Home > Events > Land of the Polar Bear > Charity Cruise

cruise to the Land of the polar bear to benefit the prince albert ii of monaco foundation

12-day Eco-friendly Polar Exploration from just $3,697*per person

Experience the adventure of a lifetime... search the seldom-visited pack ice north of Spitsbergen for walrus and polar bears. Witness a multitude of seabirds, from puffins and cormorants to a guillemot colony of 600,000. Trek with an expedition team on informative nature hikes and listen in on lectures by renowned Scottish author, academic and environmentalist, Professor David M. Munro - from the Technical and Scientifc Committee of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

This 12-day cruise onboard Silversea’s new luxury expedition ship, the M/V Prince Albert II sets off on July 24. A portion of your fare - up to 30 per cent - is tax deductible in the USA and will directly benefit the important international work of The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for the environment.

The ship carries eight Zodiac boats allowing the exploration of places otherwise deemed inaccessible. Enjoy superlative service, fine dining and world-class hospitality with a crew ratio of nearly 1 to 1.

For reservations also:
email Trevor@pisabrothers.com or call 212-265-8420 ext 324

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
ITINERARY
FARES
DAY-BY-DAY
PROFESSOR DAVID M. MUNRO BIO

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

- Visits to charming coastal towns, learning Viking legends and toasting the midnight sun
- Lectures by renowned Scottish author, environmentalist and academic, Professor David M. Munro
- Discover walruses, seals, reindeer, arctic foxes and polar bears
- Shore walks and Zodiac boat landings
- Explore the North Cape, Bear Island, Tromsø also known as the Paris of the North, the steep cliffs of Magerøya Island and much more

ITINERARY

Click here for a detailed itinerary

*FARES

Click here for PDF of suite and ship description

Fares start from $US3,697* per person, double occupancy, and includes shore excursions as well as Silversea's all-inclusive amenities. (port charges, government fees and taxes of $US225 per guest are additional). Up to 30 per cent of the cruise fare will directly benefit the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and may be tax deductible*.

DAY BY DAY

Day 1 – Longyearbyen, Norway
Embark the M/V Prince Albert II this evening and depart on your exciting 12-day expedition to the land of the polar bear. You will be introduced to your expedition leaders and receive a Zodiac boat briefing. Tonight we invite you to attend a special Welcome Aboard cocktail party.

Days 2-9 – Svalbard exploration
Join us for a journey along an expansive archipelago of the Arctic Ocean woven between the North Pole and Norway. Svalbard is one of the last major European wilderness areas with pristine mountains, fauna, deep fjords, picturesque icebergs and massive ice sheets. Our goal on this voyage is to explore the eastern and least-visited sections of Svalbard’s breathtaking and the dramatic Spitsbergen. Once there, we will locate wildlife and spend the maximum amount of time hiking on the tundra. Spitsbergen is home to approximately 5,000 polar bears and we hope to encounter a good number of them during our trip.

We will travel along the same routes as famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Nordenskiöld, Amundsen and Nobile. We will trek along beaches blanketed with walruses, get to know the indigenous reindeer, and maybe even spot the arctic fox or bearded seal. Seabirds, such as ivory gulls, auks and puffins, will be our constant companions as we admire their playfulness and grace. We might even encounter a few whales. A variety of known species frequent the area, in particular the Minke and Beluga.

Our flexible itinerary allows us to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions. We will search for walruses, seals, reindeer, Arctic foxes and polar bears. Shore walks and zodiac landings will bring us up close to the mystical settings and passing icebergs. Each day our expedition leader and captain will determine our best course, depending on changing weather, ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter. In the true spirit of adventure cruising, our expedition leader will provide daily updates. Here is a list of places we may visit:

• Prins Farls Forland – off the west coast of Spitsbergen, we encounter the island home of Forland national park with cragged mountains, massive glaciers and remarkable wildlife. The entire island and the surrounding seas make up Forland national park. Members of our expedition team take us a shore at Poolypnten, a well-known walrus haul out, where our marine biologist explains the habits and habitat of these amazing creatures.

• Ice cruising – with the strengthened hull of the Prince Albert II, we have the perfect platform to search for walrus and polar bears as we devote at least one day to exploring the pack ice north of Spitsbergen. Conditions permitting, our expedition leader may choose to take us out in the zodiacs for an even closer look.

• Hinlopen strait – or Hinlopenstretet separates the main island of Spitsbergen from Nordausland, the second largest of the Svalbard islands.  It is approximately 90 miles long and at its narrowest only 5 miles wide.  Ice conditions permitting we hope to explore some of the islands and bays in the strait to witness a multitude of seabirds drawn here by the water’s abundant nutrients, and visit a guillemot colony of 300,000 pairs.

• Edgeøya – enter the realm of the polar bear on the third largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. Conditions permitting, we will go ashore at the hard to get to Diskobukta, where we will discover interesting fauna and flora and take a walk amongst thousands of kittiwakes and arctic foxes. The coastal waters often provide fantastic opportunities to see walrus and polar bear on the ice flow.

• Barentsøya – just north of Edgeøya lies the fourth largest island in Svalbard. Here we are immersed in a wide tundra and distinctive landscape, perfect for long hikes and short walks. We may encounter polar bears and discover the ruins of 15th-century Russian Pomors.

• Hornsund – the southernmost fjord on the rugged west coast of Spitsbergen Island features jagged mountain peaks that tower above glacier-filled bays. Listen for the crash of white thunder as huge chunks of ice fall into the fjord. Amidst floating icebergs jewels, watch for bearded seals, the rare beluga whale and the king of the arctic – the polar bear. Sightings are fairly common as the polar bear’s favorite food, the ringed seal, breeds in the fjord. The surrounding bird cliffs are home to thousands of pairs of nesting little auks. We may visit the polish research station or the remains of whaling stations and trappers’ huts.

Day 10 – Bear Island, Norway
Approaching Bear Island (Bjørnøya), whale watching is a priority. They are in record numbers in this area. As we move closer to this arctic island, we witness a kaleidoscope of thousands of sea birds diving into and out of the island’s steep cliffs. In our Zodiac boats, we explore the rugged coastline of Bear Island, and if weather conditions are favorable, make a landing. Encounter the amazing flurry of life on this barren island, now a nature reserve. Expedition team will enhance your visit by providing insights to the environment, the terrain, and the wildlife that exist in these extreme conditions.

Day 11 – Magerøya Island, Norway
              cruising along North Cape
              Skarsvag, Norway
Magerøya is Norway’s most extreme northern island, with exposed vegetation, no trees, and a stark vista. This morning we launch the zodiacs and explore the steep cliffs, which are teaming with a fantastical array of birds. Thousands of puffins and cormorants make this island their summer home.

As afternoon begins, Prince Albert II will round the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe. Weather conditions permitting, we will stop briefly for the more adventurous explorers to disembark via zodiac and hike with our natural history staff to the North Cape.

Taking advantage of the long days, Prince Albert II will anchor off the shore of Skarsvag, a quaint fishing village. Once ashore, we board a coach that takes us to the North Cape and stops in at the visitor’s center.

Day 12 – Tromsø, Norway
Two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle is the hub of the arctic. Tromsø is a city filled with learning and research from cutting-edge satellite industries and environmental monitoring to serving as the world’s telemedicine centre.

Tromsø is a blend of wild scenery and bustling, urban life. There are a multitude of great places to dine, visit, and explore including: mountains and fjords, glaciers, wide-open plains, Sámi culture, museums, and sporting activities. One such event, hosted each July by the cultural centre, is the country’s largest sámi music and cultural celebration.

Additionally, the arctic church (Ishavskatedralen) rates high as a stunning example of modern architecture. Built in the shape of an iceberg, its aluminum exterior reflects the rays of the midnight sun. In contrast, the Tromsø cathedral is one of Norway’s largest wooden churches and the northernmost protestant cathedral in the world.

Mingle with the Tromsøites, who fondly refer to their home as the “Paris of the north”, at Storgata. Preserved, charming old buildings surround this centre of the city. Or, catch the Fjellheisen (cable car) leading up to Storsteinen, which is 421 meters above sea level, and offers a spectacular panorama of the city and surrounding areas. It runs every half hour.

Regional cuisine highlights include grilled crayfish, marinated smoked reindeer, and a delicious lobster soup with a dash of brandy. Smoked Gravlaks (salmon) and the cloudberry parfait are also local favorites. For a more casual option, try the fresh prawns cooked in seawater at the market place.

Day 13  – Tromsø, Norway
After breakfast, disembark the Prince Albert II.

Professor David M. Munro Bio

Professor David M. Munro, OBE, Ph.D., of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, and a member of the Technical and Scientific Committee of The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, is a geographer with a keen interest in landscape, geographical names and the history of exploration. In the 1980s and 1990s he led a series of research expeditions to the tropical forests of Central America and during 12 years as Director of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, a post once held by Sir Ernest Shackleton, he developed a strong interest in the polar regions of the world. Co-ordinating a two-year program marking the centenary of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition offered him an opportunity, not only to work closely with HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, but also to travel to the South Atlantic on several occasions as a lecturer on cruise ships. Awarded an Honorary Professorship by the University of Dundee, David continues his polar studies in the recently created Centre for Remote Environments as well as working for the South Georgia Heritage Trust which he helped found in 2005. Compiler of the Oxford Dictionary of the World and an adviser to the UK Government and the United Nations on the subject of geographical names, he is also currently a consultant to the publishers of The Times Atlas of the World. Accounts of his travels from the boreal forests of Lapland to the grasslands of the high Andes have featured in a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, radio broadcasts and public lectures.