ICE BEARS OF THE ARCTIC A photographic exploration with Emma Rowan-Kelly 31 May 07 June 2017 Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. OUR ITINERARY DAY 1: Embarkation and departure from Longyearbyen Fly to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the surrounding area of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plants have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden, where in the mouth of the fjord we may see our first Minke Whale.
DAY 2: Raudfjord We sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seal. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. Polar bear are often seen here. DAY 3: Cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco Glacier Depending on the weather we may now sail into Liefdefjorden, crui sing near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwake. As well, Polar Bear have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography. DAY 4: We will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded Seal Today we will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded Seal, Ringed Seal, Polar Bear, and Ivory Gull. At the entrance there is the possibility to see Blue Whale. We ll navigate
the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich s Guillemot. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, we ll attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, Pink-footed Goose, breeding Ivory Gull, and Walrus. DAY 5: Phippsøya We will try reach our northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar Bear inhabit this region, along with Ivory Gull. The ship may sit for several hours in the pack ice, before turning west again. DAY 6: Retracing our route westwards Retracing our route westwards, our route takes us through and along the pack ice, keeping watch for Polar Bear and the elusive Greenland Whale (Bowhead). About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen we sail along the edge of the continental shelf, where Fin Whale forage in summer in the upwellings along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of the Kongsfjord we have also good chances to see Minke Whale.
DAY 7: Sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden In Forlandsundet at Sarstangen is a haul out place for Walrus. Alternatively we sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and Arctic Fox search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. At nighttime we arrive in Longyearbyen. DAY 8: The last day of our voyage. We disembark the vessel in Longyearbyen We disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, for the flights south to Oslo and onward home. MAP
PLANNING INFORMATION It is recommended to fly to Oslo and spend 1 night near the airport due to flight times this really is essential (prices for the hotel to be advised we recommend the Radisson Blu at the airport). We plan to have a pre-departure meeting in Oslo at 6pm on 30 May 2017. The next day we will fly to Longyearbyen, airfares are upon application as it is best to include these flights in your international ticket if possible. It is likely that you may have to overnight in Oslo after your expedition finishes on 7 June 2017 due to flight connection times, we can also arrange this. It is also a nice idea to extend your stay in Longyearbyen this is such a unique town and very interesting to explore further, we can arrange a package for this also. PRICING Bunk bedding in Quad/Triple cabins, twin lower beds in all twin cabins and a double bed in the superior cabins. private bathrooms, desk & chair flat-screen tv, telephone and internet connection, a hair dryer and ample storage space. For the quality of this ship and the passenger numbers being quite low at 116 maximum, these prices are extremely good for this region.
Cost per person: QUADRUPLE PORTHOLE $3900USD now $3100USD TRIPLE PORTHOLE $4700USD now $3750USD TWIN PORTHOLE - $5450USD now $4450USD TWIN WINDOW - $5800USD now $4650USD TWIN DELUXE $6150USD now $4900USD SUPERIOR - $6850USD (2 windows & double bed) now $5450USD When requesting your cabin preference, please advise a 2 nd preference in case your main preference has sold out. FLIGHTS FROM OSLO TO LONGYEARBYEN Estimated at $450-750AUD return (price subject to availability at time of booking). GROUP SIZE If minimum numbers of 4 are not met, the trip will not be cancelled, Emma will just not be able to accompany the group. Maximum group size is 12 passengers, although we will be with others on the ship.
ABOUT THE SHIP Our vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius is a great expedition vessel for 116 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces. The vessel is manned by 22 highly experienced international nautical crew, 19 international hotel crew, 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader, 1 assistant expedition leader and 6 guides/lecturers), and 1 doctor. CLOTHING/WHAT TO BRING We recommend wearing many layers that can be adjusted to keep you warm. - Quality thermal undergarments are a must - windproof and water proof outer shell layers that are breatheable - Fleece middle layers not too tight in order to allow for warm air to be trapped. - Good quality thermal socks doubling up can be a great idea bring plenty. - Double pairs of gloves dextrous gloves underneath and warm waterproof ones on top, so that you don t have to go bare handed. - Boots and use of snowshoes are included. For time on the ship normal sneakers
are fine with good grip soles as decks can be slippery. (Emma loves bringing her Arctic Sport Muck Boots instead of the provided gumboots to reduce the weight on flights she often wears them!) - It is not unusual to wear 3-4 layers when you go out. You can adjust this down if you will be doing a bit of walking and adjust up if you will be sitting in a zodiac. The ship is heated, but outside is cold so being able to change layers easily is very convenient. - Waterproof bags for camera gear are strongly recommended. - A good beanie that covers your ears and breathes, you can always wear another hat over this. - Great glare reducing sunglasses that wrap around your face as best as possible, polarised ones will be greatly appreciated, the white on white can really have you squinting. - Sunblock - Neck scarf or tubed fleece to wear around your neck - Have internal pockets for spare camera batteries to keep them warm - A lot of camera memory cards or a back-up hard drive for your camera or other storage device, a card reader and/or cables required and a laptop or tablet. POWER SUPPLY The power supply is 220v, 50Hz. The wall plugs accommodate two thick round pins like those found in most European countries. You may need a transformer and international adapter for your particular equipment. FITNESS You must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several hours per day on rough terrain. However, the expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding: although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. It is very important, in order to join most excursions, that you are able to easily get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in- and out of the boats. Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, need daily medical treatment or have difficulty walking.
WILDLIFE WATCH To spot interesting wildlife and nature scenes, the ships officers and staff are constantly on the lookout. Your participation is appreciated, so don t hesitate to report a sighting to the staff or officers on the bridge. If we are fortunate enough to sight some special wildlife, we will announce it from the bridge to all cabins and decks, regardless the hour. If you wish to go back to sleep, please do so. SAFETY There will be a life jacket provided to you and a life boat ( abandon ship ) drill at the beginning of the voyage and it is mandatory for all passengers to participate in this exercise. During the voyage the Master may have to perform an additional fire drill, which will be announced. As on all ships, please anticipate pitching and rolling. Also, in the ice, there can be sudden lurches and stops as the ship collides with and works through the ice. Use the handrails whenever possible, especially going up stairways, ladders etc. - Be careful while walking on open decks, they can be very slippery. - Please watch your step going out on deck, as there are high steps in many doorways. - When passing through all doorways, and while in your cabin, please do not place your hands on the edge of the doors, as a lurching movement could slam the door on your fingers. - When walking on the ship, please remember: one hand for yourself, one hand for the ship. MEALTIMES & DIETARY REQUIREMENTS All meals will be announced on the ship. Normally, breakfast starts at 07:30, lunch at 12:30 and dinner at 19:00. Please inform in advance if you have any dietary requirements, so our chefs have the time to prepare something special for you. Vegetarian and vegan meals have to be requested in the Personal Information Form (PIF) in advance. DOCTOR Onboard we have a basic equipped infirmary for small injuries or first aid assistance. If you feel sick or uncomfortable please don t hesitate to consult the doctor. If you take special medication, or if you are allergic to any medicine, inform our doctor in time. In case of emergencies we need to know if there are any special treatments necessary.
WEATHER Wind chill is a major factor, however the Arctic summer typically doesn t get below 0 celcius. COMMUNICATION There are facilities onboard to send email and make telephone calls per Iridium satellite connections. The costs are at your expense. MORE INFORMATION More information will be provided upon booking. Emma is happy to answer any questions you have via phone or email! TEL: 0406 710 321 (+61406 710 321 for callers from outside Australia). EMAIL: emma.rowan-kelly@travelmanagers.com.au EMMA ROWAN-KELLY BIO Sydney-based photographer Emma Rowan- Kelly has a passion to capture all aspects of life on earth. Through her photography Emma seeks out moments that create a connection between her subject and the viewer, with an aim of encouraging empathy for the environment and for all those that share it. Emma has journeyed to over 95 countries and territories during the past 18 years, including the high Arctic, Sub- Antarctic, Iran, Bhutan, Colombia, Tibet, Galapagos Islands, Cambodia, Cuba & Tonga locations that attract the curious explorer, fascinated by the paths less travelled. Her best- selling exhibition in 2011 Innocent Arctic was sponsored by National Geographic & Lindblad Expeditions with 35% of profits donated to WWF Adopt a Polar Bear program. Emma has both a fine arts and travel professional background and is a former student of both the Sydney Institute of Photography and the National Art School. She is arranging and leading photography tours to Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galapagos Islands as well as other destinations in collaboration with master photographer Darren Jew.