The Great Polar Cruise

DAY 1 | Paris > Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen)

Private direct flight to Longyearbyen. Bus excursion in Adventdalen, followed by free time in town.

DAY 2 | Hornsund

Southern Spitsbergen is renowned for its landscapes and peak summit with 12 glaciers, known as Hornsundtid. The fjord is one of the most historically significant locations. Ten glaciers flow into the sea, and polar bears, seals, and walruses are frequently sighted.

DAY 3 and 4 | Northeast Greenland Ice Sheet

We will sail for several hours close to and within the pack ice along the northeast coast of Greenland, searching for polar bears, seals, ivory gulls, and whales.

DAY 5 | Sabine Islands and Pendulum – Haystack – Shannon

We will see the remains of the Inuit who once populated this coast and the tragic polar expeditions around the old trapper huts. Giant tabular icebergs from Northern Greenland pass by in the sea. Weather and ice conditions will dictate our navigation towards Dove Bay.

DAY 6 to 8 | Emperor Franz Joseph Fjord – Bontekoe

In the fjords, we will sail along the coast of “painted rocks,” sedimentary formations from the Primordial Age. Musk oxen are common in these iceberg-filled fjords with spectacular cliffs.

DAY 9 to 12 | Scoresby Sund, Ittoqqortoormiit

We will navigate through the world’s largest fjord, where giant icebergs create stunning landscapes. Upon disembarking, there will be a guided tour and free time to explore the village of Ittoqqortoormiit. Glacial fronts, spectacular excursions through tundra and iceberg fields will be our daily routine in the maze of these magnificent fjords. Musk oxen, Arctic hares, and seals are commonly seen.

DAY 13 | Constable Point – Reykjavik (Iceland)

Private flight to Iceland and its capital Reykjavik, where we will spend the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 14 | Reykjavik

Return flight according to your arrangements.

©Grands Espaces Pictures

L’OCEAN NOVA

The quintessential polar vessel

✔ Only 70 to 75 passengers

✔ Unparalleled polar experience in the Arctic and Antarctic

✔ 8 Zodiacs on board and nine French-speaking lecture guides for a true university of the Far North

✔ A panoramic lounge and conference room that enhances the ship’s reputation

With a length of 73 meters and a width of 11 meters, a draft of 4 meters, and an ice class of A1-B1, this robust polar vessel is served by a crew of 38 men. It offers remarkable comfort, combining efficiency and elegance, with the exceptional expertise of Grands Espaces providing the hallmark of exploration cruises for 72 privileged passengers. It features a spacious deck for easy access to Zodiacs.

The ship exceeds environmental regulations with superior equipment, reducing its ecological footprint: state-of-the-art smoke filters, onboard waste treatments, propulsion using only low-sulfur fuel which is less polluting, and engines enabling minimal fuel consumption per passenger. This consumption also results in full carbon offsetting, making the vessel carbon neutral.

EXPLORER

The ultimate polar vessel

✔ Only 12 passengers

✔ Unparalleled experience led by Christian Kempf, polar expert, and naval architect Marco Coppola specializing in exploration yachts

✔ Exceptional maneuverability

✔ Completely refurbished in 2020-2021 to minimize environmental impact and provide high-quality service enabled by its expansive spaces

With a length of 46.5 meters and an exceptional width of 10.5 meters, this robust ship is stable and designed for high seas and ice. It boasts a shallow draft of 2.9 meters, reinforced hull for beaching, and state-of-the-art sonar and communication equipment, making it operational in all seas.

Its diesel-electric engines generate 1700 horsepower, offering a cruising speed of 8 knots.

Designed for high seas and ice, its onboard equipment provides great exploration flexibility, combining comfort, elegance, and efficiency. The yacht is serviced by a crew of 8. Grands Espaces employs 2 lecture guides onboard. You will appreciate its spacious panoramic lounge, sauna, jacuzzi, and fitness area for relaxation after Zodiac excursions… The Promenade Deck features a panoramic lounge opening to a rear observation area.

Cabins ranging from 14 to 17 square meters include individual suites, suites, and cabins with twin or double beds.

Onboard, there are no single-use plastics, and plastic bottle use is limited. Grands Espaces provides a refillable water bottle. All cleaning products are Cosmebio and Eurobio certified. Strict waste sorting is practiced. Low-sulfur marine gas oil (LS-MGO) at 0.1% sulfur content is used. Minimum fuel consumption is ensured through optimized cruising speeds.