ARCTIC OCEAN EXPEDITION, ABERDEEN, FAIR ISLE, JAN MAYEN, ICE EDGE & SPITSBERGEN
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12 DAYS
Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to our favorite Arctic island group.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Vlissingen | Embarkation midday headed north. Far north. |
| Day 2 | At Sea - North Sea | Doggersbank, possible sightings of white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and orcas |
| Day 3 | Aberdeen | Vlissingen excursion by bus to Fowlsheugh (emarked Vlissingen), a seabird cliff south of Aberdeen or excursion to the Ythan Estuary |
| Day 4 | Fair Isle - Shetlands | Accessible to seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals |
| Days 5 & 6 | At Sea - Jan Mayen | 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. A couple of days at sea. Look out for blows, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale |
| Day 7 | Jan Mayen | Mt. Beerenberg, visit the weather station, walk to the remains of a 17th- century Dutch whaling station |
| Days 8 - 10 | Midnight Sun | Sail north, sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. At about 79° north cut west to the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen |
| Day 11 | Spitsbergen | Forlandsundet, walruses sometimes haul out here. Alternatively sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet |
| Day 12 | Longyearbyen | Disembark in Longyearbyen |
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Hondius
The Hondius (176 guests) launched in June 2019. She has an Ice class rating of 6, the most advanced to date. The Hondius offers deluxe accommodation for a total 176 guests. One deck has been entirely reserved for lectures and presentations in one large observation lounge. The ship’s main focus remains discovery, taking advantage of wildlife opportunities and the related shore activities. Efficient zodiac embarkation is guaranteed with two separate gangways and in addition a zodiac embarkation indoor-platform which can also be used for special activities such as kayaking.
Day 1 Vlissingen
Your journey begins at midday, boarding your vessel in Vlissingen, headed north. Far north.
Day 2 At Sea – North Sea
Crossing the North Sea and sailing by Doggersbank, we hope to be lucky enough to spot such species as white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and orcas.
Day 3 Aberdeen
Passengers who boarded in Vlissingen will be offered an excursion by bus to Fowlsheugh, a seabird cliff south of Aberdeen. Over 100,000 pairs of seabird of different species can be seen here. Alternatively, you can join an excursion to the Ythan Estuary, where the beaches are teeming with harbor seals, grey seals, and birds that keep to the shorelines. Both outings are included in the price of booking.
Day 4 Fair Isle – Shetlands
We plan to stay the day on Fair Isle, an island in the Shetlands whose seventy-odd inhabitants are known for their beautiful knitwear. This is a fantastic location with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals.
Days 5 & 6 At Sea – Jan Mayen
You sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. Your two days at sea do not pass idly, however. Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale.
Day 7 Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high (7,545 feet) volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th- century Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape.
Days 8 – 10 Midnight Sun
Basking in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. You then change direction after about 79° north, cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and – near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords – surfacing minke whales.
Day 11 Spitsbergen
Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here. Alternatively, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
Day 12 Longyearbyen
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies. But if you’re still craving additional chances to spot the Arctic’s most iconic apex predator, stay on board for our seven-night north Spitsbergen voyage, “in search of polar bears & pack ice.”