Spitsbergen Arctic cruises
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Rather than having a negative impact on the environment, we believe that when operated responsibly, tourism to the Polar Regions can help to raise awareness of the issues facing our planet. Visitors to these regions come away with an enhanced sense of the value of the natural world and become more aware in everyday life of ways to help preserve this legacy. We are committed to working with leading travel partners in the conservation of the delicate Polar Regions – therefore we only work with IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) or AECO (Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) accredited voyage operators.
Whilst on board the vessel the expedition team will provide informative lectures on a variety of topics including the wildlife, history, geology and geography of the Arctic, ensuring clients are fully-educated about all aspects of the environment around them. The expedition team are a mix of nationalities, as are the onboard hospitality team and crew. A full briefing is provided before each shore landing, detailing any ‘no-go’ areas, likely wildlife to be seen, and safety procedures relevant to the landing site. Visitors are required to keep a minimum 5 metre distance from wildlife. Boots are thoroughly washed and disinfected before and after each shore landing to prevent contamination of the region’s fragile ecosystems.
We focus on small ship voyages with a maximum of 109 passengers on our Arctic vessels. Our individual voyage operators each have their own approach to responsible tourism; for example our key partner Quark operates a Polar Ambassadors programme which encourages passengers to share their experiences to educate others and to support Polar Advocates.
Over our 25 plus years of operation, we have raised a significant sum of money for a number of extremely worthwhile organisations and causes. These include the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) helping to fund aspects of the Institute’s Eurasian Arctic: Melting Ice project. This was set up to study glaciers and icecaps with regard to their sensitivity to climate change. We are proud to support the Friends of SPRI.
Community
In addition to the Around Spitsbergen voyage we can arrange pre- and post-voyage extensions in Longyearbyen, utilising a local ground agent and local tour guides. Many of our Arctic voyages include visits to indigenous Inuit communities and offer the chance to gain an insight into their traditional way of life, as well as supporting them by purchasing locally-made artefacts. In Svalbard we support Clean Up Svalbard, a cooperative program initiated by the Governor of Svalbard that enlists the aid of tourism companies to collect refuse from beaches and wilderness areas. Our clients will be invited to participate in the activities planned by our Expedition Teams. One of the strength of the Clean up Svalbard program is the opportunity it provides travelers to make immediate contributions toward the protection of the wilderness areas they are exploring.
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