Dates

D01*

June 5-13, 2008 - E

D02

June 12-20, 2008 - E/G

D03

June 19-27, 2008 - E/G

D04

June 26 - July 4, 2008 - E/F

D05

July 3-11, 2008 - E/I

D06

July 10-18, 2008 - E/G

D07

July 17-25, 2008 - E/F

D08

July 24 - August 1, 2008 - E

D09

July 31 - August 8, 2008 - E/I

D10

August 7-15, 2008 - E/G

D11**

August 14-22, 2008 - E

* D01 This will be dedicated as a photo cruise.
* D11 Conditions permitting, this sailing will head for the easternmost island in the Svalbard archipelago - Kvitøya.

Detailed Itinerary
**Important Information – The first date of your program is on a Thursday as the program includes a pre-night at the Spitsbergen Hotel.  Spitsbergen Travel will provide transfers if you are flying into Longyearbyen just after midnight (Thursday night/Friday morning).  Passengers are more than welcome to arrive to Longyearbyen earlier in the day but a transfer will not be provided to the hotel.  You will board the ship on Friday afternoon.

Day 1 (Friday) –
Independent arrival to Longyearbyen
If you are arriving on the following flights a transfer will be provided to Spitsbergen Hotel:
SK4496 – departs Oslo at 10pm (on Thursday) and arrives Longyearbyen at 12:50am (on Friday).
SK4492 – departs Tromso at 11:30pm (on Thursday) and arrives Longyearbyen at 01:25am (on Friday)

Day 2 (Saturday) –
9:00 am Estimated arrival time to Ny-Ålesund.  Guided walk of town then free time to shop or visit the museum.  Credit cards accepted.
11:30 am Sailing time from Ny-Ålesund.  We pass “The Seven Icebergs” before reaching Spitsbergens northwest corner.  Arrival in the Magdalenefjord and the Smeerenburgfjord in the afternoon.

Day 3 (Sunday)) When reaching the Woodfjord we can see Nordaustlandet in the horizon. Crossing the
800 parallel  sailing by the Moffen Island, before heading further east towards the Hinlopen-strait and the remote parts of Spitsbergen.

Day 4 (Monday) Depending on the weather- and ice-conditions we sail south through the Hinlopen-strait with fjords on each side (alternative routes if meeting heavy pack ice are numerous). We aim to visit the astonishing bird cliff Alkefjellet by the Lomfjord. Zodiac landings at interesting sites. If possible to Vibebukta near the Austfonna glacier.

Day 5 (Tuesday) Now we are in the land of the polar bear. Possible alternative route early in the season is north along Nordaustlandet, via Wahlenbergfjord or Murchinsonfjord and then in the direction of Sjuøyane. Possible route later in the season is via Sørport, towards Storfjord and Edgeøya where we make landings, before sailing on around Sørkapp (South Cape).

Day 6 (Wednesday) If reaching the very south of Spitsbergen we sail northbound on the west coast and into the beautiful fjord of Hornsund where we make landings.

Day 7 (Thursday) Return to the Icefjord in the afternoon, with possibilities for landing in the areas of the Billefjord and Skansebukta. Captains farewell party in the evening.

Day 8 (Friday)
2:00 am  Approximate arrival time to Longyearbyen
3:00 am  Transfer to the airport (for those taking early flights at 4:40am and 5:05am)
4:40 am  SK4497 to Oslo, direct flight, arrival 7:30am
5:05 am  SK4493/SK4445 to Oslo, via Tromso (arr. 6:40am, dep 8:40am) arrival 7:30am
8:00 am  Last disembarkation from the ship.  Transfer from the pier to Spitsbergen Hotel.  You may leave your luggage here if you are catching a later flight. Your final transfer to the airport is not included.

• We strive to make landings two times a day.
• Schedule will change when ice and weather conditions deem it necessary.
  This usually occurs on early departures in June.
• Full board included in the program.