North Atlantic Odyssey
Netherlands, Norway Small Ship Cruises
From Europe to the Arctic - an expedition cruise into the wild
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length12 days
- Prices from€3420 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This unique expedition artic cruise departs from Vlissingen in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, then crosses the North Sea for the first stop in the beautiful Fair Isle, the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom.
Navigating the sea further, you reach the volcanic island of Jan Mayen and onward towards the edge of the sea ice of Greenland. Spitsbergen is your final destination.
The largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, artic Spitsbergen lies between the north of mainland Norway and the North Pole and is home to surprisingly diverse animal and bird life.
Upon reaching the edge of the ice pack you have a chance to spot Polar bears, and in the fjords of Spitsbergen, you can also spot this King of the North. A visit to Poolepynten, the main resting place for Walruses on land, is also on the schedule.
All throughout your journey, you will enjoy presentations that illuminate not only the diverse wildlife but everything from polar science to fascinating local history.
From Vlissingen to Spitsbergen, from sun to ice, from dark to light, get ready for an arctic adventure of a lifetime!
Highlights
- Marine mammals: whales, seals, walruses, and dolphins
- Bowhead Whale: (cetacean enthusiasts take note: this is one of the few trips where you have a realistic chance of seeing this animal)
- Wildlife: Polar bears, arctic foxes, and reindeer
- Seabirds: Puffin, Gannet, Black Guillemot, Auk, Little Auk, Great Skua, and much more
- Arctic birds: Ivory & Sabine's Gull, various Skuas, Red Phalarope , and King Eider in breeding plumage
- Remote volcanic island Jan Mayen, crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg
Itinerary
Day 1: Departure from Vlissingen
Day 2 & 3: North Sea, search for seabirds & marine mammals
Day 4 & 5: Course to Jan Mayen
Day 6: Jan Mayen
Day 7, 8, & 9: To the edge of the ice pack
Day 10: West of Spitsbergen
Day 11: Walruses, Belugas, & more
Day 12: Disembark in SpitzbergenThe itinerary is a guideline. There may be circumstances along the way that cause the route and the daily schedule to be completed in a different way than described. Bad weather, government guidelines, but also unexpected possibilities for unplanned zodiac cruises or landings can cause the trip to go differently than we can indicate in advance. The expedition leader will provide you with more information at the start of the trip and will keep you informed of the possibilities and developments during the trip. The species mentioned in the itinerary all occur in the area and are all seen in the area with some regularity. However, it is possible that you will see fewer or different species than indicated in the itinerary. It is of course also possible that you see more species than are mentioned in the travel description!
Day 1: Departure from Vlissingen
The ship departs from Vlissingen in Zeeland, Holland via the Western Scheld, to the North Sea. We recommend that you plan your travels to allow extra time in Holland. There are many possibilities from biking, to hiking, to a private townhouse stay. Just ask!Day 2 & Day 3: North Sea, search for seabirds & marine mammals
Your first two days finds you cruising the North Sea.Possible sightings:
Orca, Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Porpoises, Bottlenose Dolphins, Fulmars, Auks, Black Guillemots, Puffins, Shearwaters, Great Skua, and Lesser Skua.Day 4 & 5: Course to Jan Mayen
After breakfast, a landing on Fair Isle is planned and you will have half a day to explore this beautiful island. The ship heads north after lunch towards the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, which lies about 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. This is the area where the North Atlantic Odyssey is at its best. During these two days, the guides are fully on deck on the lookout for marine mammals and seabirds. The vessel has more than enough space for all passengers to also stand on deck and enjoy sightings.Possible sightings:
Minke, Common Whale, the huge Blue Whale (on several previous trips we saw a Blue Whale less than 25 meters from the boat !), Bottlenose Whale, Humpback, Bottlenose Dolphin, White-beaked Dolphin and birds such as Auk, Puffin, Little Auk, perhaps the first Thick-billed Guillemot, Northern Fulmar, Black Guillemot, Gannet and Little Skua. Orcas are also found here and are often very curious, wanting to get a glimpse of you as much as you want to see them!Day 6: Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is a small volcanic island with Mount Beerenberg at its center. Impressive glaciers slide from the flanks of this 2300-meter-high volcano into the sea. Until recently, a stop at this island with its military base was not allowed, but with permission from the Norwegian authorities, it is now usually possible to land here to visit the weather station. At Kvalrossbukta, you visit the remains of a 17th-century settlement of Dutch whalers, which today houses a large colony of Fulmars. You glide past Koksletta where thousands of Lesser Auks and Thick-billed Guillemots breed close to the glacier, watched by hungry Great Mayors.Possible sightings:
Fulmars, Lesser Auks, Thick-billed Guillemots, & Great MayorsDay 7, 8, & 9: To the edge of the ice pack
The ship heads northeast toward the edge of the sea ice, looking for whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. If it is not possible to go further north, the ship heads for Spitsbergen. This is the area to be on the lookout for the very rare Bowhead Whale, which exists in small numbers but is seen with some regularity. During a 2015 trip, those on board made a discovery that made world news, the sighting of nearly 100 Bowhead Whales, more animals than this population was thought to have. In 2016 and 2017 travelers discovered several groups of this very rare whale and in 2018, again, record numbers were sighted, more than 100 Bowhead Whales that year! The chances of seeing this previously untraceable animal seem to have increased and for 2023, there are very high hopes for more sightings. But another highlight can also happen here, a mighty encounter with the Emperor of the North, the Polar Bear, even in the middle of the night! Because you will be cruising above the Arctic Circle, night does not mean darkness, so you have a 24-hour chance of seeing this super predator.Possible sightings:
Bowhead Whales & Polar BearsDay 10: West of Spitsbergen
Depending on the position of the sea ice, you sail into one of the fjords in the west of Spitsbergen. Here you have a chance of seeing Walruses and Polar bears hunting for sunbathing seals. West of Spitsbergen, still on the open sea, is an area where several whale species of whales are sighted, including the largest animal on earth, the Blue Whale!Possible sightings:
Walruses, Polar Bears, Seals, & Blue WhaleDay 11: Walruses, Belugas, & more
On the east side of Prins Karls Forland is Poolepynten, a low embankment with an inland sea and beaches on both sides, a great place to search for Walruses that come ashore to rest and digest their food and usually allow themselves to be viewed and photographed up close. The last stop is Alkhornet, a huge mountain at the entrance of Isfjorden. Tens of thousands of birds breed on the mountain and fly to and fro with loud calls, squeaks, and cackling. At the foot of the mountain, several Arctic foxes have their fortresses. Beluga's are often found in the fjord itself and reindeer are also found here in considerable numbers. They have shorter legs than their counterparts on the mainland and can often be seen and photographed quite close.Possible sightings:
Artic Foxes, Belugas, & ReindeerDay 12: Disembark in Spitzbergen
You disembark in the morning in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen. Here, everyone has the choice for onward travel or staying one or more days longer. Another option is to remain on board for a North Spitsbergen expedition cruise. We will provide details! Discount for combining the two cruises will be applied.Boats
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 11 nights onboard the expedition cruise ship, Ortelius
- All meals on board
- Coffee, tea & water on board
- All harbor dues
- Zodiac cruises
- Various zodiac excursions & cruises
- Informative sessions
- CO2 compensation for your trip
What’s Not Included
- Arrival travel to Holland
- Departure travel from Longyearbyen
- Any private overnight stays on Spitsbergen (if applicable)
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Customer contribution to the GGTO guarantee fund of €7.50 pp
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance (mandatory)
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2023
Monday departure
June 5 to June 16, 2023
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Twin w/ porthole $ 5789 £ 3024 $ 5,007 € 3420 kr 508963 ₪ 14049 ¥ 544792 Mex$ 65821 NZ$ 6176 NOK 40011 kr 40458 $ 3,652 Twin w/ porthole/single-use On request Twin w/ windows $ 6127 £ 3201 $ 5,299 € 3620 kr 538727 ₪ 14871 ¥ 576651 Mex$ 69670 NZ$ 6537 NOK 42351 kr 42824 $ 3,865 Twin w/ windows/single-use On request Deluxe twin $ 6804 £ 3554 $ 5,885 € 4020 kr 598255 ₪ 16514 ¥ 640370 Mex$ 77368 NZ$ 7260 NOK 47030 kr 47556 $ 4,293 Deluxe twin/single-use On request Superior double $ 7143 £ 3731 $ 6,178 € 4220 kr 628019 ₪ 17336 ¥ 672229 Mex$ 81218 NZ$ 7621 NOK 49370 kr 49921 $ 4,506 Superior double/single-use On request If you are willing to share a cabin with another traveler of the same gender, no single supplement will be incurred. If you want your own cabin, the single supplement
Prices quoted are based on a fuel price set three months prior to the start of the trip. If the fuel price increases, a fuel surcharge may be applied based on amount of increase.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
Most expeditions are ship-based and not too physically demanding. The itinerary is designed to spend as much time as possible on shore, you are also welcome to remain on board. It is important that you’re able to get up and down the steep gangway easily, as this is how you’ll board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats, but on shore, it can be slippery and rocky. Also, you’ll usually be in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you shouldn’t join these expeditions if you have a life-threatening condition, need daily medical treatment, or have difficulty walking.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). At the end of your tour, you could book your return travel from Longyearbyen, transition generally in Oslo, back to Amsterdam, or book your return flights directly from Longyearbyen to Oslo and then journey outward.
Local Travel
Holland is the land of water, bicycles, and trains! Travel from the airport to Vlissingen is very easy. The airport has a train station on the lower level where you can access onward travel to the port of your departure. Travel time is approximately 2 1/2 hours and generally requires one transfer. Your journey ends in Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen. Return air travel can be booked back to Amsterdam, usually transitioning in Oslo or book a local flight to Oslo, and then onward travel from there.
Climate
You will be traveling from Holland, into the North Sea, and heading north to Spitsbergen, an island of the Svalbard archipelago. Constituting the westernmost bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea, and the Greenland Sea and has an Arctic climate, albeit with higher temperatures compared with other places at the same latitude.
Recommended
We advise everyone to stay one or more days in Longyearbyen and enjoy the beautiful Arctic world longer. In and around Longyearbyen, species such as Arctic Fox, Reindeer, King Eider, Red Phalarope, and often, also Beluga’s are seen, species that you can probably view more extensively here than on board the ship.
Remarks
Arctic expedition cruises attract independent, adventurous travelers from around the globe who share a strong interest in remote regions, exotic wildlife, and, naturally, huge heaps of ice. Many voyages include several nationalities, and it is the camaraderie and spirit that develops on board that’s so important to the polar expedition experience.
Important to know
Travel documents
Before you travel, please check the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the U.S. Passports & International Travel website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc.
Environmentally Responsible
This arctic exploration vessel operator is a member of AECO and IAATO, organizations that promote environmentally friendly travel to the Arctic and Antarctic. The ship complies with all the latest safety standards and is one of the most environmentally friendly vessels on the polar seas.
Packing essentials
Much of the equipment you will need will be provided.
However, in regards to clothing and outerwear, we advise warm, windproof, waterproof clothes that you can easily add or remove in layers. Multiple layers of medium-warmth clothing provide more insulation than single heavier articles. This is due to warm air getting trapped between the layers and acting as further insulation. Look for clothing made of wool, silk, and new synthetic fibers, all of which retain heat better than other materials.
- Base layer: thermals & undergarments
- Middle layer: T-shirts, sweaters, pants, scarf or neck gaiter, good cap or hat that covers the ears
- Outer layer: A quality jacket that is waterproof and windproof preferably with an attached hood, waterproof outer pants, & gloves. All passengers are required to bring a waterproof jacket and pants (minimum 15,000mm rating) for Zodiac cruises to shore, as these can be quite wet.
Extra Stay
Based on availability, we may be able to offer you an 8-day Polar Bear extension to your travels onboard the expedition cruiser, the Ortelius beginning on June 16, 2023. Ask us!
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Inezia Tours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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