Fair Isles, Faroes & Spitsbergen: Birds and Bears – Ocean Adventurer, May 2018
Fair Isles, Faroes & Spitsbergen: Birds and Bears – Ocean Adventurer, May 2018
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Trip Summary
About the Fair Isle, Jan Mayen & Spitsbergen Itinerary
From the Netherlands to Scotland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard, get to the know the seas navigated by Vikings and hunters of past centuries.
Itinerary Map
Pricing Information
About the Fair Isle, Jan Mayen & Spitsbergen Itinerary
From the Netherlands to Scotland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard, get to the know the seas navigated by Vikings and hunters of past centuries.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Embarkation in Vlissingen (Netherlands)
In Vlissingen passengers will board the ship at mid-day.
Day 2: At sea towards Aberdeen
We cross the North Sea
Day 3: Granite City: Aberdeen
We arrive in Aberdeen, famed as the Granite City and many times a winner of the Britain in Bloom competition, and embark on our trip. As we reach the North Sea, we see the lighthouse on Girdle Ness to the south, designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson.More passengers will board the ship in Aberdeen.The Scottish waters offer excellent possibilities to spot Minke Whale, White-beaked Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise. Several other cetaceans, including Orca (Killer Whale), are also native to these waters.
Day 4: Fair Isle, haven for sea-birds
At Fair Isle, in the Shetlands, we are welcomed by the 70 or so inhabitants (famed for their knitwear, examples of which we will see) to be followed by a walk to the bird observatory. Fair Isle is a haven for sea-birds, which are very accessible. We may also see Grey Seals.
Day 5 - 6: We sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen
We sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, situated 300 nautical miles north-east of Iceland. During our two days at sea there will be plenty of time to watch for the blow of a Minke, Fin or Blue Whale, which could herald a rewarding encounter with these gentle giants. Perhaps we might run into a pod of Orca, who can often be quite curious about boats such as ours.
Day 7: Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island of breath-taking beauty and mystique dominated by Mt Beerenberg. From the slopes of the 2300m volcano, impressive glaciers spill into the sea. Until recently, the island was off-limits as it is a military base, and was rarely visited by tourists, but with permission from the Norwegian authorities we hope to visit the weather station. We will also walk across the island to Kvalrossbukta to look at the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station and a substantial colony of Fulmar.
Day 8 - 10: Looking out for Whales, Harp Seals, Polar Bears and a variety of seabirds
In the midnight sun, we sail north along the edge of the sea-ice, looking out for Bowhead Whales, Harp Seals, Polar Bears and a variety of seabirds, until about 79 North, then we will sail west to the edges of the continental shelf off West Spitsbergen, where we have good chances to meet Finn Whales and near the mouths of the big Spitsbergen fjords, Minke Whales.
Day 11: Poolepynten
We will look for Walrus at Poolepynten. In the evening we could land at Alkhornet another seabird colony, where at the slopes we can find reindeer and Arctic Fox.
Day 12: Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard
We disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard, for flights south to Oslo and onward home.
Welcome Aboard the Ocean Adventurer
The 132-passenger Ocean Adventurer is one of the very few vessels in the world purpose-built for expedition voyages to remote polar regions like Antarctica. Formerly known as the Sea Adventurer, she underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2017. The Adventurer has an ice-strengthened hull that allows the ship to navigate safely through icy waters that are not accessible to conventional cruise vessels.
This small expedition ship has advanced communications and navigation equipment, and two new Rolls Royce motors, not to mention excellent stabilizers. The Adventurer has a contemporary look after its refurbishment, with all new furniture and carpeting, as well as six new cabins. It has two bars, a lounge, library, gym, sauna, gift shop and beauty salon.
Technical Specs
- Passengers: 132
- Staff & Crew: 72
- Length: 100.58 m
- Breadth: 16.31 m
- Draft: 4.72 m
- Propulsion: Rolls Royce Diesel Twin Engines, 6 cylinder, 5400 horsepower
- Ice Class: A-1
- Cruising Speed: 12 knots in open water
Cabins & Amenities
- 65 outside cabins, all featuring private facilities, individual temperature controls, and in-room music.
- Decks 4 and 5 provide exterior access, with outside seating.
- Window-lined dining room on Deck 4 with unreserved seating: buffet-style breakfast or table service; table-service or buffet lunch, and table-service dinner. Main course choices from changing daily menu; cakes served in mid-afternoon.
- Lounge/Presentation Room that accommodates all guests.
- 2 bars.
- Library stocked with nautical books and board games.
- Gift shop.
- 24 hour beverage station
- Ship-to-shore communications via satellite, with email, and wireless, Internet access.
- Clinic with licensed doctor.
- Exercise room with elliptical trainer, hand weights, bike and floor mats.
- Massage therapist.
Please note: there is no passenger elevator between decks.
Notes
- Cruise Price does not include international airfare. Port charges are included. All cabins have two lower beds and private shower and toilet. Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
- Single cabin prices are 1.7 times the cost of the appropriate twin-share prices listed above except for superior and above which are 2X the price listed above. All cabins are smoke-free.
- Smoking is only permitted in designated areas only, as outlines by the Expedition Leader at the Initial Briefing.
- Rates include mandatory emergency evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum of $100.000,00 per person.
- Adventure options: Kayaking $950, Camping $225, Snowshoe is included. Adventure options must be pre-booked and paid for prior to start of the trip. Space is subject to availability. Some activities require experience.
- All trips subject to possible fuel surcharge.
