Embark on an incredible vacation as you cruise through icy Arctic waters and landscapes in six days aboard Ocean Albatros. Get ready to explore and discover the unique ecology of this mountain-clad and glaciated island - and get close to a vast array of Arctic wildlife. Spot the walrus, their long tusks and whiskers, and the ever-resilient Arctic birds. The crowning glory, of course, will be sightings of the polar bear. Get ready to share waters with whales, walruses, polar bears, and an abundance of birds while also witnessing the astonishing beauty of Svalbard at the peak of summer. With the fleet of zodiacs, explore the majestic glacial landscapes, get closer to the wildlife, and embark on fascinating landings on the shore.
Highlights
Explore the majestic glacial landscapes, get closer to the wildlife
Encounter whales, walruses, polar bears, and an abundance of birds
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrival at Longyearbyen, capital of Svalbard – possibly the northernmost ‘real’ town in the world.
After the initial onboarding and a celebratory toast from the Expedition Leader, guests will be provided with all essential information regarding the voyage, the daily routine of the ship, and important safety protocols. All are then required to partake in a safety drill before the captain steers away from Advent Fjord, and into the unknowns of the Arctic adventure.
On entering North West Svalbard, declared a national park in 1973, begin the day with a cruise through Danskergattet, in search of seals at Virgohamna. Then, travel from Danskøya to Amsterdamøya, to visit Smeerenburg, the famous 17th-century whaling settlement. It is said that during the peak of blubber production, over two-hundred men were living (and unfortunately dying) there.
This northwestern area of Spitsbergen contains many points of interest that you can visit, should the weather be accommodating - among them, Ytre Norskøya, a lookout post used by whalers in the past.
In the morning, glide by the iconic Alkefjellet with fingers crossed for clear skies to observe the vertiginous cliffs. Swarmed by an enormous population of Brünichs guillemots, almost every surface is cloaked with the avian species. In the summer, their frenzied courting is an awe-inspiring sight, both on the cliff face and in the waters below.
The polar desert of Torrelnesset also holds numerous walruses lounging on its shoreline, as they feed on the clams and mollusks found in the shallow waters of Svalbard.
During the night, venture to the Wood Fjord and its sidearm, the Liefde Fjord. The mission is to travel slowly alongside the sweeping glacier face of Monacobreen, giving a rare perspective of the tremendous force of glacial activity and its varying iceberg creations. This glacier was dubbed after Albert I of Monaco, who heavily backed Svalbard's research pursuits.
This expanse was heavily traveled by trappers in the past, some even living here over winter and constructing cabins. A particularly renowned cabin, referred to as Texas Bar, is thought to be named after the US state of Texas and erected in 1927. The plan is to take a tour around this area and enjoy the amazing scenery.
Enter the beautiful Kongs Fjord, renowned for its former mining settlement and captivating beauty. The first destination is Ny Ålesund - a scientific research center situated even further north than Longyearbyen, though it can be argued whether this constitutes an actual town.
The next destination is the abandoned marble mining settlement of Ny London. It experienced a brief but eventful existence, beginning in a flurry of mining activity reminiscent of the Klondike Gold Rush before being crippled by wars and financial losses just nine years later. See the remains of workshops, locomotives, and cranes that tell the story of the ambitious yet failed enterprise.
Finally, return southbound to the entrance of the Isfjord and onwards to Longyearbyen, hopefully with one last glimpse of the amazing wildlife and unparalleled landscapes of Svalbard.
Day 6: Longyearbyen | Disembark
1 Breakfast
By the morning, the vessel will arrive back at the place where it started, Longyearbyen. After a goodbye to the team and crew and after breakfast, people will begin disembarking the boat. Travel to the airport is provided.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$4,9902-3 travelers
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Category G
Single Stateroom (Porthole) - 14 m2
Standard single Stateroom onboard, located on deck 3. This is a conveniently located State Room close to the Mudroom which facilitates access to the Zodiacs during embarkation and disembarkation to begin your adventures.
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Category F
Triple Stateroom (Porthole) - 22 m2
There are four Triple Staterooms on board Ocean Albatros featuring portholes, all with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they're close to the mudroom and loading platforms.
Triple staterooms are normally with twin beds however a double bed can be accommodated.
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Category E
French Balcony Stateroom - 14 m2
The French Balcony Suite is a standard Stateroom with a French balcony, a double bed, floor-to-ceiling windows and a bathroom. All French Balcony Suites are located on Deck 7.
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Category D
Albatros Stateroom (Porthole) - 13-22 m2
The standard Stateroom on Ocean Albatros is close to the Mudroom and has quick access to the Zodiac platforms for disembarkation during landings. This is very convenient if you have more limited mobility and would like a short distance to the Zodiacs. The State Rooms are perfect for those who wish a comfortable base during their stay onboard Ocean Albatros. The standard State Rooms all have a double bed or 2 single beds and a bathroom. The State Rooms are located on deck 3 and 4.
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Category C
Balcony Stateroom - 18-22 m2
The most abundant type of Stateroom on Ocean Albatros located on decks 4 & 6. They have a balcony, a double bed or two single beds, a bathroom and a sofa that can be used as a bed for a child if traveling as a family. If you desire to book two staterooms with connecting doors, this is also a possibility within this category.
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Category Csp
Superior Balcony Stateroom (48) app. 24 sqm, including Balcony.
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Category Cxl
Grand Balcony Stateroom (4) app. 30 sqm, including Balcony.
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Category B
Balcony Suite approximately - 25-32 m2
Ocean Albatros has 6 Balcony Suites on board located on decks 4 & 6. The suites feature double or twin beds and a seating area, bathroom, and a large balcony. The balcony suites can host 2 people.
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Category A
Junior suite - 39 m2
The 4 junior suites aboard Ocean Albatros have a great view from their location high up on the ship on deck 7.
The suites feature a double bed or twin beds, sofa bed, seating area, a spacious bathroom and a private balcony. The suite can accommodate up to 3 people.
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Premium Suite (Freydis Suite)
Premium suite - 45 m2 – FS (Freydis Suite)
The second largest of all the staterooms on board the Ocean Albatros is the Premium Suite. This 2-bedroom suite features a double bed (or twin beds), a sofa bed, table and chair, a balcony and a spacious bathroom. Located on deck.4.
This category is available upon request. Please refer to Albatros Expeditions for price.
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Family Suite (Brynhilde Suite)
Family suite - 52 m2 – BS (Brynhilde Suite)
The largest of all the staterooms on board the Ocean Albatros is the Premium Suite. The Double-Bedroom, Family Suite is going to be located on Deck 7, featuring two interconnecting French Balcony Suites, accommodating up to 5 people on two double beds and a sofa bed.
This category is available upon request. Please refer to Albatros Expeditions for price.
Notes
Kayaking activities available on both Arctic and Antarctic voyages.
Although kayaking opportunities are possible in most locations during each excursion in the Antarctic region, weather, sea, and ice conditions will dictate the when and where to ensure your safety and improve your experience.
In order to sign up for this activity, you need to have previous kayaking experience and attend a mandatory safety briefing by the Kayak Master. The cost is $345/person per outing and it can only be booked onboard.
Possible shared staterooms for same-gender, single travelers: Category C (Balcony Stateroom) and Category F (Triple Porthole Stateroom)
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted for deposit. The operator does NOT accept AMEX or Discover
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.