Arctic Highlights | MS Expedition

Begin your adventure today. There are no planned activities so feel free to explore or rest up for the excitement ahead. A local representative can provide general information about the town or your embarkation process.
In the late afternoon, join your fellow passengers to take your group transfer and begin embarkation for your journey on the Expedition.

Taking advantage of local ice and weather conditions, explore the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, one of those rare places on Earth blessed with both awe-inspiring landscape and compelling history.

Over four full days, explore a small portion of the western coast of Svalbard. Entering the fall the days are getting shorter so try to take advantage of all of the sunlight possible to search for wildlife.

Spend these days in search of the elusive polar bears as they hunt seals. Look out for Svalbard's unique subspecies of reindeer. Although much smaller than their southern relatives, they still carry impressive antlers. Keep a sharp lookout for Arctic foxes.

By not having a set itinerary, we take on an expedition spirit and are free to take advantage of the best that Svalbard has to offer.

Frigid waters drain from the Arctic Ocean in a southwest current along the coast of Northeast Greenland. Often, drifting pack ice is pushed along the coast. We will attempt to approach and follow the pack ice edge to explore the polar seascape. Keep an eye out for majestic whales, which are known to feed here in the summer months. Spot orca, humpback and minke whales, as well as dolphins.

Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on anything from local wildlife to the history and exploration of the Arctic.

Sail through and land in some of the most spectacular fjord country in the world along down the coast of Greenland, while exploring rarely visited glaciers, bays and inlets.

This is the largest national park in the world, nearly impossible to reach except on expedition ships. Spectacular geology combined with glacial features create steep mountains raising directly from the sea. Look out for picturesque scenery, wildlife and other interesting landing sites in this unspoiled wilderness.

Depending on ice, spend these days exploring the massive fjord system of Northeast Greenland National Park, which includes portions of Scoresbysund. These intricate fjord systems are everything from wide and unimaginable to narrow and steeply spectacular with some of the best mountain scenery in the world. Walking over lush stands of colourful autumn tundra may lead to opportunities to see musk oxen grazing nearby.

Visit Ittoqqortoormiit for an up close look into life in the most remote town in Greenland. This small settlement is home to only 450 individuals and one grocery store. The people of Ittiqqortoormiit rely heavily on hunting and fishing and have honed these skillsets for many generations. They enjoy spending warmer weather on dog sleds, snowmobile trips, or camping excursions. With the closest inhabited settlement hundreds of miles away across some of the most unforgivable terrain in the world, the warmth and sense of community fostered by the people of Ittiqqortoormiit act as a beacon in the Arctic.

Enjoy the lecture series while watching the seas for whales. Head towards Iceland and the steaming hot springs of Reykjavík. The view is often complemented by soaring fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, guillemots, and razorbills.

Shortly after breakfast, disembark in Reykjavík, walking distance from downtown.

For guests departing on disembarkation day, there will be a complimentary transfer at 8:00am to Keflavik International Airport from the port. For guests who are planning on staying in Reykjavik post trip, taxis will be available for hire at the pier to transfer them to their accommodations. All transfer arrangements will be confirmed while on board prior to departure, to ensure that all needs are met.

Please Note: Do not book onward travel prior to 2:00pm.

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.