A few Svalbard Adventure Cruise guests stand on bow of small white ship, viewing snowy peaks, icebergs & glassy sea in the sun.
3 Svalbard Adventure Cruise guests walk a rocky overlook above glassy sea & snow-capped mountains in full arctic sunshine.
Spotted brown & white seal raises its head & a paw while swimming in arctic waters during the Svalbard Adventure Cruise.
Lone polar bear walks over chunky ice near shoreline on a sunny day during the Svalbard Adventure Cruise in the Arctic,
Purple arctic tundra wildflowers sit on a cliff edge with blue sea below & white snow beyond, seen on the Svalbard Adventure.
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Polar Regions Arctic Cruise

Svalbard Adventure Cruise

From a selection of some of the smallest ships cruising in the Arctic, explore Svalbard in May or June, when the midnight sun reigns supreme, bird colonies teem with life and the dramatic mountain ranges are beautifully snow-capped. The ice still keeps the islands in its grip and you can admire the ever-changing ice formations. Spring has arrived and summer is just around the corner.

Your journey begins with a night in a hotel in Longyearbyen, followed by 7 nights on board. Navigate the magnificent Arctic wilderness of Svalbard, including glittering glaciers, and go ashore to take in the magnificent scenery. Along the way, keep an eye out for the iconic wildlife, including walruses, seals and polar bears.

Passage is aboard one of three sister ships in a fleet of intimate Arctic vessels. The 50-guest Quest offers 5 eager guides, a fleet of Zodiacs, and various unfussy social spaces, fostering exploration, connection and quiet contemplation. The 12-guest MS Sjoveien features a modern maritime interior, good options for solo travelers and a wood-fired hot tub on deck. And 12-guest MS Stockholm offers a chance to step back into time with classic maritime charm and included drinks. Both 12-guest yachts are an AdventureSmith favorite for private charter cruises due to their intimate size.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Svalbard cruises and widespread Arctic cruises and Arctic trips.



Itinerary

Svalbard Adventure Itinerary

On these May and June departures, sail northern Spitsbergen round-trip from Longyearbyen for springtime landscapes teeming with wildlife. Enjoy a pre-cruise overnight in Longyearbyen, for an unhurried embarkation day.

Route map of Svalbard Adventure Cruise, operating round-trip from Longyearbyen with visits along the northern and northwestern coast of Spitsbergen & possibly north of Nordaustlandet.
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Day 1
Arrive Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to the group hotel for a restful night of sleep.

Accommodations

The Vault (Quest departures), Hotel Polarfareren (Sjoveien & Stockholm departures)

Meals

n/a

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Days 2 - 8
Embark Longyearbyen & Expedition Cruising

Explore Longyearbyen on your own before meeting your fellow expedition members and guides for lunch. In the afternoon, board your expedition ship and sail out through Isfjordenthe Arctic expedition has begun! You are now in a part of the world where you are completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Your exact itinerary will depend on these factors and on the wildlife encountered. The aim is to head out on Zodiac cruises every day and also go ashore when the opportunity arises. Here are some examples of places you may visit:

Prins Karls Forland
This narrow strip of land is covered by a magnificent and snow-covered mountain chain. The island is also home to many seabirds and harbor seals.

Virgohamna, Danskøya
Danskøya was the starting point for two of the most daring attempts to reach the North Pole. The Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and the American journalist Wellman started with an airship. Interesting remnants of these Arctic expeditions can still be seen here.

Fantastic Fjords
Svalbard offers countless spectacular fjords to visit. During your cruise, explore a selection of fjords such as:

Liefdefjorden: Meaning “The fjord of love,” Liefdefjorden is lined with snow-capped mountain peaks; hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier here. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest in the area and with luck, you may see the rare king eider.

Krossfjorden: Here, enjoy the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier and be greeted by the large numbers of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs.

Raudfjorden: This is an area of immense natural beautydominated by magnificent glaciers. It is also a favorite spot for seals, and the bird cliffs are abuzz with activity.

Kongsfjorden: This is home to the scientific village of Ny-Ålesund. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile set out on their heroic expeditions to the North Pole.

North of Spitsbergen
North of Spitsbergen, you may come across the edge of the pack ice. Not many ships venture here and you can marvel at the silence and grandeur of this icy landscape. Keep an eye out for the iconic arctic wildlife.

Accommodations

Quest, MS Sjoveien, MS Stockholm

Meals

lunch (day 2); breakfast, lunch & dinner (days 3-8)

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Day 9
Disembark Longyearbyen, Svalbard

In the morning, leave the ship in Longyearbyen and begin your journey home.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

1 pre-cruise night in a hotel in Longyearbyen, 7 nights on board the vessel indicated in the itinerary, lunch on Day 2, all meals on board, coffee and tea, an experienced expedition leader and knowledgeable guides, guiding ashore and talks on board, all excursions and activities, airport transfers (if passengers arriving and departing via operator-recommended flights), taxes, port fees and AECO fees.

Exclusions

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; travel and cancellation insurance, and insurance of any kind; gratuity to the ship’s crew; and personal expenses such as bar and shop charges.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 25% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 181 days – full refund, minus a 15% administration fee
180 to 90 days – 100% of deposit
89 t0 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Svalbard Adventure cruise begins and ends in Longyearbyen, Norway (LYR). Longyearbyen is only accessed via flights from Oslo, Norway (OSL). Some flights arrive very early in the morning, before standard hotel check-in; in these cases, we recommend booking an extra hotel night or arranging a day room option. We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues.

Plan flights to arrive to Longyearbyen anytime on Day 1 of the itinerary. Disembarkation is from 8:00-9:00am on Day 9 of the itinerary. Plan flights to depart Longyearbyen no earlier than 12:00pm Noon on Day 9. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page. Additionally, the cruise operator offers group flights between Oslo, Norway and Longyearbyen—inquire with your Adventure Specialist for details.

Activities

There are no added-cost activities available on your Svalbard Adventure cruise. Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting and Zodiac cruises are included in the fare and will be offered to all passengers during each voyage. Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting.

Room Configuration

In addition to listed Single cabin rates, select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy at roughly 1.7x the perperson listed rate (your Adventure Specialist can confirm). Single travelers wishing to book on a “sharing basis” may do so at no additional cost in Twin categories upon availability.

Families & Children

Children 12 years and older at time of travel are welcomed on this cruise. There are no child discounts. On board MS Quest, by special request, families of 4 may be able to share a triple cabin for quad occupancy—inquire with your Adventure Specialist for details.

Travel Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip (the ship operator does not have a required minimum, so it’s recommended to discuss the appropriate coverage with your insurance company). Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditionswildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

The 12-guest MS Sjoveien & MS Stockholm ships are AdventureSmith favorites for private charter. Contact us for charter pricing and details.

May 11 - May 19, 2025
MS Stockholm • 9 days
From $9590USD
Per Person
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May 18 - May 26, 2025
MS Sjoveien • 9 days
From $9090USD
Per Person
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Jun 01 - Jun 09, 2025
MS Stockholm • 9 days
From $9590USD
Per Person
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Jun 02 - Jun 10, 2025
Quest • 9 days
From $6590USD
Per Person
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Jun 08 - Jun 16, 2025
MS Sjoveien • 9 days
From $9090USD
Per Person
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Jun 16 - Jun 24, 2025
Quest • 9 days
From $6590USD
Per Person
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Accommodations

Learn About the Small Ships on Your Itinerary

Expedition Ship
Quest

Come aboard the 50-guest M/S Quest—one of the most intimate expedition ships cruising the Arctic. Enjoy generous social spaces and a strong sense of onboard camaraderie on this classic ice breaker.

Yacht
MS Sjoveien

Carrying a maximum of 12 guests, MS Sjoveien (“hwer-vye-en") is the smallest Arctic ship in AdventureSmith's selection. Come aboard in Svalbard for a truly intimate experience rivaling that of a riverboat, but instead sailing among icebergs.

Yacht
MS Stockholm

Step back in time aboard the 12-guest MS Stockholm, for a Svalbard voyage complemented by classic maritime charm. From one of the first passenger ships cruising Svalbard, explore the most narrow Arctic channels in an intimate group, with upscale food and included beverages to enhance the experience.

Expert Review

Reviews From Our Experts So You Know What To Expect

Arielle Lightcap • January 7th, 2020
Expert Review: What to Expect on a Polar Bear Cruise

A travel expert lends her Arctic cruise insight on what you can expect aboard a small ship polar bear cruise in the Arctic Svalbard region.

Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

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