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While a princely sum, for sure, such a fare is not all that unusual for an icebreaker trip to the North Pole. Even the expedition travel companies that chartered spartan Russian icebreakers for such voyages in the past charged $35,000 per person or more. For three days, we plow our way northward across what increasingly resembles a Rothko painting made with variations of white and gray. In many areas across the polar ice cap, these winds and currents create "leads," open lines of water through which vessels such as Le Commandant Charcot can pass without having to break ice. In recent decades, expedition travel companies have periodically chartered space on some of Russia's working icebreakers to take adventure-minded travelers to the top of the world.
An All-Inclusive Arctic Experience
As the number gets closer to 90 degrees north — the top of the world — the excitement on the ship grows. Average temperatures in the Arctic have risen significantly — and thus made journeys like this easier. Our sailing to the North Pole, just the eighth that Le Commandant Charcot has operated with paying passengers, begins in Longyearbyen, the northernmost settlement of any size in the world.
About Swoop Arctic
We suggest bringing a good pair of binoculars to get the best out of the trip. The Franz Josef Land archipelago is a magical place for wildlife and one you won't want to miss. After a lovely breakfast, you will disembark the ship and make your way to the charter flight awaiting you. Boarding the 50 Years of Victory, you will set out on this tremendous and monumental journey north out of Kola Bay.
Types Of North Pole Cruise
Our North Pole expedition cruise experts will help you achieve your dream of a cruise to the North Pole. As the ship heads south, you’ll likely see more High Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, walruses, seals and bowhead whales. Upon arrival at 90 degrees north, a full day of fun and excitement is in store. You will not only reach the North Pole, but also visit the remote Franz Josef Land archipelago, replete with majestic glaciers and icebergs.
Humpback whales, polar bears, walruses and migratory birds have taken up residence here. To sail Baffin Bay is to find an original beauty that very few places on earth have conserved. Obviously, it takes a specific type of vessel to endure polar extremes, break through multi-year sea ice and reach the geographic pole at 90 degrees North. Traditionally, North Pole cruises operated aboard nuclear-powered Russian icebreakers. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles.
We also guarantee the best price from the operator when your reservation is made. The ship aims to contribute to environmental and climate research in polar regions. Le Commandant Charcot has scientific research facilities to support polar exploration and research missions. Designed to navigate through both polar ice and open seas, Le Commandant Charcot has advanced icebreaking capabilities. There also are more crew members on the vessel (201) than passengers, something that is almost unheard of in the world of cruising.
Larger marine mammals, such as narwhal whales, have been observed but such sightings are rare.Birds are frequent visitors to the North Pole. The Arctic tern, which has the longest annual migration of any species on the planet, spends its spring and summer in the Arctic, though rarely as far north as the North Pole. Other migratory birds observed at the North Pole include the small snow bunting, gull-like fulmars and kittiwakes.
Plan Your North Pole Cruise
New small ship cruises, adventure trips, ships & the best deals at your fingertips. North Pole cruise prices historically started at $30,000 per person, with luxury cruises starting at $57,000 per person with suites costing $58,000 up to $184,000 per person. But most guests are content to stand on the top of the world, walk on the ice and take pictures to document the momentous achievement.
Please note that visiting certain islands is not guaranteed due to the changing weather and ice formations. Not only this, you'll get plenty of shore landings on the islands leading to the North Pole. Once at the top of the world, you can explore a landscape that few people have ever seen. You can then expereince the North Pole like no other with a helicopter tour or hot air baloon ride. You can take a voyage to the far reaches of the North by way of the formidable 50 Years of Victory – a nuclear-powered (and safe) ice-breaker vessel.
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon. On the East coast of Greenland, in the Ittoqqortoormiit region, you will have the rare opportunity of immersing yourself in the heart of isolated scenery and exploring the beauty of its landscapes. The high alpine mountains stand out in the sky, revealing dark rock edges.
At the same time as this north-south cruise, Holland America will also be sailing an east-west Grand Voyage. "We've created two voyages that linger in ports for memorable moments and several overnight stays. We even timed it so the two voyages will meet-up to share an overnight experience in Barcelona," Grigsby said. Kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, and polar plunge are offered on selected North Pole cruises and are subject to availability and weather conditions. Please check with us during the booking process to check the availability of additional activities. A remote archipelago inhabited only by polar bears, walruses and seabirds, Franz Josef Land is one of the least visited places in the Arctic.
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Then he reverses and overshoots again, this time by just dozens of feet. He blows the ship's ear-splitting horn, and a cheer echoes across the ice. The idea for those in ships was to strike out toward the first and avoid the latter to make a polar passage easier. "The best way to travel through the ice is to avoid the ice," he and his officers often quip to passengers. Marchesseau aims for such water openings, not because Le Commandant Charcot can't handle plowing straight through hard ice, but because it's faster and more energy efficient to avoid doing so.
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Because of this, there are many remains here and crosses and memorial stones are scattered across the land. Several of these trips are included in the price, but extra ones are also available. This is the time to experience the much-anticipated rush of literally standing at the top of the world.
In comparison, regular expedition ships are ice-strengthened but not icebreakers. While they can navigate into open-pack ice, they don't have the strength or capability to break through ice up to 3 metres thick. Different expedition ships have a variety of ice classes, which dictate where they can and can't go in the polar regions, depending on the sea ice conditions. Very few ships on Earth can reach as far north as the Geographic North Pole. The pole is surrounded by thick sea ice throughout the year, sometimes measuring up to 3 metres in depth.
For the best odds of seeing the northern lights, we suggest the 12-day round-trip itinerary from Bergen up the coast of Norway and back. (Although some sailings operate in reverse.) The Norwegian fjords themselves are a sight to behold — and if they're paired with the northern lights, that's all the better! The sailings run from January to March when daylight is limited in the Arctic Circle, making for prime aurora opportunities. Rates start from $4,999 per person in 2023, and it should be noted that Viking is an adults-only cruise line.
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