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Svalbard Adventure with M/S Sjøveien 2025

Embark on an authentic Arctic expedition on board the comfortable 12-passenger ship M/S Sjøveien and delve into the captivating wilderness of Svalbard!

During the month of May, Svalbard is characterised by a wonderful purity and spectacular scenery. The enchanting winter scenery features shimmering ice formations, snow-capped mountains, fjord ice, and pastel-coloured skies. It's the time when polar bear yearlings venture out for their first adventures, Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer still don their winter coats, and seals and walruses often rest upon the fjord ice. As June arrives, the snow begins to melt, and the bird cliffs come alive with bustling wildlife, signalling the imminent arrival of summer.

The expedition begins with a night in Longyearbyen, followed by seven nights on board the expedition ship. We cruise alongside glistening glaciers, make landfall to savor Svalbard’s unique natural beauty, and keep a keen eye out for the iconic Arctic wildlife.

  • Only 12 passengers
  • Totally refurbished expedition ship
  • Hot tub on deck
  • 2 experienced guides
  • Every trip is unique
  • Intimate nature experiences
Accommodation: Cabin on board M/S Sjøveien, hotel. Transport: Expedition ship, Zodiac. Ship: M/S Sjøveien. Passengers: 12 passengers. Languages: English & Swedish. Length: 9 days, 7 nights on ship. Price: From USD 9 090. Departures: 18 May 2025, 8 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 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. 

 

Day 9: 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 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!

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
  • Elke Lindner
  • Kerstin Langenberger
  • Christian Bruttel
  • 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 9 090
Twin Cabin with windows twin beds USD 9 590
Double Cabin Superior double bed & windows USD 9 990
Twin Cabin for single use USD 11 990

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
  • 7 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
18 May 2025 26 May 2025
8 June 2025 16 June 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