Arctic Circle Cruise

Depart home city for Reykajavík, Iceland.

Arrive at Keflavík International Airport in Reykjavík, Iceland

Arrive at Keflavík International Airport in Reykjavík, Iceland. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, meet a Gohagan & Company representative.

Those arriving early will transfer to a group hospitality room at the Parliament Hotel. Breakfast will be available for early arrivals. After lunch on your own at the hotel or nearby, you will then head out on your first excursion.

Reykjavík city tour. According to tradition, in A.D. 874 Norseman Ingólfr Arnarson founded Iceland’s first settlement here and named it Reykjavík, Norse for “Bay of Smokes.” The name was said to be inspired by steam rising from the many hot springs in the region. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village, Reykjavík has become a cutting-edge modern city — built largely of concrete and glass, and heated by hot water piped from nearby springs.

Today we will begin our tour with a visit to Perlan (“The Pearl”), an iconic building consisting of a glass dome atop six water-heating tanks. It hosts a one-of-a-kind nature exploratorium, boasting the world’s first indoor ice cave, built with over 250 tons of snow from the Blue Mountains. Enjoy the Wonders of Iceland exhibit. Then grab your camera and head up to the Pearl’s observation deck for amazing 360-degree views of Reykjavík.

Next, head to the remarkable Hallgrímskirkja, perched at the top of Skolavordustigur Street. Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson found inspiration amid Iceland’s magnificent landscapes, and features of nature — such as mountains and lava formations — can be spotted in the church’s design. The church’s impressive organ boasts 5,275 pipes.

After the tour, transfer to the port at Hafnarfjordur to embark Atlas World Voyager.

Settle in to your deluxe accommodations. Attend a Gohagan & Company welcome briefing and safety drill, followed by a dinner on board the ship as we depart Reykjavík.

Vigur Island

This morning, and every morning on board, enjoy a delicious breakfast. Then disembark for an excursion on Vigur Island.

Vigur Island. This lovely spit of land, a little more than a mile long and half a mile wide, is a green oasis amid the blue waters of the fjord Isafjardardjup. The island is owned by polar explorer Felicity Aston and her family, who are dedicated to preserving Vigur’s cultural heritage and ensuring public access. The island is a nesting place for countless birds, especially eiderducks, who nest in large numbers. There are also puffins, Arctic terns, black guillemots, oystercatchers and skuas. During today’s exploration, you’ll also see Iceland’s only wooden windmill, built in 1840, and a 200-year-old rowboat, still used to ferry sheep to the mainland.

Return to the ship and tuck in to a delicious lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing on board. Perhaps indulge in some of the ship’s amenities or simply enjoy a book and the marvelous views from any number of cozy vantage points.

Join your fellow travelers this evening for a Welcome Reception and Dinner on board. Raise a glass to your upcoming Arctic adventure!

ship cruises the Denmark Strait

Wake this morning to stunning views as the ship cruises the Denmark Strait, which is the channel that lies between Greenland and Iceland.  The cold East Greenland Current flows southward along the west side of the strait and carries icebergs, which originate in the Arctic Ocean and on the Greenland ice cap. The ship will reach Greenland’s dramatic fjords, which were carved over millennia by powerful glaciers. This awe-inspiring landscape features vast ice sheets, countless icebergs and a bustling population of marine life.

If conditions are right, you may take a zodiac cruise of Scoresby Sound today. Scoresby is the world’s largest fjord system. Since fewer than 1,000 visitors make it here each year, it is a remote and breathtaking spot. You’ll see ice in many forms — glaciers, icebergs and growlers (the smaller floating chunks).

Today (and each day of the cruise), there will be some time to relax onboard, enjoying the ship’s amenities, three delicious meals and often, an educational lecture.

Greenland

Today you’ll experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure on the planet’s largest island, Greenland. Eastern Greenland’s geography is characterized by towering, rugged mountains; deep, spectacular fjords; and active glaciers. The coastline is a maze of waterways, cliffs and icebergs, while the vast interior is covered by the massive Greenland Ice Sheet. The region is remote and sparsely populated…by humans. Other animals abound, however! Common sightings include musk oxen, polar bears and Arctic foxes on land, while seals, narwhals and various whales (such as humpbacks and fin whales) are common in the waters. Birdlife is abundant, especially along the coast, including such species as little auks, puffins and gyrfalcons.

Jan Mayen Island

Experience the raw, untamed beauty of Jan Mayen Island on a true Arctic expedition. Accessible exclusively by sea, this remote volcanic outpost is home to the snow-covered Beerenberg—the world’s northernmost active volcano. Weather permitting, you’ll embark on an unforgettable Zodiac landing to hike across the island’s stark, surreal terrain. Trek across black-sand beaches and tundra, and keep your eyes peeled for unique wildlife such as nesting seabirds and the elusive Arctic fox. Uncover the fascinating history of this isolated outpost, with panoramic views forged by the elements.

Day at Sea

Begin the unique experience of sailing within a vast expanse of very cold seawater and drifting pack ice. (“Pack” ice simply means ice that is unconnected to land.) The sea ice in the Arctic Ocean varies according to the seasons. During your expedition at the end of summer, the ice will have melted considerably from winter levels (which can be up to 50% higher).

The Arctic is home to fourteen different species of whales. Some, such as belugas, bowheads and narwhals, live in these chilly waters year-round; others, such as grays and humpbacks, migrate to the Arctic during the summer. Look out for fascinating wildlife while sailing.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea, taking advantage of the ship’s amenities — perhaps spending time in the fitness center and indulging in a spa treatment. Attend a lecture, take it easy in one of the many cozy spots on board, and delight in three delicious meals.

Svalbard

Each day in Svalbard, enjoy three delicious meals on board, and a variety of possible excursions.

Possible destinations today: Woodfjorden and Leifdefjorden.

Woodfjorden is a fjord on the north shore of Spitsbergen Island in the Svalbard archipelago. On an excursion today, keep your eyes peeled — and binoculars and cameras at the ready — for you may spot polar bears, walrus colonies and a plethora of arctic bird species. Six different seal species have been spotted in the Svalbard archipelago: gray, harbor, ringed, harp, bearded and hooded seals. You may see them swimming in the water or lounging on nearby ice.

Leifdefjorden. The Monaco Glacier, one of Spitsbergen’s most spectacular and impressive glaciers, is located northwest of the Svalbard archipelago. Named for sailor and polar explorer Prince Albert I of Monaco, this magnificent wall of blue ice can sometimes be seen cracking and calving into the clear water below. This magnificent landscape is also a wildlife haven, with frequent sightings of polar bears and whales.

Svalbard area

Possible destinations today: Raudfjorden and Smeerenburg.

Raudfjorden. This beautiful fjord is often blocked off by pack ice in non-summer months. On nearby shores, you might spot lounging walruses, polar bears, Arctic foxes and reindeer. If conditions allow, we might hike in Northwest Spitsbergen National Park — a spectacular gathering of mountain peaks, glaciers, warm springs, volcanoes and offshore islands. The fascinating remains of early whaling stations and abandoned mining towns can be seen here.

Smeerenburg was a settlement founded by Dutch and Danish whalers in 1619 on Amsterdam Island. Abandoned around 1660, the site is now an archaeological area famous for the remains of blubber ovens used to render whale oil, a valuable commodity for lamps and other products at the time. It was also a significant center for walruses, which frequently rest on the beaches.

Svalbard area

Possible destinations today: Ny- Ålesund and Kongsfjorden.

Ny- Ålesund. The world’s northernmost settlement, Ny-Ålesund, is a former mining town on Spitsbergen Island in Svalbard. Established in 1916 and once a hub for Arctic expeditions, including those led by Roald Amundsen, its coal mines were closed in 1963 due to safety risks. Today, Ny-Ålesund operates as a scientific research station, supporting studies in glaciology, oceanography, geology, and biology.

Kongsfjorden. If conditions allow, take a zodiac cruise of the spectacular Kongsfjorden. Because it is an open fjord, Atlantic waters flow in. The biodiversity and animal populations are heavily influenced by the convergence of cooler and warmer waters. Be on the lookout for a wide variety of bird and marine life. You might spy the native Arctic fulmar. These birds have several interesting features — one of which is a waxy stomach oil that they spray from their mouths to ward off predators. The oil is very effective, as it mats the feathers of other birds and can kill them. The oil can also be used as a high-energy food for baby chicks and adults during long flights. The name fulmar is said to translate to foul gull, since the stomach oil is quite odoriferous!

Ship arrives in Longyearbyen, where you will disembark.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning as the ship arrives in Longyearbyen, where you will disembark.

Longyearbyen is situated on the island of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. Because Longyearbyen is set in a valley surrounded by steep mountains and several glaciers, the views here are gorgeous. This former coal mining town is home to approximately 2,400 residents year-round and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet.

Find a place for lunch on your own today. Then transfer as a group to the airport for a charter flight to Oslo. Once there, you’ll transfer from the Oslo Airport to the Radisson Blu and check in.

Free Time: Make your own plans for dinner and explore the area on your own. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with dining suggestions.

Following breakfast, transfer to Oslo International Airport for your return flight home.