Spitsbergen Explorer Arctic Expedition Cruise

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 82 reviews.

Barry Holmes

SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written June 2011
Other than the trip notes, which did not fully match the itinerary, the trip exceeded all my expectations in terms of wildlife sightings, amenities on the ship, expert knowledge of the staff in their respective fields and in the meals provided. We were blessed also with excellent weather and the most placid of seas.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably that first sighting of a polar bear in its natural surroundings.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leaders (Woody and Paul) were extremely knowledgable of the wildlife we sought and where we were most likely to find it. They kept us entertained and given that many were novice photographers on a photographic cruise, the general photography presentations and tips from Paul were most welcome.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you want to see Arctic wildlife in a spectacular environment, want to get ashore frequently to experience some of it close up, want to be educated on the wildlife and scenery, want a full day (in constant daylight), all from the comfort of a great ship, then this is the trip for you.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip notes should be made more general. If you are not going to follow an itinerary then don't publish it. Otherwise it raises people's expectations unnecessarily. How many people bought postcards in Longyearbyen on the first day with the expectation of posting them in the world's most northerly post box? Yet we were never going to Ny Alesund. You should simply say in the trip notes that the prime aim of the trip is to see as much wildlife as possible and in as many different sites as possible, but that we may visit all or some of the places below if conditions and time permit.
Sarah Bristow

SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written June 2011
Wow! With the expertise of the Expedition team and the flexability of the Captain and the abiltiy of the ship we were able to spot 16 polar bears in 10 days - way above expectation! We also saw all the mammals we might expect to see! Zodiac driving was outstanding and safe, ship excellent, company (all round) superb.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
10 Polar bears in one day!
Reaching and celebrating 90 degrees North
Feeling totally safe with the Expedition Team in a potentially very dangerous environment
Zodiacs! (whatever the conditions)
The talks by the the team, their knowledge, skill and enthusiasm
The bar - from cocktails to talks and games! Its position on the ship is great and the views fantastic.
What did you think of your group leader?
Woody was exceptional, he cared about the environment, enthused with us and was very approachable at all times. His knowledge was amazing and he wanted to share it with all of us. He took the issues of the environment very seriously and made it very clear about polar bears being the top of the food chain, managing a very silly, out of order "joke" comment extremely well at our briefing. He also made us aware of the whole environment and it's fragility (sadly not heeded by all).
His management of the trip was outstanding, in partiular when he needed to make last minute changes because of conditions, sightings etc. His management of the team was superb and it was clear that it was a team that had "jelled" and they work as a team all the time. He also had the utmost respect of all the ship's crew, from Captain downwards.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you don't like flexability and change don't go (it is not a cruise)! This is an expedition and the team and crew do all they can to maximise opportunities which means sudden changes because of wildlife sightings, weather, ice etc. Read the trip notes so you are prepared.
Read all you can before you go, learn to understand the type of environment you are travelling to, it's harshness, moods and fragility, but also it's beauty, uniqueness and wonder. Take the right clothing- test the waterproofness of your overtrousers properly because if you get wet, you get cold (this happened to several people on our trip). The parkas supplied are excellent with detachable fleeces - but you still need lots of layers! Be prepared to sit in a zodiac for long periods watching - it is fantastic to see how polar bears react and to read their body language.
Go to enjoy what YOU want out of such a great experience but don't be afraid of having little knowledge - the team teach and support throughout.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It is a privilege to travel to the extremes of the world, everyone should go (but please don't!) to understand what is happening there (both North and South). My non-wildlife loving husband is hooked on wildlife after going to both ends. Sadly the cost of the trip is high, but worth every penny. Don't bother about cruise ships in these extreme environments, get stuck into expeditions and all that offers - we had a polar bear expert on board with 44 years experience (beat that). Each expert was just that, we have had the same ornothologist both in the Antarctic and the Arctic - what knowledge and enthusiasm! Advice given from a zodiac driver about camera shutter speed when taking birds followed by a puzzled look from me - all was explained and the results - wonderful. The ship DVD with contributions from many passengers is a joy but it also contains lots of information about where we went, what we saw etc.
Access to parts of the ship that most people only dream about is great, whether or not you understand things nautical (but you learn quickly). The crew were always happy to show us charts, adjust the electronic plotter for photos to show where we had been, explain things etc.
Mini moan - please - where was the map promised by Quark?
Daphne Lott

PHOTOGRAPHIC SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written June 2011
We were blessed with unusually good weather and saw a wonderful amount of wildlife. A very memorable holiday which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who wants to experience the Arctic and with the added photography element.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Spending just over 3 hours watching a bear and her 2 cubs on an ice flow while she caught a seal and they had it for their tea.
The sheer tranquility of the area with not a soul in sight in pure pure air with majestic skies.
The incredible geology and ice in all its forms
Ian Sterling imparting his knowledge of polar bears and all matters relating to the polar regions
Reflecting on the holiday as we sat on the hillside in bright sunshine on the last afternoon surrounded by reindeer

What did you think of your group leader?
Both Woody and Paul were great and inspirational supported by Annie
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This was a photographic exploration of wildlife - do not expect to be visiting towns or places of habitation
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Having been to the Antarctic and NW Passage with Peregrine/Quark this rounded off my polar experiences. That said if anyone would pay for me to go again I woud be off like a shot, particularly to the Antarctic
Ruth Davies

SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written June 2011
Wonderful wildlife, stunning scenery, illuminating lectures and fun photography.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing mother polar bears interacting with their cubs and then having the behaviour of the mother and cub(s) explained to us by Ian Stirling. We saw the mother trying to break into a seal den, catch a seal, wait patiently for a tired or mischievous cub, lovingly greet a cub and teach them how to hunt.
What did you think of your group leader?
Woody was fun, approachable and knowledgeable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go for it - let the expedition staff sort out the itinerary as they think best with the latest information and make the most of every opportunity to soak up the scenery, watch the wildlife and absorb the Arctic.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It exceeded all my expectations - and they were high!
Marykay Fuller

SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written June 2011
This trip was booked via Exodus but run by Quark who are the polor experts! Great expedition team and Russian captain and crew. Kayaking was superb - which was as much a credit to our guide, Val, as it was the glorious weather conditions.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Woody was excellent - right balance of knowledge, skill and enthusiam as group leader. Rest of expedition team were very good as well!
Christine Bloch

SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written June 2011
We saw an amazing amount of wildlife. There is nothing to compare to seeing polar bears in the wild, interacting with their young and fending for food. The ship's crew and the expedition staff worked untiringly to enable us to see as much as possible, while maintaining as first priority the wellbeing of the wildlife and their environment.
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Jackie Freshfield

SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER

Written August 2010
Having had a superb trip to Antarctica in 2008 I didn’t think that Spitzbergen would match up. How wrong I was! There's no long sea passage across the Drake Passage for starters, but the landscape was equally stunning (though less snow and ice in late July) and the wildlife was simply astonishing. Our 24 hours in the ice field under blazing sun with polar bears right next to our ship encompassed some of the best wildlife viewing I have ever had.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting up close and personal to several polar bears as they floated past on bergy bits in the Hinlopen Strait was incredible. Our ship edged alongside the bergs and bears patrolled right alongside us, as curiosity (and the smell of our dinner) drew them nearer and nearer. When the chefs and housekeeping staff are on deck with their cameras you know that you are witnessing something special. Then there was the mesmerizing scenery in Hornsund, six cute Arctic fox cubs at Alkhornet, the bird frenzy at Monaco glacier, the lenticular clouds of Worsleyneset…
What did you think of your group leader?
Woody and Paul made a great double act! Passionate, knowledgeable, and uber professional, Woody was determined that whatever the weather threw at us (and it was a bit grim at the outset) we were going to have the best trip possible – and we did. Paul took no prisoners on the photography front and was equally passionate about Spitzbergen and its furry and feathered inhabitants. As a keen photographer (though not possessing the best kit by any means) I learnt more sitting with Paul in a Zodiac at the Monaco Glacier photographing birds than I have picked up on any other trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be patient! Sometimes the wildlife and the weather don’t read the itinerary, so plans have to change. Take a good wide-angle lens as well as an image-stabilised long lens, and don’t forget your polariser. Layers of clothes rather than bulky kit works best – it didn’t feel particularly cold, maybe we were too busy having fun to notice! Top tip: you don’t have to eat EVERYTHING on the menu, delicious though it is. Running up and down six decks (with a hand for the ship, of course) in search of the best vantage point does burn calories!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip far outweighed my expectations. If you are remotely interested in awesome wildlife, stunning landscapes, and experiencing the joy of remote destinations then this is the trip for you. Don’t think it – do it. And don’t hesitate if you are concerned about travelling alone. Both my Antarctic and Arctic expeditions were solo, and I am still very much in touch with the fabulous friends I made on both trips.