Spitsbergen Explorer

Additional Information

2012 Cabin Rates and Dates aboard the Sergey Vavilov in 2012

Rates are per person in US Dollars. No single supplement if willing to share - single occupancy of a twin cabin is available for an additional 70% of the cabin cost.

* Kayaking is extra. Please see below.

Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, this ship was designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research. It is exceptionally stable, yet maneuverable. External stabilizers and a built-in trimming system provide exceptional stability. The Ackademik Sergey Vavilov has ice-strengthened hulls and a cruising speed in open water of 14.5 knots. The ship accomodates 107 Guests.

Fuel Surcharge may apply

Arctic 2012 Polar Adventure Ship Expeditions to Spitsbergen include:

• Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.)
• All shore landings per the daily program.
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program.
• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.
• Photographic Album on DVD, documenting the voyage.
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings.
• A Quark Expeditions parka – yours to keep.
• Coffee, tea ,cocoa available around the clock.
• Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin.
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• All luggage handling aboard ship.
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of $100,000 per person.
• For all voyages embarking in Svalbard – If arrival is after noon the day prior to embarkation, group transfer to a hotel, then on the day of embarkation from hotel to the ship.
• If arrival is on the day of embarkation, group transfer to the town of Longyearbyen for independent exploration, then at 16:00 (4 PM) local time, a group transfer from a pre-arranged location to the ship.(Luggage will be delivered to the ship directly from the airport.)
• On the day of disembarkation, group transfer from the ship to the airport.
• No fuel surcharge guarantee.

*Kayaking in the Arctic

If you have paddled the waters of New England or Alaska; if you have kayaked off the coast of California or Canada's Maritimes, you are ready for polar sea-kayaking.
Polar kayaking takes place in one of the roughest and toughest environments on Earth. When you settle yourself in one of our kayaks, you should already be comfortable getting in and out and have practiced an emergency wet exit.
Once you have booked your optional adventure, you will receive a set of preparation notes that lists the gear supplied and the gear you must bring with you.
Sea Kayaking is available for all departures at an additional $525 per person (limited to 10 participants per voyage).

Detailed Trip Information

Dates	Jun 9 to Jun 19, 2012, Spitsbergen Snowshoeing Jul 1 to Jul 11, 2012, Wildlife Capital of the Arctic Jul 11 to Jul 23, 2012 (13 day trip), Spitsbergen Circumnavigation Jul 23 to Aug 2, 2012, Wildlife Capital of the Arctic Aug 2 to Aug 9, 2012 (8 day trip), Family Polar Bear Safari
Duration	11 days
Land Cost	$4,990-$9,490 See above for details; airfare to Longyearbyen additional
Single Supplement	$4,543-$6,643 twin cabin available at an additional 70% of cabin cost; no supplement if willing to share
Lodging	- comfortable cabins
Grade	I-II
Group Size	107 aboard the Sergey Vavilov

Trip Terms & Conditions

Please note that this trip operates under different payment and cancellation policies than those described in our Terms and Conditions as noted in our Global Expedition Catalog, on our website and elsewhere. Please request these if you do not have them before advancing a deposit.

Insurance: All travelers must be covered by comprehensive medical, travel and cancellation insurance in case of emergency situations, which should be purchased at the time of booking.  Due to the remoteness of the areas in which you will travel, you must have a minimum of $50,000 of emergency medical coverage.  Proof of coverage is required at embarkation. Please contact us for a recommended policy. 

Airfares: JOURNEYS can make complete air arrangements applicable to your trip as noted in this itinerary. If you wish to redeem frequent flyer mileage or arrange flights directly with the airline, you may do so on your own at no penalty. If you do, please consult with us on exact arrival and departure dates and times before having your tickets issued to avoid errors. For scheduled flights, the fare rules of the airline carrier, including payment and cancellation conditions apply.

Included in costs: Shipboard accommodation, highly experienced expedition leader, crew and lecturers, all meals including tea/coffee 24 hours a day, complimentary parka, boot loan on all departures, access to public viewing areas, shore excursions by Zodiac boat, on-board lectures, videos, slide and film shows, on-board medical officer, port taxes, comprehensive pre-departure information.

Not included in costs: Visa and passport fees, international airfare, charter flights, airport departure taxes, any pre-trip or post-trip hotel accommodation not indicated on the itinerary, laundry, postage, telephone calls, drinks, medical expenses, travel insurance, helicopter flights, gratuities to staff and crew, changes to the itinerary after confirmation, changes to itinerary after arrival at destination, or other costs as are more fully described in JOURNEYS Terms & Conditions.

Rates: Rates for voyages, flights, and pre-expedition and post-expedition extensions are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change prior to departure. Substantial changes in tariffs, exchange rates and the price of fuel, services and labor sometimes increase the cost of expedition arrangements significantly, and we reserve the right to alter our prices or introduce surcharges accordingly, even if payment has been received in full.

Trip-specific payment & cancellation schedule: A deposit of $2,500 per person is required to confirm a reservation on 50 Years of Victory. To confirm reservations on all other ships, a deposit of $2,000 per person is required.  You may sign up on-line and make your deposit at our secure website: http://www.journeys.travel/info/sign_up/. The deposit may be made by Visa, Master Card or Discover.  If you prefer, a Reservation Form may be submitted by fax, or mail, and payment may also be made by check. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure and can be made by Visa, Master Card, or check. All prices and payments are in US Dollars and no other currencies can be accepted. Airlines require full payment when tickets are issued. Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations made up to 180 days prior to departure will be refunded less an administrative fee of $1000 per person. Cancellations made 179 to 120 days prior to departure forfeit the full deposit. Cancellations made less than 120 days prior to departure are subject to cancellation fee of 100% of the trip cost; if full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately. It is understood that refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the tour for any reason whatsoever. Prices quoted are based on group participation and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate, including any helicopter flying time (if applicable and which, at the discretion of the Captain and Expedition Leader, may or may not be utilized).

Photography: Passengers extend permission to the operator of the trip to take their photograph during the voyage, and release all rights over those images. Passengers who do not wish to be photographed during the voyage must inform the operator in writing prior to the voyage.

Itinerary Change Fee: There will be a $40 fee for changes once an itinerary has been confirmed and approved. Additional cancellation penalties or change fees may apply as per our terms and conditions. The passenger is responsible for such fees.

JOURNEYS Resources

• Arctic Cruise FAQ

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Internet Resources

• Arctic Reading List
• Center for Disease Control
• Detailed Facts About the Arctic Ocean
• Google News - Arctic