The Polar Travel Company

Sail the East Greenland ice edge north of Spitsbergen in search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife

OEX � Sara Jenner

Duration: 13
Starts: Vlissingen
Ends: Longyearbyen
Language: English speaking voyage

Included

PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.

Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from the home port of Vlissingen to the favorite Arctic island group.

Birding:
There will be at least one dedicated expedition guide in the team who will share their expert knowledge about bird species and who will be available to help you identify, photograph on deck and learn more about the birds that we see. In addition to outdoor sessions, your guide will focus on species and related information on the birds of the Arctic in re-caps and lectures onboard.

Workshop: Sounds of whales and seals
In this engaging audio workshop, you will be provided of the theoretical background of various acoustic tools that will help you use to locate and interpret the songs of whales and seals. This fun and informative workshop covers both the theory and practice of analyzing marine mammal sounds, requiring you to bring no additional equipment.

� Erwin Vermeulen

� Sara Jenner

Day 1: Northward bound
You board the vessel in Vlissingen in the afternoon, and depart on your voyage that evening.

Day 2: Wadden Sea Islands
The Frisian Islands (Friesland in German and Dutch), also known as the Wadden Sea Islands, lie between western Denmark and the northwestern reaches of the Netherlands. Large areas of the Wadden Sea, where these islands are located, become dry during low tide, and much of the Frisian Islands comprise an international wildlife reserve of environmentally protected areas. You will be able to see these islands from a distance, and in the late evening or early hours of the following day, the vessel will arrive in Bremerhaven.

Day 3: Bremerhaven, Germany
Passengers who joined in Vlissingen will have some free time on this day, enjoying the opportunity to roam about town on their own. There are several fine museums and attractions (Klimahaus, Schifffahrtsmuseum, Zoo am Meer, etc.) in addition to walks along the shoreline. You then board the vessel by midday, departing in the afternoon and sailing about five hours to the small island of Helgoland. The ship will not make landings here, but you will sail as close as possible to the island in the hopes of getting some good views of the steep seabird cliffs on its west side. These cliffs are known for their many breeding seabirds (gannets, kittiwakes, and guillemots), a winning sight for any bird lover. We�ll then continue your voyage across the North Sea.

Day 4: Sea life on the move
Crossing the North Sea and sailing by Doggersbank, it is hoped to be lucky enough to spot such species as white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and orcas.

Day 5: Birds, seals, and world-famous knits
It is planned to stay the day on Fair Isle, an island in the Shetlands whose seventy-odd inhabitants are known for their beautiful knitwear. This is a fantastic location with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals.

Day 6 � 7: Jan Mayen marine life
You sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. Your two days at sea do not pass idly, however. Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale.

Day 8: Snow-capped seaside volcano
Jan Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high (7,545 feet) volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th- century Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape.

Day 9 � 11: Under the midnight sun & along the ice edge
Basking in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. You then change direction after about 79� north, cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and � near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords � surfacing minke whales.

Day 12: The Arctic island of Spitsbergen
German whalers sailed from Hamburg to Spitsbergen in the middle of the 17th century. They established whaling stations, for instance in Hamburgbukta, south of Magdalenefjorden. You are in the area and time allowing we may stop there. Otherwise the focus is on Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here. Alternatively, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.

� Erwin Vermeulen

� Sara Jenner

North Atlantic Isles

North Atlantic Isles

Arctic TRIPS | North Atlantic Isles View all programs

Arctic Ocean Expedition, Bremerhaven - Fair Isle - Jan Mayen - Ice edge - Spitsbergen - Birding

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