Three Arctic Islands:
Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
A Quark Expeditions exclusive. This award-winning expedition cruise takes you to Scorsbysund,
on the northeast coast of Greenland, Iceland, and high above the Arctic Circle in Spitsbergen,
Norway. Iconic Arctic animals such as the polar bear, musk ox, reindeer and walrus are commonly
seen. No other Arctic adventure takes in such varied destinations ranging from active volcanoes to
massive glaciers. If you want to experience the Arctic in all of its beauty, then you must venture to
these three Arctic islands.
EXPEDITION IN BRIEF:
• Named one of National Geographic Travelers’ 50
Tours of a Lifetime
• Glaciers and Wildlife of Spitsbergen
• Remote coast of Greenland
• Zodiac cruising
• Tundra hiking
• Optional kayak adventure option on selected expeditions
DID YOU KNOW? The Greenland Sea was home to a seasonal ice bridge called the ‘Odden
Ice Tongue’. Last formed in 1997, this bridge of ice would form from the eastern edge of
Greenland halfway to Svalbard, reaching Jan Mayen Island. The name came from the way
the ice was formed in the currents of the Greenland Sea, which made it resemble a tongue.
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Adventure Options
You have the chance to book optional adventure
activities on your expedition. These options vary by
departure, are all subject to availability and fill up
quickly, so be sure to book yours early. Please note,
all Adventure Options are weather dependant.
SEA-KAYAKING
Imagine gliding along the surface of a bay in the presence of
icebergs and glaciers! Our sea-kayaking adventures are the
best way to feel at one with the sea.
Taken in small groups of 10-16 people, multiple times per
voyage, sea-kayaking adventures are only done during calm
weather conditions. We require you to have some prior
sea-kayaking experience, including the capability to do a wet
exit.
More information about your Adventure Options, including
physical requirements and cost of each option is available by
contacting your Polar Travel Adviser.
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Itinerary
DAY 1 Embarkation Day in Longyearbyen
Your voyage will embark in
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen.
DAY 2 TO 5 Spitsbergen, Norway
Exploring Spitsbergen, the largest of
the Norwegian-ruled Svalbard islands,
rewards you with abundant wildlife
and austere beauty. Here you’ll visit
spectacular glacier fronts and steepwalled fjords with walrus, polar bear
and Spitsbergen reindeer among your
possible wildlife sightings. Birders will
be thrilled to see Arctic terns, skuas,
long-tailed ducks, kittiwakes and
glaucous and ivory gulls. As an added
bonus, when conditions are right, you
could sail within 10° of the North Pole!
DAY 6 & 7 Greenland Sea
While sailing the historic Greenland
Sea, you’ll learn about the wildlife and
history of Greenland, your next stop.
On deck you’ll learn to identify seabirds
on the wing. Share photos, sip an icy
cocktail in the bar or watch a movie;
there are many things to do during your
time at sea.
AKUREYRI
Actual itinerary may vary based on conditions and voyage length.
several locations. Visit the remains of
ancient Thule settlements, and keep
an eye out for grazing musk oxen, as
40% of the world’s population of this
fascinating mammal lives here. Finally,
sail you will sail through spectacular
Scoresbysund, the birthplace of many
icebergs, and - some say - the most
beautiful fjord system in the world.
DAY 8 TO 12 Eastern Greenland
DAY 13 Denmark Strait
During your tour of Greenland’s remote
eastern coast, you’ll enjoy sea-level
Zodiac cruises and shore visits to
At sea, the Denmark Strait is your
pathway east, towards Iceland. Your
onboard Expedition Team will keep
you informed and entertained with
presentations about the history of
exploration in the Arctic and the
seabirds that you’ll inevitably see
soaring above your ship.
DAY 14 Disembarkation Day in Akureyri
We disembark in Akureyri. From
here we fly to the domestic airport in
Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. We provide
transfer to downtown Reykjavik.
WANT TO STAY LONGER OR ARRIVE EARLIER?
Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone
(1.888.892.0073) for seamless worry-free booking of all trip extensions.
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Inclusions
THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
• Shipboard accommodation with daily
housekeeping
• All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on
board throughout your voyage
• All shore landings per the daily program
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our
experienced Expedition Leader
• A daily program of lectures by noted naturalists
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the
daily program
• Formal and informal presentations by
our Expedition Team and Special Guests
as scheduled
• Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting
the voyage
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan
for shore landings
• An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep
• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
• A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beverages
• Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials,
including a map and an informative
Arctic Reader
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
throughout the program
• All luggage handling aboard ship
• Arrival transfer from Longyearbyen airport
to your hotel if you arrive one day prior to
embarkation
THREE ARCTIC ISLANDS • On embarkation day transfer from your hotel or
Longyearbyen airport to the ship
• On disembarkation day group transfer to
downtown Reykjavik
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all
passengers to a maximum benefit of
US$100,000 per person
• Pre and/or post night accommodations as
indicated in the itinerary
• Greenland voyages Cruise Passenger Tax
THIS EXPEDITION EXCLUDES
• International airfare
• Passport and any applicable visa expenses
• Government arrival and departure taxes not
mentioned above
• Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at
the host hotel
• Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical
travel insurance
• Excess baggage charges
• Laundry and other personal charges
• Telecommunications charges
• The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for
shipboard staff and crew
• Any overnight accommodation required due to
flight connections
• Optional sea-kayaking activities
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Dates & Rates
THREE ARCTIC ISLANDS Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship SEA SPIRIT
Dates
Triple
Main Deck
Classic
Deluxe
Premium Owner’s Suite
Aug 1 - Aug 14, 2014
Days Emb/Disemb
14
Long/Reyk
$7,995
$9,995
$10,995 $11,995
Superior
$13,995
$14,995
$18,995
Sep 10 - Sep 23, 2014
14
Long/Reyk
$6,995
$8,995
$9,995
$12,995
$13,995
$17,995
$10,995
•
•
All non-alcoholic and house pouring drinks are included. A selection of premium alcoholic drinks (such as top wines and spirits) is also available at an
additional cost.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONS
To book your cabin or inquire about the availabilty of adventure options,
contact a Polar Travel Advisor 1.888.892.0073 (+1.203.803.2666).
1-888-892-0073
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Eastern Greenland
POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
RØDEFJORDEN
The Red Fjord, or Rypefjord, is named for the colorful
sandstone located on its western side. The stone has been
‘stained’ red by hematite, creating an oddity in this part of
Greenland.
IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected
is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition
travel. When travelling in extremely remote regions, your
expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather
to guide route and itinerary details. The above is a tentative
outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be
aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.
SCORESBYSUND
Revered by many as the most beautiful fjord system in the
world, Scoresbysund is definitely the longest and largest.
The sound was named after William Scoresby, a whaler,
scientist and man of the cloth, who was famed for mapping
more than 400 miles of Greenland coastline.
UUNARTOQ QEQERTAQ
Discovered in 2005, this small island is called a ‘warming
island’ as it was uncovered as the result of climate change
and the melting of ice.
CAPE HOFMANN HALVØ
This is often the best location for getting close to musk oxen.
The Cape is also home to wheateaters and snow buntings,
while you may also spot rock ptarmigans or northern divers
while at sea.
DENMARK ISLAND
Near Fohn Fjord, some of the most stunning icebergs are to
be encountered before taking a hike across Denmark Island,
which offers stupendous views of the Scoresbysund and
Fohn Fjord below.
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Svalbard
POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
ALKEFJELLET
This cliff is a seabird center, where brünnich’s guillemots
(thick-billed murres) raise their young. An estimated
100,000 breeding pairs raise their young here in the basalt
cliffs. The birds do not build nests, rather they lay an egg on
the bare ledge.
LILLIEHÖÖK GLACIER
In 1906, His Serene Highness Prince Albert I of Monaco
visited Lilliehöök Glacier to conduct scientific investigations.
His great-great-grandson visited the glacier 100 years later.
He, too, was part of a scientific investigation, this time to
further our understanding of the Arctic clam, a species that
lives for more than a century. The growth rings of a single
clam’s shell contain evidence of the chemicals encountered
by the clam. Scientists can determine the variations of the
water’s temperature and pollutant content by studying
the shell.
THREE ARCTIC ISLANDS LONGYEARBYEN
Eighteen hundred people inhabit the administrative capital
of Svalbard, which is situated on the shore of Isfjorden. The
settlement was founded in 1905 by John Munroe Longyear,
the majority owner of the Arctic Coal Company of Boston.
MOFFEN ISLAND
This island is designated as a protected sanctuary for walrus.
MONACO GLACIER
HSH Prince Albert I of Monaco, a pioneer of oceanography,
led an expedition to Svalbard in 1906. His team used
sophisticated photographic techniques to understand the
shape and position of several glacier fronts. Monaco Glacier
honors the expedition, the prince and the principality over
which he reigned.
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