North Atlantic Islands Cruises
AROUND ICELAND
Keflavik - Keflavik
8 nights/9 days
2005 prices and schedule
| Start |
End |
Triple non private |
Twin non private |
Twin private |
Single non private |
Single private |
| May 27 |
Jun 04 |
$1,900 |
$2,240 |
$2,650 |
$3,808 |
$4,505 |
Itinerary
Day 1
Late in the afternoon we board ship in the port of Keflavik, just a short way from the international airport, to begin the circumnavigation of Iceland. The largest of the North Atlantic islands, Iceland’s volcanoes, icecaps, rugged glaciated mountains, fjords and coastal cliffs and beaches together form one of the most inspiring landscapes on earth. We sail north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is crowned by a beautiful snow-capped volcanic cone, 1442m high Snaefellsjokull. In the mellow evening light (at this time of year it is light all night) it is worth staying on deck to watch for whales in this often very productive location.
Day 2
We arrive in the broad and shallow bay of Breidafjordur, which is peppered with thousands of islands and skerries. If we are very lucky, we may glimpse the White-tailed Eagle among these historic islands, where Erik the Red set sail to discover Greenland. We land on Flatey and explore its delightful fishing village, strolling among the many well-preserved traditional timber buildings and visiting the church, with its paintings by the Spanish-Icelandic artist Baltasar Samper, and restored library. On and around Flatey, Black Guillemots, Puffins, Common Eiders and Red-necked Phalaropes can be seen. Later we land on Klofningur a basalt island with breeding Shags, Fulmars and Great Black-backed Gulls. Sailing to the north side of the bay, we use the Zodiacs to cruise the cliffs and sea caves of Látrabjarg, at the westernmost point of Iceland. Home to the world´s largest Razorbill colony, Iceland’s most extensive bird cliffs are 14km long and rise to over 400m in height. Our expedition naturalists will point out the other bird species that nest on the cliffs and also the seals on the rocks.
Day 3
Today we explore the Isafjordur Peninsula, geologically the oldest region in Iceland, its imposing basalt mountains scoured out by Ice Age glaciers. We sail into Adalvik in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Once farmed, this beautiful, sheltered fjord has been deserted for 50 years. As sheep no longer graze here and the human impacts are minimal, fauna and flora thrive on a scale unknown in other parts of Iceland. We continue our voyage by sailing along the Hornstrandir Peninsula, spotting the remains of other farmsteads along the coastline of golden sand beaches set between sheer basalt cliffs. We aim to land at Hornvik, where we can follow an old path, used by fowlers, to reach the top of 300m high Hornbjarg. From the dizzy heights of this cliff we can marvel at one of the biggest seabird colonies in Iceland, with tens of thousands of Brünnich´s Guillemots and Kittiwakes.
Day 4
If the East Greenland pack- ice is less than 100 nautical miles north of Iceland, and the weather will be good, we will sail towards the edge and spend some time in and near the ice. During our 24 hours at sea, there is plenty of time to watch for the spout of large whales, and to observe the northern migration of skuas and other Arctic birds. When we sail along the pack ice edge, we may also see Harp Seals.
If the pack-ice is more than 100 nautical miles north of Iceland we will land at the east side of the Isafjordur Peninsula in Furufjördur, Tharalátursfjördur and Reykjafjördur, from where we will have a good, close view on the northern side of the glacier Drangajökull. Walkers can hike for hours from one fjord to another on an old trail marked with cairn & enjoy great views. In Furufjördur we will find bogs and lakes, and in Reykjafjördur hot pools, in which we can take a bath. Harbour Seals and Grey Seals are common in this fjord.
Day 5
In the early morning, if the weather allows, we sail past Kolbeinsey, a tiny island north of Grimsey, formed from an undersea eruption. Later we land on Grimsey, an island off the north coast and the only part of Iceland which lies within the Arctic Circle (the Circle crosses the island). The island is home to huge colonies of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Puffins, Fulmars and Arctic Terns, who far outnumber the human inhabitants, who number just 100. A zodiac cruise along the western cliffs will afford us the opportunity to also admire the seabirds from the water. Later we may sail along the bird cliffs of Raudinupur.
Day 6
If weather allows, we go ashore on the wild and windswept volcanic sands of Heradssandur, formed from debris washed down by mighty glacier rivers. On the marshlands of its braided channels, Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, and several species of ducks and skuas breed. The see near the mouth of the river is teeming with Harbour Seals. In the afternoon we call at Borgarfjördur. A friendly small village, where people work on Jasper, a precious stone only found in this part of Iceland. We will try to visit a farm with a Common Eider breeding colony, where the birds are protected for down collection in this time of the year.
If the conditions at Heradssansur are adverse we will not land there, but land after Borgarfjördur, at Alftavik, in the natural harbour Lotna, where people lived until 1904.
Day 7
Heading down Iceland’s east coast we reach Skrudur, a bird island ( Gannets ) of 160 m high, where we can not land, but where we will cruise around in zodiacs and enter a huge cave. Later we sail to Papey, where Irish monks made a living in the 9th century. This beautiful, now uninhabited island, is home to thousands of Puffins and other seabirds.
Day 8
We land on Heimaey, an important fishing port and the Westman Islands only permanent community. A short walk allows us to see the results of the surprise 1973 eruption, which destroyed one third of the town and almost sealed off its vital harbour. A highlight of our time ashore will be the multitude of Puffins that breed along the grassy cliff tops and are still harvested annually by the locals. When we have left Heimaey we use the Zodiacs to cruise among the other Westman Islands'. We will circumnavigate Surtsey, an island born in 1964 from volcanic activity, and Sulnasker and Hellisey, which have large breeding populations of Northern Gannets.
Day 9
After breakfast we disembark in Keflavik.
Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Price Includes:
- Voyage onboard the vessel assigned to the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee & tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- All miscellaneous taxes and port charges throughout the program
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
Contact us for information in regards to airfare and pre/post hotel nights.
To go back to the top of the page, click here
SCOTTISH ISLANDS-FAROES-JAN MAYEN-SOUTH SPITSBERGEN
Aberdeen - Longyearbyen
11 nights/12 days
2005 prices and schedule
| Start |
End |
Triple non private |
Twin non private |
Twin private |
Single non private |
Single private |
| May 31 |
Jun 11 |
$2,090 |
$2,480 |
$2,900 |
$4,216 |
$4,930 |
Itinerary
Day 1
We embark from Aberdeen, famed as the granite city and many times a winner of the Britain in Bloom competition.
Day 2
Our first stop is Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, where we visit a Picten Broch.
For those with a strong historical interest there will be a possibility to visit a museum and and a cemetery of 16th century Dutch fishermen.
Day 3
Today we arrive at Thorshavn, the capital and cultural centre of the Faroes. Here we are free to shop, to visit the museum or just wander at will. In the harbour the small Faroese boats are a reminder of the Viking origins of the islanders. The walkers among us can make an exciting 2-hour walk across the hills to Kirkjubøer to a medieval cathedral.
In the afternoon we will visit a former whaling station at Vid Air, and sail to Westmanhavn, a fjord where the herding and slaughter of Pilot Whales takes place in some years.
In the evening we arrive at Tjørnuvik, a village surrounded by mountains shaped like a Greek theatre. In the area around the village there are Viking graves.
Day 4
We will try to land at Saksun, tucked away at the head of a fjord which was once a superb natural harbour. Today the bay is full of sand and we can only enter by zodiac at high tide. The passengers who stayed on the ship will reach Saksun from the sea by zodiac. At Saksun is a Natural Heritage Museum.
Continuing along the north side of Streymoy we pass huge seabird colonies. If the weather is favourable, we plan to land on the island of Mykines, where thousands of Puffins and other seabirds nest. On wave-lashed Mykines, where colonies of Gannets breed, the local people still catch seabirds for food and the island’s tiny village is one of the prettiest in the Faroes. If we cannot land we will sail into Sørvagsfjordur and take a walk along a path from Sørvagur, which is a small Faroes village, to Bøer looking at Eider Ducks, seals and salmon nurseries in the fjord.
Day 5 & 6
We sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, situated 300 nautical miles north-east of Iceland. During our two days at sea there will be plenty of time to watch for the blow of a Minke, Fin or Blue Whale, which could herald a rewarding encounter with these gentle giants. Perhaps we might run into a pod of Orcas, who can often be quite curious about boats such as ours.
Day 7
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island of breathtaking beauty and mystique, dominated by Mt Beerenberg. From the slopes of the 2300m volcano, impressive glaciers spill into the sea. Until recently, the island was off-limits as it is a military base, and was rarely visited by tourists, but with permission from the Norwegian authorities we hope to visit the weather station. We will also walk across the island to Kvalrossbukta to look at the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station and a substantial colony of Fulmars. We also plan to sail by Koksletta where thousands of Little Auks and Brünnich´s Guillemots breed close to a glacier, watched over by piratical Glaucous Gulls.
Day 8 & 9
We spend two days at sea, looking out for whalers, dolphins and seals and a variety of seabirds. When we approach the sea-ice at the southern tip of Spitsbergen, we may also encounter moulting Harp Seals.
Day 10
Depending on the position of the sea-ice, we cruise the maze of fjords in the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, which is ringed by towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area but as well as having spectacular scenery, the area is renowned for its abundant and varied arctic wildlife. We have very good chances of seeing seals and with a little luck, the very symbol of the Arctic - Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research projects. Behind the station, the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks. Bearded Seals often cruise the inner fjords, whose cliffs are lined with colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and Kittiwakes. On the tundra we will have good opportunities to observe foraging Barnacle Geese.
Day 11
Today we land at Kapp Toscana on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjord, where piles of Beluga skeletons are a reminder of the 20th century exploitation of these small white whales. Numbers are now recovering and there is a good chance of spotting small groups in the area. We then move to Recherchefjord, where a walk on the fragile tundra which backs the fjord may yield sightings of Reindeer and where we visit the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station at Lagerneset. Alternatively we may land at Midterhuken to explore the remains of 17th century English whaling sites. The weather will determine which good options will be chosen in this area.
Day 12
We disembark at Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, for flights south to Norway and onward to home.
Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Price Includes:
- Voyage onboard the vessel assigned to the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee & tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- All miscellaneous taxes and port charges throughout the program
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
Contact us for information in regards to airfare and pre/post hotel nights.
To go back to the top of the page, click here
ICELAND-JAN MAYEN-SOUTH SPITSBERGEN
Keflavik - Longyearbyen
10 nights/11 days
2005 prices and schedule
| Start |
End |
Triple non private |
Twin non private |
Twin private |
Single non private |
Single private |
| Jun 04 |
Jun 14 |
$1,890 |
$2,230 |
$2,640 |
$3,791 |
$4,488 |
Itinerary
Day 1
Late in the afternoon we board ship in the port of Keflavik, just a short way from Iceland’s international airport. The largest of the North Atlantic islands, Iceland’s volcanoes, icecaps, rugged glaciated mountains, fjords and coastal cliffs and beaches together form one of the most inspiring landscapes on earth. We sail north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is crowned by a beautiful snow-capped volcanic cone, 1442m high Snaefellsjokull. In the mellow evening light (at this time of year it is light all night) it is worth staying on deck to watch for whales in this often very productive location.
Day 2
Today we explore the Isafjordur Peninsula, geologically the oldest region in Iceland, its imposing basalt mountains scoured out by Ice Age glaciers. We sail into Adalvik in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Once farmed, this beautiful, sheltered fjord has been deserted for 50 years. As sheep no longer graze here and the human impacts are minimal, fauna and flora thrive on a scale unknown in other parts of Iceland. We continue our voyage by sailing along the Hornstrandir Peninsula, spotting the remains of other farmsteads along the coastline of golden sand beaches set between sheer basalt cliffs. We will land at Hornvik , where we can follow an old path, used by fowlers, to reach the top of 300m high Hornbjarg. From the dizzy heights of this cliff we can marvel at one of the biggest seabird colonies in Iceland, with tens of thousands of Brünnich's Guillemots and Kittiwakes.
Day 3
We land on Grimsey, an island off the north coast and the only part of Iceland which lies within the Arctic Circle (the Circle crosses the island). The island is home to huge colonies of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Puffins, Fulmars and Arctic Terns, who far outnumber the human inhabitants. Numbering just 100 and living in the island’s only village, this resourceful farming and fishing community would not dream of moving to the mainland. In the evening we sail across the Arctic Circle and circumnavigate Kolbeinsey, a tiny island north of Grimsey, formed from a undersea eruption.
Day 4
On our way to Jan Mayen, situated 300 nautical miles north-east of Iceland, there will be plenty of time to devote to looking for whales - Humpbacks are most likely but as we approach the pack ice, we may also encounter Minke Whales, who can sometimes be quite curious and approach boats such as ours. We should also see Harp Seals.
Day 5 & 6
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island of breathtaking beauty and mystique, dominated by Mt Beerenberg. From the slopes of the 2277m volcano, impressive glaciers spill into the sea. Until recently, the island was off-limits, and was rarely visited by tourists, but with permission from the Norwegian authorities we hope to visit the weather station. We will also walk across the island to Kvalrossbukta to look at the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station and a substantial colony of Fulmars. We spend the night at anchor. Next day we plan a zodiac cruise along the glacier fronts of northern Jan Mayen, where thousands of Little Auks and Brünnich's Guillemots breed, watched over by piratical Glaucous Gulls. A landing at Koksletta and a walk from Titeltbukta to Guineabukta is depending on special permissions of the authorities. All landings in general all depends on the weather.
Day 7 & 8
We spend two days at sea, looking out for whales, dolphins and seals, and a variety of seabirds. When we approach the sea-ice at the southern tip of Spitsbergen, we may also encounter moulting Harp Seals.
Day 9
Depending on the position of the sea-ice, we cruise the maze of fjords in the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, which is ringed by towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area but as well as spectacular scenery, the area is renowned for its abundant and varied Arctic wildlife. We have very good chances of seeing seals and with a little luck, the very symbol of the Arctic - Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research projects. Behind the station, the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks. Bearded Seals often cruise the inner fjords, whose cliffs are lined with colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and Kittiwakes. On the tundra we will have good opportunities to observe foraging Barnacle Geese.
Day 10
Today we land at Kapp Toscana on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjord, where piles of Beluga skeletons are a reminder of the 20th century exploitation of these small white whales. Numbers are now recovering and there is a good chance of spotting small groups in the area. We then move to Recherchefjord, where a walk on the fragile tundra which backs the fjord may yield sightings of Reindeer. The Spitsbergen Reindeer is not as big as its mainland relative and is found in much smaller herds. Alternatively we may land at Midterhuken to explore the remains of 17th century English whaling sites. The weather will determine which good options will be chosen in this area.
Day 11
Early in the morning we arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, for flights to Oslo and home.
Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Price Includes:
- Voyage onboard the vessel assigned to the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee & tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- All miscellaneous taxes and port charges throughout the program
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
Contact us for information in regards to airfare and pre/post hotel nights.
To go back to the top of the page, click here
LOFOTEN, NORWAY - ORCA
Lødingen - Lødingen
7 nights/8 days
2005 prices and schedule
| Start |
End |
Twin non private |
Single non private |
| Oct 04 |
Oct 11 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
| Oct 11 |
Oct 18 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
| Oct 18 |
Oct 25 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
| Oct 25 |
Nov 01 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
| Nov 01 |
Nov 08 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
| Nov 08 |
Nov 15 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
| Nov 15 |
Nov 22 |
$1,050 |
$1,785 |
Itinerary
Day 1
We embark the ship in the harbour of Lødingen in the evening, after a drive of an hour by scheduled bus (at own expense) from the airport of Evenes.
Day 2 & 3
We will spend two full days in the Tysfjord area to look for groups of Orcas which hunt for herring in these fjords. During these days we will have an excursion to the petroglyphs from Stone Age, depicting Orcas at Leiknes. At Skarvberget we will climb a hill, which is a look-out post for tens of Sea Eagles, which also catch herring in the fjord. One evening we will visit the Orca information centre, where we will get additional information about the whales.
Day 4
Today we sail into Vestfjord, also a good area to observe Orcas and other whales, and arrive at Henningsvaer, the Norwegian Venice, where we will lay overnight.
Day 5
We vist Kabelvaag, a cosy historical town, where we may visit the Lofoten aquarium and Museum. Later we sail into Trollfjord Raftsund, said to be one of the most spectacular fjords of Norway, and spend the night somewhere in the area.
Day 6
We work our way back to through Vestfjorden looking for Orca’s, and could visit for instance Hamaroy with the Knut Hamsun Museum, or Ofotfjord, where we may spot Orca’s.
Day 7
Today we will sail into the harbour of Lødingen. Near Lødingen at Hustadgaard in Vestbygd we will have the opportunity to be fascinated by “øye I stein”, a sculpture of 37 tonnes made by the Indian artist Anish Kapoor. In the same area at Nes in Kanstadfjord we can admire the oldest rock paintings (9000 years old) near the remains of stone age dwellings.
Day 8
We disembark the ship in Lødingen in the morning for our transfer by scheduled local bus (at own expense) to the airport of Evenes.
Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Price Includes:
- Voyage onboard the vessel assigned to the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee & tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- All miscellaneous taxes and port charges throughout the program
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
Contact us for information in regards to airfare and pre/post hotel nights.
To go back to the top of the page, click here
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