraft and seat availability is limited, we recommend booking these flights in advance as well.

Return journey from Iceland
Keflavik (KEF) is Iceland’s international airport and offers a wide range of departures. As many flights depart early in the morning, an overnight stay in Reykjavik may be necessary prior to your return journey.

INSURANCE

It is very important to have full medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage throughout your voyage. 

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is mandatory. All travelers are advised to check how many months of validity are required. Please contact the nearest embassy to confirm whether a visa is required and to ensure that you meet all passport, visa and entry requirements for travel to Svalbard, via Greenland, and return from Iceland.

CURRENCY

The currency in Svalbard is Norwegian Krone (NOK) and most shops in Longyearbyen accept credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Please note that, at the time of writing, there are no facilities for withdrawing cash in Longyearbyen.

Greenland uses the Danish krone. In smaller settlements, card payments may be limited, so we recommend bringing some cash in Danish kroner.

In Iceland, the currency is the Icelandic króna, and credit and debit cards are accepted in most places.

SOUVENIRS

You are encouraged to buy local souvenirs and products, but be aware of the legalities of importing/transporting purchases into other countries, see more info on www.cites.org. Many souvenirs can only be paid for in cash. 

LOST LUGGAGE

Lost luggage is beyond our control. We recommend you take the following precautions:

• Pack your hand luggage with your essentials, such as medication and valuables
• Keep your jacket with you on board
• Avoid travelling in light summer shoes
• Bring a change of clothes in your hand luggage
• If you have a travel companion, pack a few items in each other’s luggage. If your luggage goes missing, you will still have some of your items available.