Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
From
£2690
To
£7490
10 Days excluding flights
Countries:Arctic Cruises, Spitsbergen
More info:Or from £3,690 (11 days) ex flights
Kayaking, diving & snorkelling available on select departures.
Please note that select voyage dates are invoiced in a foreign currency which is subject to currency fluctuations.
Price subject to cabin & vessel
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates, prices & availability
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.

Our polar trips are made under full membership of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and as such abide by their strict codes of conduct in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. Encounters with polar bears, walruses and whales are controlled by strict responsible codes of conduct.
Environment


Our polar trips are made under full membership of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and as such abide by their strict codes of conduct in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. Encounters with polar bears, walruses and whales are controlled by strict responsible codes of conduct.
Community

Climate

8 Reviews of Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
4.5 out of 5 stars
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Reviewed on 05 Oct 2019 by Deborah Ruhe
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The beauty of the glaciers. We spent a night in a fjord while the glacier was calling. Very dramatic and beautiful.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don’t overpack. But do bring warm clothes, mittens, layers.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not sure. It did certainly raise awareness of the fragility of the arctic, the environmental changes and the impact of high volume tourism.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Five stars! The best. The guide was terrific. The ships crew amazing. The travelers ranged in age from 10 to 80 and all were able to do the trip, get the support they needed and add to a great diversity of guests.
Reviewed on 28 Jul 2018 by Christina Miles
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing polar bears and arctic foxes in the wild, also the beautiful Arctic glaciers.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Definitely a trip for people who are interested in nature and photography.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There were opportunities to learn about different conservation projects on board the ship.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We were very lucky with the weather and had lots of zodiac and shore trips which resulted in an excellent experience. Food on board ship was excellent.
Reviewed on 27 Jun 2018 by Cara Hirst
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Some many things, a pod of beluga whales, arctic fox, 5 polar bears including one killing ,dragging and eating a seal
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring some games to play in the bar with other passengers
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, supported conservation
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was a truly wonderful experience! would definitely recommend
Reviewed on 21 Aug 2018 by Emma Thomas
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Traveling through the pack ice and seeing polar bears
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be patient - there is an awful lot of sea/land for the animals to roam/swim in so you won't necessarily get to see the wildlife you're after or see it as close as you'd like. You don't need to pack heavy walking boots - the boots provided are very comfortable and they save your feet from getting wet. Take plenty of warm clothes!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not really.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was brilliant. The only thing that would have made it any better was seeing a polar bear on the ice pack - unfortunately, that didn't happen!
Reviewed on 19 Sep 2016 by Kathryn Huddle
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
An amazing trip! The scenery -glaciers, icebergs and sea ice - were stunning, the northern lights fantastic, and the wildlife wonderful. It is impossible to highlight one part, as it was two memorable weeks!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We treated ourselves to the suite, we had our own space to escape to, more room to relax, more storage space, and a much better bathroom. It was worth the extra expense!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Care is taken not to disturb the wildlife, and the vacation provider supports conservation charities which helps develop local businesses.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
5 stars, it was one of our best vacations!
Reviewed on 02 Jul 2016 by Peter Smart
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing polar bears, walruses and whales. Especially seeing a rare Bowhead whale whilst moving through the pack ice.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take a good pair of binoculars.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Probably not.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent.
Read the operator's response here:
We are extremely happy that Peter and his partner had an excellent experience with us in Spitsbergen and that they saw polar bears, blue whales, walruses and the rare bowhead whale. In terms of how the trip may have benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation: Since its inception we have 'grown' a Rainforest4Climate Fund which we use to help offset the carbon emissions of client polar voyages and flights. This covers travel to Spitsbergen, Greenland, Canada, Antarctica, South Georgia, the Russian Arctic and the Falklands. We also add to this fund for each journey we operate to lowland Amazon and cloud forests in Ecuador and Peru. We calculate the average CO2 emissions of its Arctic and Antarctic voyages and automatically offsets our clients share of emissions via this Rainforest4Climate programme. At the time of booking we also invite each of our clients to match our carbon off set contribution, which many choose to do.
In 2015, donations were focused on Western Ecuador via Rainforest Concern, where we have been helping to extend a reserve where the newly discovered Olinguito is known to exist. Via our partners, the Rainforest Trust, we funded the creation of a 10,000 acre protected rainforest reserve within a new 5.9 million acres of national park, national reserve and 57 community owned territories in Amazonian Peru. We also funded the protection of more than 1,000 acres of new rainforest reserve in Madagascar.
Spitsbergen itself has no indigenous population, but the main industry in the area is tourism, which we support. Tourism certainly helps people living in Spitsbergen financially and strengthens the need for conservation of the area, a void which could otherwise be at risk of other more impactful activities such as oil and mineral extraction industries.
In 2015, donations were focused on Western Ecuador via Rainforest Concern, where we have been helping to extend a reserve where the newly discovered Olinguito is known to exist. Via our partners, the Rainforest Trust, we funded the creation of a 10,000 acre protected rainforest reserve within a new 5.9 million acres of national park, national reserve and 57 community owned territories in Amazonian Peru. We also funded the protection of more than 1,000 acres of new rainforest reserve in Madagascar.
Spitsbergen itself has no indigenous population, but the main industry in the area is tourism, which we support. Tourism certainly helps people living in Spitsbergen financially and strengthens the need for conservation of the area, a void which could otherwise be at risk of other more impactful activities such as oil and mineral extraction industries.
Reviewed on 04 Aug 2013 by david rumsey
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Arriving at the pack ice on a beautiful sunny evening and then seeing our first polar bear.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Only go if you are truly interested in all sorts of wildlife and nature. Don't expect a great variety of plants and animals - but what there is, is spectacular. Take a very good SLR camera with high magnification.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Supported local economy in Longbearyen. No harm to the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very good. But sufficiently interesting for one teenager who required shopping opportunities and some culture. This vacation is not for someone who likes the idea of seeing polar bears but is not particularly interested in wildlife.
Reviewed on 18 Oct 2011 by Bjørn Clasen
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The astonishing landscapes in general, the walks on the mountains.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you are prepared for the cold - and for not necessarily seeing a lot of wildlife or Northern Lights.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I believe so.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A unique experience that reminded us of life's basics, of what real beauty is.
Our travel guides
From
£2690
To
£7490
10 Days excluding flights
Countries:Arctic Cruises, Spitsbergen
More info:Or from £3,690 (11 days) ex flights
Kayaking, diving & snorkelling available on select departures.
Please note that select voyage dates are invoiced in a foreign currency which is subject to currency fluctuations.
Price subject to cabin & vessel
Our travel guides
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