Black Friday sale is now on. Book today and save! View deals
Trip Code: ACQESISU
DIFFICULTY RATING: 2 (light adventure)
Start: Helsinki, Finland
Finish: Helsinki, Finland
SHIP: Ultramarine
Svalbard & The Arctic
Breakfast in hotel & All meals & snacks on board. Beer, standard wines & spirits, & cocktails during pre-dinner bar service, dinner & evenings
Economy flights to Longyearbyen from Helsinki & Group Transfers in Longyearbyen for arrival, embarkation & disembarkation
Cabin on board ship & Hotel
Daily Arctic Excursions, Zodiac Cruising, Onboard Expert Lectures & Briefings by the Experienced Expedition Team
NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather & ice conditions
This 11-day journey highlights Svalbard’s spring season, combining continuous daylight with extensive sea ice. The expedition team adjusts routes daily using ice charts, ensuring the best opportunities for exploration and wildlife viewing. Guests may encounter polar bears hunting along the ice edge, seals resting on floes, and seabirds nesting on cliffs.
Activities include ship-based observation, guided shore landings, and photography opportunities in fjords and glacier fronts. With seven days in the wilderness, travelers experience both the frozen landscapes and the early signs of thaw, from meltwater streams to emerging vegetation.
Arrive in the Finnish capital and make your way to the group hotel located right at Helsinki airport, included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. You will have the rest of the day to explore explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District. If you do plan to visit Helsinki city center, take advantage of the convenient 40-minute rail service from the airport.
After breakfast, the group will transfer to the Helsinki airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. Our journey to the High Arctic now truly begins. You will see the coastal and birch forests of southern Scandinavia give way to taiga and tundra environments, the mountains of Norway and northern Sweden, and the convergence of the Norwegian and Barents seas. Approaching Svalbard, you may get your first views of a pure, snowcapped wilderness, complete with ridgelines, glaciers, and perhaps even sea ice in the distance. We land in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest settlement, and transfer to the harbor where we will embark on our ship.
Spring in Svalbard is characterized by a beautiful combination of snow, ice and Midnight Sun. A fascinating contrast unfolds with the arrival of spring: majestic polar landscapes illuminated by continuous daylight. Sea ice is at or near its annual maximum, drawing us north. If experiencing Arctic sea ice is on your bucket list, you have chosen the perfect time to visit. Your Expedition Team and Bridge Officers will consult the latest ice charts daily—sea ice is incredibly dynamic and can drift dozens of kilometers in a day. Our route will depend on where sea ice offers the best opportunities for exploration and wildlife encounters. Sea ice is the primary hunting, resting, and travelling platform for iconic Arctic species—and spring offers the best chance to see it all. As we navigate the ice edge—or even through it—spend time on deck with your binoculars at the ready. Somewhere in the maze of marooned icebergs and pressure ridges, wildlife may be present—perhaps even polar bears who are lured to the ice edge by the presence of seals—a primary food source. Watch for clues, shapes, and shadows that could signal something special. And while polar bears may be the main goal, you may also spot walruses, Arctic foxes, and ivory gulls—in addition to ringed and bearded seals. On shore, spring landscapes remain blanketed in snow, with many bays still f illed with ice—habitat crucial to Arctic wildlife for food and survival. It’s the kind of scenery that embodies the word “pristine.” On sunny days, snowcapped ridges against cobalt skies are electric in their beauty. On cloudy days, the Arctic’s muted palette of whites, greys, and blues creates moody, powerful vistas. Photography tip: try switching your camera to black-and-white mode—textures become dramatic, and light behaves differently. Alongside drifting sea ice, you may see icebergs and bergy bits— fragments of glacial ice whose origins lie deep in mountain valleys. Spring in the Arctic is also a time of awakening. As we travel, we’ll witness this seasonal transformation firsthand. Some slopes, beaches, and valleys begin to melt faster than others, revealing bare ground untouched for months. Grasses and mosses emerge, seizing every opportunity to photosynthesize in the returning sunlight. Meltwater trickles grow into fast-flowing runoff, adding sound and motion to the awakening landscape. Yet spring remains cold. In fact, these areas may go through multiple freeze-thaw cycles, especially farther north and east. In Svalbard, this mesmerizing transition is vivid and inspiring—a reminder to all of us of the powerful rhythms of Arctic life. Spring also welcomes migratory birds and whales. As the season unfolds, cliffsides will become busy with seabirds, such as little auks, guillemots and kittiwakes, returning to breed. Each day brings new arrivals. Nest-building, courting, and bird calls fill the air in a sensory-rich spectacle. When we encounter these colonies, take time to pause. Put down your camera. Simply observe the vibrant pulse of life and imagine the sheer abundance of food required to feed so many birds—and the chicks that will soon arrive. Whales, too, may appear. While sightings can never be guaranteed, some large migrators—such as blue whales—begin arriving in coastal waters by late spring. Others, like belugas, live here year-round and may be spotted threading through sea ice. Each encounter, however brief, reminds us of the interconnectedness of Arctic ecosystems. With seven full expedition days in Svalbard, we aim to explore a wide range of locations. The order of our journey w
The time to say goodbye has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontierstyle settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your return group charter flight to Helsinki, and hotel night. Both are included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.
After breakfast at your included hotel, make your way independently to the airport for your onward flight home, or spend more time exploring the Finnish capital as prearranged.
*Please note: Cruise itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions, ice conditions and other factors.
Step onboard the Ultramarine! This premium expedition vessel takes guests to the most isolated and breathtaking wildernesses on the planet. The ship has been purpose-built to meet the specific demands of the polar regions and is well appointed to let guests explore The Arctic and Antarctica safely and comfortably. It offers a robust portfolio of adventure activities. The mix of sustainability features create innovative operations to offer ultra-immersive polar experiences to guests on board .The vessel is one of the few to offer a suite of flight-seeing activities, travelling in one of the two twin-engine helicopters. This really opens up the possibilities to go further and see more. The Expedition Ship can accommodate a maximum of 199 passengers and offers the most spacious suites in its category . The cabins are all elegantly designed and feature oversized windows with sleeping views and spa-inspired bathrooms. Ultramarine offers breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size. It also features a best-in-class 70-day operational range, four embarkation points to load and embark zodiacs and get you to shore faster. The ship has a water level Zodiac hangar, which allows for more spontaneous off-ship adventures where the opportunity presents itself. This allows you to get off the ship in less than half the time of some other vessels.
Ice Class:
Length: 128m (420ft)
Breadth: 21.5m (70.5ft)Max
Draft: Cruising
Speed:
Electricity: Passenger
Capacity:199
View Ship Details
These are included in your cruise fare. Activities vary by itinerary and destination and are subject to regulations, weather conditions and other factors.
These can be booked in advance at an extra cost. Activities vary by itinerary and destination.
Experience the unforgettable thrill and serenity of kayaking in Antarctica as part of a small, expertly guided paddling group.
Learn More![]() | Solo PanoramaFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 14,295 £ 11,712Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Explorer TripleFeatures:-
| 23 % off £ 9,195 £ 7,352Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Explorer SuiteFeatures:-
| 22 % off £ 10,595 £ 8,549Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Balcony SuiteFeatures:-
| 21 % off £ 11,495 £ 9,318Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Deluxe Balcony SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 13,395 £ 10,943Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Terrace SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 13,795 £ 11,285Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Penthouse SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 14,795 £ 12,140Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Owner's SuiteFeatures:-
| 19 % off £ 17,995 £ 14,876Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Ultra SuiteFeatures:-
| 18 % off £ 19,895 £ 16,500Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Solo PanoramaFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 14,095 £ 11,541Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Explorer TripleFeatures:-
| 23 % off £ 9,095 £ 7,266Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Explorer SuiteFeatures:-
| 22 % off £ 10,395 £ 8,378Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Balcony SuiteFeatures:-
| 21 % off £ 11,295 £ 9,147Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Deluxe Balcony SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 13,195 £ 10,772Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Terrace SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 13,595 £ 11,114Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Penthouse SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 14,595 £ 11,969Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Owner's SuiteFeatures:-
| 19 % off £ 17,795 £ 14,705Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Ultra SuiteFeatures:-
| 18 % off £ 19,595 £ 16,244Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Solo PanoramaFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 14,095 £ 11,541Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Explorer TripleFeatures:-
| 23 % off £ 9,095 £ 7,266Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Explorer SuiteFeatures:-
| 22 % off £ 10,395 £ 8,378Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Balcony SuiteFeatures:-
| 21 % off £ 11,295 £ 9,147Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Deluxe Balcony SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 13,195 £ 10,772Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Terrace SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 13,595 £ 11,114Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Penthouse SuiteFeatures:-
| 20 % off £ 14,595 £ 11,969Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Owner's SuiteFeatures:-
| 19 % off £ 17,795 £ 14,705Available Enquire Now
|
![]() | Ultra SuiteFeatures:-
| 18 % off £ 19,595 £ 16,244Available Enquire Now
|
* Current Discounts, promotions and pricing are available until 30 November 2025, however discounts may be withdrawn or changed at any time and are subject to availability on selected cabins and departure dates. Some current in market offers may be combinable and Shackleton Club Past Passenger and multi trip discounts may be applied subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Prices are subject to change based on currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, and other external factors. No discount applies to any transfer packages, additional activities or pre/post services. The advertised prices may also include a 'Pay in full at time of booking' which is a 5-10% early payment discount, which requires the full balance to be paid at the time of booking to apply. Further conditions may apply, contact us for more information.
NOTE: Pricing is subject to change, currency fluctuation and availability at the time of booking and may be varied without notice by us or any of the operators and partners we work with. It is only confirmed and guaranteed at the time of making a booking, agreeing to our terms and conditions and paying a deposit.
Prices are based on per person, and vary from single, triple, and twin cabins.
Prices are correct at time of publishing but are subject to change at any time.
All entrance fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Includes charter flights from Helsinki to Longyearbyen and return back to Helsinki
Please note this itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and ice conditions.
Cabin accommodation on board ship
All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage.
Select beer and wine during dinner; and coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
All scheduled landings and excursions
Guiding and leadership by expert exploration team and crew
A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
An Expedition parka (yours to keep)
A photographic journal documenting the expedition
Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
Transfers between Longyearbyen town center and port on embarkation and disembarkation day
MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE (INCLUDED)
One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Helsinki airport hotel, with breakfast
Charter flight from Helsinki to Longyearbyen
Arrival and departure transfers in Longyearbyen
Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki
International flights
Arrival transfer in Helsinki
Any other pre or post land arrangements not mentioned above
Passport and visa expenses
Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above
Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned
Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew
Meals ashore unless otherwise specified
Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights
Laundry, bar and other personal charges unless specified
Optional Adventure Activities
Available upon request, a supplement surcharge applies and is subject to availability. Please Contact Us for more information.
Departure date, fuel surcharges, cabin category, currency fluctuations, seasonality and availability.