HX · MS Spitsbergen · September 2027
An 11-day expedition cruise of the Svalbard archipelago
78°–81° N · 10°–35° E · SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN
Deposit paid. Balance must be settled no later than June 6, 2027 to secure the booking.
Starting out from Oslo, fly to Longyearbyen where the adventure continues at sea. Sailing into Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the expedition scouts for polar bears, Arctic foxes, and Svalbard reindeer, with chances to observe colonies of Brünnich's guillemots and kittiwakes.
The ship attempts to circumnavigate Spitsbergen and sail beyond the 80th parallel north if conditions allow. Along the way: awe-inspiring wildlife, the breathtaking Hornsund mountains, and a final cruise through stunning Isfjord before returning to Longyearbyen.
Embarkation day. After the Spitsbergen Experience tour, luggage is transferred directly to the pier. Board MS Spitsbergen at 20:00 and settle into your cabin as the ship prepares to depart into the Arctic waters of the Svalbard archipelago.
A day of contrasts: first, the spectacular Krossfjorden, a 30 km fjord home to the dramatic Fourteenth of July Glacier (Fjortende Julibreen), where tidewater ice calves into brash-ice waters. Zodiac cruises among the ice offer close encounters with kittiwakes and the chance to spot bearded seals. Then on to Ny-Ålesund — Earth's northernmost civilian settlement — where international research stations operate year-round and the world's most northerly post office awaits.
The northwestern corner of Spitsbergen — one of the most remote and wildlife-rich regions of the archipelago. Nordvesthjørnet is prime polar bear territory, with rugged coastlines where bears patrol the ice edge hunting ringed seals. Raudfjorden (Red Fjord, named for its rust-coloured cliffs) adds dramatic geology to the mix. Keep binoculars ready — walrus haul-outs and Arctic fox sightings are common here.
Liefdefjorden — "Fjord of Love" — lives up to its name with extraordinary scenery: the 5 km wide Monaco Glacier (Monacobreen) calves directly into the fjord, producing spectacular ice displays. The surrounding cliffs host thousands of nesting kittiwakes, and the legendary Texas Bar — a historic trapper's cabin — sits at the fjord's edge. Polar bears have been spotted hunting along the glacier face.
A full day at sea as MS Spitsbergen pushes north toward the pack ice. The ship's Expedition Team hosts lectures on Arctic ecology, sea ice dynamics, and the geology of Svalbard. On deck, watch for ivory gulls — the most northerly breeding bird on Earth — and the chance of humpback or fin whales feeding at the ice edge. The 80th parallel is within reach.
Beyond 80°N, the ship scouts for an ice edge to explore — the most evocative landscape in the Arctic. Seabirds gather in the hundreds where cold and warmer water meet, and polar bears are most commonly encountered here, moving between floes as they hunt seals. Zodiac excursions into loose pack ice are possible if conditions allow. These two days at sea are the expedition's most unpredictable — and often most memorable.
Freemansundet is the strait separating Barentsøya and Edgeøya — one of the most productive polar bear corridors in Svalbard. As the ship sails south through this channel, scanning the shorelines and ice floes is rewarded with some of the expedition's best wildlife encounters. Walrus haul-outs at Kapp Lee (Edgeøya's northwestern tip) draw in reindeer and Arctic fox to the same landscape.
Hornsund is the southernmost and wildest fjord in Svalbard — 30 km of spectacular Precambrian geology, 14 glaciers, and some of the archipelago's most dramatic peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431 m above the fjord. The name "Hornsund" dates to 1610, when British whaler Jonas Poole found shelter here in a storm and his crew found reindeer antlers on shore. The Polish Polar Station has operated here since 1957.
Bamsebu — "Bear Cabin" — is a storied wooden trapper's hut on the shore of Van Keulenfjorden. Its windows and door are fitted with protruding nails to keep polar bears from breaking in. The site also houses the only surviving beluga whaling station in Svalbard: thousands of beluga bones still lie on the beach from the 1930s hunt. In 2019–20 and 2020–21, two citizen scientists overwinter here collecting climate data, drawing global attention to this remote spot.
MS Spitsbergen arrives back at Longyearbyen port at 06:00. Disembark after breakfast, then transfer to Svalbard Airport for the included flight back to Oslo. A final look at the pointed mountains that gave this island its Dutch name — Spitsbergen — before heading home carrying memories of the High Arctic and, with luck, the photograph of a lifetime.
Named after the largest island in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, MS Spitsbergen embodies the history of Hurtigruten's 1896 "Sports Route" between mainland Norway and Svalbard. Originally built in Portugal for ferry service in the Azores, she was purchased by HX and completely reconstructed at Fosen Yard in Norway before joining the fleet in 2016 — and extensively refurbished again in 2025. At just 101 metres in length and with space for only 150 guests, her enhanced manoeuvrability lets her access secluded landing sites and narrow fjords that larger ships simply cannot reach. Interiors were designed by renowned marine architecture firm Tillberg of Sweden: clean lines, blonde wood, and a sea-inspired palette that speaks to pure Scandinavian style.
A close-knit group of naturalists, historians, and guides lead every landing, host science lectures, and share stories that deepen your understanding — from whale spotting to Norwegian friluftsliv.
State-of-the-art microscopes, lecture spaces, a small library, and workshop areas for photography and biology. Open to all guests throughout the voyage. Included in your fare.
Daily shore landings and ice-edge explorations by inflatable Zodiac craft, accessing remote sites no conventional tender can reach.
The main dining room — named after a family of ship chandlers from Tromsø who supplied famous polar explorers. All meals included. A casual bistro serves snacks throughout the day.
Intimate enough for a truly personal expedition atmosphere. Rebuilt 2016, refurbished 2025. 90 cabins across three decks, ranging from Polar Inside to Expedition Suites with private balconies.
The ship's compact 101-metre length enables access to secluded coves, glacier faces, and ice edges that larger expedition vessels are forced to pass by.
Perched high on the ship, the sauna offers heat and horizon after a day in the Arctic elements. Two outdoor hot tubs (space for five each) and a well-equipped gym with treadmills, bikes, weights, and a ping pong table.
A panoramic open-air observation deck with 270-degree views — the best seat on the ship for spotting polar bears, glaciers calving, and the midnight sun.
Don't forget your gear for the High Arctic
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Reservation 5018630 · MS Spitsbergen · September 2027