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Arctic Cruise Offers
Visit Svalbard in 2024
This is the last summer to visit Svalbard before new environmental restrictions limit travel to large parts of the archipelago. From the 1st January 2025 stringent new regulations have been announced which will curtail travel to large parts of Svalbard. So now is the time to go to experience all that this magnificent archipelago has to offer. With a choice of voyages available and some sizeable savings to be had, make 2024 your year to travel to the Arctic.
Venture into the realm of the polar bear. Set sail on a voyage around Spitsbergen – the archipelago’s largest island – and you enter a dazzling Arctic world of dragon-back peaks, glittering fjords and jewel-like glaciers.
Kingdom of the ice bear, Svalbard is also home to walrus, Arctic fox and a unique subspecies of reindeer. Several whale species, from beluga to bowhead, feed in its krill-rich seas, while seabirds crowd cliff-edge nesting colonies in their millions.
Small ship cruising – under 200 passengers – aboard environmentally friendly expedition vessels is the best way to explore this diverse and remote part of the world. What are you waiting for?
Why travel now? - the facts
Svalbard plots new course for expedition voyages
Stricter regulations that aim to protect the fragile Arctic environment of Svalbard come into force on 1 January 2025. What are they? How will they change expedition cruising? And what are your options for visiting the Arctic this summer – and beyond?
SAVE up to 30% on Svalbard Voyages this Summer
Take advantage of savings of up to 30% on selected departures in 2024, plus air credits and no single supplement offers available.
Svalbard Voyages
Prices shown below are based on availability at time of publication, but offers are frequently updated and will vary depending on date, voyage, ship and cabin type. Call our Svalbard specialists today on 01737 214 250 to discuss our best available price, or send an enquiry and we will get back to you with trip recommendations which we feel best matches your requirements.
West Spitsbergen Explorer
8-11 nights | May-Jul
Experience the best of Spitsbergen’s beautiful and rugged west coast as you search for wildlife and more.
Triple share from £4482pp
Twin share from £5310pp
Excluding international flights. Based on triple cabin aboard Sea Spirit and twin cabin aboard MS Quest.
Around Spitsbergen
7-15 nights | May-Aug
Voyage along the Spitsbergen coast in search of polar bears and explorer history
Quad share from £4455pp
Twin share from £6455pp
Excluding all flights. Based on cabins aboard Hondius, Plancius or Ortelius.
Spitsbergen to East Greenland
13-25 nights | Jun-Sep
Experience three Arctic islands with magnificent scenery and a prolific array of wildlife.
Quad share from £5864pp
Twin share from £7870pp
Excluding all flights. Based on cabins aboard Hondius, Plancius or Ortelius.
Scotland to Svalbard
12 nights | May
Follow in the wake of the Vikings as you cruise north past ancient sites and incredible scenery, saving up to 35%.
Triple share from £3897pp
Twin share from £5392pp
Excluding international flights. Based on cabins aboard Sea Spirit.
What you can expect from a Svalbard voyage this summer?
Dawn, Head of Customer Experience at Discover the World, travelled on a Svalbard voyage aboard the MS Quest in summer 2023. “This trip is full of wonder. For me, the best parts were the wildlife sightings, but the landscape is also spectacular. The Arctic is a very special place”.
Discover a selection of Dawn’s highlights below.
Samarinvagen, a fjord in southern Spitsbergen, was not only one of the most stunning settings I have ever seen, but we had humpbacks join us during a Zodiac cruise followed by pod after pod of belugas! It was one of those ‘pinch me now’ moments.
The ship’s small size meant it could take us to the ideal places for shore landings as well as manoeuvre quickly when there were wildlife sightings. We were able to position ourselves perfectly when wildlife appeared, which it often did!
Uncovering the tales of early settlers and pioneers was fascinating. We could really get a sense of what life was like for them and the true grit and determination it took to build a life here.
Every day we had landing opportunities and trips on the zodiacs so we could really get up close to what we were seeing.
Learning from the expedition team who really knew their stuff. All experts in their fields, they had a genuine passion for wildlife and the environment. They also play a part in monitoring the wildlife in Svalbard, for example grading each polar bear. All our 13 bears looked really healthy.
The glaciers and ice floes add to the majesty of this land and you can’t help but sit back and watch the world go by.
Ship Shape: Choosing your Vessel
We only use small vessels, carrying a maximum of 200 passengers, to minimise impact on the environment. Small ships also mean:
- better access to remote places
- quicker disembarkation for shore landings and Zodiac cruises
- and a more personal experience
Consider, the 120-passenger Greg Mortimer, a deluxe, high-tech expedition vessel with X-BOW® for stability, energy efficiency and virtual anchoring. Perhaps the deluxe Ultramarine, which carries up to 199 passengers, and is a purpose-built expedition ship with special MAGS system to convert waste into energy on board is more to your taste. Alternatively, our smallest expedition vessel, MS Quest, carries up to 53 passengers and offers an intimate polar experience.
Speak to our team about the full range of options and which ship is right for you.
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