Scotland to Spitsbergen: Puffins, Sea Ice and Wildlife

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Voyage Code: QUARKULT20270502

16 nights

Ultramarine

2 May '27

Cruise overview

Few itineraries feature such contrasting destinations in a single trip—but our 17-day Scotland to Spitsbergen: Puffins, Sea Ice and Wildlife voyage does just that. You’ll start in Scotland, exploring the Shetland and Orkney Islands—visiting impressive bird colonies and Scottish Neolithic historical sites—then cross the Norwegian Sea to the seldom-visited Bear Island, which sits alone and isolated between mainland Norway and Svalbard. Because you’re traveling in May, you’ll encounter plenty of ice in the many fjords we’ll visit, such as Storfjorden. These ice-covered expanses increase our chances of seeing walruses, polar bears, seals and other wildlife. In addition to our seasoned Expedition Team, you’ll also learn from our special guest ornithologist and historian, who will join us for the entire voyage.

Aberdeen

Orkney Islands

Shetland Islands

Bear Island

Svalbard Archipelago

Hornsund

Bellsund

Isfjorden

Longyearbyen

Helsinki

Itinerary

Day 1

Aberdeen

Arrive any time on Day 1 and make your way to the group hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. The Scottish city of Aberdeen, your gateway for this adventure, is known as the Granite City, as it was once the granite capital of the world. You’ll understand as soon as you see the grey Victorian buildings—that sparkle in the sunlight. A bustling cultural hub, Aberdeen also offers a range of museums, galleries, theaters, shops, cafés and restaurants to explore.

With close to 220,000 inhabitants, Aberdeen is Scotland’s third most populous city. Locally quarried grey granite was used during the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries for many of Aberdeen’s buildings, and hence the nicknames it has earned as the Granite City, or the Grey City. Aberdeen granite was also used to build the terraces of the Houses of Parliament and Waterloo Bridge in London. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, Aberdeen has also been called the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe. It is no wonder that because of the oil fields in the North Sea, Aberdeen’s seaport is very important. The Heliport with its flights to the oil fields is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world.

Day 2

Aberdeen

Day 3

Orkney Islands

Day 4

Shetland Islands

Day 5

at-sea At sea

Day 6

at-sea At sea

Day 7

at-sea At sea

Day 8

Bear Island

Day 9

Svalbard Archipelago

Day 10

Storfjorden

Day 11

Hornsund

Day 12

Bellsund

Day 13

Krossfjorden

Day 14

Smeerenburgfjorden

Day 15

Isfjorden

Day 16

Longyearbyen

Day 17

Helsinki

Explorer Suitefrom£10,149pp

Balcony Suitefrom£11,259pp

Deluxe Balcony Suitefrom£13,399pp

Terrace Suitefrom£13,909pp

Penthouse Suitefrom£15,029pp

Owner's Suitefrom£18,789pp

Ultra Suitefrom£20,929pp

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Explorer Suite

from£10,149pp

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Located on Deck 3, this 285 sq ft suite offers generous space and comfort, ideal for solo travellers or companions sharing. A large picture window connects you to the passing scenery, while the interior features a cosy sitting area and a modern bathroom with heated floors. Perfect for those seeking comfort and value in an inviting, well-designed space.