Expedition Fire & Ice

Day 1 Longyearbyen, Norway

Embark the Prince Albert II and depart on your expedition. This evening, you will be introduced to your Expedition Leaders and receive a Zodiac briefing.

Days 2-5 Cruise & Explore Svalbard

Join a journey along an expansive archipelago of the Arctic Ocean woven between the North Pole and Norway. Svalbard is one of the last major European wilderness areas with pristine mountains, fauna, deep fjords, picturesque icebergs, and massive ice sheets. The goal on this voyage is to explore the eastern and least-visited sections of Svalbard’s breathtaking and dramatic Spitsbergen Archipelago. Once there, locate wildlife and spend the maximum amount of time possible hiking on the tundra. Spitsbergen is home to approximately 5,000 polar bears and we hope to encounter a good number of them during this trip.

Travel along the same routes as famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Nordenskiöld, Amundsen and Nobile. Trek along beaches blanketed with walruses, get to know the indigenous reindeer, and maybe even spot the Arctic fox or Bearded seal. Seabirds, such as Ivory gulls, auks and puffins, will be your constant companions as you admire their playfulness and grace. You might even encounter a few whales. A variety of known species frequent the area, in particular the Minke and Beluga.

The flexible itinerary allows the Prince Albert II to take advantage of favourable ice and weather conditions. Search for walruses, seals, reindeer, Arctic foxes and polar bears. Shore walks and Zodiac landings will bring you up close to the mystical settings and passing icebergs. Each day your Expedition Leader and Captain will determine the best course, depending on changing weather, ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter. In the true spirit of adventure cruising, your Expedition Leader will provide daily updates. Among the places you may visit include Edgeoya, Barentsoya, Hornsund, Kongfjord and Prins Karls Forland.

Days 6-7 At Sea

Knowledgeable Lecture Staff members are experts in a variety of scientific fields. Gather in The Theatre to hear their fascinating tales of adventure and to learn more about the region’s endemic wildlife and remarkable nature. Other onboard diversions include spa treatments, a workout in the Fitness Centre, and, of course, exquisite dining experiences.

Day 8 Cruise & Explore Jan Mayen Island, Norway

Curious Humpback and Minke whales may approach as we near this volcanic island of towering ebony peaks and broad black lava beaches. The primordial landscape is dominated by the 7,500-foot-high (2,300-metre-high) Mt Beerenberg, an active volcano covered in glacial ice that last erupted in 1985. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, make a landing at this rarely visited outpost to visit the research and weather station, and the remains of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station. Bird observations may include puffins, fulmars, auks and snow buntings.

Day 9 At Sea

As the Prince Albert II makes her way toward Iceland, head out on deck to watch for seabirds and whales. Attend informative lectures that will prepare you for the upcoming ports-of-call and the adventures that lie ahead. Peruse an array of titles and topics in the well-stocked Library, enjoy the finest cigars and cognacs at the Connoisseur’s Corner or indulge in any of the other special amenities offered aboard ship.

Day 10 Húsavík, Iceland

This morning awake in the idyllic Skjálfandi fjord, which is the blend of the Skjálfandafljót (a glacier river) and the salmon-rich Laxá, a freshwater river. Húsavík is quaint village, where you will go ashore. From Húsavík, venture into the mystical realm of Viking lore. A stop at Ásbyrgi reveals a lush horseshoe-shaped canyon, where legend claims an airborne horse, Sleipnir, belonging to the Norse god, Odinn, shaped the canyon when accidentally touching the ground. (It is actually the result of a catastrophic flood that took place thousands of years ago.) Next, a stop is made at Hljodaklettar – The Whispering Cliffs – a bizarre-looking group of crater plugs and basalt columns whose formations cannot help but conjure up all sorts of bizarre images in the imagination. The cliffs’ name is derived from an acoustic effect created by some of the spiral formations that makes it impossible to determine the direction of the noisy river. At these “Echo Rocks” stop to enjoy your lunch. Afterwards, head to the mighty Dettifoss waterfall, Europe's most powerful waterfall, 44m high and 100m wide, where up to 1,500 tons of water, mud and sand can be witnessed rumbling into Jokulsargljufur. Continue on your adventure to view Namaskard geothermal field with its sulphur pits and boiling mud pools before completing the circle over Holasandur and arriving in Husavik and the Prince Albert II.

Alternatively, enjoy the magnificent wildlife and stunning scenery aboard a traditional oak fishing boat. There is perhaps no better place in the world to see the friendly minke whale – than Skjalfandi Bay. Normally quite timid creatures, they have been known to approach the boats and surface right alongside. Whales are often encountered within 20 minutes of leaving the harbour and appear to take as much interest in humans as we do in them. Boisterous white beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises frequently join the party and sometimes humpback and other large whales are spotted. Following our adventure, we will visit the award-winning Húsavík Whale Centre, where you will learn about the habitats of whales around Iceland before returning to the Prince Albert II for a late lunch.

Day 11 Bildudalur, Iceland

This maiden call at Bildudalur is not only a first for Prince Albert II but for any cruise ship. Your adventures today begin in the Selárdalur valley on the west side of Arnarfjörður, a place that rarely receives visitors. The West Fjords are a mass of fjords, mountains and isolated villages on spits of lands surrounded by water and mountains. The area includes its own glacier, the magnificent, remote Hornstrandir and Europe's westernmost point at Látrabjarg, where millions of birds nest, a must for bird watchers.

Visit the sculpture garden of artist Samuel Jonsson who lived in the isolated valley of Selárdalur between 1885 and 1969. And, time and weather permitting, cruise into the fjord by Zodiac to see the beautiful Dynjandi waterfall.

Day 12 Grundarfjördur, Iceland

This morning anchor along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, just 60 miles (97 km) off the coast of Reykjavik, at the port of Grundarfjördur. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is known for its rugged mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, lava caves and glaciers. Upon leaving Grundarfjördur, a tour coach takes you along the dramatic coastline on your way to the Snaefellsjokull ice cap. The peninsula is dominated by the Snæffellsjokull glacier, which was made popular in Jules Verne’s classic Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Make your first stop at Djúpalónssandur for a short, refreshing walk to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean where strange rock formations are found. After a short drive past the cliffs of Londrangar, arrive in the tiny fishing village of Arnarstapi. Here find an idyllic setting with interesting lava formations and an abundance of birdlife. Many stories and sagas are connected to this area, lending an even more mysterious appeal to these stunning surroundings. At Arnarstapi, a refreshing walk takes you along a pathway with many interesting geological phenomena and rich bird life. A scenic drive takes you to Budir, famed not only for its dramatic, black lava surroundings but also for its yellow sand beach. You might be lucky enough to spot seals as they bask on the skerries out in the bay. Continuing over “The Old Hag’s Pass” or Kerlingarskard, head towards Stykkisholmur, where you will make a short spiritual stop at Helgafell – The Holy Mount. A lot of local history and charm is attached to this stop. Even those not up to the climb will be sure to enjoy listening to the guide tell tales of local heroines and the combination of spiritual forces connected to this holistic site. A short visit to Stykkisholmur, before returning to Grundarfjördur and lunch at Hotel Búdir.

Day 13 Reykjavik, Iceland

Following breakfast, disembark Prince Albert II.