Svalbard Adventure with M/S Sjøveien 2024
Join the classic 12-passenger ship M/S Sjøveien on a true Arctic adventure through Svalbard’s magnificent wilderness!
In May, Svalbard is characterised by a wonderful purity and offers breathtaking sceneries. The fairytale winter landscape is dominated by sparkling ice formations, snow covered mountains, fjord ice and pastel coloured skies. The polar bear yearlings venture out for the first time, the Arctic foxes and the Svalbard reindeer still wear their winter fur and seals and walruses can often be seen resting on the fjord ice.
In June the snow has started to melting off and the bird cliffs are teeming with life. Summer is just around the corner.
We stay one night in Longyearbyen and then spend seven nights on board the expedition ship exploring this Arctic pearl that has fascinated explorers for centuries. We cruise along glistening glaciers, go ashore to enjoy the unique nature and keep a lookout for Svalbard's iconic wildlife.
- Only 12 passengers
- Totally refurbished expedition ship
- Hot tub on deck
- 2 experienced guides
- Every trip is unique
- Intimate nature experiences
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 travellers and guides for lunch. In the afternoon we embark the expedition ship and sail out through Isfjorden - our Arctic adventure 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:
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
Two of the most 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.
Fantastic 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 and if lucky we could see the rare king eider. 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. 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.
North of Spitsbergen
North of Spitsbergen we might meet 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 a lookout for the iconic Arctic wildlife.
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 9: 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
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 8 590 | |
Twin Cabin with windows | twin beds | USD 9 090 | |
Double Cabin Superior | double bed & windows | USD 9 490 | |
Twin Cabin for single use | USD 11 590 |
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
- 7 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.
Booking requestDeparture | Return |
---|---|
2 May 2024 | 10 May 2024 |
9 May 2024 | 17 May 2024 |
6 June 2024 | 14 June 2024 |
13 June 2024 | 21 June 2024 |
Related blog posts
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Five reasons to explore Svalbard with a small ship
If you ask us, small expedition ships are the best and most sustainable way to explore the unique nature and wildlife of the polar regions. Our three ships in Svalbard take a maximum of only 12 or 51 passengers. Below you can read about why we think it's so great to travel through the Arctic wilderness in small groups.
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The blooming Arctic summer
M/S Sjøveien pulled into Lomfjorden and the conditions were perfect. Pleasant temperature and no wind. The water was silty coloured by the alluvial fan that spread out at the end of the fjord. We took the Zodiacs to shore at Faksevågen for a hike.
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