![Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise Review [2025 Guide]](https://www.nomadasaurus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Aurora-Expeditions-Svalbard-Cruise-Review-Feature-Image.jpg "Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise Review [2025 Guide]")
Svalbard sits on the sting of the map, a land of glaciers, polar bears, and distant fjords the place the Arctic Ocean meets the pack ice.
At 78° North, this Norwegian archipelago is without doubt one of the wildest locations on Earth, and becoming a member of a Svalbard cruise with Aurora Expeditions is one of the simplest ways to expertise it.
Being lucky sufficient to work within the polar areas since 2017, with over 20 expeditions to Antarctica and 5 to the Arctic underneath our belts, it’s protected to say we have now developed a deep ardour for the far reaches of the planet.
Yet nonetheless the attraction stays stronger than ever, and with Svalbard being arguably the icon of Arctic journey, we couldn’t be extra thrilled to lastly go to collectively.
In August 2025 we boarded the Greg Mortimer for his or her 11-day Svalbard Odyssey voyage by Spitsbergen and the excessive Arctic, chasing polar bears, walrus, reindeer, ivory gulls, beluga whales, and numerous seabirds.
READ MORE: Check out our full Greg Mortimer ship evaluation!
Along the best way we explored historic websites like Ny-Ålesund and Virgohamna, cruised beneath towering glaciers reminiscent of Lilliehöökbreen and Negribreen, and pushed as far north as 82°39’ into the drifting sea ice.
No two polar expeditions are ever the identical. The itinerary in Svalbard modifications each day, dictated by climate, ice, and wildlife.
This is our detailed evaluation of the Aurora Expeditions Svalbard itinerary, showcasing the landings, wildlife encounters, and onboard life that made our voyage unforgettable.
If you’re planning a visit to the Arctic and wish to know precisely what to anticipate on a Svalbard cruise with Aurora Expeditions, this information covers every thing: the highlights, the surprises, and the moments that make expedition journey so particular.
EXCLUSIVE – We have partnered with the world’s high polar tour operator, Aurora Expeditions, to supply readers of NOMADasaurus a really particular deal on any journey to Antarctica or the Arctic! Contact us (hi there@nomadasaurus.com) in case you’d wish to study extra about these unique reductions. Or merely point out the code “NOMAD” when reserving direct with Aurora to activate the deal.
Quick Facts – Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise
- Operator: Aurora Expeditions
- Ship: Greg Mortimer (130-passenger, purpose-built expedition ship)
- Destination: Svalbard, Norway (Arctic)
- Itinerary: Svalbard Odyssey
- Duration: 12 days
- Start/Finish: Oslo, Norway (features a constitution flight to and from Longyearbyen, Svalbard)
- Focus: Polar bears, glaciers, sea ice, Arctic wildlife, historical past, and distant landings
Note: Expedition cruising in Svalbard is very versatile. Ice, climate, and wildlife dictate the place you go every day, so no two voyages are alike. This is a evaluation of our actual journey in August 2025.
Day 1 – Leaving Longyearbyen Behind
Few locations really feel like the sting of the world fairly like Longyearbyen.
Tucked between sharp peaks and glacial valleys at 78° North, this coal-mining city is a curious mixture of frontier grit and Arctic allure.
It’s additionally the launch level for nearly each expedition into Svalbard, and for us it marked the start of an journey we’d been dreaming about for years.
Arriving on the pier there was a buzz of power. Expedition jackets, tripods, backpacks, and wide-eyed pleasure all mingled collectively as we caught our first glimpse of the Greg Mortimer – the modern expedition ship that might carry us deep into the Arctic Ocean.
The crew met us on the gangway with heat smiles, contained in the resort employees welcomed the expeditioners with trays of canapés and real enthusiasm.
The first hours onboard slipped by in a blur. Bags had been dropped into cabins, cameras laid out for the times forward, and earlier than lengthy we had been sitting within the lecture theatre for introductions.
Expedition Leader Isabelle set the tone with calm confidence, introducing her group of guides, historians, scientists, and Zodiac drivers.
Safety briefings adopted, together with fittings for jackets, muck boots, and kayak gear for those who had signed up.
It was half orientation, half initiation – the second the place the journey stopped being summary and all of the sudden turned very actual.
That night, because the Greg Mortimer eased away from the dock, Longyearbyen’s vibrant homes grew smaller towards the mountains till they vanished utterly.
Phones had been tucked away, chatter quietened, and a hush fell throughout the decks. The Arctic stretched out forward – limitless, icy, and wild.
Civilisation was behind us now, and as a replacement was one thing infinitely extra thrilling: the unknown.
READ MORE: Find out the whether or not the north or south is for you with our Antarctica vs the Arctic information.
Day 2 – Ice and Science at Ny-Ålesund
The first full day of our Svalbard cruise Arctic voyage started with breakfast served towards a staggering backdrop – the Lilliehöökbreen Glacier.
Stretching throughout Krossfjord in a wall of jagged blue, it was our first actual style of the landscapes that outline Svalbard.
The Greg Mortimer glided slowly previous, icebergs drifting silently within the fjord whereas fulmars skimmed the water’s floor.
Cameras clicked over espresso cups, and the ship’s railings stuffed with expeditioners wide-eyed on the scale of all of it.
But earlier than anybody might set foot ashore, there was work to do. In the lecture theatre the Expedition Team ran us by the realities of journey within the excessive Arctic: tips on how to behave in polar bear territory, the ins and outs of Zodiac operations, and the significance of biosecurity.
Every backpack was scrubbed, boots vacuumed, and Velcro checked for seeds – a small however important ritual to maintain Svalbard’s fragile ecosystem intact.
By afternoon the wind was up, however the group had one thing particular deliberate.
Zodiacs bounced by uneven water into Kongsfjord, touchdown us at Ny-Ålesund, one of many northernmost communities on the earth.
Once a mining settlement, as we speak it’s a hub for worldwide Arctic analysis. Walking between brightly painted buildings, we realized concerning the polar expeditions that set off from right here – goals of reaching the North Pole etched into the city’s legacy.
After a guided wander we had time to discover on our personal. Some browsed the small museum and store, whereas others despatched postcards stamped with the magic of the excessive Arctic.
That night we gathered again onboard for the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail, glasses raised in celebration.
The ship hummed with tales of glaciers and analysis cities, and as we toasted to the times forward, it felt just like the expedition had actually begun.
Day 3 – Walrus, Whalers, and Foxes in Raudfjord
By the third morning at sea the Arctic had revealed its rhythm: a quiet breakfast damaged by the hum of Zodiacs dropping into the water, cameras slung over shoulders, and the sense that something might occur as soon as we left the ship.
Our vacation spot was Smeerenburg, as soon as the busiest whaling station within the Arctic and now a lonely spit of land on the high of Spitsbergen.
The identify itself interprets to “Blubber Town,” and it was right here within the seventeenth century that Dutch whalers rendered numerous whales into oil.
Today the furnaces are lengthy gone, changed by drifting ice and the heavy types of walrus sprawled throughout the seaside.
We floated in our Zodiacs simply offshore, watching as these huge pinnipeds rolled over one another, splashed into the shallows, and lifted their tusked heads in lazy acknowledgement of our presence.
The water was thick with jellyfish and ctenophores, delicate and otherworldly, whereas Arctic terns and glaucous gulls wheeled overhead.
History could have emptied Smeerenburg of individuals, however wildlife has reclaimed it in full.
Nearby, at Virgohamna, the ghosts of Arctic exploration lingered.
Here within the early 1900s, adventurers like Salomon August Andrée and Walter Wellman constructed their bases in a determined bid to achieve the North Pole.
Neither succeeded, and the ruins of their camps stay as weathered reminders of ambition assembly the fact of the Arctic.
Around the shoreline we noticed harbour seals stretched on rocks, geese choosing by the grass, and black guillemots drifting silently on the water.
By afternoon the Greg Mortimer nosed into Raudfjord, its peaks mirrored on glassy water.
We landed at Alicehamna, splitting into small teams to discover on foot.
One of the highlights of travelling the Arctic in comparison with the Antarctic is the power to actually stretch the legs and revel in lengthy hikes, underneath the security of educated polar bear spotters and rifle handlers, in fact.
We hiked a number of kilometres, stopping alongside the best way to listen to the expedition group share particulars of the wildlife that make Alicehamna, and Svalbard, so fascinating.
That evening, because the ship pointed north towards the ice, dialog over dinner circled again to the day’s sightings.
The Arctic was revealing itself in contrasts: historical past and survival, silence and abundance, fragility and resilience.
READ MORE: Keen to discover elsewhere within the Arctic? Why not take a look at a Greenland cruise!
Day 4 – Into the Sea Ice: First Glimpse of the King
The shoreline of Spitsbergen slipped away in a single day, and by morning the world exterior had reworked.
The Greg Mortimer moved slowly by bands of drifting fog, the ocean flat and glassy, the air sharp sufficient to sting our cheeks.
The ship’s coordinates ticked steadily north — 80°, then 81° — every diploma a milestone that carried us farther from land and deeper into the Arctic.
Outside the oily slick of the ocean began to turn into peppered with pack ice, remnants of the lengthy Arctic winter that was now retreating again in the direction of the North Pole.
The silence was damaged by a shout that rippled by the corridors: “Bear!”
Within moments, the decks had been crowded. Cameras and binoculars appeared in each hand, lenses geared toward a single patch of ice the place a polar bear wandered round on a floe.
It rolled lazily, paws within the air prefer it had not a care on the earth, earlier than standing and ambling throughout the ice with highly effective, unhurried strides.
For many onboard it was their first encounter with the animal that had drawn them right here – a defining second that might by no means be forgotten.
Keeping a protected distance and adhering to all accountable wildlife viewing laws, we loved our time with the bear after which continued our journey north.
The ship pressed deeper into the pack, floes scraping alongside the hull with hole cracks.
By noon we had reached 82°39’ North, our highest latitude of the voyage, and the furthest north the Greg Mortimer had ever reached, surrounded by a frozen jigsaw of white and electrical blue.
The fog lifted briefly and the solar broke by, lighting the ice as if we had entered one other world.
At the bow, passengers gathered for a celebratory picture, cheeks flushed from chilly and pleasure.
We continued our seek for extra wildlife, however alas the elusive polar bear didn’t reappear this time round.
Conversation buzzed as we relived the morning’s sighting, the bear’s actions already etched into reminiscence and we counted our fortunate stars that we had seen one, understanding that some journeys by no means have that chance.
That evening at dinner the story was retold many times, every model carrying the identical awe: the second the Arctic gave us our first polar bear.
Day 5 – History in Stone, Courage in Ice
Sunlight poured throughout the deck because the Greg Mortimer threaded by Beverlysundet, a slender stretch of water separating Chermsideøya from Nordaustlandet.
From a distance the island seemed like little greater than a barren rise of rock, however as Zodiacs touched the shore its historical past got here into focus.
Etched into boulders above the touchdown web site had been markings left in 1928 by the crew of the Russian icebreaker Krasin, who had sailed north searching for the lacking Italian explorer Umberto Nobile.
READ MORE: At the opposite finish of the earth, study every thing that you must find out about travelling to Antarctica!
These scratched names and dates, nonetheless seen almost a century later, carried the burden of desperation and hope from an earlier age of polar exploration.
The expedition group supplied quite a lot of hikes for individuals who wished to go to shore and wander the tundra underneath a pale sky – a protracted, quick stroll, a medium tempo, and a brief stroll for anybody that felt like simply sitting on a rock and considering the majesty and historical past round them.
Two hours later our quick group was picked up on the different aspect of the island and the Zodiacs whisked us again to the Greg Mortimer.
Back onboard the temper shifted from reflective to electrical. The name went out for the polar plunge, and greater than thirty passengers lined up on the gangway.
One by one they leapt into the Arctic Ocean, shrieking because the 6°C water clamped round them, surfacing with wild grins earlier than scrambling again to the ladders.
The cheers from the railings rang louder than the splash of the waves.
Alesha did the plunge as nicely, an infinite milestone after her cardiac arrest. Her docs had initially instructed her {that a} polar plunge was one thing she might by no means do once more, however together with her unimaginable restoration she had been given the approval earlier within the 12 months to do it once more, on the situation she slid in, not bounce.
And now she will proudly say she has accomplished the polar plunge in each Antartica and the Arctic AFTER struggling a cardiac arrest.
Nothing can cease her!
The afternoon introduced a unique sort of problem on our Svalbard cruise. The plan was to land at Phippsøya, however the climate closed in quick.
Fog rolled throughout the ocean till Zodiacs might hardly see each other. Instead, we explored by boat round Parryøya, every group vanishing into the white earlier than reappearing like ghosts on the horizon.
Out of the haze got here flashes of life: the tusks of walrus breaking the floor, a scatter of eider ducklings, and for one fortunate boat, the pale define of a distant polar bear.
By the time everybody returned to the ship, GPS guiding drivers by the fog, the story of the plunge and the fog-bound cruise stuffed the eating room.
History etched in stone, adrenaline in icy water, and wildlife rising from the mist – it had been a day that captured each aspect of the Arctic.
Day 6 – The Bird Cliffs of Alkefjellet
Rain tapped softly on our hoods as Zodiacs skimmed throughout uneven water towards Alkefjellet, one of the dramatic seabird colonies within the Arctic.
Dark dolerite cliffs rose sheer from the ocean, streaked with moss and guano, and alive with the calls of hundreds upon hundreds of Brünnich’s guillemots.
The air was stuffed with motion – birds wheeling overhead, diving into the waves, or balancing awkwardly on slender ledges carved into the rock.
Up shut, the cliffs appeared to hum. Every ledge was filled with guillemots chattering in a deafening refrain.
Some chicks had already taken their leap of religion, tiny bundles of fluff paddling beside their fathers on the water.
Others hurled themselves from dizzying heights, wings flapping furiously earlier than splashing into the ocean – a ceremony of passage repeated for millennia.
Black-legged kittiwakes soared within the wind, whereas an Arctic fox darted throughout the shoreline, trying to find any chick unfortunate sufficient to stray.
It was uncooked, noisy, messy, and totally charming.
By afternoon the climate had different concepts. The plan was to land at Torrellneset, typically a dependable spot for walrus, however the fog thickened till the shoreline disappeared solely.
Even the Zodiacs might barely preserve sight of each other. The choice was made to cancel, a pointy reminder that the Arctic is all the time in management.
Instead, the day turned inward. Back on the Greg Mortimer, naturalist John delivered a robust lecture on polar bears, weaving collectively science, pictures, and private tales of encounters within the wild.
As the fog clung to the ship, his phrases painted vivid photos of the King of the Arctic shifting throughout the ice.
That evening the crew rolled out a shock: a barbecue in the primary restaurant. Decked out in wigs and humorous hats, all of us tucked in to a tasty unfold of meats, greens and salads with music taking part in over the audio system.
Day 7 – Kvitøya: White Island and the Bear Bonanza
Through the evening the Greg Mortimer pressed northeast, swallowed by fog so thick it felt just like the ship had been erased from the world.
By morning, the haze hadn’t shifted – a ghostly white urgent in from each aspect.
Then, simply as breakfast ended, the curtain lifted. Out of the mist loomed Kvitøya, or “White Island,” a desolate place nearly solely buried beneath an ice cap.
Few individuals ever set foot right here, and for good motive.
This distant island is tied to one of many Arctic’s most tragic tales – the doomed 1897 balloon expedition of Swedish explorer Salomon August Andrée, who perished together with his companions on these very shores.
We had hoped to land at Andreeneset, the place a memorial marks the positioning, however the fog rolled again in, smothering the shoreline and dashing the possibility.
What we discovered as a substitute was one thing far rarer, and much larger. Along the seashores and throughout the ice, polar bears appeared. Over a dozen!
At first it was a form shifting on the shoreline, then one other sprawled on a snowbank, then extra padding throughout the rocks.
Before lengthy, whispers of “one other one!” rippled throughout the Zodiacs till we’d counted at the very least eleven bears in sight.
Some lifted their heads lazily to observe us, others wandered with regular, highly effective strides, their creamy fur mixing into the fog.
It felt surreal – the Arctic’s high predator, not a distant dream on the horizon however a presence in all places we seemed.
The touchdown might need been inconceivable, however nobody minded.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, the sort of encounter you hope for however by no means count on.
Back onboard, the afternoon was stuffed with lectures on sea ice, polar bears, and the ship itself, but the dialog all the time circled again to Kvitøya.
That evening, the eating room buzzed with a single story, instructed in numerous phrases however all the time the identical at coronary heart: the day the fog lifted, and the Arctic revealed eleven polar bears on a single island. A real spotlight of our Aurora Expeditions Svalbard cruise itinerary.
Day 8 – Negribreen: Ghost Birds within the Mist
The morning broke in silence. A pale mist hung over Negribreen, one among Svalbard’s largest glaciers, its jagged entrance spilling icebergs into the fjord.
Zodiacs slipped quietly between glowing blocks of ice, every one a sculpture of shifting blues and greens. The world felt nonetheless, muffled by fog, each sound softened by the burden of the ice.
Then got here a cry – not from us, however from above. The sharp name of an ivory gull lower by the mist.
Out of the whiteness, a pair appeared, circling a big berg earlier than selecting its crest.
Their snow-white feathers blended completely with the glacier, so pure it was laborious to differentiate hen from ice.
Moments later, extra arrived, till a small flock wheeled above us, their actions ghostlike towards the sky.
These elusive gulls are among the many rarest seabirds within the Arctic, and seeing them right here – so shut, so fleeting – felt like witnessing a secret few ever glimpse.
Back onboard, hen professional Meike introduced the encounter to life in an interesting lecture, explaining the delicate way forward for ivory gulls and the challenges Arctic seabirds face throughout their lengthy migrations.
The morning’s magic became data, deepening the expertise.
The afternoon introduced one other change of plans. A touchdown at Sundneset was cancelled when each reindeer and a polar bear had been noticed close to the positioning.
Instead, the Greg Mortimer pushed towards Hornsund, whereas onboard life stuffed the hours: I gave a photo-editing workshop, a North Pole story from historian Jamie, and a vigorous recreation run by the Expedition Team.
Evening drinks carried on with tales of foxes, birds, and glaciers, but it surely was the gulls that lingered. They appeared to embody the Arctic itself — elusive, fragile, and unforgettable.
Day 9 – Bamsebu: Bones and Belugas
Fog swallowed our morning as soon as once more, forcing the Expedition Team to desert plans for Calypsobyen and divert to Bamsebu, a lonely seaside marked by one small cabin.
From a distance it seemed unremarkable – a weathered hut above a seaweed-strewn shore. But as we landed, the reality of the place turned clear.
Scattered throughout the seaside had been the stays of greater than 550 beluga whales, slaughtered within the Nineteen Thirties when this web site served as a whaling station.
The bones lie there nonetheless, bleached by the Arctic solar and tide, a haunting monument to an period when wildlife was nothing greater than a commodity.
Walking amongst them was sobering, a reminder that the Arctic will not be solely a wilderness of ice and silence, but additionally a witness to human exploitation.
Yet, as if on cue, the Arctic supplied stability.
The fog lastly lifted, and the fjord opened right into a panorama of mountains and islands.
Kayakers paddled into the large bay, their vibrant boats small towards the huge panorama. The temper lightened, spirits lifted by the sheer scale of the place we stood.
That afternoon, a second try at Calypsobyen was thwarted as soon as once more by fog, however fortune redirected us into Recherchefjord.
There, a dozing polar bear rested on a hillside whereas reindeer grazed on the following hill.
Overhead, an Arctic tern attacked a flock of kittiwakes with fearless fury, defending its nest towards birds a lot bigger than itself.
Rene cruised us right into a berg-filled bay with a shocking glacier rising amongst the fog.
The face was energetic, with small chunks of ice tumbling down and the glacier cracking and groaning because it shifted so barely into the ocean.
Suddenly an infinite piece of ice calved from the glacier, crashing into the bay and sending waves in all instructions.
We cheered and basked within the expertise, from a protected distance in fact, earlier than making our method again in the direction of the Greg Mortimer.
And then got here the sight none of us anticipated: a pod of beluga whales, surfacing within the fjord, some with calves at their aspect.
Their white backs rolled by the gray water, a dwelling echo to the bones we had seen earlier that day.
From tragedy to resilience, Bamsebu had proven us each the darkest chapter and essentially the most hopeful way forward for the Arctic.
Day 10 – Poolepynten & Alkhornet: The Last Step
Our remaining full day in Svalbard dawned clear, the fog that had outlined so many mornings lastly gone.
The Greg Mortimer anchored off Poolepynten, a low-lying spit identified for its walrus haul-outs.
But in true expedition fashion, the animals weren’t there to greet us. Instead, the seaside revealed a unique sort of drama.
We walked throughout mushy mosses and driftwood, the air alive with hen calls.
Kittiwakes stuffed the sky, whereas Arctic terns dived fearlessly at anybody who strayed too near their nests.
Along a lake, a sly Arctic fox prowled in plain sight, continually harassed by livid birds intent on retaining it away from their chicks.
A lonely walrus, weary and battered from an age of battles, dozed on the seaside.
In the space, reindeer grazed underneath a low ceiling of clouds, detached to our presence. It was a reminder that the Arctic doesn’t all the time ship what you count on, but it surely all the time delivers one thing.
By afternoon we sailed into Isfjorden, an indication that civilisation was close to.
Yet earlier than Longyearbyen got here into view, we had one final touchdown — Alkhornet.
Beneath its sheer dolomite cliffs, hundreds of kittiwakes wheeled in chaotic circles, their calls echoing throughout the fjord.
On the tundra beneath, dozens of reindeer wandered, way over we had seen all journey.
The abundance was overwhelming, a becoming finale that appeared to sum up the richness of Svalbard in a single view.
As we stood beneath the cliffs, watching the final mild soften over the mountains, the journey replayed itself in our minds: walrus sprawled on historical whaling seashores, guillemot chicks plunging into the ocean, ivory gulls circling out of the mist, and polar bears – so many polar bears – etched ceaselessly in reminiscence.
The Arctic had given us every thing: magnificence, unpredictability, and a uncooked wildness that can’t be tamed. It was the proper closing chapter.
Day 11 – Longyearbyen: The End of the Road
The mountains of Isfjorden got here again into view because the Greg Mortimer eased towards Longyearbyen, the place the place it had all begun.
After ten days within the wild, the colorful homes alongside the shore seemed nearly surreal, a reminder that civilisation nonetheless existed past the silence of glaciers and sea ice.
Disembarkation was bittersweet. Bags lined the corridors, jackets had been handed again, and mates embraced with guarantees to remain in contact.
The ship that had turn into our floating residence was all of the sudden only a vessel once more, prepared for its subsequent voyage.
But the recollections lingered: the primary polar bear rising from a floe, the ivory gulls wheeling out of the mist, the walrus sprawled on seashores, and the reindeer grazing beneath Alkhornet’s cliffs.
Svalbard had been greater than a vacation spot – it was an expertise that had reshaped the best way we noticed wilderness.
Longyearbyen might need been the top of the street, however the Arctic had already adopted us residence.
About the Greg Mortimer
For this voyage we sailed aboard the Greg Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions’ purpose-built expedition ship.
With its revolutionary X-BOW® design, the vessel dealt with the open seas with exceptional stability, giving us a clean experience even when the Arctic threw its weight round.
Life onboard was relaxed and welcoming. Days flowed between lectures within the theatre, informal meals within the eating room, quiet moments within the library, and outing on deck watching the surroundings roll previous.
The mudroom made Zodiac operations seamless, and the cabins had been comfy sanctuaries to return to after lengthy days within the subject.
We’ve written a full evaluation of the Greg Mortimer, overlaying the cabins, eating, and onboard expertise in additional element — you may learn it right here: Greg Mortimer Ship Review.
Top 10 Tips for a Svalbard Expedition
Planning a voyage into the High Arctic? Here are our greatest suggestions that can assist you get essentially the most out of your Svalbard expedition cruise:
- Pack Layers, Not Bulk
The climate modifications quick – from fog and drizzle to sunshine and snow in the identical day. A very good base layer, insulating mid-layer, and waterproof shell will cowl you for each touchdown. - Bring a Dry Bag for Your Camera
Zodiac spray, sleet, and rain are a continuing risk. A easy waterproof dry bag (or perhaps a roll-top backpack liner) will preserve your gear protected between ship and shore. - Learn Your Camera Before You Go
Wildlife doesn’t wait when you fumble with settings. Practice at residence together with your zoom lens, quick shutter speeds, and burst mode so that you’re prepared when a polar bear steps onto the ice. - Don’t Skip the Biosecurity Checks
Cleaning Velcro and vacuuming gear could seem tedious, but it surely’s important. Svalbard’s ecosystem is fragile, and these steps shield the surroundings you got here to see. - Respect Wildlife Distances
The Expedition Team units strict method limits for good motive. Staying again ensures each security and pure behaviour – and with lengthy lenses, you’ll nonetheless seize beautiful pictures. - Expect Plans to Change
Fog, ice, or a wandering bear can cancel a touchdown in seconds. Embrace the pliability. Often, the backup plan turns into one of many journey’s highlights. - Take Advantage of the Lectures
The onboard talks are greater than filler – they deepen the expertise. Learning about Arctic historical past, geology, or seabirds makes each touchdown richer. - Get Out on Deck Often
Some of one of the best wildlife sightings occur whereas the ship is underway. Whales, seabirds, and even polar bears can seem out of nowhere. Always preserve your binoculars useful. - Join the Polar Plunge (If You Dare)
It’s chilly. It’s ridiculous. But leaping into the Arctic Ocean is a reminiscence you’ll always remember – and the recent bathe afterwards appears like luxurious. - Soak It All In
Between cameras, lectures, and logistics, it’s straightforward to remain busy. But don’t overlook to easily stand on deck, breathe the icy air, and watch the Arctic drift by. These moments of stillness typically turn into essentially the most treasured recollections.
Verdict – Our Thoughts on Svalbard with Aurora Expeditions
Svalbard is a kind of uncommon locations that feels extra like one other planet than one other nation.
From the silence of drifting sea ice to the chaos of hen cliffs, from ivory gulls and walrus to the unforgettable thrill of recognizing polar bears, daily introduced one thing totally different – and sometimes one thing utterly sudden.
What stood out most was not simply the landscapes or the wildlife, however the best way expedition cruising works within the Arctic.
Plans shifted continually – landings cancelled, routes adjusted, surprises embraced – but every change revealed one thing we would by no means have skilled in any other case.
That flexibility is the essence of Svalbard, and Aurora Expeditions dealt with it with talent, security, and real ardour.
The Greg Mortimer proved the proper platform: comfy, welcoming, and designed to take us deep into the ice with out sacrificing the intimacy of a small-ship voyage.
The Expedition Team had been distinctive – educated, approachable, and clearly in love with this wild nook of the world.
Their experience turned each touchdown into greater than only a go to; it turned an schooling.
Would we advocate it? Absolutely. If you’ve ever dreamed of standing at 82° North watching a polar bear pad throughout the ice, of drifting beneath seabird cliffs so alive they shake with sound, or of kayaking beneath a glacier face glowing blue within the mist, a Svalbard expedition with Aurora delivers all of it — and extra.
It’s not only a cruise; it’s an journey into the unknown, the place daily appears like a present from the Arctic itself.
