![](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/portrait_quarter/102673-kirkjufell-iceland.jpg)
Duration
15 Nights
Journey Type
Cruise only (Please call for flight options)
Ports
5 Ports
27 August
Setting sail from Longyearbyen
This is the world's northernmost city and the base for tourism in Svalbard. A bit quirky, as you would expect from somewhere that spends four months of the year in near darkness, Longyearbyen doesn't take long to explore. Its brightly coloured wooden houses are built on stilts, as the ground in Svalbard is permafrost. When you enter a building, you are normally asked to remove your shoes, and leave your gun at the door. Gun carrying is more or less essential for the locals, as with 3,000 local hungry polar bears, it is said that you never know when you might need protection. That said, we visited safely without a gun!
![Flowers and colourful houses in Longyearbyen](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_half/6905-longyearbyen-flowers-and-houses.jpg)
![Sunset over Longyearbyen](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/2802-church-sunset-longyearbyen.jpg)
Our tip
Don’t die here – it’s illegal. There have been no new burials for over 70 years, because the permafrost prevents bodies from decomposing.
28 August
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Spitsbergen
![Polar bear on Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/67370-polar-bear-spitsbergen.jpg)
Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a land of snowy peaks, frozen tundra and glassy seas. You’ll likely have no fixed itinerary here, due to the unpredictable nature of an Arctic expedition; be prepared to drop everything and rush up to the top deck for the chance of a polar bear sighting!
29 August - 2 September
At sea
3 September
The North Pole
![Pack ice in the Arctic](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/58576-arctic-ice.jpg)
Few people can say that they have stood at the one earthly spot where every direction is south! Crushing through the ice, admiring soaring seabirds and the stunning Arctic scenery, your voyage will be an extraordinary experience indeed.
4-8 September
At sea
9-10 September
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Spitsbergen
![Polar bear on Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/67370-polar-bear-spitsbergen.jpg)
Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a land of snowy peaks, frozen tundra and glassy seas. You’ll likely have no fixed itinerary here, due to the unpredictable nature of an Arctic expedition; be prepared to drop everything and rush up to the top deck for the chance of a polar bear sighting!
11 September
Arriving in Longyearbyen
![Reindeer in Svalbard, Norway](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_half/6903-svalbard-reindeer.jpg)
![View of Longyearbyen with Huset in the foreground](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/2805-huset-longyearbyen.jpg)
Don't miss
At the so called heart of the city, Huset has long been the centre for culture and community. Go there for great food and to sample one of the largest wine cellars in Europe!
Your home from home
![Ponant - Le Commandant Charcot in Greenland](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/lanscape_half/98218-ponant-le-commandant-charcot-greenland-low.jpg)
![Ponant - Le Commandant Charcot - Helipad](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/82982-ponant-commandant-charcot-helipad.jpg)
![Ponant - Le Commandant Charcot - Infinity pool](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/82983-ponant-commandant-charcot-pool.jpg)
What we love
Jean-Baptiste Charcot was a true polar pioneer, and Ponant's icebreaker explores the parts of the Arctic and Antarctica that other expedition vessels can't reach. On board you can expect Ponant's customary French flair, and the ship is also designed to have a minimal effect on the environment, with technological innovations such as hybrid propulsion and an advanced waste water treatment system.
Capacity | 245 Guests |
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Crew | 187 Staff |
Style | This may be the world's most luxurious icebreaker, blending contemporary decor with a refined French flair. |
Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
![Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/2808-radisson-blu-polar-hotel-spitsbergen.jpg)
Where to stay in Longyearbyen
There’s really not much choice! Go for the Radisson Blu.
![Snowmobiles near Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/related_video/2811-snowmobiles-longyearbyen.jpg)
Explore Spitsbergen
Travel out of Longyearbyen by snow scooter or dog sled to take a look at the amazing scenery and hunt for wildlife.