Scenic Eclipse
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Svalbard Halfway between Norway and the North Pole lies an enchanting archipelago swept by warm Gulf Stream waters along its west coast; frigid pack ice from the north, polar desert winds from the east and lush sea breezes from the south. Svalbard is so remote not even Paleo-Eskimos reached there and despite later periods of shore-based whaling, hunting, trapping, mining and scientific expeditions much remains a pristine wilderness. It’s ours to explore in ultra-luxury from our Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse. Mountainous Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago, dominates Svalbard’s northwest corner. At its heart is Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest, and the world’s most northerly settlement. As perpetual summer daylight bathes surrounding mountainsides, admire Longyearbyen’s colourful houses and fascinating museums before setting sail down Isfjorden. Due to the extraordinary nature of Svalbard, especially fast-changing weather and ice conditions, our Expedition Voyage itinerary is flexible, with the Captain and Discovery Leader working together to give you experiences that exceed your expectations. Here are some of the highlights that await you. Enjoy breathtaking scenery from your suite’s private verandah as Scenic Eclipse navigates spectacular waterways like Magdalena Fjord, and join Discovery Team specialists on Zodiac cruises along calving ice fronts of the Waggonway or 14th July glaciers. As you slowly move amongst the brash ice and bergy bits, watch for polar bears on shore and reindeer grazing on tundra hills. In Kingsfjorden, we may visit Ny Ålesund, a mining town turned polar research centre, or farther north, Amsterdamoya, where our Discovery Team historian leads us to Smeerenburg (literally Blubber Town) the remains of a 17th Century Dutch whaling settlement, where walrus often haulout. Just across the channel are the ruins from the Swedish balloon expedition base camp, where Andrée and his two co-pilots launched, never to be seen alive again. Today delightful harbour seals remain to entertain. North of Spitsbergen, Scenic Eclipse aims for the Arctic pack ice, an ethereal world where walrus bob on ice floes, polar bears hunt seals and beluga whales rise in open leads. Scenic Eclipse, is built to Polar Class 6 standards and its state-of-the-art design allows us to push deeper into the pack thus improving our
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Polar bear and cubs, Svalbard Magdalena Fjord Beluga whales, Spitsbergen Reindeer grazing on tundra hills
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