Title: | Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding |
Dates: | |
Tripcode: | OTL02-26 |
Duration: | 9 nights |
Ship: | m/v Ortelius |
Embarkation: | Aberdeen |
Disembarkation: | Longyearbyen |
Language: | English speaking voyage |
More about: | |
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.
Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from the Scottish port of Aberdeen to our favorite Arctic island group.
Birding: -
We will have at least one dedicated expedition guide in our team who will share their expert knowledge about bird species and who will be available to help you identify, photograph on deck and learn more about the birds that we see. In addition to outdoor sessions, our guide will focus on species and related information on the birds of the Arctic in re-caps and lectures onboard.
Day 1: Sights of the Granite City
You arrive in Aberdeen, the Granite City, frequent winner of the Britain in Bloom competition. This is the true start of your trip. Several cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are native to these seas. To the south you see the lighthouse on Girdle Ness that was designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish writer who gave us such classics as Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. More passengers join you in Aberdeen.
Day 2: Birds, seals, and world-famous knits
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.
Day 3 – 4: Jan Mayen marine life
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 5: Snow-capped seaside volcano
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.
Day 6 – 8: Under the midnight sun & along the ice edge
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 9: The Arctic island of 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 10: Journey’s end in 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 Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife voyage.
Highlights you might experience
m/v Ortelius
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN
Birding
We will have at least one dedicated expedition guide in our team who will share their expert knowledge about bird species and who will be available to help you identify, photograph and learn more about the birds that we see.
Cabins & Prices
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/oceanwide_web/media-dynamic/cache/widen_300/v2-gallery_media/media66cd8ae7f4089122721945.jpg)
Quadruple Porthole
- Cabin size between 12,4 m² and 14,1 m²
- 2 portholes
- 2 upper / lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/oceanwide_web/media-dynamic/cache/widen_300/v2-gallery_media/media66cd8e7462057733752921.jpg)
Triple Porthole
- 2 portholes
- 1 upper / lower berth + 1 single lower berth
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/oceanwide_web/media-dynamic/cache/widen_300/v2-gallery_media/media66cd90bb96dc7077474680.jpg)
Twin Porthole
- Cabin size between 11,4 m² and 15,1 m²
- 2 portholes
- 2 lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/oceanwide_web/media-dynamic/cache/widen_300/v2-gallery_media/media66cd93066b0c2886656547.jpg)
Twin Window
- Cabin size between 17,5 m² and 17,7 m²
- 2 windows
- 2 lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/oceanwide_web/media-dynamic/cache/widen_300/media/default/0001/01/d94cd7ed00cb53ffc0c73e1deec988c5d6c04195.jpeg)
Twin Deluxe
- Cabin size 17,7 m²
- 3 windows
- 2 lower berths
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Small sofa
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).
Sharing berth
Share your cabin with others for the best price.
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/oceanwide_web/media-dynamic/cache/widen_300/v2-gallery_media/media66cd9ace05223139558516.jpg)
Superior
- Cabin size between 18,4 m² en 20,4 m²
- 2 windows (minimum)
- 1 double bed
- 1 single (sofa) bed
- Private shower & toilet
- Desk & chair
- Flatscreen TV
- Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Hair dryer
- Safe deposit box
- Ample storage space
Complete cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Single cabin
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person ({rate}x the shared rate).