Just before the summer holidays, we found that our office had been closed for visits for a full 15 months due to Covid. This means 15 month without us being allowed to meet you, our wonderful travelers. We therefore decided to get some fresh air and in a safe way make it possible for us to meet again.
With a little help from our friends at The Swedish Ship Götheborg, we got to experience a lovely afternoon in a nice setting with coffee, buns and lots of fun travel memories. We also had the opportunity to board The Swedish Ship Götheborg for a closer look at this beautiful ship. Thanks to everyone involved!
A Film from Sermilik – One of the World's Most Beautiful Places
Along Greenland's wild east coast lie some of the world's most breathtaking places, including the magnificent Sermilik Fjord and its surroundings. Exploring this pristine haven – flanked by towering mountain ranges, mighty glaciers, icebergs in every shape imaginable, and crystal-clear waters – on board a ship carrying just 12 passengers, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With this film from one of our expeditions last summer, we hope to inspire you and offer a glimpse into a world few people ever get the chance to visit – a remote place where nature reigns supreme.
Experience Greenland’s untamed wilderness with the elegant 12-passenger ship M/S Balto, designed to explore the most remote fjord systems, visit isolated Inuit settlements and take you to secret anchorages. Greenland’s spectacular coastline offers some of the most remarkable nature experiences. The Arctic landscape is dominated by ice-filled fjords, majestic peaks and vast tundra.
Discover Bear Island – A Hidden Gem in the Barents Sea
The legendary Bear Island, located halfway between mainland Norway and Svalbard, has captivated explorers and researchers for centuries. This remote island, with its rich history, dramatic landscapes, and over a million nesting seabirds, offers a unique glimpse into the untamed beauty that characterises this part of the Arctic.
Discovered by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596 while searching for a route to China. According to the story, it was named "Beer Eyland" after Barentsz encountered and killed a polar bear nearby.
Geography and Landscape
Located in the Barents Sea, roughly midway between the Norwegian mainland and Spitsbergen, the island is 20 km long and 15 km wide, with an area of 178 km². The northern part of the island is mostly flat and contains hundreds of small lakes, while the southern part is characterized by a steep and almost inaccessible coastline.
Home to one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere, with over a million birds during breeding season. Common species include guillemots, little auks, kittiwakes, and northern fulmars.
Meteorological Station
Hosts a weather station established in 1918, still operational today.
Historical Hunting
Site of the first large-scale walrus hunt in the 16th century. Used for hunting by Norwegian and Russian hunters, including the Pomors, in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Contains remains from centuries of human activity, including the Hammerfest House, built in 1822, the oldest hunting cabin in Svalbard.
Coal Mining Attempts
Initial attempts at coal mining, beginning in 1898, were unsuccessful. However, Bjørnøen AS operated a coal mine at Tunheim from 1916 to 1925, achieving moderate success. Tunheim was later evacuated and destroyed during World War II.
Norwegian Territory
Became part of Norway in 1925, along with the rest of the Svalbard archipelago.
The polar front near Bear Island mixes cold Arctic waters with warm Atlantic waters, creating nutrient-rich areas that support plankton and seabirds.
Marine Mammals
The waters around the island host most Arctic whale and seal species, including ringed seals, bearded seals, minke whales, and white-beaked dolphins. Polar bears are rarely seen, as they typically follow the ice north as it begins to retreat in early spring.
Do you want the chance to explore this rarely visited island in the middle of the Barents Sea? On our trip, Lofoten, Bear Island & Svalbard with M/S Quest 2025, we will attempt a Zodiac cruise around this fascinating rocky island and, if conditions allow, maybe make a landing.
Travelling through the stunning Norwegian coastal landscape on a small expedition cruise ship is simply hard to beat. Lofoten islands welcome with picturesque fishing villages, squeezed between soaring mountains and quiet fjords. In wintertime Tromsø offers magnificent sceneries over dramatic landscapes and great chances to spot both orcas and humpback whales. If we’re lucky we will also see the magical Northern Lights dancing in the sky. Join us on an unforgettable cruise!
Watch the slideshow from our trips in Northern Norway 2024!
We have now concluded a magical season with M/S Stockholm in the North Norwegian fjords. So many unforgettable moments – from incredible encounters with orcas and humpback whales to the majestic northern lights dancing across the sky. The enchanting landscape, constantly shifting in colours, and not least the warm, family-like atmosphere on board our classic small ship, made each journey unique.
A hugh thank you to our amazing guides, Christian Engelke and Beau Pruneu, the dedicated crew of M/S Stockholm, and all the guests who travelled with us. It is you who together have made our journeys unforgettable.
Photos and film clips: Christian Engelke and Beau Pruneu
Travelling through the stunning Norwegian coastal landscape on a small expedition cruise ship is simply hard to beat. Lofoten islands welcome with picturesque fishing villages, squeezed between soaring mountains and quiet fjords. In wintertime Tromsø offers magnificent sceneries over dramatic landscapes and great chances to spot both orcas and humpback whales. If we’re lucky we will also see the magical Northern Lights dancing in the sky. Join us on an unforgettable cruise!
Galapagos – a little paradise on Earth
This year’s journey to the enchanting Galápagos Islands offered many fascinating wildlife encounters and extraordinary nature experiences – both above and below the surface. Our guide Zet Freiburghaus has recently returned from the expedition and shares his experiences here in both text and images. He, like many of the travellers, agreed on one thing: The Galapagos Islands are a little paradise on Earth.
We have now landed on the Galapagos Islands! We step off the plane at Baltra Airport and begin our walk to the terminal, a stroll of about 200 meters. Before we even reach the terminal, we are greeted by a large land iguana. Shortly after collecting our luggage, we meet our local guides and hop on a bus to the nearest pier. From there, we take a Zodiac ride of about 10 minutes to our ship, Coral II.
We are served a well-prepared lunch as soon as we arrive, and we only have a few minutes to settle into our cabins before it’s time for the safety briefing and changing clothes for our first excursion to North Seymour Island.
At the landing site, we are greeted by Sally Lightfoot crabs – those typically red crabs that truly stand out against the black lava rocks. During the walk, we spot land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds with their red pouches, and sea lions.
Back on the boat, we barely have time to change before dinner is served. At 8 PM, we have a briefing on the next day’s activities. Everyone is excited, exhausted, and in bed by 9 PM.
Just back from a snorkeling session where we saw sharks, turtles, a ray, and – perhaps the most spectacular sight – millions of fish eggs! In a bay where we snorkeled, a species of fish had just spawned, and we swam through a pink shimmer of fish eggs that moved like a magical Northern Light beneath the water.
A bit chilly when we returned to the boat, we barely had time to get dressed before hopping back into the Zodiacs. Suddenly, over 300 bottlenose dolphins approached, and we followed them as they played around us and surfed the waves created by our Zodiacs. It was an unforgettable encounter for everyone, and after landing, conversations bubbled with excitement as smiles stretched from ear to ear on all the expedition members.
We all agree – the Galapagos Islands are truly a little paradise on Earth.
The Galapagos Islands are located on the Equator, in the Pacific Ocean, nearly 600 miles off mainland Ecuador. Here we can play with sea lions, swim with penguins and photograph iguanas and giant tortoises. The animals are unafraid of humans and for anyone interested in wildlife, the Galapagos archipelago is a true oasis. Since 2003, we have taken adventurous travellers to this wildlife haven - now it's your turn!
Carina Svensson and the findings on Kvitøya in 2004
This year, Carina Svensson celebrates two decades at PolarQuest. Her first journey to Svalbard in 2004 was a memorable expedition with the goal of reaching the legendary Kvitøya (White Island). Joining the expedition as a lecturer was Håkan Jorikson, director of the Grenna Museum. The expedition not only succeeded in reaching Kvitøya but also made valuable discoveries that shed new light on its fascinating history.
Carina Svensson began her career at PolarQuest in August 2004 by joining an expedition to Svalbard, with the goal of reaching the legendary Kvitøya. This remote island is known as the site where Andrée and his expedition members were found, 33 years after their failed attempt to reach the North Pole with the balloon Örnen. At the time, Carina had extensive experience in the travel industry, but the polar regions were completely new to her.
– I never thought I would do something like that; I’ve always preferred warmth. But I’ve definitely changed my mind about that," she says with a smile.
Just arriving in Longyearbyen was an experience in itself.
– Everything was new to me – seeing the warning signs for polar bears and then boarding the small ship. It was truly amazing.
Before the journey, detailed studies of ice maps had shown that the conditions for reaching the remote Kvitøya were favorable. The group arrived in thick fog that evening, but by the next morning, the fog had cleared. The guides went ashore to scout the area and soon confirmed that it was safe to land.
Joining the expedition was Håkan Jorikson, director of the Grenna Museum, along with a group of history enthusiasts. The excitement was palpable when fragments of wood and textiles from the camp were discovered almost immediately. No one had been able to land here for many years due to the ice, but now the ice sheet had melted, exposing the ground. It was also revealed that the camp was situated slightly differently than previously believed.
– This allowed us to discover new artifacts, including a pair of blue socks that were completely intact. Incredible," Carina recounts.
For Carina, the story has grown over the years as she has gained more and more knowledge.
–I was completely new to the field back then. But I clearly remember visiting the Grenna Museum afterward and being able to discuss the trip in detail with Håkan. I think I almost appreciated his excitement about the journey more than anything else. Quite fantastic!
Since 1999, we have taken travellers on once-in-a-lifetime trips to Svalbard. From May to September our three small expedition ships, carrying only 12 and 50 passengers, explore this magnificent Arctic archipelago. Unpredictability and flexibility are the main keywords when you travel with PolarQuest as the exact route depends on weather, ice conditions and wildlife encounters. Sometimes you might be woken up in the middle of the night if a polar bear has been spotted on the ice.
