M/S Stockholm has arrived in Svalbard, and the Arctic season is officially underway! Our guide Beau Pruneau reflects on the final leg of this year’s first expedition, as the ship cruised along the Norwegian coast before crossing the Barents Sea via Bear Island and finally reaching this Arctic gem.
Leaving coastal Norway behind, it was time to head north into the Barents Sea.
Pitching and rolling our way through the waves, we reached Bear Island. Discovered in the late 1500’s, and named for a polar bear sighted nearby during that early expedition.
We arrived in calm waters at 2am, and dropped our zodiacs for a cruise. One never knows how the weather will change, as the small exposed island is often wrought with wind and storms.
We cruised seabird cliffs reaching 300m above us, and stepped ashore on cold sandy beaches. Success.
It was time to keep heading north, before a storm hit us.
Svalbard. Ice and bears. We arrived in a belt of pack ice just south of the southern cape, where we found a couple harp seals hanging out.
Further north we entered the western fjords. Walruses, more seals, belugas, seabirds, reindeer, arctic foxes, as well as multiple polar bears were sighted.
Arctic wildlife.
Another successful crossing expedition.
Coastal Norway, Bear Island, and Svalbard.
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.
