2022-10-03
2023-02-01
from$ 8323 AUD
Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.
Ship
Ocean Albatros
Ocean Albatros
City
Reykjavík to Reykjavík
Reykjavík to Reykjavík
Early Bird Booking - Arctic 23 and Antarctica 23/24
2022-10-03
2023-02-01
Overview
As Aurora Borealis flickers over the night sky, we enter Scoresby Sound, the largest fjord system on Earth. First mapped in 1822 by William Scoresby, the fjord covers an area the size of Denmark and extending 350 kilometres inland. Our first call is the isolated Inuit community, Ittoqqortoormiit. The 350 inhabitants live in this the most isolated town in Greenland. From here we navigate into the maze-like interiors of Scoresby Sound to make landing in Nordwest Fjord! Tall rocky spires surround us, but also flat spots suitable for Zodiac landings and nature hikes. Inuit has roamed these coasts for centuries, hunting for muskoxen, and their remnants of their dwellings can be seen by the trained eye. Back into the main fjord, the captain steers Ocean Albatros around the island of Milne Land. Several fantastic landing spots give us plenty of possibilities for hikes and kayaking. Weather in these sheltered interiors of Scoresby Sound is stable, usually with clear autumn air and snow-dusted mountain tops. Muskoxen are feeding on the few vegetated slopes, and in the fjord, belugas and narwhales can often be observed. We aim to make our last landing on beautiful Danmark Ø before heading back into open water and the dramatic Blosseville Coast, hopefully to make landings near the great fjord of Kangerlussuaq. With Ocean Albatros’ inverted so-called X-Bow and modern stabilizers, the Denmark Strait will feel less rough than on other expedition vessels. There should be good possibilities to be out on deck to spot sea mammals on the day towards Reykjavík and our farewell to vessel and crew.
Departures
Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.
Cruise Itinerary
In the afternoon, we board the Ocean Albatros in Reykjavík and set our course northbound for Greenland. After boarding and welcome drinks, the Expedition Leader will inform you about the voyage, the ship's daily routines and the various security and safety procedures, then you will have time to unpack and get comfortable in your cabin. Before sailing, there will be a mandatory safety drill. The Captain takes the ship out of Reykjavík in the early evening, as we enjoy our first hours onboard.
Our lecturers onboard will make inspiring and enriching presentations about both Iceland and Greenland’s past history and about nature, wildlife and climatology.
We cross the huge entrance of Scoresbysund during the night and arrive at the Inuit community Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) in the morning. About 350 people live here, most of whom base a large portion of their households on hunting. Seal, muskoxen and polar bear skins hang to dry outside many of the houses, and the sled dogs are waiting for sea ice to be safe for the first hunts of the fall. The town is extremely isolated, and the inhabitants only receive ship supplies twice a year. We have established good contacts with the local residents during our earlier visits and can go ashore to experience this unique little community.
The amazing visual menu of the following days is nothing less than the longest fjord in the world, Scoresby Sund. We will explore this fjord and hope to be able to offer kayaking and some exciting landings. The program for the next few days in the "Wild side of Greenland" as we delve into the fjord system depends on the weather and ice conditions. The route and the landings are determined by the Captain and the Expedition Leader jointly and are typically announced the night before. Some of the interesting landings we strive to visit are: Our voyage into one of these last unspoiled wild areas of the world, will begin with a visit at Eskimo Bay (Eskimobugt). We have spent the night moving into the vast fjord system and drink our morning coffee arriving into the bay at the inner Nordvestfjord. We use our Zodiacs to make a landing with the snowcovered mountains as our backdrop and from a distance we hope to see the remains of the Thule site that lies here (The ruins have been known since 1930ies but are very rarely visited). Our expedition staff will be on hand to tell us more about this cultural site. Another fantastic option is the Daugaard-Jensen Glacier, that lies well within the deeper fjord system (Nordvestfjord). Explorer Lauge Koch mapped these areas back in 1931-34, during his three year expedition. Much of the ice that ends up in northern Iceland, starts its seafaring days right here in this super productive glacier. It is only in the most recent years that ships have been able to get close to the glacier. Denmark Island (Danmarksø) is a hunting site that dates almost 4000 years back, and was used by the Paleo and Neo Eskimo cultures alld the way up to the Thule culture. Somewhat more flat terrain offer us more distance in the way of a walk. Our experienced expedition staff keeps a perimeter up, as we are still deep in Polar bear country. What seems to be barren tundra terrain, hides colourful moss as well as bright flowers, the same can be said of much of the Arctic flora we experience along our voyage. Even in these cold harsh areas we can experience life, if we are lucky also muskoxen or other mammal inhabitants. As we set our sights toward Milne Land and Red Island (Røde ø), we can expect to see giant majestic icebergs and the odd whale or two. Once on the red island, the ruby sandstone and basalt foundation give us a nice contrast to the crystal clear icy water, maybe more reminiscent of a desertlike terrain. Bear Islands with its jagged mountainous frame, could be our last landing in the fjord. It would be a fitting one at that, as the glaciers, floating ice and mountains give us remarkable views. Wherever we go in these seldomly visited areas, we are sure to get breathtaking vistas and memorable landings. Navigating the sheltered interior of the fjord system, we are likely to enjoy stable September weather with clear skies and distant visibility. Please note that, as always all the outings and landings rely on weather, sea and ice conditions being favorable both for the ship to access the areas, as for the zodiacs and kayaks to maneuver under adequate conditions, ensuring the safety of all our passengers and staff. For this reason, during moments of harsh weather and throughout the entire trip, Ocean Albatros has excellent public areas, such as wellness/sauna, restaurant, bar and a library for our passengers to spend their spare time. Our ship is staffed by experts in the field who will also share great lectures along the way, ranging from exploration history to biology, geology, ice and wildlife.
Possibly the most dramatic coast outside of Antarctica, the Blosseville is guarded by Greenland’s highest mountains and steepest fjords – and a belt of pack ice which before global warming would keep out any explorer for years. The recent decade has had warmer summers and much less ice which enables ice strengthened vessels such as the Ocean Albatros to venture along the coast, on lookout for polar wildlife, abandoned Inuit settlements and otherworldly landscapes.
The last day will be at sea getting glimpses of sea birds migrating south. Our lecturers onboard will make inspiring and enriching presentations about both Iceland’s and Greenland’s history, nature, wildlife and climatology. A captain’s farewell drink and a slideshow of our voyage will also be presented this evening.
Early in the morning we slowly approach the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík, and your Arctic adventure will have concluded. We enter Reykjavík in the morning and bid farewell to the vessel and crew.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Ocean Albatros
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition Passenger Capacity: 169 (95 cabins) Built: 2022 The Ocean Albatros, sistership to the Ocean Victory, will join the fleet of Albatros Expeditions in November 2022. The Ocean Albatros will be deployed to a large selection of expedition cruise destinations, Antarctica, the Arctic, any various exciting new destinations in between. With a total of 95 comfortable staterooms and suites, all with unobstructed sea view, most with their own balcony, the Ocean Albatros will definitely become one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world. Like it's sistership the Ocean Victory it offers two restaurants, a wellness area, an Albatros Nordic Bar, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and other state-of-the-art amenities. The vessel will have more than a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional expedition vessels and be one of the most environmentally friendly, implementing the Green Initiative Program, ensuring both absolute comfort and sustainability for our guests. Unlike the Ocean Victory, the Ocean Albatros will also offer a unique panorama sauna, and a total of 12 dedicated solo travel cabins without a single-supplement. BRIDGE Due to its important role as a control center for all nautical and technical processes, the ship's bridge is a vital, sensitive place. Therefore, the bridge may not be accessible to the public at all times. Conditions permitting, we will be happy to welcome you into the bridge for a visit. Guests must be accompanied by the master or our expedition leader. STATEROOM SERVICE Your stateroom is serviced daily. We provide a turn-down service. We provide meal to room only for serious cases of guest being sick. Our suites will have VIP services. ZODIAC LANDINGS One feature of our expedition cruises includes landings and excursions aboard Ocean Albatros's fleet of 18 inflatable, motorized rubber "Zodiac" boats. The Zodiac brand has earned a well-deserved reputation as the sturdiest and safest small watercraft available. These boats have a low draft and great stability. Zodiacs are constructed for professional use and are outfitted with a top-quality outboard engine, yet their design minimally impacts the environment. The Zodiacs are designed to provide unrestricted access to the world’s last great frontier. Their versatility enables us to make landfall on remote shores, cruise along awe-inspiring coastlines and share breathtakingly close encounters with whales, seals, penguins, seabirds and more. We will come within arm’s reach of icebergs and set foot on land discovered by pioneering explorers just over a century ago. Your safety and comfort are our #1 priority, and your expedition leader will carefully plan for as many Zodiac excursions as possible, dependent upon the local weather and prevailing conditions. In each case, the expedition leader makes the final decision if the landing is possible or not. Safety regulations apply on landings. All guests receive a mandatory instruction of the safety guidelines. Life jackets are mandatory to wear. Please note, we highly recommend the use of waterproof bags in order to protect your personal camera or binoculars, as both hands must be free of everything during boarding. Participation is fairly easy and comfortable for able-bodied guests but can be more challenging for those with physical handicaps. GRATUITIES Following international standards in the service industry, it is customary to leave gratuity for the ship’s crew at the end of the voyage. All gratuities will be divided among the crew. Typically, a recommended amount is approximately 13.5 USD per person per day. Gratuity is, of course, not required and any gratuity payments are voluntary. DRESS CODE The dress code on board is casual. Ties, jackets and evening dresses you may leave at home. It is rather more important to wear the right clothes in order to adapt to the different weather conditions. We recommend comfortable, breathable, waterproof and windproof clothing. Also, you should have a pair of gloves, thermal underwear and sturdy footwear in your luggage. For the captains and farewell cocktail, we recommend a smart casual dress style. INTERNET / PHONE Keep in mind, we will be cruising in a very remote region of the world. Where accessible, internet access is available for an extra charge. Mobile phone reception may be possible in select regions along our route. For further details please contact your mobile phone operator. Prices can be found in the information folder in your state room. Please ensure that your ‘Data Roaming’ function is switched off. RECEPTION The daily office hours of the board reception are from 06:00 until 23:00. ALBATROS OCEAN SHOP The selection of items available for purchase varies by ship, and may include a range of warm and practical clothing, as well as souvenirs, local arts and postcards at reasonable prices. A small selection of soap, toothpaste and other personal effects are also sold. HEALTH / MEDICAL EMERGENCY Each of our vessels has a small medical facility equipped with the necessary equipment and medicine to handle small emergencies. The infirmary is always staffed by a professionally licensed, English-speaking physician and nurse. Should a serious incident occur, the nearest hospital will be contacted. All guests must have personal travel/health insurance. Although we do not have an official requirement regarding personal fitness, you should be able to move on board and ashore without the help of others. Please be aware that the ship does not provide wheelchair accessible state rooms. Due to safety reasons a cruise is only possible for pregnant women until the 24th week of pregnancy. The state of pregnancy must be presented by a medical certificate. PHYSICAL DISABILITIES / WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY Guests with physical disabilities are recommended to travel with an accompanying person. The processes on board should be handled without external help. The gangway can be – depending on the individual disability – a challenge. The angle of inclination of the gangway varies due to tide and different circumstances in the respective port. Please note that the guest’s participation in shore excursions as well as the (dis-)embarkation by Zodiac can be denied by the expedition leader due to security reasons. The instructions of the expedition leader must be followed. The ship is not suitable for wheelchairs. SEASICKNESS / STABILISATORS The ship is equipped with stabilizers in order to reduce the ship’s roll. However, these expeditions are hosted in remote regions, and it is possible to periodically encounter changing environments and climate patterns, including rough seas and large swells. Seasickness patches (Scopoderm or similar) work solely or in part to help cure nausea for most people. These medicines can cause sleepiness. If you are prone to motion sickness, consult with your doctor prior to departure to help ensure your comfort while travelling. SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS All meals on board the vessel is chef-prepared. If you have special dietary requirements (food allergies, intolerances, health conditions or religious preferences), please inform us as early as possible - ideally, no later than 2 weeks before departure. In order to ensure efficient service, please re-confirm your requirements with the crew upon boarding the ship. LAUNDRY If you wish to have some laundry done while aboard the ship, laundry service is available for an additional fee.
Highlights
• KAYAKING - Glide through the waters and take in the royal grace of the icebergs, see the varied birds and seals, and maybe even the whales in their natural habitat under the supervision of experienced kayak guides • PHOTOGRAPHY - We always have a dedicated expedition photographer onboard to document the voyage and share their passion for photography through lectures and during landings and zodiac cruises • WILDLIFE OBSERVATIONS - One of the greatest pleasures of our expeditions, is being able to experience the Polar regions' wildlife from a safe distance, respectfully enjoying their beauty in their natural habitat • ZODIAC - Essential for expedition cruises, Zodiacs are robust boats that can go up on a beach, a rocky outcrop, a river bank or even an ice floe push through bergy bits of ice floating in the water
Map
