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Serene Greenland - Exploring the Largest Fjord System on Earth

Aboard MS Spitsbergen with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions

Departure Date

11 August 2025

Duration

9 Nights

Cruise Only From

£7,840pp

Cruise Reference

ART-5SEHU16

Cruise Overview

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population.

On a bay overlooked by proud Mt.

Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs.

In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík.

In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs.

Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs.

Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around.

You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities.

A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel.

This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums.

The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day.

Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.


Cruise Itinerary

Aboard MS Spitsbergen

Launch Year: 2009 Length: 100.54 Width: 18 Currency: NOK Capacity: 335 Crew Count: 80 Deck Count: 3 Cabin Count: 180

MS Spitsbergen preview is named after the crown jewel of Arctic Norway – the Svalbard archipelago and its biggest island, Spitsbergen. Hurtigruten has a long history of traveling to Spitsbergen, beginning in 1896 with the 'Sports Route'.

After a complete reconstruction, MS Spitsbergen joined the Hurtigruten fleet in 2016. The ship features high technical standards as well as comfortable, modern public areas and cabins. The vessel's fresh Scandinavian design reflects a colour palette derived from the sea. She is modern and environmentally progressive and will undergo further improvements that will reduce emissions and fuel consumption even more. The new ship’s maneuverability and optimal size make her quite suitable for exploring polar waters.

Premium expedition comfort

MS Spitsbergen has her own onboard Expedition Team which serves as a university at sea. Interesting lectures inside the ship as well as out on the sun deck make cruising with her an exciting and educational journey. Topics depend on the season and the waters in which we sail. The Expedition Team hosts a lecture programme and evening gatherings daily. Out on deck, you can participate in live points of interest to learn more about the nature, culture and other phenomena we encounter along the coast. In addition, the Expedition Team will introduce you to the uniquely Norwegian notion of 'friluftsliv' (outdoor life), and encourage you take part in 'friluftsliv' hikes and activities throughout the cruise.

MS Spitsbergen Facilities

MS Spitsbergen Includes

Cabin Details

Expedition Suite

Our Expeditions Suites are the most luxurious cabins on the ship. Situated on the ship’s upper deck, the cabins feature seating areas with TV, and bathrooms with shower/toilet, all with double beds. Some suites have more amenities than others. An exciting welcome gift awaits all suite guests in their cabin.

Arctic Superior

Relaxation and comfort are the hallmarks of our Arctic Superior cabins. Situated on both the upper and middle decks, they all have bathrooms with shower/toilet. They are also equipped with tea- and coffee-making facilities. All cabins have individual specifications.

Polar Outside

Our Polar Outside cabins are mostly situated on the middle or lower decks and all have bathrooms with a shower/toilet. Most have double beds, while others offer separate beds (where one is a sofa bed) or upper berths. All cabins have individual specifications.

Polar Inside

Our cozy Polar Inside cabins are located on all decks. All cabins include bathrooms with a shower/toilet. Most of the cabins have double beds, while some are equipped with separate beds where one doubles as a sofa, or upper and lower berths. All cabins have individual specifications.

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