Arctic Voyage to the North Pole - Arctic

How big are the groups?

The 50 Years of Victory can carry a maximum of 128 passengers. To explore such a region with just a small number of fellow passengers from all over the world is a real luxury and will help to make your Polar voyage of discovery and adventure a truly unforgettable experience.

What is included in the tour price?

• Voyage aboard the 50 Years of Victory as indicated in the itinerary • Hotel accommodations in a shared twin room, one night pre and post voyage, with breakfast • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac and/or helicopter (as included in group excursions with no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed) • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership provided by experienced expedition staff • All meals aboard the ship • Comprehensive pre-departure materials • Group transfers from the hotel to the airport and from the airport to the ship for embarkation • Group transfers from the ship to the local airport upon disembarkation and from the airport to the hotel at the end of the voyage • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program. • Special expedition parka • Detailed expedition log • Expedition boots to borrow for shore landings.

What is not included in the tour price?

Airfares to or from Helsinki, charter flights Helsinki Murmansk return must be purchased, please budget approximately $1650 USD; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore and supplement for single hotel accommodations; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance; excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and others who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided). Please note: Additional helicopter flying time will be charged at an hourly rate to be announced onboard.

Are these "educational" tours?

Yes, we travel with an experienced team of naturalists and lecturers from all over the world, offering a unique educational program. With formal lectures, as well as informal briefings, your lecturers and expedition leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. On board you will be fully briefed on safety issues and the environmental policy and you will also receive appropriate briefings before every landing.

How do we travel during the tour?

We sail aboard the nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory that carries a helicopter for reconnaissance and passenger excursions. This versatile machine takes us to inland sites and otherwise inaccessible shores. The aerial views of polar landscapes and of our ship as it crashes through meters-thick ice are unique features of the expedition. In addition, the 50 Years of Victory carries Zodiac landing craft, which we may use if ice conditions allow.

What are our accommodations like?

The 50 Years of Victory accommodates passengers in first class outside cabins and suites, all with private facilities, large windows, desk, television and other comforts. Public areas include a large dining room (accommodating all passengers in one seating), library, lounge, theatre style auditorium, and gymnasium, heated indoor swimming pool and sauna. Views are excellent from the navigation bridge and the large open decks on several levels. It also has a good polar library and a small infirmary.

When is payment due?

A deposit of $2,200 of the cabin rate is required to confirm a reservation with final payment due 120 days prior to departure. Deposits can be made by credit card. Final payments can be made by check or credit card. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation information is outlined in the “Terms and Conditions” section of our brochure.

What are the meals like?

European master chefs present an excellent, varied international menu with fine provisions from around the world. A combination of European and experienced Russian staff will serve you aboard. The popular bar is stocked with your favorite spirits, wine and champagne.

What should I take on the tour?

Once you have made your final payment, an “Expedition Cruising-Preparing for your Arctic Voyage” booklet will be sent to you.

Can you arrange my flights?

We would be happy to take care of your air arrangements. ElderTreks offers personalized flight itineraries — not group flights. Stop over en route, come in a few days early, or extend your stay. Call us for a customized itinerary.

What if I would like more information?

If you have any further questions about the trip, please do not hesitate to contact our office or your travel agent for additional information.

Is the medical insurance required?

Medical and cancellation insurance are not included in the cost of the program, but is strongly recommended. Emergency Evacuation insurance (with a maximum benefit of $100,000) is included. Included coverage is applicable only to travel between the first and last day of the expedition purchased. However MEDICAL coverage is not. ElderTreks offers a fully comprehensive policy to insure you fully, please call for details.

Additional information

The wildlife The waters that surround Franz Josef Land are known to be the habitat of marine mammals, polar bears, whales, and walruses. The island’s cliffs are the habitat of nesting seabirds. Arctic foxes patrol the islands. The landscape Franz Josef Land is an archipelago comprised of 191 islands, many covered in ice. They stretch from 80°N to 81.9°N. They are the most northerly islands in Eurasia. They are only 900 km (560 miles) from the North Pole. Franz Josef Land This Russian archipelago, essentially uninhabited, was not officially charted until 1873. Access is limited to ships for only a few weeks a year. Special permits must be obtained to visit Franz Josef Land. Mys Norvegia (Cape Norway) Fritjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johanesen wintered on this cape from 1895 to 1896. The conditions were astonishingly difficult. The event is marked by a memorial on the shoreline. Ostrov Greem-Bell (Graham Bell Island) An airfield and a Cold War outpost were located on this island. Ostrov Gukera (Hooker Island) and Bukta Tikhaya (Tikhaya Bay) This was the site of a major polar expedition base, and, from 1929 to 1963, the location of a meteorological station. It was visited by the dirigible Graf Zeppelin in July 1931 during an aerial survey. During World War II, staff were marooned on the island. A seabird colony exists near the bay. Ostrov Gallya August 30, 1873 Ostrov Gallya was discovered. It is from that date that the discovery of Franz Josef Land is marked. Please note: This itinerary is a guide only; our exact program will vary to take best advantage of local weather and ice conditions, and opportunities to experience wildlife. Our goal is to reach the North Pole. All landings on Franz Josef Land are subject to time as well as final governmental permission, not available at the time of publication. Due to heavy ice conditions, we may rely on our helicopters for excursions and therefore Zodiac landing craft may not be used. The newest addition to the Quark Expeditions fleet is the largest, most sophisticated, and powerful icebreaker ever constructed. Twenty years in the making, 50 Years of Victory is the first Arktika-class icebreaker to have a spoon-shaped bow. Boosting the efficiency is the all-new automated digital control system. The ship, designed with a stainless steel ice belt 5 meters (18 feet) wide, breaks through ice up to 2.5 meters (9.2 feet) thick. The icebreaker is driven by 2 nuclear reactors that produce 75,000 horsepower. In open water, top speed can be as much as 21.4 knots. Safety Your safety is always paramount. Although by its very nature expedition cruising is adventurous, our ships offer comfortable accommodations and are built and maintained to the very highest standards for the most challenging ice conditions. Environmental Policy All our voyages are planned to minimize any disturbance to wildlife or fragile habitats. We follow a common sense code of conduct ashore and ensures that the ship, Zodiacs and helicopters are operated in an environmentally responsible manner. Community Visits Our policy is to identify common interests of tourism and conservation by minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing economic and cultural benefits for Arctic communities. During our visits passengers are advised to respect people‘s privacy, and to never interfere with activities underway. Historical Perspective Thanks to the Arctic climate, elements of the past have been partially preserved. To view these historical sights is a great privilege but any contact with the past requires respect. ElderTreks understands this and ensures that all passengers are fully briefed before any visits take place. Sophisticated Technical Gear With 75,000 horsepower, a thick armour of steel plate and specialised icebreaking design with double hull, the 50 Years of Victory is one of the few surface ships to have capability to reach the North Pole. Icebreaking is assisted by an air bubbling system, delivering hot water from jets below the surface, polymer coatings and the capability of rapid movement of ballast water. Ice may be broken while moving ahead or astern. The vessel is driven by three propellers, each with four seven-ton blades. Its two nuclear reactors, which provide the steam for propulsion, are encased in 160 tons of steel, high density concrete and water. Double vacuum stills produce five tons of fresh water per hour. Our vessel is equipped with the latest satellite navigation and communication equipment, including Inmarsat telephone, facsimile and e-mail. Expert Polar Officers and Crew Our icebreaker is staffed by an experienced crew of 150, including 50 officers and engineers. With the world’s largest and most modern fleet of icebreakers, the Russians are recognized experts in polar operations. The voyage is directed by an expedition leader and staff chosen for their local knowledge and experience.