Travel Advice
Duration
20 Nights
Journey Type
Cruise only (Please call for flight options)
Ports
8 Ports
5 September
Setting sail from Longyearbyen
This is the world's northernmost city and the base for tourism in Svalbard. A bit quirky, as you would expect from somewhere that spends four months of the year in near darkness, Longyearbyen doesn't take long to explore. Its brightly coloured wooden houses are built on stilts, as the ground in Svalbard is permafrost. When you enter a building, you are normally asked to remove your shoes, and leave your gun at the door. Gun carrying is more or less essential for the locals, as with 3,000 local hungry polar bears, it is said that you never know when you might need protection. That said, we visited safely without a gun!
Don't miss
At the so called heart of the city, Huset has long been the centre for culture and community. Go there for great food and to sample one of the largest wine cellars in Europe!
6 September
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Isfjorden
Isfjorden is the second longest fjord in Svalbard, and is also where you’ll find the archipelago’s largest settlements, Longyearbyen and Barentsburg. Birds including guillemots, kittiwakes and puffins can be seen on the cliffs along the coast, and polar bears are known to prowl here.
7-9 September
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Hornsund, Soraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, Hinlopen Strait
10 September
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Nordaustlandet
Nordaustlandet is the second largest island in the Svalbard archipelago after Spitsbergen, a barren and remote place that is mostly covered by vast ice caps. Wildlife species able to deal with the harsh conditions include reindeer, walruses and polar bears, with female bears giving birth here during winter.
11-13 September
At sea
14-15 September
The North Pole
Few people can say that they have stood at the one earthly spot where every direction is south! Crushing through the ice, admiring soaring seabirds and the stunning Arctic scenery, your voyage will be an extraordinary experience indeed.
16-24 September
At sea
25 September
Arriving in Nome
Only accessible by air or sea, the remote Alaskan town of Nome sits overlooking the Bering Strait, surrounded by miles of largely featureless tundra. This was once a boomtown; the discovery of easily extractable gold in 1898 led to a gold rush, and you can still see the remnants of the mining industry which thrived here. The gold hasn't completely dried up, so many still come here to try and find their fortune, while other visitors are drawn to Nome by the varied bird life and intriguing Iñupiat culture.
Your home from home
The world's first electric hybrid polar expedition ship, Le Commandant Charcot may be the most exciting addition yet to the Ponant fleet.
What we love
Jean-Baptiste Charcot was a true polar pioneer, and Ponant's icebreaker explores the parts of the Arctic and Antarctica that other expedition vessels can't reach. On board you can expect Ponant's customary French flair, and the ship is also designed to have a minimal effect on the environment, with technological innovations such as hybrid propulsion and an advanced waste water treatment system.
| Capacity | 245 Guests |
|---|---|
| Crew | 187 Staff |
| Style | This may be the world's most luxurious icebreaker, blending contemporary decor with a refined French flair. |
| Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
Ways to make it better
Where to stay in Longyearbyen
There’s really not much choice! Go for the Radisson Blu.
Explore Spitsbergen
Travel out of Longyearbyen by snow scooter or dog sled to take a look at the amazing scenery and hunt for wildlife.
