Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic

Day 1
Embarkation: Longyearbyen
Your adventure begins in Longyearbyen—the island's largest settlement—where we'll board our expedition ship, Akademik Vavilov. Here you'll get your first glimpse of Spitsbergen's extraordinary scenery of rugged glacier-topped mountains which rise dramatically from the icy Arctic waters.

Day 2–4
West Spitsbergen, 14th of July Glacier and Ny Ålesund
Today we will Zodiac-cruise along the spectacular ice cliffs of the 14th of July Glacier. We'll watch for a variety of seabird species including purple sandpipers, barnacle gees, common eiders and Arctic terns and more. Our day will include a visit to the former coal mining town of Ny Ålesund, now used as an international research station. Here, we are likely to see Svalbard reindeer.

Day 5–8
Smeerenburg, Phippsoya and Tusenoyane
Spitsbergen has a long whaling past and we'll seem some evidence of this when we visit the "blubber oven" at Smeerenburg. Our next stop is Phippsoya island where we hope to see both walrus and polar bears. Our final stop is Tusenoyane, or "Thousand Islands" where we go ashore to see the skeleton of an ancient whale and watch for red-throated divers.

Day 9–10
Bourbonhamna
Beluga whales are frequently seen in the narrow sound near Bourbonhamna and we'll watch for them prior to making a shore landing.

Day 11
Disembarkation: Longyearbyen
Today we disembark in Longyearbyen and transfer to the airport to catch our 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