Book by June 30, 2023, and receive 20% off your cabin fare on select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
A mythic land under the midnight sun
Stretching across the top of the globe and touching eight countries, the Arctic is rife with opportunity for every type of explorer, whether you seek iconic wildlife, epic icescapes, or enriching encounters with cultures of the far North. Here are some highlights from the areas we explore to help you decide which Arctic expedition is the best fit for your interests.
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Norway: Under the midnight sun, photograph epic wildlife such as polar bears, reindeer, walruses, seals, whales, and myriad birds. Cruise and kayak beneath soaring cliffs and tumbling cascades along the Norwegian fjords.
Iceland: Take a Zodiac cruise through a basalt cave, hike the base of a fjord to a thundering waterfall, or stroll sea cliffs aflutter with gannets and puffins. Encounter local culture, tradition, and music.
Greenland: Greenland’s icescapes glitter in a dazzling tableau of iridescent icebergs and calving glaciers that we explore by kayak, Zodiac, and on foot. Go beyond the country’s icy surface to experience cultural encounters in thriving Inuit communities.
Canada: For the explorer who seeks seldom-seen lands, as well as elusive muskoxen, polar bears, walruses, belugas, and narwhals. Further south, along the rocky coasts of the maritime regions, we see a different side of Arctic exploration: traces of the peoples who settled these shorelines. Discover Viking villages, a Moravian mission, and other historical relics in a once-popular landing spot for westward voyagers.
(18) Arctic Itineraries
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NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged. More details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jul
Aug
From
$12,280
Prices are per person
Special Offers (1)
Highlights
Arctic
Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland
Duration
11 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jul
Aug
From
$12,280
Top Highlights
Experience all of Iceland’s geological manifestations: glaciers, geysers, thundering waterfalls, immense cliffs, geothermal springs, boiling mud pots, and lava-scapes of unearthly beauty
Meet local Icelandic experts ranging from economists to filmmakers and enjoy exclusive music performances.
Explore Iceland’s wild western coast; Siglufjörður in the north; the rarely visited rugged east coast; and the Westman islands in the south, among the planet’s youngest archipelagos
Actively explore by taking Zodiacs into fjords and serene bays
Customize your experience by taking an expedition extension
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
From
$22,090
Prices are per person
Highlights
Arctic
Iceland
Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland
Duration
17 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
From
$22,090
Top Highlights
Sail into Norway’s spectacular fjords and explore secluded inlets and coves by kayak or Zodiac
Encounter the Bronze Age ruins and Viking longhouses of Jarlshof, a prehistoric settlement in the Shetlands
Discover the unique culture of the Faroe Islands, where residents cling proudly to their Viking heritage
Observe nesting seabirds amid the towering peaks of the Lofoten islands
Sail past the dramatic sea cliffs of the Faroes to see cliff-nesting puffins, gannets, and northern fulmars
Venture all the way north to Northeast Greenland National Park in search of the Arctic’s iconic wildlife—polar bears, whales, muskoxen, and more
Sail into Norway’s spectacular fjords and explore secluded inlets and coves by kayak or Zodiac
Call at the seldom-visited Jan Mayen Island, where the only residents man a remote weather outpost and have this northernmost volcano all to themselves
Conditions permitting, see the spectacular Northern Lights as we sail the remote coasts of Iceland and Greenland
Visit Iceland’s colorful villages to see contemporary life, hike over geologically recent volcanic flows, and soak in the country’s iconic hot springs
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
20% SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and receive 20% off your cabin fare on select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Aug
From
$17,860
Prices are per person
Special Offers (1)
Highlights
Arctic
Canada
Greenland
Fabled Lands Of The North: Greenland to Newfoundland
Duration
17 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Aug
From
$17,860
Top Highlights
Explore two UNESCO World Heritage sites alongside a team of experts: glide among soaring icebergs at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord; and ponder the remains of the 11th-century Viking village at L’Anse aux Meadows
Meet Inuit artisans on Baffin Island and learn about their carving and weaving traditions
Join our naturalists to search for polar bears, caribou, arctic foxes, humpback and minke whales, walruses, and more in their natural habitat
Explore the untamed coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, discovering spectacular fjords and cliffs on foot and by kayak and Zodiac
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Aug
From
$39,990
Prices are per person
Special Offers (4)
Highlights
Arctic
Canada
New and Noteworthy
Greenland
New
Gateway to the Northwest Passage: Greenland & Canada
Duration
25 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Aug
From
$39,990
Top Highlights
Travel well above 80º north into the fabled Northwest Passage and learn dramatic stories of the explorers and adventurers who sought this magnificent, icy frontier
Glide between soaring icebergs at the mouth of Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Explore Ellesmere Island with binoculars at the ready to spot polar bears, walruses, ringed seals, belugas, bowhead whales, and the elusive narwhal
Visit the “Jewel of the North,” Pond Inlet, a small Inuit community known for its friendly community and world-renowned soapstone carvings
Marvel at the unique volcanic black sand beaches, hot springs, and waterfalls of Disko Island, a Greenlandic island often compared to Iceland
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and we will waive the solo premium on solo cabins aboard select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
20% SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and receive 20% off your cabin fare on select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jul
From
$20,980
Prices are per person
Special Offers (4)
Highlights
Arctic
Iceland
Greenland
Iceland & Greenland: Edge of the Arctic
Duration
19 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jul
From
$20,980
Top Highlights
Hike the dramatic Dynjandi Waterfall in Iceland's remote Westfjords peninsula, and visit a farm that produces eiderdown
Explore Hvalsey and Brattahlíð, 10th-century Viking settlements founded by Eric the Red and his family in Greenland, and see the incredible Qilakitsoq mummies, preserved by freezing temperatures for some 500 years
Cruise among the dazzling icebergs calved by the Ilulissat Icefjord and encounter impressive tidewater glaciers in West Greenland
Experience local culture through visits to fishing villages and longhouses, folk performances, and tasting tours of traditional Greenlandic and Icelandic foods
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and we will waive the solo premium on solo cabins aboard select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
20% SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and receive 20% off your cabin fare on select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jul
Sep
From
$15,140
Prices are per person
Highlights
Arctic
Iceland
Greenland
Iceland's Wild West Coast to East Greenland
Duration
13 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jul
Sep
From
$15,140
Top Highlights
Discover the wild west coast of Iceland with its incredible geology, quiet coves, and majestic waterfalls
Explore the largest national park in the world—Northeast Greenland National Park—and search for polar bears, musk oxen, whales, and more
Sail into Scoresbysund, ice permitting, the world’s largest and longest fjord system and home to a remote Inuit community
Learn how to capture northern lights displays, conditions permitting, with our National Geographic photographer by your side
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
May
Jun
From
$12,350
Prices are per person
Special Offers (3)
Highlights
Arctic
Land Of The Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration Of Arctic Svalbard
Duration
11 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
May
Jun
From
$12,350
Top Highlights
Search for polar bears and walrus alongside our skilled veteran spotters
Explore under the midnight sun—and take advantage of spectacular photo ops with tips from a National Geographic photographer
Sail up to rock-wall rookeries teeming with thousands of birds, see pelagic birds from the ship’s rail when we’re underway, and Zodiac cruise near a cloud of feeding arctic terns
Actively explore––kayak, Zodiac cruise, hike, and walk
Even discover the seldom-seen undersea via video shot by an ROV
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and we will waive the solo premium on solo cabins aboard select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
From
$12,740
Top Highlights
Go aboard National Geographic Explorer and sail in the wake of early Viking explorers, learning the region’s dramatic history
Encounter the Bronze Age ruins and Viking longhouses of Jarlshof, a prehistoric settlement in the Shetland Islands
Discover the unique culture of the Faroe Islands, where residents cling proudly to their Viking heritage
Observe nesting seabirds in dramatic settings—on Iceland’s skyscraping Látrabjarg cliffs and amid Shetland's spectacular Cliffs of Noss
Sail past the dramatic sea cliffs of the Faroe Islands to see cliff-nesting puffins, gannets, and northern fulmars
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
Sail aboard our new, state-of-the-art polar ship to the northernmost coastlines of the planet, where few have explored before
Venture into the fabled Northwest Passage and learn dramatic stories of explorers and adventurers who sought this magnificent, icy frontier
Glide between soaring icebergs at the mouth of Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Visit one of Canada’s “jewels of the north": Pond Inlet, a small Inuit community known for soapstone carvings
Observe polar bears, walrus, ringed seals, belugas, and bowhead whales
Meander through the remains of historic dwellings on Herschel Island; a scattered mixture from the Inuvialuit people and the once-booming whaling industry
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
Jul
From
$21,370
Prices are per person
Special Offers (4)
Highlights
Arctic
Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard
Duration
17 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
Jul
From
$21,370
Top Highlights
Sail into Norway’s spectacular fjords and explore secluded inlets and coves by kayak or Zodiac
Explore the rare northern fjords, threading the ice-carved narrows and standing on the bow as the captain noses up to glacier termini
Actively explore: hike, walk, and kayak through stunning scenery
Make for the wilds of Svalbard to see ice, bears, and Arctic wildlife
Enjoy superlative photo ops and onboard photo assistance
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and we will waive the solo premium on solo cabins aboard select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
20% SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and receive 20% off your cabin fare on select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
Book by June 30, 2023, and each child 22 and under will travel free with a full-fare paying adult on select 2023 Arctic departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
Book one, get the second 20% off! Book select Antarctic or Arctic departures between January 2023 and March 2024 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures, not combinable with other offers or extensions. Calls for details.
20% SAVINGS
Book by June 30, 2023, and receive 20% off your cabin fare on select 2023 departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions or airfare, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
It is a privilege to visit the Arctic, one of the planet’s most interesting places, and to this privilege, National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Explorer, and National Geographic Resolution add the luxury of comfort—a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.
Iceland's Volcano: Eruption Updates with Geologist Ralph Lee Hopkins
Director of Expedition Photography Ralph Lee Hopkins spent two weeks obsessively devoted to capturing the mood swings of the world’s newest and most active volcano.
In the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Greenland, the icebergs are so concentrated that they fill the landscape. It’s a stunning combination of ancient and ever-changing: the ice that forms those bergs might be 250,000 years old, but your view will transform every hour as they shift, roll, and jostle towards the ocean.
With enhanced hunting abilities, seemingly white fur (it’s actually clear, but some cool optical tricks make it look white) to camouflage them in their icy environment, and black skin to soak in the sun’s rays, polar bears are the Arctic’s apex predator.
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades. Go with an expedition leader, naturalists, undersea specialist, National Geographic photographer, and more.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Explore the Arctic with a team of naturalists—many of them polar veterans—with a variety of specialties: zoology, biology, ornithology, geology, polar history, and more. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.
Discover what lies beneath the waves withan undersea specialist aboard who can dive into the cold waters to shoot video of what lies beneath the waves or deploy an ROV to depths of 1,000 feet to explore never-before-seen regions.
Travel and photograph with a bona fide National Geographic photographer. These top pros are at your side and at your service—providing advice, tips, and slideshows. Access to photographers of this caliber will help you improve your skills and ensure you’ll go home with incredible photos.
Certified Photo Instructor
Every Arctic expedition also offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to help you become a better, more confident photographer—and to help you understand the movements of wildlife so you can create top shots.
Video chroniclers accompany every expedition and shoot vivid HD footage—with no recycled footage ever—to provide you with a professionally edited and completely authentic memento of your expedition. Working during the day and editing into the night, they have your DVD ready for preview prior to—and available to purchase at—disembarkation.
We woke a little later than usual aboard National Geographic Endurance this morning. After last night’s entertainment, bedtime was interrupted by blue whales crossing our passage. Five-meter-tall blows were seen on the horizon…first one animal, then two, then three blows in a group on one side of the ship. Then calls came for a solo blue whale on the other side of the ship. As the whales came closer, we could appreciate the true size of the largest mammals on Earth. Truly magnificent. Unfortunately, the four humpback whales were largely overlooked, with cameras focused on the tall blows and long, mottled backs of the blue whales. Still, there were cheers as the humpbacks bared their tail fins to power down into the abundant plankton layer that fueled the circus of activity on the surface. Our final morning found us positioned in front of 14th Julibreen (14th July Glacier) in 14th July Bay. Guests were given a quick tour through the Zodiac garage and the ship’s stern before embarking on our last Zodiac tour from the back deck. Puffins have just started to arrive back in Svalbard to nest. Binoculars and zoom lenses scanned the cliffs and the waterline to spot their yellow beaks among the many guillemots and kittiwakes that were also finding overhead safety from predatory Arctic skuas (jaegers). Other highlights included an Arctic fox on the land, a harbor seal hauled out on a submerged rock, and an Arctic tern colony…unfortunately, wide open prey for the overhead skuas. We were once again stunned by our luck with the weather. Clear blue skies and sunshine made the temperature feel much warmer than the recorded 3°C. Once back on board, we headed north in Krossfjorden and crossed over the 79th parallel, the farthest point north for many on board. The afternoon was spent basking in the sunshine in front of the massive cirque of Lilliehӧӧkbreen glaciers. A wall of ice circled the ship in almost all directions. It was hard to pull ourselves inside to hear the inspirational story of how Camille Seaman became a National Geographic photographer. Our waistlines were challenged once more with an afternoon tea of pancakes served on the top deck. And the afternoon was rounded off with naturalist Kerstin Langenberger teaching guests to differentiate male from female polar bears.
It feels so good to have National Geographic Resolution back in the ice! There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe our day today. After a flat, calm crossing through the unprotected waters north of Norway, we awoke this morning to our first glimpses of the snow-topped landscape of Svalbard. The expedition team planned for a morning on the low headland of Russebukta on the western shore of Edgeøya, or “Edge Island.” Not long after the scout boat headed out to check the area for bears, there was an abrupt change of plans. A large, resting group of walruses were found tucked away in a little set of low-lying islands. Our morning was spent Zodiac cruising and admiring these grunting, snorting behemoths as they lazed about for our viewing pleasure. (Not so much for our olfactory pleasure, I might add.) King eiders were spotted, as well as nesting barnacle geese, adding two new species to our avian repertoire. Back aboard, we were treated to a delicious lunch as our ship cruised north, looking to explore our first sights of sea ice. As we plowed through the narrow channel between Edgeøya and Barents Island, the ice thickened, and we were unsure just how far we would get. I need to take a personal aside here to tell you just how impressed I was today by our bridge team and our incredible ship. With flat, calm seas and shining sun, we pushed through huge areas of “very close drift ice,” which translates to chunks of ice anywhere from car-sized to soccer-field-sized, and everything in between…all covering approximately 9/10ths of the sea’s surface. The ship maintained a respectable speed, and barely a shudder was felt as she steamed north. She truly is a fantastic ship, especially under sunny skies and in her true element – please see the photos! The energy on the bridge was contagious as all eyes were on deck to search for the kings and queens of the Arctic! Everyone was buzzing with anticipation and hope, and we were not disappointed. Our luck remained strong as a young male polar bear, the first of the trip, was spotted roaming the ice near our ship. We will go to bed tonight with exciting thoughts. What will tomorrow bring?
National Geographic Endurance continued its exploration of the Svalbard archipelago, heading into the famed Bellsund Sound, which is 20 kilometers long and features a connecting fjord system. The morning began with an exploration via kayaks that featured intertidal views and the magnificence of Arctic topography. What would any polar expedition be without a chance to taste the exact cold of the waters? With this spirit in mind, we set our guests loose to plunge into the frigid Arctic waters with great delight. The afternoon featured a nearly full blue sky as we cut our Zodiacs loose to explore Camp Millar – a locale famous for a historic Svalbard trapper’s hut. Lots of young vegetation was appearing for the first time this year, and Arctic foxes and reindeer rousted about the tundra. It was a full day of joyous experiences.
Our stretch of extraordinary weather continues, and Svalbard offered an abundance of exploratory opportunities. Under bold sunshine and calm conditions, we meandered along the tidewater face of the Negribreen Glacier system during this morning’s one-way Zodiac cruise. With a terminal ice edge stretching nearly 20 km and comprised of four neighboring glaciers, this is among the largest glacier systems on Spitsbergen. Between 2016-2018, Negribreen surged with a temporary, dramatic increase in speed to over 25 meters per day. The resulting ice surface remains heavily crevassed, although the rate of advance has returned to normal (on the order of centimeters per day). Large icebergs litter the northern reaches of Storfjord, where they have calved from the glacier face and patiently wait to fragment further. We marveled at the deep, brilliant blue colors of polished ice, the bergs’ sculptural shapes, and the vast number of kittiwakes foraging along the tidewater edge. Svalbard glaciologist Andreas Alexander filled in the details of ice formation, movement, and health during a post-cruise presentation. Polar bears are strongly tied to the sea and to sea ice; in this region, their numbers in the summer depend on the amount, condition, and accessibility of both ice and preferred food (seals). The ship’s bridge team, crew, and expedition staff have been keeping a vigilant watch for bears on shore or among the pack ice each day of the voyage, especially along the eastern coast of Spitsbergen. And this afternoon, their sharp eyesight and finely tuned knowledge of polar bear coloration and movement paid off! National Geographic photographer Camille Seaman’s talk was interrupted so we could gather on the bow to watch a solitary adult bear rest on the ice, stretch, smell the air and water for potential prey (and our presence), and walk from floe to floe. Binoculars and telephoto camera lenses were not needed – this bear was easily in view, and all enjoyed observing its behaviors and charismatic curiosity. As we sailed down the coast, naturalist Kerstin Langenberger shared her expertise on bear biology and population status, complemented by anecdotes from her experiences researching these incredible creatures.
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