Spitsbergen Expedition

The Must-sees of the trip

1. On board the HANSEATIC natureThe HANSEATIC nature is a state-of-the-art expedition ship that combines style, comfort and adventure at the highest level. Since entering service in 2019, she has been part of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new expedition class and is specially designed for extraordinary routes to the most remote regions of the world – from the Arctic ice to tropical river deltas.
2. Travelling through Freemansund – A gateway to the heart of SvalbardThe HANSEATIC nature glides silently through the narrow, often ice-laden Freemansund, a strait between the islands of Barentsøya and Edgeøya in the southeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago. The scenery is raw, archaic, and majestic. Steep rock cliffs rise sharply into the grey-blue sky, interrupted by snowfields and glaciers slowly calving into the sea. The journey through Freemansund is a highlight of any Arctic expedition. Although the strait is narrow and sheltered, its conditions challenge even modern expedition ships – dense fog banks, drifting ice, and strong currents require precise navigation. On the bridge of the HANSEATIC nature, full concentration is demanded – every manoeuvre is carefully calculated. Onshore, guests spot walruses, polar bears, reindeer or thick-billed murres with binoculars and cameras. The landscape may seem lifeless – yet it is teeming with hidden motion and wildlife. During Zodiac excursions along the rugged coast, the vast silence is broken only by the splash of water and the calls of seabirds. Thanks to her PC6 ice class and an experienced crew, the HANSEATIC nature masters this passage with ease – offering guests a powerful, immersive experience of nature at its most untouched and awe-inspiring.
3. Storøya in the far north of the archipelagoThe bow of the HANSEATIC nature points north, toward the wild and icy frontier of the Arctic. After hours of navigating the cold, often fog-shrouded Barents Sea, a lonely, low-lying silhouette appears on the horizon: Storøya – the “Great Island” – located northeast of Nordaustlandet, is one of the most remote and inhospitable islands in the entire Svalbard archipelago. Despite its name, Storøya is small, barren, and largely covered by the Storøyjøkulen, a massive ice cap. Only a narrow coastal strip is free of ice; the rest is a world of glaciers, snowfields, and exposed rock. There are no settlements here, no traces of human life – only wind, ice, and untouched wilderness.If conditions allow, landings are made by Zodiac on the southwest coast. The environment is harsh: drifting ice, swell, sudden weather changes – all characteristic of these northern latitudes. With luck, visitors may spot walruses lounging lazily on gravel beaches – or, with even more luck, a polar bear patrolling the ice, ruler of this cold and silent realm. A visit to Storøya is no ordinary shore excursion – it is an encounter with the outer limits of the habitable world. Here, nature reigns absolute. And for those who reach this remote corner of the Earth, every breath carries the sense of true Arctic wilderness – vast, silent, unforgettable.