SPITSBERGEN COASTAL CRUISE 2009

BERGEN - SPITSBERGEN

CRUISE ONBOARD THE COASTAL STEAMER M/S NORDSTJERNEN
 

13 days / 12 nights, Bergen - Flam - Geirangerfjord - Trondheim - Lofoten - Bjarkoy -

Honningsvag - North Cape - Longyearbyen - Magdalenefjord - Ny Alesund - Longyearbyen 

A 13-day voyage onboard the MS Nordstjernen exploring Norway's stunning coastline

from the South to the North continuing to the high Arctic, 13 days starting at $ 4325
 

Departure Saturday, May 30 - June 11, 2009

Experience the highlights of the Norwegian coast and Svalbard’s west coast, from 60° to 80°N, Bergen to Spitsbergen. Onboard the former coastal steamer M/S Nordstjernen we will visit some of the most exciting destinations in Norway, from Bergen in the south, along the western Norwegian coastline to the North Cape, ending with the crowning glory Spitsbergen in north.

Starting off in Bergen we sail along the beautiful west coast and visit places such as Flåm and Gudvangen in Sognefjord, Geiranger on the Geirangerfjord, Ålesund, Trondheim, Lofoten Islands and Vesterålen, Tromsø and all the way to the North Cape. Nature will leave a powerful impression. On Svalbard we visit Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund as we sail towards 80°N.

The Cruise Itinerary
This is an exclusive cruise with only one departure in June. We sail out from the capital of western Norway, Bergen, and continue the journey to beautiful Flåm in Aurlandsfjorden. After Flåm we will sail into
Nærøyfjorden, the most beautiful arm of Sognefjorden.

From Geiranger to Vesterålen
Geirangerfjorden is the next highlight on the cruise, including a visit in Ålesund before we are heading for Trøndelag and the regional capital of Mid-Norway - Trondheim. After visiting Trondheim, we are heading for the famous Lofoten Islands and we will sail slowly past Reine, a traditional fishing village in Moskenes. Svolvær is our next stop before we head north towards Trollfjorden and the Vesterålen region.

Troms and Finnmark
The next day we will arrive at Bjarkøya, a small municipality which consists of 365 islands - all of them are varied and special in their own way. We will sail along the second largest island of Norway, Senja, before we arrive in Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic. The journey continues north, and we will enjoy the view of the spectacular mountains Lyngsalpene.
The next day we arrive in Honningsvåg, a fishing harbour and the capital of North Cape. Here we will offer an optional tour for those who would like to visit North Cape on a sightseeing trip.

Towards Svalbard
We're sailing around the North Cape, leaving the Norwegian coast, heading for Spitsbergen. The journey will take approximately two days. If the weather- and ice conditions allow us to, we will make a stop at Bjørnøya (the Bear island).
We arrive in Longyearbyen on Sunday morning. We'll have a guided tour in town to learn more about the exciting history of Longyearbyen. We will have lunch at the historical Spitsbergen Hotel before we get some time on our own. Embarkation at the ship at 17.00.

The Northwest coast of Spitsbergen
MS Nordstjernen takes us out of the Isfjord via Barentsburg and northward along the coast of Prins Karls Forland. The next morning we will pass the mouth of the Kongsfjord and also sail along the exposed stretch of coast known as "The Seven Icebergs", before reaching the northwest corner of Spitsbergen. In this area several magnificent fjords, including the famous Magdalenefjord, is located. At Gravneset we'll do our first landing by tender boats, and our guides will tell us the exciting history of the place.

From hunting to research
The additional program for Monday and Tuesday is based on the existing weather- and ice conditions. Most likely we will get to se the walrus colony at Moffen Island, and we're trying to cross the 80th parallel. On Wednesday we will visit Ny-Ålesund and learn more about the history based on both coal mining and polar exploration.

Landings along the coastlines
On board MS Nordstjernen we will meet our expedition leader and a travel guide who will assist us during the whole cruise. The rest of our guide team will join us in Longyearbyen.
Along the Norwegian coastline we're offered optional sightseeing tours and activities, which we may register for and then join. We may also spend the time on land on our own.

On Spitsbergen we normally do one landing per day. We dock at the quayside at Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund, and elsewhere we use tender boats. We make these landings where there are signs of hunting and other activities from earlier times, or where the natural history is of special interest.

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