Arctic Ocean Expedition, Fair Isle - Jan Mayen - Ice Edge - Spitsbergen - Birding
10 Days - M/V Hondius
Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from the Scottish port of Aberdeen to our favorite Arctic island group.
from AUD $4677 $4210pp
Book by 31 Dec 2024
Home » 10 Day M/V Hondius: Arctic Ocean Expedition, Fair Isle – Jan Mayen – Ice Edge – Spitsbergen – Birding
Itinerary Highlights
- Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale
- Basking in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds
- Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Sights of the Granite City
- Day 2: Birds, seals, and world-famous knits
- Day 3 – 4: Jan Mayen marine life
- Day 5: Snow-capped seaside volcano
- Day 6 – 8: Under the midnight sun & along the ice edge
- Day 9: The Arctic island of Spitsbergen
- Day 10: Journey’s end in Longyearbyen
Day 1: Sights of the Granite City
You arrive in Aberdeen, the Granite City, frequent winner of the Britain in Bloom competition. This is the true start of your trip. Several cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are native to these seas. To the south you see the lighthouse on Girdle Ness that was designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish writer who gave us such classics as Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. More passengers join you in Aberdeen.
Day 2: Birds, seals, and world-famous knits
We plan to stay the day on Fair Isle, an island in the Shetlands whose seventy-odd inhabitants are known for their beautiful knitwear. This is a fantastic location with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals.
Day 3 – 4: Jan Mayen marine life
You sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. Your two days at sea do not pass idly, however. Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale.
Day 5: Snow-capped seaside volcano
Jan Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high (7,545 feet) volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th- century Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape.
Day 6 – 8: Under the midnight sun & along the ice edge
Basking in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. You then change direction after about 79° north, cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and – near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords – surfacing minke whales.
Day 9: The Arctic island of Spitsbergen
Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here. Alternatively, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
Day 10: Journey’s end in Longyearbyen
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies. But if you’re still craving additional chances to spot the Arctic’s most iconic apex predator, stay on board for our seven-night north Spitsbergen voyage, “in search of polar bears & pack ice.”
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
31 May 2025 - 09 Jun 2025 | AUD $4210pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Quad Porthole Cabin | AUD $4210pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Triple Porthole Cabin | AUD $5081pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Twin Porthole Cabin | AUD $5952pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Twin Window Cabin | AUD $6460pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Twin Deluxe Cabin | AUD $6895pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Superior Cabin | AUD $7767pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Junior Suite | AUD $8856pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! | |
Grand Suite with private balcony | AUD $9509pp | 10% Booking Credit on all cabins! |
**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
Whats 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 the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- Free internet: daily allowance of 1.5 GB of free internet connectivity
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:
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.