HIGHLIGHTS
Discover one of the world's most beautiful, wild and pristine natural areas in the huge North Greenland National Park. On this unique Albatros expedition cruise, we will venture far from the usual tourist routes and visit places where only true expeditioners and scientists travel. Here we will experience unspoilt Arctic landscapes with good chances of seeing polar bears, whales and musk oxen.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Cat. F | Cat. G | Cat. E | Cat. D | Cat. C | Cat. B | Cat. A | Freydis Suite | Brynhilde Suite |
|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 02, 2023 | 4,990 | 7,990 | 6,990 | 6,890 | 7,490 | 8,490 | 9,990 | 11,490 | 12,990 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Cat. F | (Mid-range)
Cat. C | (High-end)
Brynhilde Suite |
|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Oct 02, 2023 | 4,990 | 7,490 | 12,990 |
ITINERARY
DAY
1: ICELAND, REYKJAVÍK. EMBARKATION
In
the afternoon, we board the Ocean Albatros in Reykjavík and
set our course northbound for Greenland.
After
boarding and welcome drinks, the Expedition Leader will inform you
about the voyage, the ship's daily routines and the various security
and safety procedures, then you will have time to unpack and get
comfortable in your cabin. Before sailing, there will be a mandatory
safety drill.
The
Captain takes the ship out of Reykjavík in the early
evening, as we enjoy our first hours onboard.
DAY
2: AT SEA. CROSSING THE DENMARK STRAIT TOWARDS GREENLAND
Our
lecturers onboard will make inspiring and enriching presentations about
both Iceland and Greenland’s past history and about nature,
wildlife and climatology.
DAY
3: INUIT TOWN OF ITTOQQORTOORMIIT
We
cross the huge entrance of Scoresbysund during the night and arrive at
the Inuit community Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) in the morning.
About 500 people live here, most of whom base a large portion of their
households on hunting. Seal, muskoxen and polar bear skins hang to dry
outside many of the houses, and the sled dogs are waiting for sea ice
to be safe for the first hunts of the fall. The town is extremely
isolated, and the inhabitants only receive ship supplies twice a year.
We have established good contacts with the local residents during our
earlier visits and can go ashore to experience this unique little
community.
DAYS
4-6: NORTHEAST GREENLAND NATIONAL PARK
During
the night we cruise past the rugged peaks of the Liverpool Land
peninsula and reach the mouth of King Oscar Fjord. We are now in the
huge national park, established in 1974 and expanded in 1988. With an
area of almost 1 mill. square kilometer, this is the world’s
largest national park and largest protected land area. There are no
permanent settlements in the area, but there have previously - most
recently up to the middle of the 19th century - been various Inuit
hunters here in the northeast corner of Greenland, including on
Clavering Island further north.
The
program for the next few days in the national park depends on the
weather and ice conditions. The route and the landings are determined
by the Captain and the Expedition Leader jointly and are typically
announced the night before. Some of the interesting landings we strive
to visit are:
After
entering King Oscar Fjord, we sail along the impressive 1300-meter-high
rock wall Bastionen on the Ella Island. A truly beautiful place on our
route, and there is good reason why the "King of Northeast Greenland",
the Danish geologist and polar researcher Lauge Koch, established his
headquarters here before World War II. We hope to spend the morning on
Ella Island if the military patrol “Sirius”
– who has its summer base here – grants us
permission.
Further
north we pass the small Maria Island, where the Germans had a camp
during World War II. The Germans' attempt to gain a foothold in
Greenland during World War II is a fascinating story in itself. Look
forward to learning more on our onboard lectures! We continue past Ruth
Island and hope to make a landing on Ymer Island at Blomsterbugten, a
small oasis in the national park. From the tiny hunting lodge
Varghytten we can enjoy the formidable view of the characteristic, flat
mountain Teufelsschloss, where the many rock layers in different colors
testify to the area's exciting geological development.
We
are now well within the narrow and winding Kejser Franz Joseph Fjord,
stretching more than 200 km from the icecap to the open Arctic Ocean.
We will sail by the mighty iceberg-producing Waltershausen Glacier
before entering beautiful Moskusokse Fjord.
On
our way back towards open sea, we cruise south along the coast, and we
aim for landings on Jameson Land, which is breeding ground for polar
bears.
DAY
7: CRUISING ALONG THE BLOSSEVILLE COAST
Possibly
the most dramatic coast outside of Antarctica, the Blosseville is
guarded by Greenland’s highest mountains and steepest fjords
– and a belt of pack ice which before global warming would
keep out any explorer for years. The recent decade has had warmer
summers and much less ice which enables ice strengthened vessels such
as the Ocean Albatros to venture along the coast, on lookout for polar
wildlife, abandoned Inuit settlements and otherworldly landscapes.
DAY
8: AT SEA. LECTURES AND BIRD WATCHING
The
last day will be at sea getting glimpses of sea birds migrating south.
Our
lecturers onboard will make inspiring and enriching presentations about
both Iceland’s and Greenland’s history, nature,
wildlife and climatology. A captain’s farewell drink and a
slideshow of our voyage will also be presented this evening.
DAY
9: REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND. DEPARTURE
Early
in the morning we slowly approach the Icelandic capital,
Reykjavík, and your Arctic adventure will have concluded. We
enter Reykjavík in the morning and bid farewell to the
vessel and crew.
Ocean Albatros (Luxury Expedition, 184-guests)
With a total of 95 comfortable staterooms and suites, all with unobstructed sea view, most with their own balcony, the Ocean Albatros will definitely become one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world. Like it's sistership the Ocean Victory it offers two restaurants, a wellness area, an Albatros Nordic Bar, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and other state-of-the-art amenities.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 9-day/8-night’s
cruise with Ocean Albatros in a shared outside double stateroom with
private bathroom/toilet
- English-speaking
expedition staff
- ”Open
Town” and guided walk in Ittoqqortoormiit
- Nature
hikes and Zodiac cruises as per itinerary, when conditions permit
- Information
briefings and lectures by expedition team
- Special
photo workshop
- Full
board on the ship
- Free
Coffee, tea and afternoon snacks on the ship
- Taxes,
tariffs, and AECO fees
- Digital
visual journal link after voyage, including voyage log, gallery,
species list and more!
EXCLUSIONS
- Extra
excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Single
room supplement and stateroom upgrades
- Meals
not on board the ship
- Beverages
(other than coffee and tea)
- Tips
for the crew (we recommend USD 14 per person per day)
- Travel
& cancellation insurances
- Personal
expenses
- Anything
not mentioned under ’Inclusions’
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Zodiac
Cruises
- Northern
Lights
- Lectures
