Svalbard Arctic Cruise with Aurora Expeditions

Having made your way to Oslo, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket.

The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

Accommodation: Oslo Hotel (to be advised)

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to Longyearbyen for embarkation. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day. In Longyearbyen, explore the town on a guided tour.

After the tour, you will be transferred directly to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.

Note: the excursion is contingent on the arrival time of our charter flight to Longyearbyen.

Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. The members of our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and the possibility of encounters with wildlife.

Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils, set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, we stretch our legs on walks across tundra carpeted in brightly coloured wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies.

If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you will have an opportunity to enjoy that activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you will hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip – a memory you will savour for years to come.

During the early morning, we cruise back into Longyearbyen. Farewell your Expedition Team upon disembarkation and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for our charter flight back to Oslo.

Note: the arrival time in Oslo is contingent on the approved allocated slot for our charter flight to and from Longyearbyen, which we expect to receive in March 2027.

A floating ambassador for the planet.

On this small purpose-built ship, the Sylvia Earle, connect with like-minded travellers in a meaningful way on perspective-altering voyages to some of the most remote, unique and spectacular places on the planet. Featuring the Ulstein X-BOW® design, it cuts through the swell for a smoother transit through waves while minimising its environmental impact.

A floating ambassador for the conservation of the planet, the Sylvia Earle pays tribute to marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle and six pioneering women in conservation – Dr. Carden Wallace AM, Joanna Ruxton, Sharon Kwok, Bernadette Demientieff, Dr. Asha de Vos and Hanli Prinsloo – with public decks honouring their contributions. With a fully equipped Citizen Science Center, expert lecturers and a participative Citizen Science Program, the aim is to enrich your knowledge and connection to the places you explore.

Carrying a maximum of 130 expeditioners, the Sylvia Earle serves as a comfortable base camp for adventure, designed so you can experience the natural environment as much as possible in smaller, more intimate groups.

On all expeditions you will meet naturalists and local specialists, who offer presentations on their area of expertise to deepen your understanding of the region you’re visiting.

Join the team in the lecture theatre for presentations covering topics as broad as history and culture, biology and climate change, but they have one thing in common: they all aim to engage, educate and entertain.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, the library is a peaceful sanctuary where you can find non-fiction books to read up on the day’s destinations, plug in and organise your photos or play board games with newfound friends. Choose from their range of informative nonfiction titles, wildlife guidebooks, travel journals, novels and a selection of children’s books and board games.

Wildlife guides, books and binoculars can also be found on the observation lounge on deck 7, the perfect place to relax and watch the incredible landscapes pass by, or spot unique polar wildlife.

If you’re in the market for something new- peruse the ship shop, where you’ll find expedition essentials, a range of books and maps, souvenirs, stylish expedition apparel and of course Aurora Expeditions merchandise.

No need to take your wet expedition gear back to your stateroom to dry. Keep your stateroom warm and cosy by leaving your outer jackets and pants in the mudroom.

The mudroom is your launchpad for all shore excursions and activities. Here, you will have access to a locker when you can hang your gear up to dry, and store your boots between excursions.

In between landings, enjoy access to the onboard gym, indulge in the Wellness Centre or relax in the sauna. Or head to the back deck to swim in the heated pool or relax one of two jacuzzis, offering stunning views of the world outside so you won’t miss a second.

Whatever adventures the day holds, you will be fuelled-up with hearty meals and delicious morning and afternoon teas cooked by the onboard chefs.

Meals are a great time to soak up the expedition camaraderie in the open seating dining area. Share stories with your fellow travellers and ask the expedition team questions that may have come up during the day.

Tea, coffee, and snacks are available 24 hours a day, and the chefs offer different menu options and courses for each meal. Enjoy the range of house wine, beers, and soft drinks included with dinner after a long day in the wild.

You will also be invited to join your captain and expedition team for informal Captain’s Farewell drinks, with complimentary beverages and cocktail appetisers, followed by a 3-course meal.

Communal meeting areas have always played a major role in fostering the warm camaraderie on board the ships. They are the heart of the expedition, where people meet to share tales from the day, swap photos, keep an eye out for wildlife, and watch the sun go down.

The bars and lounges on board are refined yet inviting places to gather, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering stunning views, and of course friendly bartenders to shoot the breeze with.

With a wide range of solo, twin and triple staterooms and suites, there is accommodation to suit every need. Families or groups can make the most of the interconnecting suites.