Svalbard Adventure Mini-Cruise

The Svalbard Adventure Mini-Cruise is a sailing along the west coast of Spitsbergen aboard MS Serenissima, a ship built in 1960 as the Harald Jarl for Hurtigruten. The route passes through several fjords, calls at historic whaling stations and continues beyond 80° North. Guests make guided landings from Zodiac boats and watch for wildlife. The operator names polar bears, walruses and whales, and describes glaciers and mountains along the way.

The ship carries 103 guests. An expedition team of local guides sails with the group and talks about the culture, nature and history of Svalbard. Guiding is given in Scandinavian, English, German, French and Italian, but no guides who speak Italian are aboard on the departures of 31 May, 21 June, 12 July, 2 August and 23 August. On board there are dining rooms, lounges and open decks with wide views.

Cruises run between mid-May and mid-September. In May and early June the fjords are partly covered in sea ice and the midnight sun shines around the clock. In summer the tundra turns green, flowers bloom and birds are numerous. From late August the midnight sun fades and the light turns softer.

The operator lists what to pack: a windproof and waterproof jacket, a light down jacket or warm mid-layer, a warm hat, gloves or mittens, a small backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen, a camera, binoculars, swimwear for an optional Arctic dip, casual clothes for dinner on board and comfortable indoor shoes for the ship. It recommends dressing in layers, since temperatures at sea can feel chilly even in summer.