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Svalbard Expedition Cruise: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

  • Embark on a Svalbard expedition cruise, aiming to circumnavigate the island of Spitsbergen
 
  • Encounters with polar bears, walrus, seals, Arctic fox, reindeer, whales and seabirds
 
  • Pack ice, glaciers, fjords, tundra and dramatic Arctic coastlines
 
  • Discover Arctic history and early polar exploration heritage
 
  • Daily Zodiac landings, guided hikes, on board presentations and expert-led excursions
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BOOK THIS TRIP

From £6,906 per person (voyage discounts may be applicable)

This voyage package is based on 2 people sharing a Twin cabin and includes:

  • 9 nights’ shipboard accommodation on an all inclusive basis (alcohol is an extra charge) 
  • All zodiac excursions and shore landings
  • Specialist expedition team and expert-led lectures
  • Loan of rubber boots and snowshoes during landings
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi (connections may be unreliable in remote regions)
  • All port surcharges, permits and landing fees

This roughly converts to 8,633 EUR | 9,359 USD

Maximise your Svalbard adventure by extending your time in Longyearbyen – speak to our team if you’d like a customised itinerary

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Additional Infomation:

Departures: Voyages in Svalbard typically operate from June to August. This particular voyage aboard the M/V Plancius has multiple departures during June and July in 2026 and 2027.

A full circumnavigation around Spitsbergen is dependant on conditions and is not guaranteed. Departures in the second half of July and August generally have a higher chance of completing the circumnavigation.

Please note: Other cabin categories, expedition ships, departure dates and price points are available. Please refer to the ‘Additional Departures’ section below the itinerary, or contact us to learn more about voyage options available.

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ITINERARY

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited town. After some time to explore this former mining settlement, you’ll embark your expedition vessel in the late afternoon.
 
As you sail out of Isfjorden, the journey truly begins. This is the start of your Svalbard expedition cruise, leaving the settlement behind as the landscape quickly shifts into wide Arctic waters and glacier-lined fjords.
 
Photo Credit: Femke Wolfert 
M/V Plancius

M/V Plancius

M/V Plancius is a classic small-ship expedition vessel purpose-built for immersive polar exploration, combining authentic adventure cruising with comfort, flexibility and exceptional access to remote Polar regions. Originally constructed as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and fully rebuilt for expedition cruising in 2009, Plancius is ice-strengthened and designed to maximise time spent ashore through efficient Zodiac operations, spacious open deck areas and an expedition-focused design. Carrying just 108 passengers in 50 comfortable cabins, the ship offers an intimate onboard atmosphere with a high guide-to-guest ratio, ideal for wildlife encounters and educational exploration. Accommodation ranges from Quadruple and Triple Porthole cabins to spacious Superior cabins, all featuring private en-suite facilities. Onboard facilities include a panoramic observation lounge and bar, lecture and dining room, large outdoor viewing decks and dedicated expedition spaces. Plancius is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system that significantly reduces noise and vibration while improving operational efficiency. Comfortable rather than luxurious, M/V Plancius is highly regarded for its authentic expedition character, small-ship flexibility and ability to deliver off ship experiences in some of the world’s most remote natural environments.
Cruise north along the west coast into Krossfjorden, where glacier fronts meet steep mountain walls and the landscape feels increasingly remote. This part of your Spitsbergen cruise offers some of the most striking Arctic scenery on the route.
 
Continue to Ny Ålesund, one of the world’s northernmost settlements and an important hub for polar research. Once a mining village surrounded by glaciers and dramatic peaks, it has become a centre for international Arctic science. The area is also close to key breeding grounds for several bird species, making it a rewarding stop on a Svalbard expedition cruise for wildlife observation.
 
Photo Credit: Leica Akademie
Sail into Liefdefjorden, where towering ice meets the sea at Monaco Glacier. This area is rich in birdlife and offers excellent opportunities to watch for polar bears along the ice edge as you continue your Svalbard wildlife cruise.
 
Alternatively, you may explore the mouth of Wijdefjorden, where wide tundra landscapes stretch inland on both sides and the vast glacier front of Nordbreen dominates the horizon.
 
Photo Credit: Geert Kroes 
Sail towards the remote Seven Islands, one of the northernmost points of the voyage. At 80° north, you are just 870 km from the geographic North Pole, deep in the High Arctic. Here, you enter the pack ice zone, a shifting and dramatic landscape that is prime habitat for polar bears.
 
Conditions permitting, you may also visit Sorgfjord. There is an opportunity to go ashore for a hike, with the chance to see walrus haul outs near the historic graves of 17th century whalers at Eolusneset.
 
Photo Credit: Frank Maes 
Navigate into the remote Hinlopen Strait, a stark polar landscape between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet. This area feels particularly isolated on a Spitsbergen cruise, with vast open water, sea ice, and shifting light defining the scenery.
 
Wildlife encounters are possible throughout the day, with bearded and ringed seals often seen on the ice, while polar bears and whales may appear along the route.
 
Continue by Zodiac along the dramatic bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, where thousands of guillemots nest in dense colonies. Conditions permitting, attempt landings on the remote shores of Nordaustlandet, one of the least visited parts of the archipelago.
 
Photo Credit: Frank Maes
Explore the wild and rarely visited east coast, sailing through Heleysundet between Spitsbergen and Barentsøya into an area shaped by sea ice, isolation, and shifting Arctic conditions.
 
This part of your Svalbard circumnavigation cruise reveals a very different side of the archipelago, where wide tundra plains meet glacier fronts and wildlife is often seen at close range. Continue exploring remote islands such as Edgeøya, with opportunities to encounter walrus, reindeer, and Arctic foxes in their natural habitat.
 
Photo Credit: Erwin Vermeulen 
 
 
Discover the dramatic fjords of Hornsund in southern Spitsbergen, defined by jagged peaks, sweeping glaciers, and deep coastal inlets.
 
This remote area forms part of a classic Spitsbergen cruise route, with landings and hikes offering opportunities to observe seals and seabirds, and potentially polar bears in this striking Arctic landscape.
 
Photo Credit: Geert Kroes 
Cruise into Bellsund, one of Svalbard’s largest fjord systems. Influenced by relatively mild ocean currents, this area is slightly warmer than much of the archipelago, with noticeably more varied vegetation as a result.
 
Explore tundra landscapes rich in reindeer and birdlife, alongside historic remnants from early Arctic exploration. This final stage of your Svalbard cruise offers a different perspective on the archipelago, combining natural history with a sense of early human presence in the High Arctic.
 
Photo Credit: Geert Kroes
Continue exploring the west coast of Spitsbergen on your final full day of landings and Zodiac cruises, making the most of remaining wildlife encounters and dramatic Arctic scenery.
 
This part of your journey reflects the historic whaling heritage of the region, with sites that offer insight into early Arctic exploration and industry. It is a fitting conclusion to a small ship Svalbard cruise, bringing together landscapes, wildlife, and history in one final chapter of the voyage.
 
Photo Credit: Enrico Pescantini
Sail back to Longyearbyen overnight, arriving in the early morning. After breakfast, disembark and conclude your Svalbard expedition cruise, with time to reflect on your journey through the High Arctic.
 
Photo Credit: Pippa Low 
Ship Departures GBP USD EUR
M/V Hondius 27 Jun, 06 Jul, 15 Jul 2026 £6,906 $9,309 €7,900
M/V Plancius 07 Jul, 16 Jul 2026 £6,906 $9,309 €7,900
M/V Ortelius 03 Jul, 12 Jul, 21 Jul 2026 £6,906 $9,309 €7,900
Ocean Albatros 28 Jun, 07 Jul 2026 £6,895 $9,295 €7,888
Ultramarine 30 Jun 2026 £14,755 $19,890 €16,880
Ocean Explorer 09 Jul 2026 £15,126 $20,390 €17,304
M/V Hondius 29 Jun, 08 Jul, 26 Jul 2027 £7,255 $9,780 €8,300
M/V Plancius 06 Jul, 15 Jul, 24 Jul, 02 Aug, 11 Aug 2027 £7,255 $9,780 €8,300
M/V Ortelius 19 Jul, 28 Jul, 15 Aug 2027 £7,255 $9,780 €8,300
Ultramarine 30 Jun 2027 £14,384 $19,390 €16,455
 
Prices listed above are 'from' prices, based on 2 people sharing a twin cabin. All prices are subject to change and availability - contact our team for a quote and details of any applicable offers.
 
Please note: Voyage routing, duration and inclusions vary by operator and vessel. All expedition cruise itineraries are flexible and are shaped by local weather, sea and ice conditions, alongside wildlife sightings and other unique opportunities. The aim of your expedition team is to ensure the safest and most rewarding experience possible.

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Svalbard Expedition Cruise: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

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