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Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland Cruise

14 Days / 10 locations in Svalbard, Norway, Greenland, and Iceland

The Spitsbergen and Northeast Greenland cruise sails waters filled with breath-taking scenery. The expedition passes through areas that are home to seals, seabirds, whales, and polar bears, topped off with nighttime viewing of the Northern Lights.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Longyearbyen - Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Dinner

You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

 
Day 2     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.

 
Days 3 - 4     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

You may eventually see the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice flashing into sight ahead, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

 
Day 5     Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

as you approach Greenland, you may sail through the sea ice into Foster Bay and land at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut (where Norwegian trappers hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox in the first half of the 20th century), there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen, with geese floating the small lakes. From here you sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.

 
Day 6     Myggebugten
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

You arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt and the intended landing site. In the afternoon you head into Antarctic Sound, where you find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.

 
Day 7     Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the morning you enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, with the streaked slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side. You land on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations lie right at your feet. A hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans. In the afternoon the ship ventures into Alpefjord, aptly named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. You may then embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Continuing deep into the fjord, you experience a definitive Greenland adventure.

 
Day 8     Blomsterbugt
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The first half of the day you spend in Antarctic Havn, an extensive valley where you can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is dressed in the fiery colors of autumn.

 
Day 9     Scoresbysund
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today you reach Scoresbysund, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt. The afternoon goal is to visit Danmark Island, where you find the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular stone tent rings indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are well preserved, with easy identifiable entrances, bear-proof meat caches, and grave sites. In the evening, you continue sailing the berg-crowded fjords to the west.

 
Day 10     Rodebay
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Røde Ø, one of the world’s most cherished iceberg attractions: The austere blue-white of the icebergs sets sharp against the brooding red backdrop of the sediment slopes. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.

 
Day 11     Kong Oscar's Fjord
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

In the morning you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328 feet) high and more than a kilometer (.62 mile) long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.

 
Day 12     Scoresbysund
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today you make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

 
Day 13     At Sea
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, the magical northern lights.

 
Day 14     Akureyri
On Board the M/V Plancius
Meals: Breakfast

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Akureyri, where on request you can transfer (T) by chartered bus (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the Reykjavik city hall, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

 

Notes

PLEASE NOTE: The probability of sailing into Scoresbysund is high (based on our experiences from 1993 – 2017), but there is still a chance (about 10%) that ice will obstruct passage into the fjord system. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. The onboard expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Average cruising speed for m/v Plancius is 10,5 knots.

Also Note

July 28, 2020 departure is on the S/V Rembrandt Van Rijan

Price Includes
Free Use of Rubber Boots & Snow Shoes.
Program of Lectures by Noted Naturalists and Leadership by Experienced Expe
All Shore Excursions and Activities Throughout the Voyage by Zodiac.
Meals Daily Shipboard
Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
Transfers and Baggage Handling Between the Airport, Hotels and Ship Only Fo
Transfer and Baggage Handling Between Ship and Airport in Constable Pynt.
Aeco Fees and Governmental Taxes.
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Material
Price Does Not Include
 The Customary Gratuity at the End of the Voyages for Stewards and Other Ser
 Baggage, Cancellation and Personal Insurance (which Is Mandatory).
 Government Arrival and Departure Taxes.
 Any Airfare Whether on Scheduled or Charter Flights.
OCE-1269