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Expedition Svalbard with M/S Sjøveien 2025

Our classic expedition ship, M/S Sjøveien, offers a truly unique experience in the untamed wilderness of Svalbard. With space for only 12 passengers, it's akin to travelling on a private yacht. The ship features spacious cabins, observation decks, beautiful wooden decks, classic details, and a wood-fired hot tub.

Summer arrives at the end of June. The midnight sun reigns supreme, and purple saxifrage decorates the slopes. The surrounding ice gradually recedes, providing good opportunities to explore the seldom-visited eastern parts of the archipelago. Whales are more common in the waters and more snow-free areas open up for longer hikes.

Autumn arrives in late August, when the landscape's snow-free features are at their most prominent. The midnight sun is brushing the horizon, preparing for the polar night, giving us beautiful sunsets and a warm light, perfect for photography.

  • 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 11 390. Departures: 1 July 2025, 21 July 2025, 20 August 2025, 30 August 2025, 9 September 2025

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 board the expedition ship and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden - our great Arctic expedition has began! We are now in a part of the world where we are completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our aim is to head out on Zodiac cruises every day and to go ashore when the opportunity arises. Here are some examples of places we may visit:

Northwest Spitsbergen

The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is located 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. The Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and the American journalist Wellman started with an airship. Interesting remnants of these expeditions can still be seen here.

Magnificent fjords

Svalbard offers visitors countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore some of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, is lined with snow-capped mountain peaks and here we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest in the area. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier and are greeted by the many kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots that nest on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by magnificent glaciers. It is also a favourite haunt of seals and the bird cliffs are abuzz with activity. 

Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet

Ice conditions permitting, we enter the Hinlopen Strait. Here we find Alkefjellet, an impressive basalt cliff that is home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay of Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.

Eastern Svalbard

The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by a huge ice cap and has fascinated naturalists and historians alike. Here the giant glacier Bråsvellbreen stretches for 180 kilometres! The 15-20 metre high ice edge is punctuated by hundreds of by hundreds of waterfalls. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent scenery and vast tundra.  There is a good chance of seeing walrus, arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer.

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 you can see the summit of the highest mountain, Hornsundtind, at 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt of some of Svalbard’s polar bears and bearded seals can often be seen resting on the fjord ice.

Day 12: Longyearbyen

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

Please note: 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!

Important: To ensure responsible tourism and protection of the environment, new regulations come into force in Svalbard on 1 January 2025. Read more about the regulations and PolarQuest's comments about these changes.

©Johnny van Vliet

Upcoming webinar: Svalbard – The land of the midnight sun

28 October


Do you dream of experiencing Svalbard, this remote Arctic archipelago where the magical midnight sun reigns during the summer, sparkling glaciers reflect in the fjords, and where you can encounter animals like polar bears, walruses, and whales? Sign up for our webinar where Niklas Nilsson, Svalbard specialist at PolarQuest will take us on an exciting virtual journey into the Arctic wilderness. 

Read more & sign up here!

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
  • Accommodates only 12 guests
  • 1 guide for every 6 guests
  • Spacious observation decks
  • Wood-fired hot tub
  • Modern maritime interior
  • The most intimate nature experience

A CLASSIC SHIP WITH A MODERN TOUCH

M/S Sjøveien (meaning the Seaway) was constructed in Bergen in 1964 for the Norwegian government, fulfilling various roles over the years. From 1979 to 1995 she was used as a training ship for mariners. Since transitioning to private ownership in 1995, it has undertaken tasks for the Norwegian Coast Guard and, more recently, functioned as a hotel ship. Following extensive refurbishments, in the summer of 2017, M/S Sjøveien began a new chapter as a classic and exclusive passenger ship in Svalbard. She is a true beauty with wooden decks and classic details. There is plenty of space on the main deck, as well as an excellent area on top of the bridge, from where you have wonderful views of the magnificent Svalbard scenery. Additionally, guests can enjoy a unique experience in the wood-fired hot tub located on deck.

The ship accommodates a maximum of 12 passengers in eight outside cabins, all equipped with en-suite facilities. On the lower deck, there are four twin cabins with portholes. The main deck features two larger twin cabins with windows and one superior cabin with a double bed and windows. Additionally, there is a large superior cabin with windows on the upper deck. Meals including breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the dining area located on the main deck. The ship also has a lounge area where you can relax with a cup of tea or coffee and attend talks given by the guides. An international crew welcomes passengers, and the bridge is accessible to visitors.

Cabins & prices

Cabin category Price per person
Twin Cabin with portholes twin beds USD 11 390
Twin Cabin with windows twin beds USD 12 090
Double Cabin Superior double bed & windows USD 12 690
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

  • 1 night in a hotel in Longyearbyen
  • 10 nights on board M/S Sjøveien
  • 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

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
1 July 2025 12 July 2025
21 July 2025 1 August 2025
20 August 2025 31 August 2025
30 August 2025 10 September 2025
9 September 2025 20 September 2025

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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
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