Svalbard- Last stop before the North Pole

Enjoy the vast beauty of Svalbard on this Arctic expedition cruise among whales, walruses, polar bears and millions of sea birds. Cruise during high summer in the Arctic aboard the Ocean Albatros - one of the few ice-class expedition ships built to withstand the North Pole’s pack ice.

One of the goals of this Albatros expedition is to sail as close as possible to the pack ice north of Svalbard, the polar bear´s favorite summer home. Of course, this is weather dependent. Additionally, we will visit many amazing locations along the west coast of Svalbard, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream making it navigable.

During the short summer, wildlife such as reindeer and polar fox are busy amassing energy for the icy polar winter. The cliffs shimmer with life as every surface is populated with countless birds, and in a few months a new generation of arctic sea birds is ready to leave their nests. Arctic guillemots, black guillemots and razorbills can be observed fishing in the wake of our ship. On several shores, the huge walruses enjoy the short Arctic summer as well as many whales and seals foraging along the edge of the pack ice and the coasts.

With a fleet of sturdy Zodiac boats, we are able to view wildlife at close proximity. The Zodiacs allow us to have frequent shore landings and embark on exploratory mini cruises in the fjords and glacial landscapes.