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Svalbard Adventure with M/S Quest 2025

Experience a remarkable Svalbard adventure on board the small and comfortable 50-passenger expedition ship M/S Quest!

In June, the midnight sun reigns supreme, bird colonies teem with life, and the dramatic mountain ranges are beautifully snow-capped. The ice still keeps the islands in its grip and we can admire the ever-changing ice formations. Spring has arrived and summer is just around the corner.

Your journey begins with a night in a hotel in Longyearbyen, followed by seven nights on board the M/S Quest. As we navigate the magnificent Arctic wilderness of Svalbard, we will cruise along glittering glaciers and go ashore to take in the magnificent scenery. We also keep an eye out for the iconic wildlife, including walruses, seals, and polar bears.

  • A true Arctic adventure
  • 1 night in Longyearbyen
  • 7 nights on the small expedition ship M/S Quest
  • Magical midnight sun
  • 5-star wildlife and nature experiences
  • 5 experienced guides
Accommodation: Cabin on board M/S Quest, hotel. Transport: Expedition ship, Zodiac. Ship: M/S Quest. Passengers: 50 passengers. Languages: English & Swedish. Length: 9 days, 7 nights on ship. Price: From USD 6 590. Departures: 2 June 2025, 16 June 2025

Itinerary

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.

Day 2 - 8: Expedition cruising

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

Prins Karls Forland

This narrow strip of land is covered by a magnificent and snow-covered mountain chain. The island is also home to many seabirds and harbour seals.

Virgohamna, Danskøya

Danskøya was the starting point for two of the most daring attempts to reach the North Pole. The Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and the American journalist Wellman started with an airship. Interesting remnants of these Arctic expeditions can still be seen here.

Fantastic fjords

Svalbard offers the visitor countless spectacular fjords. During our cruise 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 and if we are lucky we may see the rare king eider. In Krossfjorden we enjoy in the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier and are greeted by the large numbers of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by magnificent glaciers. It is also a favourite spot of  seals and the bird cliffs are abuzz with activity. Kongsfjorden is home to the scientific village of Ny-Ålesund. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile set out on their heroic expeditions to the North Pole.

 

 

North of Spitsbergen

North of Spitsbergen, we may come across the edge of the pack ice. Not many ships venture here and we can marvel at the silence and grandeur of this icy landscape. We keep an eye out for the iconic Arctic wildlife.

Day 9: Longyearbyen

Early in the morning, we disembark from our expedition ship and begin our journey back home.

Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Our exact route will depend on the 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!

Flights
We offer group flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen and return (limited availability). Contact us for more information.


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 Quest

  • Helbild.se
  • Johnny Van Vliet
  • PolarQuest
  • Johnny Van Vliet
  • PolarQuest
  • Emma Nilsson
  • Dining room
    Jonas Sundquist
  • Johnny Van Vliet
  • Jett Britnell
  • Johnny Van Vliet
  • 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
  • Kerstin Langenberger
  • Only 50 passengers
  • 5 Zodiacs & 5 guides
  • Beautiful panorama lounge
  • Spacious outer decks, free from crowds
  • Small ship with a relaxed atmosphere
  • Several cabin categories
Johnny van Vliet
PolarQuest
Jett Britnell

A COMFORTABLE EXPEDITION SHIP WITH A WONDERFUL CREW

The ship was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry along the west coast of Greenland. In 2004-2005, it was completely refurbished into a comfortable expedition ship, and in 2018, the passenger areas underwent further renovation. M/S Quest can accommodate 50 passengers, with all 24 cabins being outside cabins equipped with private facilities. The triple cabins feature upper and lower berths, while all other cabins have either two lower berths or a double bed. Each cabin includes a desk with a chair and a cupboard for storage. The superior cabins are spacious, featuring armchairs and a TV. The owner’s cabin offers a double bed, two large picture windows, a separate seating area, and a TV.

In the dining room, you enjoy delicious meals between landings, while the panorama lounge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. This lounge serves as the venue for entertaining talks about the area's flora, fauna, and history. It also features a bar and a small library. The ship boasts spacious observation decks for you to enjoy the stunning vistas. The bridge welcomes you around the clock, and there is always something to see or search for. You are welcomed by an international crew, and the atmosphere on board is relaxed and very friendly. There are five Zodiacs and five guides on 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 6 590
Twin cabin 2 twin beds USD 7 890
Twin cabin Plus 2 twin beds USD 8 190
Double cabin double bed USD 8 190
Double cabin Superior large double bed* USD 9 390
Owner’s cabin large double bed USD 10 190
Twin cabin for single use USD 12 590

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

  • 1 night in a hotel in Longyearbyen
  • 7 nights on board M/S Quest
  • 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

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
We are glad that you are interested in travelling with PolarQuest! Please enter your details below, and let us know if you have any specific preferences such as cabin category. Your request is non-binding.

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Departure Return
2 June 2025 10 June 2025
16 June 2025 24 June 2025

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Our travelers' experiences

We have been home a few days now, but are still ‘blown away’ by our holiday in Svalbard. We will remember our time in the Arctic forever. The hospitality and the food on the ship were excellent, and the guides were 5 star plus. This has proved to have been one of our best holidays ever, and one which we would hope to repeat. David & Maureen Macleod
In my experience, a wonderful thing about your company, i.e. all the staff and crew, is that everyone tries their very best, and they are so well selected for the jobs they are doing. Intelligence, personality, experience… it made the trip a charmed cruise from planning to completion. The support I got from you in the office was excellent – everything went as planned and all details were correct! Yvonne Higgs McHugh & Tony Brake
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
To say that everything was great would be an understatement... The ship, the people, the food (tons of it) the scenery and the wildlife were all magnificent. The level of professionalism and the quality of the whole product was of the very highest standard... absolutely first class! Ian Salisbury
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
We have just finished our magnificent Svalbard cruise with PolarQuest and M/S Quest. What a fantastic experience. Our trip was really great and your guides superb. They went out of our way to help at all times, and the Captain also was magnificent, entering the true “expedition” spirit and steering the ship into the ice for our convenience, and participating in all manner of events. All-in-all we have had a fantastic time with the PolarQuest people, and would certainly look for further adventures sometime in the future. Richard Boweb