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Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Length
9 Days
Ship category
Classic
Ship type
Micro-Cruises (1-35 Guests)
Capacity
12 Passengers
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M/S Balto is named in honor of the legendary sled dog who led the 1925 Nome serum run, symbolizing endurance and bravery. Originally built in Rauma, Finland, for government service in the Baltic Sea, this remarkable vessel was constructed to the highest ice-class standards. Between 2019 and 2022, M/S Balto underwent a complete refurbishment, transforming her into one of the most spacious and elegant small polar expedition yachts in service today.
Onboard M/S Balto, you'll find a relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere with accommodations for just 12 guests across 7 beautifully appointed outside cabi … Read more about Balto
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Bar
Mudroom
Observation Deck
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Sauna
Library
Open Bridge Policy
Restaurant
Dining aboard M/S Balto is cozy experience, with meals crafted to reflect both local flavors and international cuisine. The chef uses high-quality ingredients to prepare fresh, hearty dishes that cater to various dietary preferences. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely breakfast with panoramic views or a cozy dinner in the beautifully appointed dining mess room, each meal is designed to complement your Greenlandic adventure, ensuring you are well-nourished and ready for the day’s explorations.
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.
One hotel night in Longyearbyen on Day 1.
Seven nights aboard Balto.
Lunch and a visit to Svalbard Museum on Day 2.
All meals aboard the ship.
Coffee and tea.
One expedition leader and one guide.
Guiding ashore and talks aboard.
All scheduled excursions and activities, subject to conditions.
Use of rubber boots during the expedition.
A trip slideshow.
The supplier's stated full carbon offset.
Flights to and from Longyearbyen.
Travel and cancellation insurance.
Gratuities for the ship's crew.
Any transfers, meals or personal expenses not explicitly listed as included.
The official product groups Days 2–8 as flexible expedition cruising; the expanded daily sequence below is a conditional planning matrix, not a promised schedule.
The 9-day program comprises one hotel night in Longyearbyen and seven nights aboard Balto.
The current exact Balto page shows 2027 cabin prices but no dated Balto departure. PolarQuest's calendar separately lists dated Svalbard Adventure departures on Quest; no date or price is stored here.
Balto carries 12 passengers and the program is led by one expedition leader and one guide.
The supplier states that a full carbon offset is included; this is reported as a supplier inclusion, not an independently verified emissions claim.
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.
Long-haul flights and the on-the-ground program generate 2.7 t CO₂e on this trip. 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.
Price
Upon Request
Explore glacier fronts and seabird cliffs in Krossfjorden, Raudfjorden or Liefdefjorden when conditions permit.
Look for walrus, seals, whales and polar bears without treating any wildlife sighting as guaranteed.
Visit Ny-Ålesund, Danskøya or another historic Arctic site if access and the route allow.
Reach toward Sjuøyane or the pack-ice edge north of Spitsbergen when ice and weather make that safe.
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.
Svalbard Adventure is a 9-day, 12-guest expedition aboard Balto. After an included hotel night in Longyearbyen, seven nights aboard are devoted to western and northern Spitsbergen's fjords, glaciers, seabird cliffs and possible pack-ice encounters.
The midnight sun, snow-streaked mountains and active bird colonies set the scene. PolarQuest's official route remains deliberately flexible: possible objectives include Prins Karls Forland, Danskøya and Virgohamna, Liefdefjorden and Monaco Glacier, Krossfjorden, Raudfjorden, Ny-Ålesund, the Sjuøyane islands and the pack-ice edge north of Spitsbergen. Walrus, seals, whales and polar bears may be seen, never guaranteed.
Balto's two guides and two Zodiacs make daily Zodiac cruising and shore landings possible when conditions allow. Ice, weather, wildlife and current Svalbard regulations decide the final sequence rather than a fixed port schedule.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
Arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to the included hotel. Use the evening to settle into the High Arctic and prepare for the next day's lunch, embarkation and expedition briefings.
If the exposed west coast offers the strongest safe opportunity, explore Prins Karls Forland by Zodiac or on foot. Snow-covered mountains, seabirds and harbour-seal habitat make it a valuable possible objective, not a guaranteed landing.
If the northern route is open, investigate Danskøya and Virgohamna, where Andrée and Wellman launched attempts toward the North Pole. Snow, ice and protected-site rules govern access to the historic remains.
A possible fjord day follows Liefdefjorden toward the Monaco Glacier. Zodiac cruising may reveal the glacier front, snow-covered peaks, common eiders, pink-footed geese and, with luck, rare king eiders.
Use the best conditions among Krossfjorden's 14th of July Glacier, Raudfjorden's seal and seabird habitat, or the research village of Ny-Ålesund in Kongsfjorden. The expedition leaders select the actual objective.
When ice and weather permit, reach toward Sjuøyane north of Nordaustlandet. This remote island group carries traces of Andrée's balloon expedition and offers a high-latitude wildlife and landscape objective.
If the pack-ice edge is safely accessible, spend patient time scanning this seldom-visited habitat for seals and polar bears. Otherwise, use the final expedition day for the strongest safe Zodiac cruise or landing on the return toward Longyearbyen.
Leave Balto early in Longyearbyen and begin the journey home. Flights, onward accommodation and transfers not explicitly included by PolarQuest remain the traveller's responsibility.