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9 Night Circumnavigating Spitsbergen In the Realm of the Polar Bear Cruise and Land Tour from Oslo

Ship: MS Spitsbergen
Cruise Line: Hurtigruten Cruise Line
Sailed:  Monday, Jul 15, 2024 from Oslo, Norway
Ended: Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024
The itinerary information below reflects the original day-by-day port of call schedule for the Monday, Jul 15, 2024 departure of the MS Spitsbergen. If Hurtigruten Cruise Line modified this itinerary for weather or operational reasons after departing , the modified schedule would not be reflected here.
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Day by Day Summary and Map

Day 1 - Monday - Jul 15, 2024
Oslo, Norway
Oslo, Norway      
Air Travel      
Longyearbyen, Norway      
Enjoy time in Oslo before flying to Svalbard. Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway's fjord-side capital. If you have time before your flight, head out to explore the city center. With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You'll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture, including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum. Take a stroll in the Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, visit Akershus Fortress, or relax in a floating sauna. Explore modern Sorenga and enjoy urban beach life, or try New Nordic cuisine before flying out to Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago.
Day 2 - Tuesday - Jul 16, 2024
Longyearbyen, Norway
Longyearbyen, Norway      
Cruise Begins      
Longyearbyen, Norway      
Explore colorful Longyearbyen. After breakfast, it's time to explore the world's northernmost town, a colorful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles. Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer pass by. Although wild, they're curious and gentle. Admire the polar bear-inspired art or visit the North Pole Expedition Museum. Before boarding your ship in the afternoon to continue your Arctic journey, join an included excursion after lunch, or try an optional electric bike, dog-sledding, or hiking tour.
Day 3 - Wednesday - Jul 17, 2024
Spitsbergen National Park, Norway      
Experience pristine Arctic wilderness. Over the next three days, you'll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Surrounded by steep mountains, stark glaciers, and beautiful offshore islands, we'll scan for Arctic animals, including whales, seals, walruses, and reindeer. If we're really lucky, we might even see the elusive polar bear hunting on the ice. In stunning Kongsfjord, you may see glaciers calving into the sea. Be ready for adventure - we'll seize any opportunity to launch our kayaks or use our small boats (RIBs) to go ashore to hike or help in a beach clean-up.
Day 4 - Thursday - Jul 18, 2024
Spitsbergen National Park, Norway      
Day 5 - Friday - Jul 19, 2024
Spitsbergen National Park, Norway      
Day 6 - Saturday - Jul 20, 2024
Hinlopen Strait, Norway      
Day 7 - Sunday - Jul 21, 2024
Freemansundet, Norway
Freemansundet, Norway      
Kapp Lee, Norway      
Scouting for polar bears, seabirds, and walruses. The frozen seascape of eastern Svalbard is home to the archipelago's largest population of polar bears. We have high hopes you'll see this elusive animal over the next two days. We will also scout for walrus and colonies of Brunnich's guillemots and other seabirds in the Hinlopen Strait. We may head south to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee or take our small boats (RIBs) to Edgeoya or Barentsoya. Your Expedition Team will set the daily itinerary. They'll monitor local ice and weather conditions to take you on exhilarating landings, hikes, and kayaking tours.
Day 8 - Monday - Jul 22, 2024
Hornsund, Norway      
Majestic glaciers, rich vegetation, and seabirds. As we sail toward the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, we'll enter Hornsund, one of Svalbard's most beautiful fjords. Rich, colorful vegetation transforms into towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, admire Mount Hornsundtind, and watch glaciers calving into the sea. The green patches of land you'll see here are fertilized by little auk colonies. This in turn attracts Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes, so keep your eyes peeled. In the evening, we'll journey north toward Isfjord, past beautiful Bellsund.
Day 9 - Tuesday - Jul 23, 2024
Isafjorden, Norway      
Witness living history and ecology. Our Svalbard circumnavigation continues into Isfjord's lush fjord system, where you'll see immense, glacier-carved valleys rich in wildlife, vegetation, and human history. To the north, Alkhornet is home to guillemots, kittiwakes, Svalbard reindeer, and Arctic foxes. Clear traces of the area's whaling and hunting past are visible on beaches and in bays. Farther south, we'll pass the former Isfjord Radio satellite communication station, which is now one of the world's most beautifully situated hotels. Today's activities will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions in Isfjord. Each day, your Expedition Team will decide on the best options for exploring.
Day 10 - Wednesday - Jul 24, 2024
Longyearbyen, Norway
Longyearbyen, Norway      
Cruise Ends      
Air Travel      
Oslo, Norway      
A final day on top of the world. Your Arctic adventure comes to an end back in Longyearbyen. You'll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice, and climate change than when you arrived. You'll also have lifelong memories from this incredible experience. Before your flight back to Oslo, you'll have time to explore more of Longyearbyen and do a bit of shopping - perhaps you'll pick out a warm Svalbard sweater.