Polar Bear Special - North Spitsbergen
« All MV Plancius cruise options
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||
| Quadruple Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin with Porthole | Twin with Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | |
| Aug 19 '12 |
$3,900 | $4,450 | $5,050 | $5,250 | $5,600 | $6,250 |
| Photo workshop option: $420 Please add: Fuel surcharge of $25 per person per night |
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- Please note: If world fuel prices reach a price of US $ 80 per barrel Brent Crude Oil, there will be an additional fuel surcharge of US $ 25 per passenger per night.
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Single occupancy: All cabins 1.7 times the share price
Deposit & Payment - Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Single occupancy: All cabins 1.7 times the share price
Day 1 Longyearbyen / Embark
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.
Day 2 Wildlife on the Western Coast
Visit Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seals and where Polar Bears are often seen.
In the evening sail by the island of Moffen where a big herd of Walrus can be found.
Day 3 Laagøya & Phippsøya
At Laagøya, a haul-out place for Walrus will be a landing. Later sail through Beverleysundet named by Parry in 1827 and also sailed by the Swedish-Russian Arc-of-Meridian Expedition in 1898. Today you will reach your northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here you will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, along with ivory gulls.
Day 4 Nordaustlandet & Alpinøya
Push east to reach the area of Nordaustlandet, where the Nobile expedition drifted around in 1928 and where the Italian Sora tried to come to the rescue. There hope to get to Alpinøya, reached by Sora in 1928, and then to the mouth of Finn Malmgrenfjord, and Albertinibukta and to climb Soraberget (205 M) from where you will have a fantastic view on the ice-cap of Nordaustlandet. Alternatively we will land at Storøya, where again we may meet a group of Walruses.
Day 5 Kvitøya
Today hope to get to the rarely visited Kvitøya farthest to the east, close to the Russian territory. The island is dominated by an ice-cap, which leaves a small area bare of ice and snow. Land at the western tip at Andréneset, where the Swedish explorer André and his companions perished in 1898. Try to get to Kraemerpynten in the east, where an enormous group of Walruses resides.
Day 6 Retracing the voyage
Retrace your voyage to the west, but now all the time through and along the pack-ice north of Spitsbergen. Your ship may sail north of Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands, 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, along with ivory gulls.
Day 7 Prins Karls Forland - Longyearbyen
Your ship is still at the ice, northwest of Spitsbergen and will later turn south, where you will travel in a good area for whales.
Day 8 Longyearbyen / Disembark
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.
Itinerary Notes
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.Fares include:
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
Not included in cruise fare:
Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Please note: It is agreed that if fuel prices will exceed US Dollar 90 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure Antarctic Dream reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of EURO 18 per passenger per night.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is 25% cruise cost, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure.
Final payment by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx, cards subject to a credit card fee.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 70 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more | 25% cruise cost |
| 89-60 Days | 55% cruise cost |
| 59-0 Days | 100% cruise cost |
MV Plancius
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 112
M/V “Plancius” started her life in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named “Hr. Ms. Tydeman”. In June 2004, the vessel was taken out of active service for rebuilding.
The vessel was completely rebuilt in 2009 as a 112-passenger polar expedition ship, complying with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea), is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and will fly the Dutch flag.
The vessel is comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxurious vessel. Our cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel program, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel fully meets our demands to achieve this.
M/V “Plancius” can accommodate 112 passengers in 54 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 Quadruple private cabins , 40 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters).
The vessel is manned by 30 international crew members (inc. 10 stewardesses/cabin cleaners), 6 hotel staff (4 chefs, 1 purser and 1 steward-barman), 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Quadruple Porthole 4 cabins with private facilities, 2 bunk beds. (ca. 15 m2) |
 | Triple Porthole 2 cabins with private facilities, 1 bunk bed and 1 lower berth. (ca. 15 m2) |
 | Twin with Porthole 9 twin private cabins with porthole. Lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed. (ca. 15 m2) |
 | Twin with Window 26 twin private cabins with window. Lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed (ca. 15 m2) |
 | Twin Deluxe 2 twin private deluxe cabins. Lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed(ca. 15 m2) |
 | Superior 10 twin superior cabins. Lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed (ca. 21 m2) |
