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Expedition Svalbard with M/S Stockholm 2024

To travel on board our small and classic ship M/S Stockholm is a truly unique experience. With only 12 passengers on board, this is like travelling on a private yacht. After 20 years in Svalbard she has the experience and track record of being able to reach sites that are inaccessible to other ships. With ten nights on board we have plenty of time for grand nature experiences and wildlife encounters. 

Fron late June and the beginning of August it summer in Svalbard. 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 and more snow-free areas become accessible for longer walks.

Autumn arrives in late August and it is now that the snow free landscape is most visible. 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
  • Unique expedition ship from 1953
  • M/S Stockholm has salied in Svalbard since 1998
  • 2 experienced guides
  • Each trip is unique
Accommodation: Cabin on board M/S Stockholm, hotel. Transport: Expedition ship, Zodiac. Ship: M/S Stockholm. Passengers: 12 passengers. Languages: English & Swedish. Length: 12 days, 10 nights on ship. Price: From USD 11 990. Departures: 29 July 2024, 8 August 2024, 18 August 2024, 28 August 2024, 7 September 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 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 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 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 Stockholm

  • The beautiful M/S Stockholm
    Ulrich Kühn
  • Lisa Ström
  • Henrik Haaning Nielsen
  • Johanna Vakkila
  • The service on board is outstanding
    Ulrich Kühn
  • Cosy cabins with bunkbeds
    Niklas Nilsson
  • Niklas Nilsson
  • Katharina Miller
  • Ulrich Kühn

A CLASSIC EXPEDITION SHIP LOVED BY MANY

The M/S Stockholm is a classic ship built in 1953 for the Swedish National Maritime Administration. In 1998 she was totally refitted and started her career as a comfortable polar passenger ship. The M/S Stockholm carries a maximum of 12 passengers in twin cabins with bunk beds. All cabins have private facilities and small windows (portholes). M/S Stockholm is a marvellous piece of maritime history with beautiful brass details and
wooden decks. It is no wonder she is loved by so many! After 20 years of navigating the waters in Svalbard she has the experience and track record of being able to access difficult to reach sites that are inaccessible to other ships.

On board you will enjoy delicious meals in the company of
likeminded travellers, who are all fascinated by the Arctic nature, wildlife and history. The food on board is of high standard and all beverages are included in the price. With such a small party on board, this is like travelling on a private yacht. The crew on board M/S Stockholm are also great enthusiasts of the unique wildlife and unspoiled nature. Their genuine curiosity is a prerequisite for expedition cruises of this kind. A trip on board M/S Stockholm in these northern waters, with its unique wildlife and pristine nature, is an experience of a lifetime! There are two Zodiacs and two guides on board M/S Stockholm.

Cabins & prices

Cabin category Price per person
Twin Cabin bunk bed & private facilities USD 11 990
Twin Cabin for single use bunk bed & private facilities USD 22 690

Price includes

  • 10 nights on board M/S Stockholm
  • 1 night in a hotel in Longyearbyen
  • Lunch day 2
  • All meals on board
  • All beverages
  • 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/from Longyearbyen
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Gratuity to the ship’s crew

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 July 2024 9 August 2024
8 August 2024 19 August 2024
18 August 2024 29 August 2024
28 August 2024 8 September 2024
7 September 2024 18 September 2024

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Our travelers' experiences

Every one of the crew worked very hard to give us the best trip possible. They went out of their way to look for bears and seals, to provide Zodiac excursions and to help make it like ‘home’ on the M/S Stockholm. Both our guides spent many hours either up in the crow’s nest, or awake during the night in the bridge, helping to look for photo subjects. We couldn’t have asked for more. Mary Ann McDonald
Jacob and I enjoyed the trip on board M/S Stockholm very much. It was truly an incredible experience. Our guide was very helpful and qualified. He was always pleasant and willing to answer questions for everyone. Blair & Jacob Briggs
The trip was absolutely amazing and I cannot commend the staff and crew of the Stockholm enough. The sightings and weather obviously takes care of itself but the Captain and his team made the experience truly next level. They are a very special group of people. Gerry Van der Walt
I have finally come up for my first breath of air and had to write you & tell you about our trip. It was, simply put…..WONDERFUL in ALL respects. The Stockholm is the best ship. I just loved being on her again. Our guides could not have been a better choice for us. Both of them full of life, adventure, knowledge about the Arctic and all of the flora and fauna to be met there. The cook was fabulous! The food was exceptional….his cookies are to absolutely die for. We saw every animal and bird there was to see in Svalbard. As you mentioned, every trip is different, and I think this time I got to photograph things I did not see the last time. What a plus! The trip was just plain PERFECT. Annie Katz