Luxury Spitsbergen, Bear Island & Tromso

Embark the Silver Explorer this afternoon and depart on your exciting 10-day Silversea Expedition – Expedition Svalbard II. After a mandatory safety drill head out on deck for a ‘Sail Away’ party, leaving Tromsø (and civilization) behind you. Later during the afternoon the Expedition Team and important crew members will be introduced.
In the evening enjoy the first of many fine dining experiences in The Restaurant and relax in the Panorama Lounge.

Meet some of your fellow explorers as you become acquainted with the luxurious amenities found on board theSilver Explorer. Gather in The Theatre for a mandatory Zodiac briefing and the introduction to rules and regulations for safe landings in the Arctic governed by AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators). Later during the day our Naturalists and knowledgeable Expedition Team Lecturers will start a series of talks and presentations to prepare you for the region’s endemic wildlife and remarkable nature. Experts in a variety of scientific fields, they will add another dimension to your exploration ashore.
Other on-board diversions include spa treatments, a workout in the Fitness Centre, and, of course, exquisite dining experiences.
Tonight we invite you for a special ‘Welcome Aboard’ cocktail party.

As we near this arctic island, now a nature reserve, we will see thousands of sea birds diving into and out of the island’s steep cliffs. With our Zodiacs, we will explore the rugged coastline and if weather conditions are favourable, make a landing. The Expedition Team will provide insights into the environment, the terrain, and the wildlife that exist in these extreme conditions. As we leave Bear Island (Bjørnøya), head out on deck to watch for whales that are known to frequent the area.

We will travel along routes famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Nordenskjöld, Amundsen and Nobile have taken. We will trek along beaches looking for walrus haul-outs; we might see the indigenous reindeer, and maybe even spot the Arctic fox or bearded seal.

Seabirds, such as Ivory Gulls, Northern Fulmars, Common Guillemots and Brünnich’s Guillemots, 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 favourable ice and weather conditions. 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:

-Ice Cruising – With the strengthened hull of the Silver Explorer, 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.

-Zeipelodden – At the entrance of Palanderbukta we will hike across an Arctic polar desert. Despite the designation as a desert we should see Arctic poppy, purple saxifrage, spider saxifrage and yellow whitlow-grass. We are likely to encounter some Arctic Terns and Arctic Skuas, even reindeer have often been seen in the area.

-Bråsvellbreen – If ice conditions permit, our plan is to venture along the immense Bråsvellbreen, part of the huge Austfonna ice cap. Bråsvellbreen has several waterfalls coming off its top and we will witness awe-inspiring ice-scapes as we cruise by ship or Zodiac along the longest glacier front in the Northern Hemisphere.

-Alkefjellet – On the northern side of Lomfjordhalvøya (Lomfjord Peninsula) is one of the most dramatic bird cliffs Svalbard has to offer. Depending on ice conditions we will cruise along the cliff with our Zodiacs or by ship. In either case, the view of tens of thousands of Brünnich’s Guillemot breeding pairs, Black Guillemots, with the odd Glaucous Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes, plus the occasional Arctic fox along a cliff of several kilometres in length make this one outstanding experience. Even if there were no birds, the 100 metre high cliff with its dolerite intrusions in the Permian limestone would make for excellent viewing.

-Liefdefjorden – At the entrance to Liefdefjorden are several smaller island groups. On the Andøyane (Duck Islands) we may encounter polar bears looking for bird’s eggs. With our Zodiacs we will circumnavigate several of the islands, always on the lookout for active birdlife –when Arctic Terns circle specific areas it usually is a sign for polar bear presence on the islands. Cruising past majestic red Devonian sandstone mountains we will reach the end of Liefdefjorden for a Zodiac cruise along the front of two different glaciers: Monacobreen and Seligerbreen. Monacobreen has a 5 kilometre long front and is a good place to look for seals, Black-legged Kittiwakes and Ivory Gulls.

-Hornsund – The southernmost fjord on the rugged west coast of Spitsbergen Island. Jagged mountain peaks 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 ringed seal, the polar bear’s favourite food, 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.

Following breakfast, disembark the Silver Explorer and transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Oslo.