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Four Arctic Islands: The Northbound Journey
13-day expedition aboard Ocean Albatros through Iceland, East Greenland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard.
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Length
13 Days
Ship category
Premium
Ship type
Large Ship
Capacity
189 Passengers
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Welcome aboard the brand new Ocean Albatros. This stunning, purpose-built polar cruise ship will be deployed to a large selection of expedition cruise destinations, Antarctica, the Arctic, and a variety of exciting new destinations in between.
Ocean Albatros offers a total of 95 comfortable staterooms and suites, all with unobstructed sea view, and most with their own balcony. Like her sistership, the Ocean Victory, her amenities include two restaurants, a wellness area, the “Albatros Nordic Bar”, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and other state-of-the-art amenitie … Read more about Ocean Albatros
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Fitness Center
Bar
Mudroom
Lecture Theater
Observation Deck
Pool
Observation Lounge
Hot Tub
Spa
Medical Services
Food on Ocean Albatros follows the rhythm of an expedition day. Breakfast and lunch are normally served buffet-style in the main restaurant, with dinner becoming a more leisurely sit-down meal; the smaller Bistro offers a casual alternative, while the 24-hour tea, coffee and Grab & Go stations are useful when a wildlife announcement or landing schedule shifts the day. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks are included with dinner on the operator's current programme.
Our travellers often praise the variety and the ease of finding something after a cold outing, although feedback on individual dishes is not completely uniform. That is why we describe the dining honestly: it is a well-organised, sociable part of the expedition rather than the sole reason to choose the ship. Shared tables can be part of the atmosphere, and expedition-team members may join guests at meals, making dinner a natural time to compare sightings and ask questions. Tell us about dietary requirements before booking so we can confirm the arrangements for your specific departure.
From
Until
Info
Availability
Price
2
Sep
2028
• 13 days
• 15% off
From
USD 12,406
USD 12,595
2
Sep
2028
14
Sep
2028
•
15% off
USD 12,406
USD 12,595
Preferred date unavailable?
When booking online, you can choose the option to "Upgrade to single occupancy". This will guarantee you the whole cabin to yourself, for an additional fee. If you don't select this option, then another traveler of the same sex might be placed into the same cabin with you. Exceptions may apply.
Arrival transfer to the ship when the operator's stated flight conditions are met
En-suite shipboard accommodation in the booked category
Waterproof expedition jacket to keep and loan rubber boots
English-speaking Expedition Team
Guided walks, nature hikes, Zodiac landings and excursions described in the itinerary
Briefings and educational lectures
Citizen Science Program
Full board with meals and snacks
Selected house wine, beer and soft drinks as stated by the operator
24-hour tea, coffee and Grab and Go food
Welcome and farewell cocktail parties
Taxes and landing fees
1 GB Wi-Fi
Digital expedition memento
International or internal airfares unless listed in the itinerary
Excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Meals and beverages not listed as included
Crew and Expedition Team gratuities
Personal expenses and communications unless specified
Mandatory travel insurance, medical care and emergency evacuation
Visa, reciprocity and passport fees
Anything not listed under inclusions
This is the northbound Reykjavik-to-Longyearbyen product.
Sea ice, weather and permissions determine landings.
Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Optional activities may cost extra and require advance booking.
Ocean Albatros carries up to 189 guests.
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice from your travel specialist by email. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to secure your booking. Payment can be made through bank transfer or by credit card through a secure payment link.
Full payment is expected 30 days before your trip. Payment can be made in installments.
This trip generates 3.9 t CO₂e. Polartours regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys and actively reduces emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.
From 2018 to 2024, we supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians.
More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact
All cruises in the polar regions operate to itineraries that are more-or-less fixed. We say "more or less", because wildlife (breeding, seasonality) and weather always play an important role in routing. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise, including:
All boats carry English speaking, scientifically trained guides. They will lead you on your excursions, allowing you to learn as much as possible about the unique wildlife and habitats of the Polar Regions.
Choosing the right ship for a cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic seems difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Our fleet is over 30 vessels, we are sure that there is the perfect one for you. Please, follow these simple steps, and you will be able to find your ideal ship:
In addition: We work with responsible partners who provide a great experience for their passengers. All of our providers are committed to sustainability and to preserving the beauty of the polar regions. You don’t need to worry about the impact of your cruise, because we’ve already taken care of it.
We love to help people find their dream vacation to the Arctic and Antarctic. Whether you give us a call, contact us via email, or use our website inquiry form, one of our Polar travel experts will be more than happy to answer any questions, recommend ships and itineraries, and walk you through the whole process!
Step 1: Find your perfect trip. If you have already started looking for Polar Cruises, you will have quickly noticed that the sheer amount of options can be quite overwhelming. To help you navigate the countless departures and itineraries that our fleet offers, we have put together a great filter page for Antarctic and Arctic Expedition Cruises. Use this page to filter all trips by price, date, ship category, and even destinations you wish to visit. We update all dates, prices, and availabilities daily, and are proud to host what is doubtlessly the world's most complete collection of information.
Step 2: Found something you love? We'll hold your spaces, free of charge! If you find a cruise you like, you can either inquire directly with us or make an unbinding booking online. We will then reach out to the shipowners to put a hold on your spaces for a limited time, free of charge. Once we have confirmed your block with the ship, we will send you a written confirmation of your reservation and include full payment details in an invoice. Typically, we are able to hold unpaid reservations for up to 1 week*. This gives us time to clarify all your remaining questions, and also ensures that no other passengers can book your spaces, while we continue our conversation.
Step 3: Confirm your booking. In order to confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit payment. You can pay via bank transfer or credit card. Keep in mind, that we can only hold your spaces for a limited amount of time. If we don't receive your payment after this time, we can no longer guarantee that the places will be available or that the price won't increase. To prevent disappointment, we will automatically cancel your reservation if we don't receive your deposit by the due date stated on your booking reservation.
Step 4: Booking confirmation & Payment. As soon as we have received your deposit and a completed passenger information form, we will be pleased to send your booking confirmation and updated invoice, along with your trip itinerary, important information, and other great tips for your cruise.
Step 5: Final payment. In your initial invoice, we will define a final payment date by when you need to pay us the remaining amount of your trip. Once we have received your final payment we'll send you your cruise documents and voucher. As your trip approaches, we make sure to pass along all necessary information, so you feel super prepared and stress-free.
*For last-minute bookings, we might not be able to hold your spaces for so long. We will also require the full payment of your cruise upon booking.
An expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic is a big deal! Most people plan for this type of trip at least 8 months in advance. This means the earlier you book, the better chance you'll have to reserve your prefered cabins. Early bird discounts are also popular and a great way to get 10-30% off your cruise.
Most expedition cruises offer optional activities like camping and kayaking, but the spaces are limited. A cruise with 120 passengers can have only 10-15 spaces for kayaking. These are reserved on a first come first served basis. The earlier you book, the higher your chance of grabbing a spot.
Even though last minute deals do occur, keep in mind that the airline prices will be much higher if you purchase them last minute. You may save a few hundred on your cruise, but you may end up paying the most for airfare.
4.9
(11)
Price
From
USD 12,406
No dates selected
From
11 Reviews
Scoresby Sund and Ittoqqortoormiit.
The remote Blosseville Coast.
Jan Mayen beneath Beerenberg.
South Svalbard, Northwest Spitsbergen and Kongsfjorden.
Best Price Guarantee: Find a better price elsewhere, and we’ll match it.
Polar Expedition Specialists: We focus exclusively on polar voyages, with advice rooted in real, firsthand expertise.
Travel that gives back: Every booking directly funds our mission to protect and restore global rainforests.
Travel north aboard Ocean Albatros from Reykjavik to Longyearbyen across four Arctic islands and island groups. East Greenland comes first, with the Blosseville Coast, Scoresby Sund and Ittoqqortoormiit before the route crosses to volcanic Jan Mayen.
The final days explore southern and northwestern Svalbard, ending in Kongsfjorden and Longyearbyen. Ice, weather and local permissions determine exact landings, while the passage days create time for wildlife watches and expert lectures.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
Hallgrímskirkja Church towers over Reykjavik, a vibrant city known for Nordic cuisine, unique museums, and excellent shopping. Such a bustling capital will welcome you to your expeditions across the Arctic! Your expedition ship Ocean Albatros awaits you in the harbor; toast your departure from civilization as you sail into the Arctic wilderness, on course for adventure!
Follow East Greenland's volcanic Blosseville Coast. A landing in this remote, uninhabited region is possible only if ice, weather and the shoreline permit.
Enter the world's largest fjord system for Zodiac cruises or landings among basalt mountains, skerries and immense icebergs, with the exact site chosen to suit conditions.
Visit Ittoqqortoormiit for a respectful introduction to one of East Greenland's most remote communities, its museum, church and living culture.
Leave Scoresby Sund and cross the Greenland Sea toward Jan Mayen. Expert talks, deck watches and the meeting of Arctic currents frame the passage.
The active volcanic island of Jan Mayen is on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the ‘spine’ of the Atlantic Ocean. This enigmatic and isolated island is the only active volcano in Norway, and the northernmost active volcano on Earth. Jan Mayen is inhabited by only around 18 people, a mixture of scientists and Norwegian troops. The volcanic origin is visible all over with cinder cones, lava flows, and the Fuji-esque peak of Beerenberg looming above, while creeping tundra plants and squabbling seabirds eke out a living in the rugged cliffs.
Leave Jan Mayen and head northeast across productive Arctic waters toward Svalbard, with lectures and wildlife watches from deck.
Continue across the Greenland Sea as Svalbard's mountains draw nearer. Weather and sea conditions set the pace before the first southern fjords.
In Svalbard, our expedition enters the greener, warmer fjords of Bellsund and Hornsund, nourished by Atlantic currents. These fertile valleys support reindeer, Arctic foxes, nesting seabirds, and drifting icebergs from nearby glaciers. Rich in wildlife and history, the area offers highlights like Alkhjornet’s bird cliffs and the historic sites of Calypsobyen and Bamsebu, making it one of Svalbard’s most diverse and captivating regions.
Explore protected Northwest Spitsbergen, where traces of whaling history contrast with recovering walrus, seabird and polar-bear habitat.
During the Arctic “night,” we sail past Prins Karls Forland to the stunning Kongsfjord, framed by glaciers and the dramatic Three Crowns mountains. Our next and last stop is Ny-Ålesund, Earth’s northernmost settlement, known for its scientific stations and historic role as a base for legendary polar explorers like Amundsen and Nansen. This remote outpost continues to support vital research amid its breathtaking surroundings.
Arrive in Longyearbyen and leave Ocean Albatros after breakfast, ending the northbound journey in Svalbard.
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