Route map
Arrive at the airport for your flights via Oslo with SAS to Longyearbyen. On arrival, transfer to the three-star Svalbard Hotel the Vault for one night with breakfast.
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3* Svalbard Hotel the Vault - Svalbard
Voyage to the Arctic & Spitsbergen
Selected departures in June 2020
So much to discover
- Brand New Expedition Cruise
- Experience the midnight sun from within the Arctic Circle
- Visit the vast glaciers and fjords of Spitsbergen and the world’s most northerly permanent settlement
- Sail along the rim of the Arctic pack ice
- See a wide variety of wildlife, from polar bears, walruses and whales to arctic foxes and millions of seabirds
- All shore excursions on the MV Ocean Atlantic’s fleet of Zodiac dinghies
- A programme of fascinating lectures by the on-board team of knowledgeable expedition guides
"What Riviera are past masters of is thinking of the little things that make for a fantastic trip."
- Trevor & CherylOverview
Imagine gazing out over an empty landscape of vast creaking glaciers surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the sea around you dotted with small icebergs. Look out for the huge black tailfins of humpback whales as they dive, whilst on land the low tundra vegetation is dotted with bright flowers taking advantage of the short summer warmth. Look a little more carefully and you’ll spot an Arctic fox or some Svalbard reindeer, and along the beaches maybe get close to a colony of walruses. As our ship skirts the pack ice, we may be lucky enough to spot a polar bear and her cub on their constant hunt for seals. A true Arctic adventure awaits you on our Spitsbergen seven-night cruise on board the four-star MV Ocean Atlantic!
After its first successful season in the Antarctic in 2019, the Ocean Atlantic will be sailing around the Svalbard archipelago, including its largest island of Spitsbergen, for summer 2020. Starting in the small Norwegian town of Longyearbyen, our ship will explore these magnificent inshore waters and fjords, and visit spectacular cliffs inhabited by thousands of seabirds. Svalbard is larger than you may think, three times the size of Wales, but with fewer than 3,000 permanent inhabitants – in fact, polar bears outnumber the humans!
June is the perfect time to spot the amazing wildlife of one of the world’s most fascinating and remote polar regions. Located well inside the Arctic Circle, you’ll experience the midnight sun whilst navigating through the narrow channels and fjords of this incredible Arctic wilderness. We’ll also aim to go around 80 degrees north to meet the edge of the pack ice and spot polar bears in their preferred habitat.
On our way back home, you’ll have a night in Norway’s capital Oslo – a charming small city, with its futuristic waterside opera house and pedestrianised main street just a short stroll from our hotel.
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE
DAY 2 - LONGYEARBYEN & EMBARKATION
Svalbard
Morning
Enjoy a relaxing morning exploring the small town on Longyearbyen, learning about its history and seeing the entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a vast repository for up to 2.25 billion seeds from all over the world, kept here at a constant temperature of -18 degrees Celsius so that should a species become extinct, it can be revived.
Afternoon
After some free time for lunch, we board the MV Ocean Atlantic and begin our exciting Arctic voyage.
DAY 3 TO 8 - ARCTIC CRUISING
DAY 9 - DISEMBARKATION
DAY 10 - OSLO & RETURN FLIGHT
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Meet Your Tour Manager, George Bareham
Raised in Yorkshire, George’s photography and tour leading career began in South America 30 years ago.
George says: "I’ve always loved the natural world and other cultures and it’s my absolute passion to photograph them. I’m proud to say I’ve won a few awards for my work! I have led many photography tours and there’s nothing I love more than getting out into the wilds with my camera in hand."
Transfer Times
All transfer times listed here are approximate, and dependent on traffic. If you have a question regarding transfer times please don't hesitate to contact us.
| Arrival airport | First hotel location | Transfer time | Final hotel location | Departure airport | Transfer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Svalbard Airport | Svalbard | 40 mins | Oslo | Oslo Airport | 40 mins |
Why should I choose Riviera Travel?
We care deeply about our customers and the holiday experience they have. We’re passionate about travel and we want all aspects to be perfect, with personal service and attention at every step of the way. Our world-class holidays include everything you need, with no detail overlooked. We carefully curate every aspect of your trip based on our own first-hand experience and expertise built up over decades in the travel industry.
What is included in the price?
The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room/cabin and includes:
- Scheduled flights to Longyearbyen
- Return domestic flights to Oslo and from Oslo to the UK
- A one-night stay at a three-star hotel in Longyearbyen
- A one-night stay at a four-star hotel in Oslo
- Breakfast at both hotels
- seven nights' cruise on the MV Ocean Atlantic, with daily breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
- All shore excursions by Zodiac dinghies
- Lectures by the on-board expedition team
- Port charges
- All transfers
- Porterage of one item of luggage per person
- The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
Cruise itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions. On-board currency is the US dollar.
