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If we could recommend only one cruise destination to the Arctic, it would have to be Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. Spitsbergen offers travelers the very best of the Arctic: accessible wildlife—including polar bears, walrus, seals and huge seabird colonies—and dramatic landscapes of coastal mountains, glaciers and wildflowers. Many consider Spitsbergen the greatest place on Earth to see polar bears in the wild. If you’re thinking about a trip to the north, we strongly suggest you give serious consideration to one of our spectacular Spitsbergen cruises!
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Spitsbergen
There is no northern place more beautiful and chock-full of wildlife than the pristine arctic islands of Svalbard. Few lucky travelers have visited this spectacular realm of the polar bears and fewer still on an expedition cruise that is totally dedicated to the interests of wildlife and nature enthusiasts!
More than ten degrees north of the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard comprises four large mountainous islands and hundreds of smaller ones. Spitsbergen—the largest island in the archipelago—has four settlements including Longyearbyen, the world’s most northerly town. With a mild climate due to the northernmost influence of the Gulf Stream, the summer snow line recedes to between 1,600 and 2,300 feet, uncovering verdant patches of green and red mosses and delicate wildflowers. Two national parks, 15 bird sanctuaries and two plant reserves protect half of Svalbard’s spectacular landmass.
On the northern edge of the archipelago, drifting pack ice crowds the shore, and it is common to find polar bears hunting seals and walruses. The Norwegian Polar Institute has estimated that there are over 2,000 polar bears in the Svalbard region. It is also home to enormous concentrations of seabirds, including large colonies of dovekies, black-legged kittiwakes, thick-billed murres and northern fulmars. Veteran TravelWild tour leader Wayne Lynch reports:
"Svalbard is the most beautiful arctic destination I have ever seen, and surpasses anything in North America. In only a week of travel I saw 13 polar bears, several of which were on seal kills. I even watched a subadult bear stalk a pair of walruses lounging on the ice. The walruses were another highlight. We used Zodiacs to approach the animals snoozing on the pack ice and were able to get so close that we could photograph them with a wide-angle lens. Then, while cruising back to the ship, an ivory gull and a Ross’ gull flew over our Zodiac—two of the most glamorous birds in the arctic. Wow, what a day!"
Most cruises begin and end in Longyearbyen. Days are spent navigating through the pack ice and into glacier-filled fjords in search of polar bears, walrus, ringed and bearded seals, Svalbard’s unique reindeer, extensive bird colonies, and circumpolar plants, many of which will be in full bloom during certain departures. Unlike some cruises, there will be no wasted "at sea" time—wildlife viewing starts the moment the ship is underway. The seas around the islands are usually remarkably calm and make a very pleasant cruising experience.
If following polar bears as we slowly make our way through the pack ice, hiking across wildflower-flecked tundra, Zodiac cruising through the shifting glitter of the pack ice, encountering walrus groups on ice floes, visiting teeming colonies of vociferous seabirds, and watching the midnight sun sketch golden patterns across the ice is your idea of the ideal summer adventure, a Spitsbergen cruise is definitely for you!
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The quest for the Northwest Passage—a sea route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans holding the promise of increased trade between continents—was an obsession for explorers from the late 16th century until its discovery by Roald Amundsen. Today, the Northwest Passage offers travelers both a chance to retrace the steps of explorers and take in the extraordinary wildlife and northern landscapes of the Arctic. Whether your interests lie in human or natural history—or both—an expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage is a journey to remember!
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The immense area that comprises the Arctic offers a lifetime of travel exploration. From a cruise to the North Pole at the top of the world, to in-depth explorations of Arctic coastlines in Greenland, Canada, Iceland and Russia, there are plenty of cruises that will entice any traveler who dreams of seeing the Far North. We offer you numerous options to explore and experience this fascinating and remote part of our planet.
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