Svalbard: North to the Midnight Sun

An 8-day Arctic cruise aboard the ice-class Ocean Albatros. Sail close to the pack ice, search for polar bears, and discover the immense beauty and history of Svalbard.


Svalbard
©PLT

Enjoy the immense beauty of Svalbard on this Arctic adventure cruise among whales, walruses, polar bears and millions of sea birds. Experience high summer in the Arctic with Ocean Albatros - one of the few ice-class expedition ships built to withstand the polar pack ice.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Starts: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Ends: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Language: English speaking voyage

The itinerary is heavily dependent on the sea, wind, and ice conditions. The cruise includes a Citizen Science Program.


Included
Optional


Enjoy the immense beauty of Svalbard on this Arctic adventure cruise among whales, walruses, polar bears, and millions of sea birds. The expedition is hosted aboard the Ocean Albatros, one of the few ice-class expedition ships built to withstand the polar pack ice. The voyage offers jaw-dropping natural beauty, opportunities to watch for charismatic Arctic wildlife, and a chance to discover the fascinating history of this incredible archipelago.

A primary goal of this expedition is to sail as close as possible to the pack ice north of Svalbard—the polar bear’s favorite summer residence. During the short summer, the cliffs shimmer with life, populated by countless birds like Arctic guillemots and razorbills, while huge walruses enjoy the sandy shores. Exploring on land, you will aim to experience the Arctic up close and personal, with frequent shore landings and Zodiac cruises into the fjords and glacial landscapes, ensuring a true Arctic expedition.

Highlights:
Sail as close as possible to the pack ice north of Svalbard, the polar bear's summer residence.
Explore the largest protected wilderness area of North West Svalbard National Park.
Witness the wildlife spectacle of polar bears, walruses, whales, seals, and millions of seabirds.
Visit Smeerenburg, a historic 16th Century Dutch whaling settlement.
Enjoy frequent shore landings and Zodiac cruises into glacial landscapes.

Itinerary

© Agustin Ullmann
© Agustin Ullmann
© Agustin Ullmann

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Embarkation and departure
Arrive in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and be transferred to the ship. After a mandatory safety briefing and lifeboat drill, enjoy a glass of champagne while the vessel leaves civilization behind and sets a course for adventure.

Days 2-3: Northwest Spitzbergen
Exploring the oldest history and wildlife of Svalbard
Explore the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, famed for its history dating back to the arrival of William Barents in 1596. Visit sites such as the Dutch settlement of Smeerenburg, where blubber ovens and building foundations can still be seen. Keep a careful lookout for wandering polar bears, walruses hauled out on beaches, and thriving seabird colonies.

Day 4: Northeast Svalbard
Vast icy wilderness and polar desert
Cruise into the vast icy wilderness of northeastern Svalbard, a region that is radically different, with rocky polar desert landscapes. Vast glaciers flow from the mountains into the sea, which is often choked with ice. Hardy animals such as Arctic foxes and walruses are common, and the coastal waters are productive feeding grounds.

Day 5: North Svalbard
Northernmost landmasses on Earth
Reach some of the northernmost pieces of land on Earth, including the northerly coasts of Svalbard and potentially the seven smaller islands of Sjuøyane. Weather permitting, you will land and walk upon these almost vegetation-free, rocky islands. You will start cruising towards the Arctic ice pack at the end of the day.

Day 6: Into the ice
The kingdom of the polar bear
Enter the vast, ever-changing ice pack, the floating realm of ice which crowns our planet. Your expedition leader will work hard to maximize the chances of finding and exploring this impossibly remote environment, the kingdom of the polar bear. Look for seals basking on the ice, belugas, and vast bowhead whales.

Day 7: Kongsfjorden Area
Three Crowns and scientific outpost
Arrive in the magnificent Kongsfjord, a beautiful and tranquil corner anywhere in the world. Visit the small settlement of Ny Ålesund, Earth's northernmost settlement and a staging post for historic North Pole expeditions by legends like Roald Amundsen.

Day 8: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. Disembarkation
Farewell and return home
Arrive back in Longyearbyen on the final morning of the expedition. After exploring Longyearbyen, you will be transferred to Svalbard Airport for your flight back to the Norwegian mainland.

Itinerary

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Embarkation and departure
Arrive in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and be transferred to the ship. After a mandatory safety briefing and lifeboat drill, enjoy a glass of champagne while the vessel leaves civilization behind and sets a course for adventure.

Days 2-3: Northwest Spitzbergen
Exploring the oldest history and wildlife of Svalbard
Explore the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, famed for its history dating back to the arrival of William Barents in 1596. Visit sites such as the Dutch settlement of Smeerenburg, where blubber ovens and building foundations can still be seen. Keep a careful lookout for wandering polar bears, walruses hauled out on beaches, and thriving seabird colonies.

Day 4: Northeast Svalbard
Vast icy wilderness and polar desert
Cruise into the vast icy wilderness of northeastern Svalbard, a region that is radically different, with rocky polar desert landscapes. Vast glaciers flow from the mountains into the sea, which is often choked with ice. Hardy animals such as Arctic foxes and walruses are common, and the coastal waters are productive feeding grounds.

Day 5: North Svalbard
Northernmost landmasses on Earth
Reach some of the northernmost pieces of land on Earth, including the northerly coasts of Svalbard and potentially the seven smaller islands of Sjuøyane. Weather permitting, you will land and walk upon these almost vegetation-free, rocky islands. You will start cruising towards the Arctic ice pack at the end of the day.

Day 6: Into the ice
The kingdom of the polar bear
Enter the vast, ever-changing ice pack, the floating realm of ice which crowns our planet. Your expedition leader will work hard to maximize the chances of finding and exploring this impossibly remote environment, the kingdom of the polar bear. Look for seals basking on the ice, belugas, and vast bowhead whales.

Day 7: Kongsfjorden Area
Three Crowns and scientific outpost
Arrive in the magnificent Kongsfjord, a beautiful and tranquil corner anywhere in the world. Visit the small settlement of Ny Ålesund, Earth's northernmost settlement and a staging post for historic North Pole expeditions by legends like Roald Amundsen.

Day 8: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. Disembarkation
Farewell and return home
Arrive back in Longyearbyen on the final morning of the expedition. After exploring Longyearbyen, you will be transferred to Svalbard Airport for your flight back to the Norwegian mainland.


© Agustin Ullmann
© Agustin Ullmann
© Agustin Ullmann


INCLUSIONS

Prior to Embarkation
One pre-voyage hotel night with breakfast in Ushuaia
Transfer from airport in Ushuaia (USH) to group hotel (providing you arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary, and we have your confirmed air itinerary at least 15 days prior to departure)
Transfer from group hotel to ship for embarkation

On Board
Shipboard accommodations and meals
“Welcome” and “Farewell” receptions with sparkling wine and soft drinks
Beer/wine/soft drinks at lunch and dinner
Coffee/Tea/Cocoa 24 hours a day
500MB WiFi card for use on your personal devices
Expedition jacket for use during the voyage
Fleece-lined down jacket (yours to keep)
A pair of loaner boots for use during the voyage
All scheduled landings and excursions
Snowshoes for use during landings (subject to availability)
Our Citizen Science program: participation in a variety of scientific activities that support important research projects
Photography Coach available throughout the voyage
Participation in the Polar Plunge
Access to our onboard medical clinics
Access to our onboard fitness centers
All port and landing fees
Digital Voyage Log

Post Disembarkation
Group transfer from ship to airport, hotel in Ushuaia, or central location (please note we cannot drop at Airbnbs or private homes, which are often inaccessible for our transfer vehicles)

EXCLUSIONS

Any airfare or travel expenses associated with arrival or departure other than those specified above
Pre- or post-voyage expenses in Ushuaia other than those specified above
Travel insurance; medical insurance; evacuation coverage
Laundry and personal expenses incurred on board, except as listed in inclusions
Any other alcohol and soft drinks, except as listed in inclusions
Onboard communication charges such as outgoing phone calls or WiFi, except as listed in inclusions
Staff/crew gratuities


Dates & Rates


Ship: Ocean Albatros (PLT) | Date: 24 May 2026 - 31 May 2026 (4581)
Cat. G single
$8,095
Cat. F Triple
$5,495
Cat. E French Balcony
$6,795
Cat. D Stateroom
$6,395
Cat. C Balcony
$6,995
Cat C Sup Balcony
$7,295
Cat C Grand Balcony
$7,695
Cat. B Balcony Suite
$9,195
Cat. A Jr. Suite
$11,695
Freydis Suite
$13,195
Brynhilde Suite
$13,195
Ship: Ocean Albatros (PLT) | Date: 05 Jun 2026 - 12 Jun 2026 (4582)
Cat. G single
$9,195
Cat. F Triple
$6,295
Cat. E French Balcony
$7,695
Cat. D Stateroom
$7,295
Cat. C Balcony
$7,895
Cat C Sup Balcony
$8,295
Cat C Grand Balcony
$8,695
Cat. B Balcony Suite
$10,395
Cat. A Jr. Suite
$13,295
Freydis Suite
$14,895
Brynhilde Suite
$14,895

* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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