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Expedition Svalbard with M/S Sjøveien 2024

A trip with our classic expedition ship M/S Sjøveien is a truly unique experience. With only 12 passengers on board, this is like travelling on a private yacht. She offers spacious cabins, beautiful wooden decks, classic details and a wood-fired hot tub on deck.

Summer arrives in late June. The midnight sun reigns supreme and the purple saxifrage decorates the slopes. The ice thaws around the islands and this makes it possible to get further east. Whales are more frequently seen in the waters and more snow-free areas become accessible for longer walks. Late, In the end of August the sun is closer to the horizon, preparing for the polar night, giving us beautiful sunsets and a warm light, perfect for photography.

With ten nights on board we have plenty of time for grand nature experiences and wildlife encounters. 

  • Only 12 passengers
  • Totally refurbished expedition ship
  • Hot tub on deck
  • 2 experienced guides
  • Every trip is unique
Accommodation: Cabin on board M/S Sjøveien, hotel. Transport: Expedition ship, Zodiac. Ship: M/S Sjøveien. Passengers: 12 passengers. Languages: English & Swedish. Length: 12 days, 10 nights on ship. Price: From USD 10 890. Departures: 29 June 2024, 9 July 2024, 19 July 2024, 29 July 2024, 8 August 2024, 28 August 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 go ashore when the opportunity arises. 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!

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 Sjøveien

  • Martin Berg
  • Small ships - great moments
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Ronald Visser
  • Double Cabin Superior
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Twin Cabin with portholes
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Cabin no. 303
    Therese Horntrich
  • Cabin no. 106
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Cabin no. 202
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Cabin no. 203
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Bathroom - Twin cabins with portholes
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Combined lounge and dining room
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Lounge
  • Therese Horntrich
  • The ship has spacious observation decks
    Therese Horntrich
  • Passengers are welcome on the bridge around the clock
    PolarQuest

A CLASSIC SHIP WITH A MODERN TOUCH

M/S Sjøveien (meaning the Seaway) was built in Bergen in 1964 for the Norwegian Government and she worked for them in various capacities. From 1979 until 1995 she was used as a training ship for mariners. Since 1995 she has been in private ownership and during the many years since, worked for the Norwegian coast guard. After being a hotel ship for the past few years, she has now been refurbished into a classic and exclusive passenger ship and started her career in Svalbard the summer of 2017. She is a true beauty with wooden decks and classic details. There is a lot of deck space on the main deck and there is also an excellent area on top of the bridge, from where you have wonderful views of the magical Svalbard scenery. You also find a wood-fired hot tub out on deck. 

To accommodate a maximum of 12 passengers there are eight outside cabins, all with private facilities. On the lower deck there are four twin cabins with portholes. On the main deck there are two larger twin cabins with windows and one large superior cabin with a double bed and windows. The eighth cabin is located on the upper deck and is a large superior cabin with windows. The dining area on the main deck is where you are served breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here is also a lounge area where you can relax with a cup of tea or coffee and listen to interesting talks by the guides. You are welcomed by an international crew and the bridge is open for visitors.

Cabins & prices

Cabin category Price per person
Twin Cabin with portholes twin beds USD 10 890
Twin Cabin with windows twin beds USD 11 490
Double Cabin Superior double bed & windows USD 12 090
Twin Cabin for single use USD 15 490

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

Price includes

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

Not included

  • Flight to and 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.

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Departure Return
29 June 2024 10 July 2024
9 July 2024 20 July 2024
19 July 2024 30 July 2024
29 July 2024 9 August 2024
8 August 2024 19 August 2024
28 August 2024 8 September 2024

Related blog posts

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    In Svalbard, the dark season lasts for several months, from the end of October to the middle of February. However, between 14 November and 29 January, we enter the most enchanting and cozy phase of the dark season known as the polar night. During this time, the sun is never visible above the horizon, yet it's not entirely dark. The light from the hidden sun provides a few hours of daylight, and the significant turning point occurs around the winter solstice on 22 December. In this article, our expedition guide Olivier, who previously lived in Svalbard for six years, shares his unique experiences of the darkest of all dark seasons.

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  • Get to know M/S Sjøveien

    Travelling through Svalbard's enchanting wilderness on a ship that carries only 12 passengers is an unparalleled adventure. The small group creates a family atmosphere on board, and you never have to crowd on deck or queue to get into the Zodiac. With our small ships, we can explore places that are otherwise hard to reach and maximise your time to ensure you get the most out of your trip. In this blog post you will have the chance to get to know our expedition ship M/S Sjøveien.

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Our travelers' experiences

Our trip was faultless, everything was so well organised, and every person so pleasant. We have travelled a lot, to over 80 countries in the world, with different companies, but yours “PolarQuest” certainly came out the top, yes you are our no. 1 company. Janet & Eddie Brown
The Spitsbergen cruise in July was a superb experience, way above expectations and worth every one of the pounds that I spent on it. I would love to go again to the Ice but could it ever be so wonderful? Caroline Glover
We have just come back from Svalbard and have had the most wonderful time! It passed our wildest dreams. Thank you to everyone who helped us to organise it. The whole holiday from booking to going and being there has been excellent. David & Jackie March
We had such a fantastic voyage on Sjøveien. She is the perfect expedition vessel for Svalbard. We had so many wonderful experiences with the wildlife, ice and the beautiful scenery and nature Svalbard had to offer. The Captain and crew are to be applauded for all their hard work in making us comfortable and well looked after. Sue Werner