7 independent reviews for North Spitsbergen cruise, in search of Polar Bears

Many thanks for your 4 star feedback Pam. We are delighted that the ship, staff and crew were excellent and our trip met your expectations. You were able to experience mating Polar bears, Belugas, Blue whale, walrus, 5 species of seal, Arctic fox and a myriad of Arctic birdlife. We always stress nothing is guaranteed on that score, since this is raw nature; but borrowing your craps shoot card game metaphore - you were dealt an excellent hand in terms of wildlife:) Our polar team serve as part of the ships team: we guide, lecture, drive the zodiacs and have dealt with all logistics for this particular fleet for over 18 years. The information we promptly provided from planning through to finalising your travel made full use of 4 of our companies in-house polar experts and their combined 50+ years of Arctic knowledge; testament to a service which has returned thousands of Arctic happy clients who, like yourself, had their expectations met. With regards to your response to the questions, Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation? There are no indigenous people in this region of the Arctic. However, we are sorry that the benefits to the environment did not come across clearly and would like to clarify, this being an important aspect to us.- - The environmental impacts/support of conservation is addressed early in our booking stages then followed up with documentation to make you aware of our wider conservation role and the positive benefits of traveling with us to the Arctic. - Aside from the significant financial advantages of booking with us (an ATOL protected tour operator), integral to your package was our positive financial donation, made by us to our conservation charities on your behalf, as highlighted in your booking receipts and invoices. We have worked for and in support of these award-winning conservation organisations for over 25 years both in a professional consultative capacity and support them financially. This is central to our philosophy and we are proud of our global achievements. Svalbard itself is a precious example of where governance, tourism regulation and control of a protected area is key to securing its environmental future. Instrumental to this is your vessel’s membership of AECO, an international organization for Arctic cruise operators. The ship operations are not only dedicated to implementing the environmental regulations set by AECO, but as a founding member helped to establish these regulations. Local regulation requires all passengers sit through the 10 minute video outlining the AECO environmental guidelines before you step foot in the Arctic wilderness. This helps guests appreciate that rules for management of wildlife interaction are site-specific, stringent and complex, respecting that welfare with the protection of wildlife coming first. The experiences we offer on small ships (and indeed all our travel experiences) are strongly educational, delivered by highly qualified scientists and conservationists in their field. A trip to Spitsbergen is a stage upon which we can all witness and learn about climate change, seeing the evidence in its raw form. We purport that tourism has helped protect this fragile area from alternative lucrative impacts including: mining operations, over development and wildlife hunting: which is practiced in other Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland (including hunting of polar bears, whales, walrus etc). By choosing the expedition with us on this vessel we are grateful that you have also supported a string of environmental organisations and charities including: Rainforest Concern, Birdlife International and Clean-up Svalbard. The fleet, being a founder member removes between 3-4 tons of beach waste annually. We have actively participated in these campaigns on numerous occasions. Many thanks for your feedback and we hope that you have returned with some wonderful memories of the High Arctic and the wildlife you have been fortunate to encounter. Best wishes Charlotte Polar Guide/Marine Scientist

Many thanks for your feedback and it is good to hear you saw a polar bear in the High Arctic. As explained at the time of booking, wildllfe is never on-tap in nature, though on the overwhelming majority of these trips we enjoy polar bears. Alongside the polar bear was a long list of Arctic wildlife seen on your expedition : Beluga whales, Walrus (on 5 days), 4 species of seal (Bearded, Harbour, Harp and Ringed), Minke whales, Arctic fox, reindeer and some wonderful Arctic birdlife including a rare group sighting of King Eiders (41), Puffins and Ivory Gulls, to name a few. We are glad that you found the ship comfortable - she is purpose-built, and being one of the strongest polar vessels exploring the high Arctic was able to take you into the Arctic sea ice for the two full days as per your itinerary. Reaching above 80 degrees - manoeuvring in the pack ice is no mean feat, particularly this with the ice this year sitting unseasonably South and blocking the passage East. In terms of the many landings by zodiac, we usually find that guests want to explore off ship as much as possible. Zodiacs are a means of transfer to daily shore hikes, and used on your trip to cruise alongside islands, icebergs and several mile long glacier fronts; carefully approach seals and observe bird cliffs. Many years of our guiding and driving zodiacs on these expeditions has shown us that you as likely to see polar bears navigating close to shore in a zodiac, as searching with the main ship in the pack ice. All drivers are powerboat qualified and have to abide by AECO regulations. The zodiac engines (like the ship) are very new and well maintained - although electric outboard engine innovation has not yet sufficiently advanced to make electric engines a safe option in the high Arctic- though this is definitely a future aim ! In terms of landing facilities, Svalbard authorities prefers to leave shorelines wild and avoids construction of piers; hence the ‘wet landings’ we employ, involving stepping into shallow water off a zodiac with rubber boots (provided). We try to address environmental impacts/support of conservation early in our booking stages then follow up with documentation to make you aware of our wider conservation role and the positive benefits of traveling with us to the Arctic. Integral to your package was our positive financial donation, made by us to our conservation charities on your behalf, as highlighted in you booking receipts and invoices. We have worked for and in support of these award winning conservation organisations for over 25 years, both in a professional consultative capacity and through direct financial support. Being environmental consultants, marine scientists and conservation specialists ourselves, this is central to our philosophy and we are proud of our achievements. Svalbard itself is a precious example of where governance, tourism regulation and control of a protected area is key to securing its environmental future, with mining and wildlife hunting kept in check, polar tourism has helped protect this fragile area from alternative lucrative industries. This fleet is a founding member of AECO, Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators and helped establish and implement these environmental regulations. Part of this is the 10 minute video you watched onboard which outlines the AECO code of conduct before you step foot in the Arctic wilderness. This helps you appreciate that rules for management of wildlife interaction are site-specific, stringent and complex, respecting that welfare and protection of wildlife come first. The experiences we offer on small ships (and indeed all our travel experiences) are strongly educational, delivered by highly qualified scientists and conservationists in their field. Onboard we hope you were inspired by the lectures on wildlife, climate change etc. By choosing the expedition with us on this vessel you have also supported a string of environmental organisations and charities including: Birdlife International. The ship being a founder member of Clean-up Svalbard removes between 3-4 tons of beach waste annually - we have actively participated in these shore campaigns on numerous occasions. In terms of your onboard communication with the Expedition leader and comments on her leadership style. This feedback is a disappointing surprise, having sailed with the leader and enjoyed excellent recent feedback on her expertise at both poles. A review from the trip prior to yours is from a client (who booked on the sole promise that this leader would be onboard) who again applauded the leader stating: “ I do not know how this ship goes about their training but it works great …. with the Expedition leader her usual passionate and innovative self .” Being Expedition leader carries much responsibility in such remote and inhospitable conditions but hopefully she should not be overworked and stale as this departure was just the second trip of the Arctic season. We thank you for your feedback and hope you are left with good memories of the wider Arctic wilderness and wildlife that you encountered on your trip to high Arctic with us.