Explore varied landscapes and encounter diverse marine wildlife as you navigate Spitsbergen's beautiful fjords and coastline. Voyaging north beyond Phippsøya, you'll enter the sea ice, a frozen, floating world, and encounter polar bears and walruses before exploring the fascinating whaling history of Ytre Norskoya and the stunning flora and fauna of Bell Sund.
Arctic & Alaska
83 Degree Farthest North Spitsbergen Extreme
10 Days aboard M/V Hondius . From AUD $9,672pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details
Overview
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Largest town, biggest island
- Day 2 to 9: North Spitsbergen
- Day 10: There and back again
This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.
Travelling with Eclipse
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Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
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Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Largest town, biggest island
You find yourself 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 plant species have been recorded here. In the early evening, the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Dinner included.
Day 2 to 9: North Spitsbergen
Kongsfjorden and Blomstrandhalvøya
Blomstrandhalvøya, located on the northern side of the fjord, offers shelter and the opportunity to change plans if the weather changes. In the afternoon, you visit Ny Ålesund, one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. Once a mining village served by the world's most northerly railway – the tracks are still visible – Ny Ålesund is now a research center.
If you're interested in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships Norge (1926) and Italia (1928). In the evening, we will head north along the coast, looking for whales.
The immense Monaco Glacier
Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden, land at Texas Bar, and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of the precipitous Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. Another possibility is the mouth of Wijdefjorden, boasting both the tundra landscape and the glacier front of Nordbreen.
Or Sorgfjord, a reminder of hard times
You may turn to Sorgfjord, with sunken French and Dutch ships (17th century) lying deep below the surface. You have the chance to find a herd of walruses someway west of the graves of 17th-century whalers at Eolusneset. A nature walk here can bring you close to families of ptarmigans. The opposite side of the fjord at Heclahamna is also a beautiful area for an excursion in a semi-desert region.
A stop at the Seven Islands
At Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, you reach about 80° 30' north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears and walruses inhabit this region. From here the ship sails northeastward toward the pack ice.
The northernmost point at 83 North
In the evening, we expect to reach our northernmost point at the edge of the sea ice or some way into it. The landscape within the pack ice is a beautiful and moving world. At this latitude, it makes its way from the Polar Basin to the southwest and southward along the coast of Greenland.
In the fringes of the sea-ice
Sailing southwest along and sometimes in the sea ice, we will enjoy fantastic opportunities to see bears, seals, various species of whale, and sometimes even the visually striking narwhal. On earlier voyages in this area, we have even encountered Ross's gulls, which winter in the Polar Sea.
Whalers from ages past
At Zeeuwse Uitkijk on Ytre Norskøya, the remains of a whaling station can be found. Here, once Europe's most northernmost outpost, Dutch whalers processed whale blubber and buried their dead. We are not allowed to visit the vicinity of their gravesites, but we may walk to the top of the island, which offers splendid views across the open sea and on the kittiwake colony on the east side.
An alternative landing site for this landing could be Smeerenburg, a former major whaling settlement. Many relics from this period, including tryworks, can be seen there.
Bell Sund's flora, fauna, and haunting history
Today, you find yourself in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other areas in the archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush vegetation. Here, there are excellent opportunities to enjoy both history and wildlife. A possibility is Ahlstrandhalvøya; at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, you may discover piles of beluga skeletons. These remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting reminder of the consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately, belugas were not hunted to extinction, and you have a good chance of coming across a pod. Alternately, while cruising the side fjords of Bellsund, you can explore tundra - a favored feeding ground for reindeer.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 10: There and back again
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home Arctic memories that will accompany you forever. The pioneering spirit you will have experienced with us will stay with you wherever your next adventure lies.
This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.
Breakfast included.
Next Departure Date: 28 Aug 2026
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 2026 - 06 Sep 2026 | AUD$9672pp | ||
| Quad Porthole Cabin | AUD$9672pp | Contact us | |
| Triple Porthole Cabin | AUD$11885pp | Contact us | |
| Twin Porthole Cabin | AUD$13934pp | Contact us | |
| Twin Window Cabin | AUD$15082pp | Contact us | |
| Twin Deluxe Cabin | AUD$16230pp | Contact us | |
| Superior Cabin | AUD$18197pp | Contact us | |
| Junior Suite | AUD$20738pp | Contact us | |
| Grand Suite with private balcony | AUD$22459pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Quad Porthole Cabin
2 portholes, 2 upper & 2 lower berths, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe.
Triple Porthole Cabin
2 portholes, 2 lower berths & 1 upper berth, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe.
Twin Porthole Cabin
2 portholes, 2 lower berths, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe.
Twin Window Cabin
1 window, 2 lower berths, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe.
Twin Deluxe Cabin
2 windows, 2 lower berths, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe, minibar
Superior Cabin
2 windows, 1 double bed, small sofa, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe, minibar
Junior Suite
1 double window, 1 double bed, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe, minibar
Grand Suite with private balcony
1 double window, 1 double bed, private balcony, private shower & toilet, flatscreen TV, desk & chair, telephone and wifi, coffee & tea maker, hair dryer, safe, minibar
M/V Hondius Deckplan
Specifications
- Passengers: 170 in 80 cabins
- Staff & crew: Crew 57 | Guides 13 | Doctor 1
- Length: 107.6 meters
- Breadth: 17.6 meters
- Draft: 5.30 meters
- Ice class: Polar Class 6 (equivalent 1A-Super)
- Displacement: 5,590 tonnes
- Propulsion: 2 x ABC main engines; total 4,200 kW
- Speed: 15 knots
What’s included?
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on a selection of flights (this will be advised) to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
What’s not included?
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Notes
PLEASE NOTE: The chances that we reach 83 Degrees North in the first week of September, based on ice charts from the last seven years, are about 90%. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Arctic
Viking history, Inuit villages and an abundance of wildlife are just some of the wonders you’ll discover in the Arctic. You’ll be amazed by the natural beauty that surrounds you. Search for Polar Bears while cruising through breathtaking fjords or around the nature lovers dream, Spitsbergen.
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