Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen, Svalbard's main town and cruise port: flights from Oslo, entry for Americans, how early to arrive, where ships dock, what cruises cost, polar bear rules and the polar night.
What is Longyearbyen, and how do you get there for a Svalbard cruise?
Longyearbyen is Svalbard's main town, on Spitsbergen island at 78°N, with the airport and port where cruises board; Statistics Norway counts 2,504 people there and in Ny-Ålesund. Fly from Oslo in about 3 hours or Tromsø in 1.5; Americans need only a passport. Arrive a day early if your fare excludes flights. Cruises from here for 2027 start at $3,250 per person for a berth in a shared cabin.
Facts checked October 15, 2026 against 46 sources.
Longyearbyen at a glance
- January: no trips
- February: no trips
- March: no trips
- April: no trips
- May: in season
- June: best
- July: best
- August: best
- September: in season
- October: no trips
- November: no trips
- December: no trips
Best Season
- Type
- Gateway town
- Location
- 78°13′N, 15°38′E
- Part of
- Svalbard
- Season
- Expedition cruises board here from late April to September, most of them in the Polar Summer, and every 2027 voyage in our table sails June to August. Midnight sun from April 19 to August 23, 2027; no sunrise from October 27, 2026 to February 15, 2027.
- Best months
- June to August
- Getting there
- Fly SAS or Norwegian to Svalbard Airport: about 3 hours from Oslo or 1.5 hours from Tromsø, with an ID check because Svalbard is outside Schengen. A bus meets every flight (NOK 125 for adults). Some cruise fares include charters from Oslo, Helsinki or Paris.
- Wildlife
- Svalbard reindeer graze between the houses and Arctic foxes sometimes pass through town. About 300 polar bears live on Svalbard year-round and can appear just outside the settlement, but no tour seeks them out. Summer boat trips look for walrus and whales.
- Landings
- Loaded guns are banned in town. Beyond the polar bear warning signs everyone must carry a means of scaring bears off, and visitors should go with a local guide. No drones within 3 miles (5 km) of the airport, which covers the town. A NOK 150 environmental fee applies.
Longyearbyen is the main town of Svalbard, set in the Longyeardalen valley on the south shore of Adventfjorden, on Spitsbergen island.1 Its airport and cruise port make it the starting point for most Svalbard adventures.23 At 78°N, about 818 miles (1,316 km) from the North Pole, it is the world's northernmost settlement with more than 1,000 permanent residents.2 It began in 1906 as Longyear City, a coal camp named for John Munro Longyear of Marquette, Michigan, who had first come as a cruise passenger in 1901; Norway's Store Norske took over in 1916 and mined near town until the summer of 2025.12
What is the difference between Spitsbergen and Svalbard?
Svalbard is the archipelago, Spitsbergen is its largest island, and Longyearbyen is the largest settlement on that island. Svalbard is the group name for all the islands placed under Norwegian sovereignty by the treaty signed in Paris on February 9, 1920.4
| Name | What it is | Size or people |
|---|---|---|
| Svalbard | The Norwegian archipelago | 23,560 sq mi (61,020 km²) in all4 |
| Spitsbergen | Its largest island | 14,600 sq mi (37,814 km²)4 |
| Longyearbyen | The main town, on Spitsbergen | 2,504 people with Ny-Ålesund, second half of 20265 |
Why is Svalbard called Spitsbergen? Willem Barentsz's Dutch expedition reached the islands in 1596 and named the largest one Spitsbergen, Dutch for "pointed mountains".2 Until 1925 the name covered the whole archipelago too; the island was officially Vestspitsbergen from 1925 to 1969, and Spitsbergen has meant the island alone since then.6 The name Svalbard, from Icelandic annals of 1194, is thought to mean the land with the cold coast.4
How do you get to Longyearbyen?
By air: SAS and Norwegian fly to Svalbard Airport, about 3 hours from Oslo or 1.5 hours from Tromsø.7 Norwegian normally flies direct from Oslo once a week all year, and SAS several times a week, direct or via Tromsø; from March to August SAS runs several flights a day.7 Svalbard is outside the Schengen area, so every passenger shows a passport or national ID card in both directions.7
A bus meets every scheduled flight, leaves 30 to 40 minutes after landing or once the baggage belt is empty, and stops at all hotels and guesthouses; the adult fare has been NOK 125 since August 1, 2026.89 Svalbard has no bank, ATM or currency exchange, and shops prefer cards.9 A NOK 150 environmental fee per visitor is added to air and cruise tickets.10
Can Americans go to Svalbard, and are tourists allowed?
Yes. Tourists are welcome, and Americans need only a passport: Svalbard requires no visa or permit, but you travel through Schengen Norway.11 The State Department says US citizens need no visa for stays under 90 days and need six months of passport validity on entering the Schengen area.12 The research village of Ny-Ålesund restricts tourism; visitors normally reach it on summer boat day trips.129
The US Embassy has no staff in Svalbard, and the State Department urges medical evacuation insurance.12 Longyearbyen's six-bed hospital handles emergencies; patients it cannot treat go to Tromsø by air ambulance when weather and aircraft allow, and tourists pay in full.13
How many days before a cruise should you arrive in Longyearbyen?
Arrive at least one day early if you book your own flights; if the fare includes them, you fly in with the group on boarding day. Oceanwide Expeditions includes no airfare, sails in the early evening of day 1, and transfers only passengers on the flights it advises.14 Poseidon Expeditions builds in the spare night, with a Longyearbyen hotel on day 1 and boarding on day 2.15 HX flies guests up from Oslo on boarding day but warns that some flight times need an extra night at your own cost.16 Quark Expeditions flies its Ultramarine guests in by charter from Helsinki.17
The spare night is our advice, not an operator rule: outside the March to August peak there are only a few flights a week to fall back on.7
Where do cruise ships dock in Longyearbyen?
At the Port of Longyearbyen, run by the local council. Big ships tie up at Bykaia, which takes vessels up to 350 m (1,150 ft) long; expedition ships up to 60 m (197 ft) can use the Turistkaia floating pier; and guests from ships anchored in Adventfjorden land at Tenderkaia.318 Berths are limited, and the port may cut a ship's time alongside or send it to anchor.3 Turistkaia has no shelter from weather or drifting ice, so crews must stand ready to move.18
Which cruises start in Longyearbyen, and how much do they cost?
From $3,250 for 6 days in a shared cabin to $44,370 for 13 days to the North Pole. The first cruises of the season leave in late April, such as Quark's on April 30, 2027.46 Fares are per person in US dollars for 2027 departures, read on operator sites on October 14 and 15, 2026:4519
| Voyage | Days | Ship | Lowest fare | Basis and inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanwide, A Taste of North Spitsbergen, June 30 or July 5, 2027 | 6 | Ortelius | $3,250 | Berth in a shared quad cabin, one cabin left on each date (shared twin $4,500); no flights45 |
| Oceanwide, North Spitsbergen Explorer, June 1, 2027 | 8 | Hondius | $4,800 | Berth in a shared quad cabin (shared twin $6,650); no flights14 |
| Oceanwide, Around Spitsbergen, June 29, 2027 | 10 | Hondius | $6,250 | Berth in a shared quad cabin (shared twin $9,150); no flights20 |
| Poseidon, West Svalbard, July 25, 2027 | 8 | Sea Spirit | $7,996 | Main Deck Suite, 20% off if booked October 1 to November 30, 2026 (was $9,995); hotel night and drinks included; no flights15 |
| Atlas Ocean Voyages, Polar Horizons Journey to Tromsø, June 23, 2027 | 12 | World Voyager | $13,999 | Horizon Suite, double occupancy, with $605 taxes, an Oslo hotel night and the charter flight21 |
| Poseidon, Svalbard Circumnavigation and Kvitøya, July 7, 2027 | 14 | Sea Spirit | $14,795 | Triple Suite; hotel night and drinks included; no flights22 |
| Silversea, Exploring Svalbard, June 6, 2027 | 7 | Silver Endeavour | $15,050 | Veranda suite, $5,000 off until November 2, 2026 (was $17,550); hotel, charter flights and drinks included23 |
| Ponant, The Geographic North Pole, August 8 or 20, 2027 | 13 | Le Commandant Charcot | $44,370 | Upper-deck balcony stateroom, double occupancy, after the 15% Ponant Bonus; Paris flights included19 |
Ponant's icebreaker sails on to the North Pole, and Poseidon's 14-day voyage tries to circle the archipelago by way of Kvitøya.1922 Some voyages only begin here: Atlas's Midnight Fjord Quest leaves on August 24, 2027 for Jan Mayen, East Greenland and Reykjavík, from $12,699 per guest.24 Our Svalbard cruises and Arctic cruises guides compare ships and lines.
What is there to do in Longyearbyen?
The museums, the church, the Seed Vault entrance and the town walk fill a day on your own; anything beyond town needs a guided trip.9
| Thing to do | When | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Svalbard Museum | All year | 400 years of whaling, trapping and mining, plus the wildlife; Council of Europe Museum Prize, 20082526 |
| North Pole Expedition Museum | February 1 to September 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Nansen's Fram to the airships Norge (1926) and Italia (1928)27 |
| Svalbard Church | Usually open 24 hours | The world's northernmost civilian church, per Visit Svalbard28 |
| Seed Vault entrance | All year | Closed to visitors; guided tours stop at the lit art installation over the door929 |
| Town circuit | All year | About 5 miles (8 km), no bear protection needed9 |
| Dog sledding | All year | Wheeled sleds in summer; two guests share a sled30 |
| Snowmobile tour | When there is snow | Drivers carry a valid car (category B) or snowmobile license31 |
| Boat trip | Early spring to early December | Walrus and whale trips in summer, northern lights in autumn32 |
Can you visit Barentsburg and Pyramiden? Not on an ordinary tour: since Russia invaded Ukraine, Visit Svalbard no longer offers trips to the two Russian-run settlements.33 Barentsburg lies 37 miles (60 km) west with no road link, and some guided trips pass close enough to see both from a distance.349
Are there polar bears in Spitsbergen?
Yes: about 300 polar bears stay on Svalbard all year, and the total is probably under 1,000 as others move to and from Franz Josef Land.35 A bear can turn up anywhere, even just outside the settlements.9 There is no polar bear day tour from Longyearbyen, because luring, pursuing or seeking out polar bears is prohibited, though a guide may let a group that meets one watch from afar.9 If you see a bear in or near town, move away calmly and call the Governor on 112.9
For a real chance, choose a voyage that heads for the ice, such as Poseidon's run toward Kvitøya, an island it calls famous for polar bears.22 See our polar bear page and polar bear tours guide.
Do you need a gun to leave Longyearbyen?
Not inside town, but anyone who goes past the polar bear warning signs must carry a means of scaring bears off, and the Governor recommends a firearm as well.36 The signs stand on the roads out: by the port in the west, by Svalbard Villmarkssenter in the east, and in Nybyen and by Huset to the south.9 Visit Svalbard tells visitors to pass them only with a local guide carrying a firearm.9
Inside town, loaded firearms are banned, guns must be carried visibly empty, and they may not go into shops or public buildings.36 Longyear78 and Sportscenteret rent rifles and flare guns, but you need a permit from the Governor first unless you hold a Norwegian firearms permit or a European Firearms Pass, and applications can take up to eight weeks.936
Other rules in town:
- No drones within 3 miles (5 km) of the airport, which covers all of Longyearbyen.37
- Ask before photographing people, never photograph children, and leave the dogs alone.37
Can anyone live in Longyearbyen?
Almost anyone may, with a job and a home. No permits are needed, but the Governor can reject people who cannot support themselves.11 The Svalbard Treaty, now with 44 parties, lets citizens of its member states live and do business there.2 Housing is the limit: most homes belong to employers, the state owns practically all the land, and prices are very high.11
There are no social services or elder care, and years in Svalbard do not count toward Norwegian residence or citizenship.38 Government policy is a robust community, not a lifelong one.39 So the town skews young: of the 2,504 people in Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund in the second half of 2026, 1,383 were aged 20 to 44 and only 53 were 67 or older.5 Statistics Norway puts the average stay in Svalbard at seven years.2
Why can't you give birth in Longyearbyen?
Because the hospital has no maternity unit: the University Hospital of North Norway lists no birthing ward, no CT or MRI and no planned operations there.13 The council tells newcomers there is no obstetric or gynecological care in town and that complex cases go to Tromsø.38 Nor is dying banned: Visit Svalbard calls that an urban myth, though coffin burials are not allowed because freezing and thawing push coffins upward.9
When is the polar night in Longyearbyen, and what is the weather like?
The sun stays below the horizon from October 27, 2026 to February 15, 2027, and above it around the clock from April 19 to August 23, 2027, by MET Norway's figures for the town.40 Visit Svalbard divides the year into three seasons:41
| Season | Dates | Light | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights Winter | October 1 to February 28 | Last sunrise October 26; darkest November 14 to January 29, when northern lights can show at midday409 | Normally -22°F to 12°F (-30°C to -11°C), October to May42 |
| Sunny Winter | March 1 to May 16 | First sunrise February 16; midnight sun from April 1940 | In the winter range42 |
| Polar Summer | May 17 to September 30 | Midnight sun to August 2340 | Averages 37°F to 45°F (3°C to 7°C), mid-May to September42 |
Every cruise in the table above sails in June, July or August, the mildest months. MET Norway puts the 1991 to 2020 summer average at Svalbard Airport at 42°F (5.5°C), and the ten summers to 2022 averaged 44°F (6.4°C).43 The airport's record, begun in 1898, shows warming of about 0.63°F (0.35°C) a decade, about three times the global trend.44 For the islands beyond town, see our Svalbard guide and our Arctic overview.
Voyages that visit Longyearbyen
Landings depend on weather and ice, so no operator can promise a specific site.
Arctic Ocean: Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge and Spitsbergen (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 10 days · Aberdeen, Scotland to Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · May
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin on Hondius, May 23 to Jun 1, 2027; a twin porthole is $4,700 per person; AECO fees included; the same route on Ortelius (OTL02-27, May 31, 2027) is also $3,300 for a quadruple berth; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $3,300about $330 a day
ViewArctic Ocean: Jan Mayen, Ice Edge and Spitsbergen, Summer Solstice (Plancius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Plancius · 9 days · Akureyri, Iceland to Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · June
Fare details
Lowest bookable published fare, one berth in a shared triple porthole cabin on Plancius, Jun 21, 2027, offered to women only when read; the $3,000 quadruple berth is sold out (waitlist); a twin porthole is $4,150 per person for either gender; AECO fees included; an optional bus from Reykjavik to the ship in Akureyri costs $165; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $3,500about $389 a day
ViewNorth Spitsbergen Explorer: Versatile Landscapes, Sea Ice and Wildlife (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 8 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · June
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin, Jun 1, 2027; kayaking costs $540 extra; flights to Longyearbyen not included; read Oct 14, 2026
from $4,800about $600 a day
ViewSvalbard: North to the Midnight Sun (Discoverer)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · 8 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · August
Fare details
Lowest fare, per person sharing a two-bed Porthole Stateroom on the halal-friendly Aug 17, 2027 departure, sale price (regular $7,895); Aug 31 from $5,622 (regular $7,495); no compulsory Oslo flight package on Discoverer; flights to Longyearbyen not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $5,527about $691 a day
ViewRealm of the Polar Bear (Expedition)
G Adventures · 8 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · June to July
Fare details
Lowest fare open to book, per person sharing a Lower Deck Triple, on each of the Jun 17, Jul 4, Jul 21 and Jul 28, 2027 departures, regular fare with no sale; includes an arrival transfer, insulated boots and a parka, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $5,799about $725 a day
ViewNorth Spitsbergen, Arctic Summer (Rembrandt van Rijn)
Oceanwide Expeditions · 11 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · June to July
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in the shared triple private porthole cabin on the 33-passenger schooner Rembrandt van Rijn, Jun 24, 2027 (also Jul 4); a twin private porthole is $7,500 per person; flights to Longyearbyen not included; read Oct 14, 2026
from $6,000about $545 a day
ViewAround Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, In the Icy Realm of the Polar Bear (Ortelius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Ortelius · 10 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · August
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin on Ortelius, Aug 15, 2027, shown sold out with berths on request when read; the cheapest cabin open to book was a twin porthole at $9,150 per person; Oceanwide puts the odds of a full Svalbard circumnavigation at about 70%; transfers included only with flights Oceanwide advises; flights to Longyearbyen not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $6,250about $625 a day
ViewAround Spitsbergen, in the Icy Realm of the Polar Bear (Plancius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Plancius · 10 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · July to August
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin on Plancius, Aug 2, 2027 (also Jul 6, Jul 15 and Aug 11); a twin porthole is $9,150 per person; Oceanwide puts the odds of a full circumnavigation at about 90% in the first half of August; transfers included only with flights Oceanwide advises; flights to Longyearbyen not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $6,250about $625 a day
ViewAround Spitsbergen, in the Icy Realm of the Polar Bear (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 10 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · June to July
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin, Jun 29, 2027; transfers included only with flights Oceanwide advises; flights to Longyearbyen not included; read Oct 14, 2026
from $6,250about $625 a day
ViewSvalbard in Spring: The Return of the Sun
HX Expeditions · 9 days · Oslo, Norway (flight to Longyearbyen included) to Oslo, Norway (flight from Longyearbyen included) · No Drake · May to June
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Spitsbergen, Jun 5, 2027, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $7,857; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); includes an Oslo airport hotel night and economy flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen. HX also sells a version with the overnight in Longyearbyen instead.
from $7,227about $803 a day
ViewSvalbard: North to the Midnight Sun (Ocean Albatros)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Albatros · 8 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · May to August
Fare details
Lowest fare on an English-speaking departure, per person with three sharing a porthole Triple Stateroom, May 18 or Aug 15, 2027; cheapest for two, a Superior Balcony Stateroom at $9,006 per person on May 18 (sale, regular $10,595, no end date shown); the Mandarin-speaking May 25 departure was listed from $7,436; a compulsory $1,000 per person charter flight package from Oslo is added to every invoice; read Oct 15, 2026
from $7,895about $987 a day
ViewWest Svalbard, the Best of Svalbard in One Week (Sea Spirit)
Poseidon Expeditions · Sea Spirit · 8 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · July
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person in a Main Deck Suite shared by two, Jul 25, 2027, after a 20% Seasonal Savings discount for bookings made by Nov 30, 2026 (was $9,995); a Triple Suite bed, not discounted, is $8,495; hotel night in Longyearbyen, drinks package and parka included; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $7,996about $1,000 a day
ViewExploring Svalbard (SH Vega)
Swan Hellenic · SH Vega · 8 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Copenhagen hotel night and charter flight included) to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Copenhagen included) · No Drake · June to July
Fare details
Oceanview stateroom on SH Vega, Jul 4, 2027: $8,575 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; Balcony showed Price on request; read Oct 15, 2026. The other 2027 departures (Jun 10, 20 and 27, Jul 11) show $9,000 to $15,000. Includes a Copenhagen hotel night on Jul 3, charter flights from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen and back, drinks, gratuities and port taxes. Six days around Svalbard are planned. The lowest fare for a Svalbard or Greenland expedition in Swan Hellenic's 2027 Arctic listing (two Europe-tagged cruises, Norwegian Fjords from $6,650 and Cruise the North from $8,000 on SH Diana, show less).
from $8,575about $1,072 a day
ViewSpitsbergen Highlights: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 8 days · Helsinki, Finland (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Helsinki, Finland · No Drake · June
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Explorer Triple on Ultramarine, Jun 25, 2027; includes Helsinki airport hotel nights and charter flights to and from Longyearbyen
from $8,590about $1,074 a day
ViewSvalbard: North to the Midnight Sun (Ocean Albatros), Polar Latitudes departures sold through Intrepid
Intrepid Travel · Ocean Albatros · 8 days · Oslo, Norway (included flight to Longyearbyen) to Oslo, Norway (included flight from Longyearbyen) · No Drake · May to August
Fare details
Same Ocean Albatros departures Polar Latitudes sells, booked through Intrepid with the Oslo to Longyearbyen flights in the fare. Lowest Intrepid fare with space, per person sharing a Cat D Porthole Stateroom, May 18, 2027, on request: $8,853.70, shown discounted from $10,295 with no end date. Polar Latitudes' own form for May 18 listed $7,895 in a triple or $7,901 for its last porthole berth (women only), plus a mandatory $1,000 charter flight; operated by Polar Latitudes; read Oct 15, 2026
from $8,854about $1,107 a day
ViewArctic Highlights Southbound (Expedition)
G Adventures · 15 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard to Keflavik, Iceland · No Drake · August to September
Fare details
Lowest fare open to book, per person sharing a Lower Deck Triple, Sep 1, 2027 ($9,599 on Aug 4), regular fare with no sale; includes transfers, waterproof boots and a parka, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $9,099about $607 a day
ViewCircumnavigating Spitsbergen: In the Realm of the Polar Bear
HX Expeditions · 11 days · Oslo, Norway (flight to Longyearbyen included) to Oslo, Norway (flight from Longyearbyen included) · No Drake · June to September
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Spitsbergen, Aug 14 and Sep 4, 2027, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $10,160; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); includes an Oslo airport hotel night and economy flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen.
from $9,306about $846 a day
ViewSpitsbergen: Realm of Ice and Wildlife
Aurora Expeditions · Douglas Mawson · 8 days · Oslo, Norway (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Oslo, Norway (charter flight from Longyearbyen) · No Drake · August
Fare details
Lowest published fare, Aurora Stateroom Triple, one berth, on Douglas Mawson, Aug 17, 2027, after a 25% discount (was $14,395), sold out when read on Oct 14, 2026. Cheapest cabin still for sale: Aurora Stateroom Twin at $11,171 per person. Includes return charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen and an Oslo hotel night.
from $10,796about $1,350 a day
ViewExpedition Norway and north-west Svalbard
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises · 15 days · Hamburg, Germany to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Germany included) · No Drake · June
Fare details
Outside Cabin, Category 1 (22 m²), on HANSEATIC nature, Jun 7, 2027, US$12,089 in the booking engine; €11,790 before an early-booking discount that ends Oct 31, 2026. No solo surcharge in categories 1 to 8. PLATINUM fare, per person with two sharing; includes full board, selected soft drinks, Zodiac landings, gratuities, harbour fees and a loaned parka and boots. Route: Bergen, the Geirangerfjord, Lofoten, Tromso and Honningsvag, then north-west Svalbard and the ice edge. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from €10,990about €733 a day
ViewArctic Circle Explorer (World Voyager)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Voyager · 12 days · Reykjavik, Iceland to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Oslo included) · No Drake · June
Fare details
Adventure Ocean Suite on World Voyager, Jun 12, 2027: $11,054 per guest, two sharing, after 15% Bonus Savings, with $605 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. Explorer's Choice fares are valid through Dec 31, 2026. Route: Dynjandi, Djúpavík, Málmey and Drangey in Iceland, the Arctic Circle, Jan Mayen and the Greenland Sea, then Svalbard.
from $11,054about $921 a day
ViewIceland to Svalbard via Jan Mayen (SH Vega)
Swan Hellenic · SH Vega · 11 days · Reykjavik, Iceland to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Copenhagen included) · No Drake · May
Fare details
Oceanview stateroom on SH Vega, May 31, 2027: $11,625 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; read Oct 15, 2026. Includes the charter flight from Longyearbyen to Copenhagen, drinks, gratuities and port taxes; no hotel night or flight to Reykjavik is listed. Calls at Dynjandi waterfall, Húsavík and Jan Mayen before four days in Svalbard.
from $11,625about $1,057 a day
ViewSvalbard and the Norwegian Arctic: Tromsø to Longyearbyen (SH Diana)
Swan Hellenic · SH Diana · 11 days · Tromsø, Norway (hotel night included) to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Copenhagen included) · No Drake · June
Fare details
Oceanview stateroom on SH Diana, Jun 16, 2027: $11,625 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; read Oct 15, 2026. Includes a Tromsø hotel night on Jun 15, the charter flight from Longyearbyen to Copenhagen, drinks, gratuities and port taxes. Calls at Skarsvåg, with an included guided transfer to the North Cape, and at Bear Island before about a week around Svalbard. SH Diana's only departure on this route in 2027.
from $11,625about $1,057 a day
ViewCircumnavigating Svalbard: The Ultimate Expedition
HX Expeditions · 14 days · Oslo, Norway (flight to Longyearbyen included) to Oslo, Norway (flight from Longyearbyen included) · No Drake · June to August
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Spitsbergen, Aug 23, 2027, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $12,771; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); includes an Oslo hotel night and economy flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen.
from $11,662about $833 a day
ViewPolar Circle Odyssey (World Navigator)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Navigator · 11 days · Reykjavik, Iceland to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Oslo included) · No Drake · June
Fare details
Veranda Suite (V2) on World Navigator, Jun 30, 2027: $11,664 per guest, two sharing, after 10% Bonus Savings, with $550 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. Explorer's Choice fares are valid through Dec 31, 2026. Route: Dynjandi and Djúpavík in Iceland's Westfjords, Málmey and Drangey islands, the Arctic Circle, Jan Mayen, then Svalbard.
from $11,664about $1,060 a day
ViewSvalbard, Greenland & Iceland Arctic Islands
Heritage Expeditions · 15 days · Paris, France (hotel night, then a charter flight to Longyearbyen, both included) to Reykjavik, Iceland · No Drake · July
Fare details
Deck 3 Superior Stateroom, per person with two sharing, on Heritage Discoverer, Jul 21, 2027, after 20% off for bookings made before Oct 30, 2026 (regular $14,650). Includes the charter flight from Paris to Longyearbyen, one hotel night, transfers, meals and house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; excludes other flights, kayaking and gratuities. Route: Svalbard, Scoresby Sund in Greenland, then Isafjordur and Grundarfjordur in Iceland. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $11,845about $790 a day
ViewArctic Norway Passage (World Voyager)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Voyager · 12 days · Tromsø, Norway to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Oslo included) · No Drake · July
Fare details
Adventure Ocean Suite on World Voyager, Jul 4, 2027: $11,899 per guest, two sharing, with $605 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. Route: the North Cape and Bear Island, then Svalbard, ending in Longyearbyen.
from $11,899about $992 a day
ViewSpitsbergen: Realm of the Ice Bear (with New Scientist Discovery Tours)
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 8 days · Oslo, Norway (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Oslo, Norway (charter flight from Longyearbyen) · No Drake · July
Fare details
Lowest published fare, Aurora Stateroom Triple, one berth, on Sylvia Earle, Jul 3, 2027, after discounts (was $14,395), sold out when read on Oct 14, 2026. Cheapest cabin still for sale: Aurora Stateroom Superior at $13,341 per person. Includes return charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen and an Oslo hotel night.
from $12,236about $1,530 a day
ViewUltimate Svalbard (SH Diana)
Swan Hellenic · SH Diana · 11 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Copenhagen hotel night and charter flight included) to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight to Copenhagen included) · No Drake · June to July
Fare details
Oceanview stateroom on SH Diana, Jun 26, 2027: $12,350 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; the Jul 6 and Jul 23 departures show the same from fare; read Oct 15, 2026. Includes a Copenhagen hotel night on Jun 25, charter flights from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen and back, drinks, gratuities and port taxes. Nine days around Svalbard are planned, with an optional 2-hour kayak outing.
from $12,350about $1,123 a day
ViewSvalbard in Spring: Sea Ice, Pristine Snow and Wildlife (Ocean Explorer)
Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer · 11 days · Helsinki, Finland (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Helsinki, Finland · No Drake · April to May
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Triple Suite on Ocean Explorer, May 9, 2027 (4 cabins left when read); includes Helsinki airport hotel nights and charter flights to and from Longyearbyen; read Oct 15, 2026
from $12,590about $1,145 a day
ViewFour Arctic Islands: The Southbound Journey (Ocean Albatros)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Albatros · 13 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard to Reykjavik, Iceland · No Drake · August
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person with three sharing a porthole Triple Stateroom, Aug 29, 2027; one man's berth in a shared Porthole Stateroom was $12,491 (sale, regular $14,695, no end date shown); a compulsory $500 per person flight package from Oslo to Longyearbyen is added; read Oct 15, 2026
from $12,595about $969 a day
ViewMidnight Fjord Quest (World Voyager)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Voyager · 12 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Oslo hotel night and charter flight to Longyearbyen included) to Reykjavik, Iceland · No Drake · August
Fare details
Adventure Ocean Suite on World Voyager, Aug 24, 2027: $12,699 per guest, two sharing, with $605 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. Route: Svalbard, Jan Mayen, East Greenland's fjords, Ittoqqortoormiit and Scoresby Sound, the Arctic Circle and Dynjandi, ending in Reykjavik.
from $12,699about $1,058 a day
ViewSvalbard in Summer: Tundra, Whales and Wildlife
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 11 days · Helsinki, Finland (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Helsinki, Finland · No Drake · June
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Explorer Triple on Ultramarine, Jun 9, 2027 (sold out when read); includes Helsinki airport hotel nights and charter flights to and from Longyearbyen
from $12,990about $1,181 a day
ViewArctic Odyssey, Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland (Sea Spirit)
Poseidon Expeditions · Sea Spirit · 14 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard to Reykjavík, Iceland · No Drake · July to August
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person in a Main Deck Suite shared by two, Jul 31, 2027, after a 20% Seasonal Savings discount for bookings made by Nov 30, 2026 (was $16,695); a Triple Suite bed is $14,295; the Aug 12 departure sails the reverse way, Reykjavík to Longyearbyen; drinks package and parka included; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $13,356about $954 a day
ViewSvalbard in Summer: Tundra, Whales and Wildlife (Ocean Explorer)
Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer · 11 days · Helsinki, Finland (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Helsinki, Finland · No Drake · June to July
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Triple Suite on Ocean Explorer, Jun 2, 2027 (2 cabins left when read); includes Helsinki airport hotel nights and charter flights to and from Longyearbyen; read Oct 15, 2026
from $13,390about $1,217 a day
ViewPolar Horizons Journey (World Voyager)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Voyager · 12 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Oslo hotel night and charter flight to Longyearbyen included) to Tromsø, Norway · No Drake · June
Fare details
Horizon Suite (H2) on World Voyager, Jun 23, 2027: $13,999 per guest, two sharing, with $605 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. Only Horizon and Navigator suites showed fares. Route: eight days planned in Svalbard, then Bear Island and the North Cape, ending in Tromsø.
from $13,999about $1,167 a day
ViewSvalbard Odyssey
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 11 days · Oslo, Norway (charter flight to Longyearbyen) to Oslo, Norway (charter flight from Longyearbyen) · No Drake · June to August
Fare details
Lowest published fare, Aurora Stateroom Triple, one berth, on Douglas Mawson, Aug 8, 2027, after discounts (was $18,695), limited availability when read on Oct 14, 2026. Sylvia Earle departures Jun 24 and Jul 9, 2027 start at $14,956 and $15,891 (triples). Includes return charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen and an Oslo hotel night.
from $14,021about $1,275 a day
ViewSvalbard: In Search of Iconic Arctic Wildlife
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Endurance · 10 days · Oslo, Norway (hotel night included; group flight to Longyearbyen extra) to Oslo, Norway (airport hotel night included; group flight from Longyearbyen extra) · No Drake · April to June
Fare details
Lowest published fare: $14,500 per person, Category 1 window cabin, two sharing, on National Geographic Endurance, Apr 23 and Apr 30, 2027. That category was sold out when read Oct 14, 2026; Category 2 window cabins were open at $15,230 on both dates. June departures start at $18,000 to $19,500. Includes Oslo hotel nights before and after, seven nights on board, meals, drinks, crew gratuities and kayaking; the recommended group flight between Oslo and Longyearbyen is extra. All six departures carried an air credit of up to $2,000 for US and Canadian residents booking by Nov 4, 2026.
from $14,500about $1,450 a day
ViewSvalbard Circumnavigation and Kvitøya (Sea Spirit)
Poseidon Expeditions · Sea Spirit · 14 days · from Longyearbyen, Svalbard · No Drake · July
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person in a Triple Suite shared by three, Jul 7, 2027; hotel night in Longyearbyen, drinks package and parka included; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $14,795about $1,057 a day
ViewArctic: Exploring Svalbard (7 days, Silver Endeavour)
Silversea · Silver Endeavour · 7 days · Longyearbyen, Svalbard (hotel night and charter flight included) to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (charter flight and hotel night included) · No Drake · June
Fare details
$15,050 per guest, two sharing, Veranda Suite, All-Inclusive Plus fare, Jun 6, 2027, after a Save $5,000 offer that expires Nov 2, 2026 (was $17,550); 100% refundable until Jan 6, 2027. Residence Suites $21,350, Villa Suites $41,750. Includes a hotel night and charter flight each way, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and expedition activities. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $15,050about $2,150 a day
ViewNorwegian Discovery: Svalbard and the Northern Fjords
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Endurance · 12 days · Oslo, Norway (hotel night included; ship boards in Longyearbyen) to Tromsø, Norway · No Drake · May
Fare details
Lowest published fare: $17,500 per person, Category 1 window cabin, two sharing, on National Geographic Endurance, May 14, 2027. That category was sold out when read Oct 14, 2026; Category 2 window cabins were open at $18,375, and on May 25 Category 1 was open at $18,500. Includes an Oslo hotel night, meals, drinks, crew gratuities and kayaking; the recommended group flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen is extra. Both dates carried an air credit of up to $2,000 for US and Canadian residents booking by Nov 4, 2026. May 14 sails from Longyearbyen via Bear Island to Tromsø; Lindblad publishes the route in both directions, and its booking data codes the May 25 departure to the Tromsø start, so check the direction when booking.
from $17,500about $1,458 a day
View
Lowest published price per person in the operator's currency, checked October 15, 2026. Taxes, flights and single supplements vary.
Wildlife at Longyearbyen
Arctic animals
Which animals live in the Arctic and where and when travelers see them, from Svalbard's walruses and reindeer to Canada's narwhals and Greenland's musk oxen, with a month-by-month calendar and IUCN status.
Walrus
Where to see walruses: Svalbard's beach haul-outs, Northeast Greenland, Arctic Canada and Alaska's Round Island, with best months, 2027 cruise prices, population, IUCN status and the distance rules.
Plan the trip
Polar bear tours: where is the best place to see polar bears?
Churchill, Svalbard, Greenland, Baffin Island and Kaktovik compared for polar bear tours: odds in the operators' words, seasons, 2027 cost per day, how close you get, and which Churchill trips still have space.
North Pole cruises: who still goes, what it costs and the alternatives
The one ship that still takes Western travelers to 90°N in 2027, all six departures priced per day, why the Russian icebreaker is off limits for Americans, and the alternatives.
Svalbard cruises: circumnavigation or west coast, and every 2027 departure priced
How to choose a Svalbard cruise: circling the archipelago or staying on the west coast, the best month, polar bear odds, the Governor's rules, and the 2027 voyages of 16 companies with fares per day.
Arctic cruises: how to choose between Svalbard, Greenland, Canada and the North Pole
How to choose an Arctic expedition cruise: Svalbard, Greenland, Arctic Canada, the Jan Mayen and Iceland crossings or the North Pole, compared by days, fare per day, polar bear odds and best months, with the ships to pick.
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