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Expedition Spitzbergen with M/S Quest 2024

Join a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in one of the world's most remote wildernesses - Svalbard! In the beginning August it is still Arctic summer, the midnight sun reigns supreme and the ice thaws around the islands, which offers good opportunities to explore the seldom visited eastern parts of the archipelago. Whales are more frequently seen in the waters and more and more snow-free areas become accessible for longer walks. With ten nights on board we have plenty of time for grand nature experiences.

Please note that this is a German speaking departure. 

  • A once-in-a-lifetime adventure
  • 10 nights on board M/S Quest
  • Small group - great moments
  • 5-star nature experiences
Accommodation: Cabin on board M/S Quest, hotel. Transport: Expedition ship, Zodiac. Ship: M/S Quest. Passengers: 50 passengers. Languages: German. Length: 12 days, 10 nights on ship. Price: From USD 8 390. Departure: 29 July 2024

Itinerary

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.

Day 2 - 11: Expedition cruising

Explore Longyearbyen on your own before meeting up your fellow travellers and guides for lunch. In the afternoon we embark the expedition ship and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden - the Arctic expedition has started! We are now in a part of the world where we are totally dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our ambition is to head out on Zodiac cruises every day and when the opportunity arises also go ashore. Here are some examples of places we may visit:

Northwest Spitsbergen

The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. Two other courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site.

Magnificent fjords

Svalbard offers the visitor countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore a few of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, is lined with snow-covered mountain peaks and here we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pinkfooted geese nest in the area. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity.

Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet

If the ice allows we enter Hinlopen Strait. Here is Alkefjellet, an impressive, basaltic cliff, which is the home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.

Eastern Svalbard

The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by an enormous ice cap and fascinates naturalists as well as historians. There are huge glacier fronts here, intersected by hundreds of waterfalls. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent landscapes and vast tundra. Chances to encounter walruses, Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer are good here.

Southwest Spitsbergen

The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks, often reaching above the clouds. On a clear day we can see the summit of the highest mountain Hornsundtind, measuring 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s polar bears and bearded seals are often seen resting on the fjord ice.

 

 

Day 12: Longyearbyen

Early morning we disembark our expedition ship and begin our journey back home.

All itineraries are for guidance only. Our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions, wildlife and government regulations. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Language
On this expedition cruise you travel with experienced German speaking guides and the language on board will be German. Since we are a Swedish based company, your booking confirmation, forms and predeparture information will be in English.

Secure Payment
PolarQuest places all revenue in a bond with the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency until the completion of your expedition. Read more here.

The Package Travel Directive – protects the traveller’s rights

When you have booked a trip with PolarQuest, you are protected by the Package Travel Directive. This includes that you have the right to rebook your trip or cancel and receive a full refund, if your Government, or other relevant authorities, have implemented restrictions against travelling. This includes documented quarantine requirements in the country you are travelling to. However, free cancellation is only possible when it is less than 30 days to departure, provided the travel restrictions are still in place and clearly will affect your trip. You are also entitled to a full refund, should PolarQuest cancel the trip for any reason whatsoever.

The ship M/S Quest

  • Helbild.se
  • PolarQuest
  • Jett Britnell
  • Dining room
    Jonas Sundquist
  • PolarQuest
  • Åsa Lindgren
  • Owner's Cabin
    Eirik Grønningsæter
  • Double Cabin Superior
    Eirik Grønningsæter
  • Double Cabin Superior
    Eirik Grønningsæter
  • Double Cabin
    Eirik Grønningsæter
  • Double Cabin
    Eirik Grønningsæter
  • Twin Cabin
    Eirik Grønningsæter
  • Triple Cabin
    Eirik Grønningsæter

A COMFORTABLE EXPEDITION SHIP WITH A WONDERFUL CREW

The ship was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry on Greenland’s west coast. In 2004/2005 she was completely refurbished into a comfortable expedition ship and in 2018 she underwent a renovation of the passenger areas. M/S Quest takes 50 passengers and all 24 cabins are outside cabins with private facilities. The triple cabins have upper and lower berths. All other cabins have two lower berths or a double bed. In your cabin you find a desk with a chair and a cupboard for storage. The superior cabins are spacious and have armchairs and TV. The owner’s cabin has a double bed, two large picture windows, a separate seating area and TV. 

In the dining room you are treated to delicious meals in between landings and in the panorama lounge you can enjoy breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape. Here you can listen to entertaining talks on the area’s flora, fauna and history. In the lounge you also find a bar and a small library. The ship has spacious observation decks, where you can enjoy the beautiful vistas. Passengers are welcome on the bridge around the clock and there is always something to see or search for. You are welcomed by an international crew and the atmosphere is relaxed and very friendly. There are five Zodiacs and five guides on board M/S Quest.

It is always possible to share a cabin on board M/S Quest. All cabins have windows and private facilities.

Cabins & prices

Cabin category Price per person
Triple cabin upper/lower beds USD 8 390
Twin cabin 2 twin beds USD 10 190
Twin cabin Plus 2 twin beds USD 10 790
Double cabin double bed USD 10 790
Double cabin Superior large double bed* USD 11 690
Owner’s cabin large double bed USD 12 690
Twin cabin for single use USD 16 990

Please note: It is always possible to share a cabin on board M/S Quest. All cabins have windows and private facilities.

*The double bed in the Superior cabins is separable.

Price includes

  • 10 nights on board M/S Quest
  • 1 night in a hotel in Longyearbyen
  • Lunch day 2
  • All meals on board
  • Coffee and tea
  • An experienced Expedition Leader and knowledgeable guides
  • Guiding ashore and talks on board
  • All excursions and activities
  • Comprehensive information material before the expedition

Not included

  • Flight to/from Longyearbyen
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Gratuity to the ship’s crew
  • Personal expenses such as bar and shop charges

Departures & booking

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or wish to make a reservation.

Booking request
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Departure Return
29 July 2024 9 August 2024

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Our travelers' experiences

The expedition was absolutely fabulous, with a very efficient and friendly crew, and delicious food. The Zodiac outings and landings were awe-inspiring with five exceptional, highly professional and enthusiastic guides, giving excellent and captivating explanations on the Arctic fauna and flora, as well as on their environment and on different explorers. Marit & Don Meredith
I am still in a dreamlike state after my wonderful trip to Svalbard on M/S Quest. Thank you to all your multitalented guides who could not have done more to make the trip a fantastic experience. Thanks to all of you in the office too who made it all work from afar! Many thanks. Doreen McBarnet
We have returned from our wonderful journey and wanted to thank you, and especially everyone on the ship itself. Every single day that we had on board was a great experience. The flexibility and inventiveness of the Expedition Leader and the ship’s Captain and First Mate in ensuring that we made the best of our time considering the ice conditions as well as the care taken not to disturb the native animal life and respect the distance needed, so as not to overstress them, was much appreciated. The ship’s crew, the restaurant staff who served our cheerful and tasty ”yummi yummi” meals, our cabin, were all excellent. Trevor Soames & Camilla Permin
Wir sind seit 20 Jahren Weltenbummler, waren aber immer in warmen Regionen. Zum 60. Geburtstag hatte meine Frau den Wunsch, die Arktis zu besuchen. Zweifel, Skepsis, Kälte- alles Unsinn. Die Reise mit der MS Quest mit dem Reiseveranstalter Polar Quest war unser tollstes Abenteuererlebnis. Urlaub? – wir waren auf Expetitionsreise. Spontanität, Professionalität ein top Team um unsere Expetitionsleiterin Elke. Verpflegung, Schiffspersonal, Zodiac-ausflüge, populärwissenschaftliche Vorträge – absolut top. Eisbären, Walrosse, Robben, Polarfüchse, Vögel, Tundra … ein Traum. Eckard Scharnbeck
Es war wunderbar, so toll und umfassend die Betreuung bei PolarQuest war, so ging es auch weiter auf dem Schiff durch die gesamte Mannschaft, vom Kapitän angefangen, und durch die Guides von PolarQuest, die uns die ganze Reise hindurch begleiteten und mit interessanten und informativen Vorträgen zwischendurch noch unsere Reiseeindrücke abrundeten. Es ist eine fantastische Region, wir waren ganz fasziniert und gefangen von all diesen Eindrücken, von den tollen Landschaften und der Tier- und Pflanzenvielfalt. Und zwischen all den Erlebnissen wurden wir mit köstlichem Essen versorgt, sodass wir uns rundum wohl fühlten. Wir alle drei können allen Arktis-Interessierten den Anbieter PolarQuest empfehlen, und die M/S Quest war so wie so ein Traum. Andrea Tulnik-Hellinger
Wir haben schon viel von der Welt gesehen. Aber diese Reise ist etwas Außergewöhnliches. Die Arktic bietet eine beeindruckende Natur. Eisbären, Walrösser, gigantische Gletscher. Die MS Quest ist klein genug, um in den Fjörden zu ankern. Dann geht es weiter mit den Zodiaks. Unsere Führer waren fachkundig und sympathisch, jeder eine eigene Persönlichkeit. Und wenn wir an Bord zurückkehrten, genossen wir interessante Hintergrundvorträge. Diese Reise muss man gemacht haben, solange es die Arktic in dieser Form noch gibt. Rolf-Dieter Lafrenz