Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

Day 1
Embarkation Day: Longyearbyen
Your Spitsbergen expedition itinerary begins when you board Akademik Sergey Vavilov in Longyearbyen, the island's largest settlement. Enjoy your first view of the island's rugged, glacier-topped mountains, rising majestically from icy Arctic waters.

Day 2
14th of July Glacier
Cruise past the spectacular cliffs of the 14th of July Glacier, keeping an eye out for purple sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle geese, Arctic terns and more.

Day 3
Smeerenburg
Dutch whalers established this community on tiny Amsterdam Island almost 400 years ago. During this shore visit, you'll learn about Spitsbergen's whaling past and visit an authentic blubber oven.

Day 4
Monacobreen, Worsleyneset and Moffen Island
This morning you'll wake to find the ship at anchor near the magnificant Monaco Glacier at the head of Ljefdefjorden. Afterwards, sail on to Worsleyneset o enjoy a tundra hike, and learn more about Svalbard's human history. Strict guidelines keep us from sailing too close to our final stop—a walrus sanctuary off Moffen Island. Be sure to bring your telephoto lens.

Day 5
Phippsoya
An archipelago within an archipelago, Seven Islands comprises the northernmost portion of Svalbard. They lie about 10 degrees from the North Pole. Ice seldom disappears completely from the islands during the Arctic summer. Polar bears and walrus exploit the ice. Visit an abandoned trapper's cabin and watch for wildlife.

Day 6
Vibubukta
Here you'll hike through one of the most striking landscapes on Earth—a polar desert. Characterized by scant rainfall and summer temperatures no higher than 10°C (50°F), these sweeping plains of hard bedrock and gravel are unique to the polar regions. Be on the lookout for the beached skeleton of an ancient whale, and for evidence of "isostatic rebound"—the rise of a landmass after its covering ice sheet retreats.

Day 7
Alkefjellet
Today, you'll sail past the towering cliff-face of Alkefjellet—truly remarkable site, crowded with thousands of nesting thick-billed murres. Fox and polar bear are often seen patrolling the cliff base, hoping for a meal to drop from the sky!

Day 8
Sundneset
Today you'll visit yet another unique Arctic landscape—the tundra meadow. Sundneset, found at the southwestern corner of Barents Island, enjoys surprisingly lush vegetation, including many beautiful wildflowers. Learn about this fascinating Arctic ecosystem and keep your eye out for reindeer that enjoy the meadow for more than its beauty.

Day 9
Diskobukta
Today the goal is to visit a colony of kittiwakes that have chosen to nest in a cavern. Timing is everything. We'll approach at rising tide for the best view. For an even better view, we'll walk 1km inland to view bird cliffs.

Day 10
Isbukta
The name means "ice bay," an indication that there should be plenty of "fast ice" (sea ice that has frozen fast to the coast) during our visit. This means a good chance of spotting polar bears on the hunt, as the seals rest along the ice edge. This is also another good location for spotting the rare ivory gull, as they are known to dine on a polar bear's leftovers.

Day 11
Bourbanhamna
Abundant natural resources brought miners to Spitsbergen a century ago. You'll visit an historic mining site, then hike the tundra in search of delicate flowers that bloom under the midnight sun.

Day 12
Alkhornet
Today you'll sail past Alkhornet—brooding rock face crammed with nesting guillemots or murres. There will be time for another tundra hike during this expedition itinerary. Watch for the endemic Svalbard reindeer and the wary Arctic fox.

Day 13
Disembarkation: Longyearbyen
This circumnavigation ends where it began—in the frontier-style town of Longyeabyen. From here we'll transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

The sister ships Akademik Sergey Vavilov and Akademik Ioffe are exceptional vessels for Arctic and Antarctica cruises. There are many good reasons why these ships have fast become favorites among many of our clients. With a maximum of 110 passengers, they possess a nearly-ideal combination of utility and comfort.

The Vavilov and Ioffe offer several unique—and we might add, noteworthy—features relative to passenger cruising. First, they are fast. That means you will spend less time at sea—a distinct advantage when making long sea crossings such as the Drake Passage in Antarctica. The next feature is a pleasant result of the ships’ original purpose: hydro-acoustic listening. Because these ships were built for silent “listening” underwater, they run very quietly relative to other ships, making for a very pleasant onboard environment. Finally, both ships are equipped with external stabilizers, built-in trimming, and bow and stern thrusters—fancy ways of saying that the ships are very stable on rough seas (among the most stable of all expedition/research ships carrying passengers in polar waters) and can maneuver well in tight spots. This combination of features make the Vavilov and Ioffe excellent, practical ships for polar cruising.

All cabins on the Vavilov and Ioffe are outside with some offering portholes and others offering windows that open. They are tastefully furnished, with plenty of storage space for your gear and clothing. You can choose between cabins with either shared or en suite facilities. And, with seven cabin categories, you can choose cabin prices and amenities to fit your particular needs and budget.

The lounges on the Vavilov and Ioffe are nicely appointed, inviting passengers to relax, get acquainted and share stories and photos from their adventures. Drinks and snacks are available in the lounge throughout the day.

Each ship’s bridge is almost always open to passengers and offers excellent locations for viewing scenery and wildlife.  Crew and passengers intermingle on the bridge and impromptu lectures from naturalists often take place here. There are also extensive outside viewing areas on several decks, as well as the bow and stern.

On select Vavilov and Ioffe cruises kayaking and camping are offered at an additional cost. For more adventurous passengers, these activities are quite popular, providing a unique and exciting perspective on the polar regions visited.

The ships’ spacious theaters are ideal for enjoying presentations from the staff lecturers and conducting briefings before going ashore.

Dining room	Library	Lounge
Theater	Mud room	Lobby