The island group in the far north is a place of wild untameable beauty and a coastline shrouded in ice: Spitsbergen. In this nautically challenging expedition territory, the HANSEATIC spirit and HANSEATIC nature can take full advantage of their small and manoeuvrable design with the highest ice class for passenger ships. No two days are the same here. Adventure awaits around every corner – you won’t know which experiences are in store until you get there, as the weather and ice conditions mean that the captain needs to constantly adapt the route.
Expansive tundra and peaked mountains shape the Isfjord and its neighbouring fjords – making one of Spitsbergen’s largest fjord systems with a length of over 100 km (62 mi.). It is home to polar bears, Arctic foxes and puffins. Prins Karls Forland is known for its particularly heavyweight residents in the large walrus population. Like so many times on this expedition, you can get closer than ever before to the wonders of the Nordic natural world. Arctic terns attract attention with their aerial manoeuvres in Ny-Alesund, one of the world’s most northerly settlements. It was from here that Arctic explorers Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile set out in 1926 in the airship Norge and became the first people to reach the North Pole. Today, this place is home to a team of scientists researching how climate change is affecting the Arctic. The Zodiacs will also take you up-close to the spectacular 14th July Glacier so that you can experience the towering gleaming blue edge from a unique perspective. Arctic flowers bloom on the green slopes near the glacier, while kittiwakes and thick-billed murres nest on the cliff, creating an almost surreal contrast.
If the conditions allow it, you’ll venture forth into the waters of northern Spitsbergen, where a sense of pure expedition prevails. Thrilling days lie ahead in the home of whales, Arctic foxes, walruses and the king of the Arctic, Ursus maritimus. Will you spot polar bears as you keep a lookout from the ship’s deck or from the Zodiacs at a respectful distance? The experts accompanying you will direct your gaze to the wonder of the polar fauna and enrich your fantastic natural experiences with their specialist knowledge. Or you can find out more about the Arctic species and the spectacular landscape with fascinating presentations on board.
The Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park is known as a landscape of scenic contrasts full of mountains and bays. Enjoy unique views in the Magdalenefjord, for example, and discover the historic graves of whales set against the glacial backdrop. Surrounded by this overwhelming panorama, you will feel the power and sensitivity of nature, which also shape the Liefdefjord and the majestic Monacobreen. Watching the wall of white come to life will take your breath away: huge blocks of ice regularly fall into the fjord from the 5 km (3.1 mi.) front with an almighty roar. The palpable effects of the Gulf Stream pave the way to the Raudfjord, the archipelago’s most northerly fjord. In certain lights, the mountains take on shades of reddish brown. Amsterdamoya is home to historic man-made relics: the remains of 400-year-old ovens bear witness to the whalers who once cooked blubber here to make lamp oil.
The artistic drawings by the scientists on board La Recherche show just how much impact the Recherchefjord made on the explorers. Gain your own impressions of this inlet surrounded by tundra, which is home to reindeer and many other creatures. Nature will also provide lasting memories in Hornsund, where you are surrounded by snow-capped mountain ranges and mighty glaciers. The natural spectacles and adventurous routes through fields of drifting ice are sure to make your expedition cruise between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole unforgettable.