Arrive in Longyearbyen

Get ready for your Arctic solar eclipse voyage

After a flight from Oslo, your adventure begins with an overnight stay in the world’s northernmost town, Longyearbyen. 

A colorful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles, Longyearbyen is a unique place on the edge of the Arctic wilderness. If you have time, head out to get a first look at this special town before enjoying a relaxing evening at your leisure.

Longyearbyen adventures

Explore colorful Longyearbyen

After your morning flight to Longyearbyen, it’s time to explore the world’s northernmost town, a colorful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles.

Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer pass by. Although wild, they’re curious and gentle.

Before boarding your ship in the afternoon and continuing your Arctic discovery, join an included excursion and get a glimpse of this amazing polar bear–inspired region at the top of the world. And if you’d like to discover even more of Longyearbyen’s special surroundings, simply join our optional Pre-Program.

Expedition days

Experience pristine Arctic wilderness

Over the next three days, you’ll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Surrounded by steep mountains, stark glaciers, and beautiful offshore islands, we’ll scan for Arctic animals, including whales, seals, walruses, and reindeer. If we’re really lucky, we might even see the elusive polar bear in its natural environment.

Each day will be different. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your Captain and Expedition Team decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions.  

Perhaps we’ll head to the snowcapped peaks of Raudfjord, Hornsund or Magdalenefjord to see magnificent glaciers or visit Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost settlement and an important climate research station.

A relaxing day at sea

Enjoy a restorative day in the Arctic

Take time to relax on the ship today as we cruise through Arctic waters towards Jan Mayen. Enjoy panoramic views and chat with fellow guests in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, or soak in a hot tub out on deck while scanning for seabirds.

You can also listen to a lecture or two on topics such as local history, geology, or Arctic wildlife. Or visit the Science Center for more in-depth insights into the places we’ll be visiting and maybe participate in a Citizen Science project that contributes to ongoing scientific research.

Volcanic Jan Mayen

Visit an active volcano that’s a haven for birdlife.

Jan Mayen has no permanent residents and visits to the island are rare. In fact, we’re one of the few to attempt landings here. If conditions allow, you’ll be setting foot in one of Earth’s most remote places. 

Jan Mayen’s surreal, moss- and lichen-streaked landscape is dominated by the Beerenberg volcanic cone. It’s the world’s northernmost active volcano, which last erupted in 1985.

You won’t see land mammals here, but the island is designated an Important Bird Area, supporting large populations of northern fulmars, Brünnich’s guillemots and little auks. Look out for abundant marine life in the surrounding waters, including whales and seals.

Heading toward Greenland

Unwind and prepare for more adventures.

At this point, you’ll have seen some spectacular Arctic wildlife and scenery. You’ll probably be curious to learn even more. Join the Expedition Team in the lecture hall and find out about what’s coming up next in eastern Greenland and northern Iceland.   

A day at sea is also an opportunity to sort through your photos and pick up some tips from our onboard photographer as we cruise towards the Scoresby Sund.

Greenland’s Scoresby Sund fjord system 

Witness the largest fjord system on Earth  

With stunning white and blue icebergs, mirror-like waters and looming mountains, the scenery in the world’s largest fjord system is spectacular.

Scoresby Sund’s steep peaks, open waters, and ice-free winters are a haven for Greenland’s iconic wildlife. Scan for musk oxen, Arctic foxes, mountain hares, whales, and seals.

Birdlife also thrives here, including little auks, Atlantic puffins, fulmars, snowy owls, Greenlandic gyrfalcons and great black-backed gulls.

We’ll make the best of the conditions and take our time, packing in as many shore landings, nature walks, ship cruising, kayaking tours and wildlife sightings as possible.

A relaxing day at sea

Relax as we head for Iceland

A day at sea is an opportunity to wind down. Sit back in the panoramic Explorer Lounge & Bar and take in the view. For even deeper relaxation, soak in a hot tub and recap the journey so far with your fellow travelers.   

If you’d rather work up a sweat, head to the gym. It is equipped with large windows, so you can work out and not miss any of the stunning scenery outside.

Charming Grundarfjörður

Gateway to spectacular Snæfellsnes

The majestic Kirkjufell mountain, one of Iceland’s best-known landmarks, rises just two miles west of the small harbor of Grundarfjörður, a quaint fishing town in Breiðafjörður bay.

Nearby, you’ll find Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park, with the striking, ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano at the western tip. Its wide array of landscapes has earned it the nickname ‘Little Iceland’.

At the national park, you can visit Djúpalónssandur’s black sand beach and the Saxhóll crater. Or why not ride a snowcat to the top of the Snæfellsjökull glacier or take a guided underground tour along a gigantic lava tube?

Reykjavík

End of the expedition

We say a fond farewell to MS Spitsbergen as we end our expedition in the fabulous city of Reykjavík. With its interesting museums, stylish galleries, restaurants and geothermal pools, there’s so much to enjoy in Iceland’s capital.

And if you want to discover more of Iceland, you can join our optional Post-Program. Or simply extend your stay to enjoy more of Reykjavík and its surrounding geothermal attractions. It’s a great place to end an epic journey.