Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
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Responsible tourism


Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Carbon reduction
Your holiday will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this holiday and how to reduce them.
Environment
With a maximum of only 199 passengers, our Arctic ships are smaller, less imposing on the Arctic landscape than the bigger 'cruise' ships. Group landings by zodiacs are more easily managed and a personalised ratio of leaders to passengers provides an added value experience. Your onboard natural history experts, through guided walks and evening talks, reveal the wonders of Arctic scenery and wildlife and introduces some of the local and global conservation issues which this fragile habitat faces.
Our polar trips are made under full membership of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and as such abide by their strict codes of conduct in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. Encounters with polar bears, walruses and whales are controlled by strict responsible codes of conduct.
8 Reviews of Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Reviewed on 05 Oct 2019 by Deborah Ruhe
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The beauty of the glaciers. We spent a night in a fjord while the glacier was calling. Very dramatic and beautiful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don’t overpack. But do bring warm clothes, mittens, layers.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not sure. It did certainly raise awareness of the fragility of the arctic, the environmental changes and the impact of high volume tourism.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Five stars! The best. The guide was terrific. The ships crew amazing. The travelers ranged in age from 10 to 80 and all were able to do the trip, get the support they needed and add to a great diversity of guests.
Reviewed on 28 Jul 2018 by Christina Miles
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing polar bears and arctic foxes in the wild, also the beautiful Arctic glaciers.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Definitely a trip for people who are interested in nature and photography.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There were opportunities to learn about different conservation projects on board the ship.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We were very lucky with the weather and had lots of zodiac and shore trips which resulted in an excellent experience. Food on board ship was excellent.
Reviewed on 27 Jun 2018 by Cara Hirst
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Some many things, a pod of beluga whales, arctic fox, 5 polar bears including one killing ,dragging and eating a seal
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring some games to play in the bar with other passengers
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, supported conservation
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a truly wonderful experience! would definitely recommend
Reviewed on 21 Aug 2018 by Emma Thomas
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Travelling through the pack ice and seeing polar bears
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be patient - there is an awful lot of sea/land for the animals to roam/swim in so you won't necessarily get to see the wildlife you're after or see it as close as you'd like. You don't need to pack heavy walking boots - the boots provided are very comfortable and they save your feet from getting wet. Take plenty of warm clothes!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not really.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was brilliant. The only thing that would have made it any better was seeing a polar bear on the ice pack - unfortunately, that didn't happen!
Reviewed on 19 Sep 2016 by Kathryn Huddle
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
An amazing trip! The scenery -glaciers, icebergs and sea ice - were stunning, the northern lights fantastic, and the wildlife wonderful. It is impossible to highlight one part, as it was two memorable weeks!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We treated ourselves to the suite, we had our own space to escape to, more room to relax, more storage space, and a much better bathroom. It was worth the extra expense!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Care is taken not to disturb the wildlife, and the holiday provider supports conservation charities which helps develop local businesses.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
5 stars, it was one of our best holidays!
Reviewed on 02 Jul 2016 by Peter Smart
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing polar bears, walruses and whales. Especially seeing a rare Bowhead whale whilst moving through the pack ice.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a good pair of binoculars.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Probably not.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
Read the operator's response here:
In 2015, donations were focused on Western Ecuador via Rainforest Concern, where we have been helping to extend a reserve where the newly discovered Olinguito is known to exist. Via our partners, the Rainforest Trust, we funded the creation of a 10,000 acre protected rainforest reserve within a new 5.9 million acres of national park, national reserve and 57 community owned territories in Amazonian Peru. We also funded the protection of more than 1,000 acres of new rainforest reserve in Madagascar.
Spitsbergen itself has no indigenous population, but the main industry in the area is tourism, which we support. Tourism certainly helps people living in Spitsbergen financially and strengthens the need for conservation of the area, a void which could otherwise be at risk of other more impactful activities such as oil and mineral extraction industries.
Reviewed on 04 Aug 2013 by david rumsey
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Arriving at the pack ice on a beautiful sunny evening and then seeing our first polar bear.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Only go if you are truly interested in all sorts of wildlife and nature. Don't expect a great variety of plants and animals - but what there is, is spectacular. Take a very good SLR camera with high magnification.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Supported local economy in Longbearyen. No harm to the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good. But sufficiently interesting for one teenager who required shopping opportunities and some culture. This holiday is not for someone who likes the idea of seeing polar bears but is not particularly interested in wildlife.
Reviewed on 18 Oct 2011 by Bjørn Clasen
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The astonishing landscapes in general, the walks on the mountains.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you are prepared for the cold - and for not necessarily seeing a lot of wildlife or Northern Lights.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I believe so.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A unique experience that reminded us of life's basics, of what real beauty is.
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