POSEIDON Expeditions

POSEIDON Expeditions

Poseidon Expeditions

N.B. Voyages to the North Pole aboard chartered Russian icebreakers as below are not currently operating. The Sea Spirit is still operating both in the Arctic region in the summer and Antartica in winter. The icebreakers are kept in the review until the political situation is settled.

Poseidon Expeditions was founded in 1999 by Nikolay Saveliev as Poseidon Arctic Voyages. Registered in the UK, the company operated its first voyage in 2001 aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal. Expedition voyages center on the Arctic region, including multiple annual departures in July and August sailing directly to the North Pole, as well as Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia, and the British Isles.

The firm currently charters just one deluxe expedition ship Sea Spirit.  The other two, 50 Years of Victory, nuclear-powered and the world’s most powerful icebreaker, and Kapitan Dranitsyn, a Finish-built Russian icebreaker are not operating. N.B. 50 Years of Victory is a working ship at other times of the year, and she can break through over 8 feet of ice (2.5 meters). In the printed brochure, members of expedition teams are featured right up front with brief bios and overviews of their expertise.

The Sea Spirit

The Sea Spirit. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Fleet

  • Sea Spirit (built 1991 & 114 passengers) – Arctic & Antarctica
  • 50 Years of Victory (b. 2007 & 128 p) – North Pole – Not currently operating
  • Kapitan Dranitsyn (b. 1980  & 100 p)  – Arctic – Not currently operating

Passenger Profile

Active people from Europe, Australia, Asia, the US and Canada, aged 45 and up. English is the primary language onboard.

Price

$$ to $$$ Expensive to Super Pricey (North Pole expeditions)

Included Features

  • One pre-voyage hotel night (most departures)
  • Transfers between airport and hotel, hotel and ship, and ship and airport
  • All meals
  • All regular excursions (Helicopter flights included for North Pole expeditions, but not flights to Murmansk to join/leave ship.)
  • Parkas with destination patches
  • Loan of Wellington boots for Zodiac landings
  • Digital voyage log
Spitsbergen (Svalbard) - Curious polar bear comes up to the bow of the ship. * Photo: Ted Scull

Spitsbergen (Svalbard) – Curious polar bear comes up to the bow of the ship. * Photo: Ted Scull

Itineraries: N.B. Voyages to Russian ports and aboard Russian icebreakers are not currently operating.

In the Arctic for Summer 2022, Sea Spirit operates a program of 10- to 15-day expeditions in June through September that visit West Greenland (from Reykjavik, Iceland); Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen (Svalbard); Spitsbergen circumnavigations; Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land (Russia); and West Greenland (from Reykjavik) for the Northern Lights. Most expeditions feature photography instructions (free) and kayaking (a fee). N.B. Spitzbergen is the largest island of the Svalbard Archipelago.

En route north for the Arctic season in May, the ship will embark in Portsmouth, South of England and visit sites in Wales, and Scotland, ending at Leith, the port for Edinburgh. A second cruise begins in mid-May at Leith and subsequently calls on the Orkney, Shetland and Faroe Islands, and onto the Arctic.

N.B. Not operating. At the North Pole, 50 Years of Victory operates three 13-day expeditions in July and the beginning of August to the North Pole starting with a pre-cruise hotel night in Murmansk (Russia) then boarding the ship to sail to the North Pole with a return via the uninhabited Franz Josef Land to look for polar bears and sea birds and stop at an abandoned meteorological station. All North Pole trips feature photography lessons and helicopter sightseeing (included), barbecue, and an optional polar plunge. Note: A Russian visa is required for this expedition. Kapitan Dranitsyn offers Arctic itineraries in conjunction with the Sea Spirit.

In Antarctica, Sea Spirit spends a full season with departures from late October into late February undertaking 11-day Antarctica Peninsula cruises and acouple of longer expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands, and South Georgia. One cruise crosses the Antarctic Circle to 66 degrees South — now that’s about as far south as it gets! Most cruises begin at Ushuaia, Argentina. Some Antarctica trips feature photography lessons (free), kayaking amongst the ice (a fee), and how about overnight camping on the White Continent (a fee).

camping in Antarctica

Camping, can you imagine! * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Sample Itinerary

The 11-night “Realm of Penguins & Icebergs” cruise starts with an overnight in Ushuaia, Argentina. From there, the ship passes through the Beagle Channel and past the Tierra del Fuego islands before heading south to cross the Drake Passage for whale and sea bird watching.

After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the ship arrives at the South Shetland Islands for 5 days of exploration and then goes on to the Antarctic Peninsula to see wildlife and breathtaking scenery, stopping for shore excursions and adventures aboard Zodiacs and paddling sea kayaks. Afterwards, the ship heads back to Ushuaia.

Sea Spirit in Antarctica.* Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Sea Spirit in Antarctica.* Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Why Go?

Few expeditions go directly to 90 Degrees North, where you can stand at the North Pole and be photographed from the air. The other destinations such as Greenland and South Georgia are little visited, and often arriving by ship is the best or only way (South Georgia).

Drop anchor and go ashore where roads and air access do not exist. If you want to feel that you are truly away from your normal routine, then one of the expedition-style voyages is for you.

RELATED:  Q&A with Polar Expedition Expert & Poseidon Executive, Steve Wellmeier.  by Ted Scull

When to Go?

The itineraries operate seasonally according to the most advantageous times of the year, so generally the Arctic Region in the summer and Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer.

Poseidon Expeditions

50 YEARS OF VICTORY. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Sustainability Initiatives

Poseidon Expedition ships employ wastewater, garbage and energy management systems that are in line with marine pollution prevention regulations. The ships do not use plastic straws and stirrers or single-use food packaging — shampoo and soaps in-cabin are in dispensers. Each passenger is given a reusable water bottle. Cleaning is done with eco-friendly products.

Activities & Entertainment

On Sea Spirit cruises, the principal emphasis is on outdoor activities relating to the destinations such as Zodiac trips in search of wildlife and for going ashore to local communities, beautiful locations and onto the ice with destinations such a penguin colony, and even the North Pole. On board, presentations and recaps tie in with what happens ashore. The ship is equipped with a gym and hot tub. During the evening hours, a pianist provides light entertainment.

50 Years of Victory is designed for long periods at sea, so the ship is equipped with a massage room, gym, two saunas and indoor saltwater pool heated with nuclear energy, and not often found, a basketball and volleyball court. The ship carries a helicopter on an after deck. N.B. This ships is not currently operating.

Kapitan Dranitsyn is a Russian icebreaker modified to carry 100 passengers. N.B. This ship is not currently operating.

Excursions ashore in remote parts as well as activities such as kayaking and helicopter sightseeing are subject to weather and wind conditions.

Taking sight on a polar bear. * Photo: Ted Scull

Taking sight on a polar bear. * Photo: Ted Scull

Ships

Sea Spirit

This 114-passenger luxury expedition ship has five decks, all accessible via elevator. In 2019, Sea Spirit was refitted with a more effective set of stabilizers to reduce rolling while underway, drifting and even when anchored.

The main restaurant is on the lowest passenger deck and seats all at one sitting. The food is good, varied and as fresh as it can be when sailing in remote locations. In addition, an outdoor bistro serves lunch most days, and tables are arranged on the adjacent deck.

outdoor bistro

The outdoor bistro, and what a view! * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

All public rooms are located aft while suites are amidships and forward. The Presentation Lounge is set up for lectures and video presentations, and above that, the Club Lounge is for socializing, with a bar and an adjacent library lounge with books on exploration and wildlife and general reading, plus DVDs.

Club Lounge

The Club Lounge. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Outside deck space circles the ships so viewing locations span 360 degrees. Sea Spirit also has a Jacuzzi, gym, an infirmary and a bridge with an open policy to passengers.

All accommodations are designated as suites, all outside, and with dimensions of 215, 226, 248, 258, 323 and 463 sq. ft. The largest three categories have balconies. Twin beds convert to king-size.

Sea Spirit cabin

Sea Spirit twin cabin. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

In cabin: en suite, individual temperature control, TV with DVD player, phone (with satellite connection), refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, and complimentary WiFi.

Embarking into Zodiacs. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions.

Embarking into Zodiacs. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions.

50 Years of Victory – N.B. Not currently operating

The newest, largest, most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker ever built works most of the year for scientific surveys and cargo purposes, but in summer months brings travelers to the North Pole in comfortable accommodations. Elevators link the four cabin and public room decks, but not the bridge, nor the pool and sauna located aft on the lowest of the six decks.

indoor swimming pool

The indoor swimming pool. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

There is a single restaurant accommodating all passengers at one sitting. The food service of international cuisine during the summer is prepared by a Swiss catering company. The crew is both Russian and from other European countries, but Poseidon’s expedition team are all English-speaking.

On one deck, the Victory Bar looks over the bow while, the library and lounge are just aft and the second lounge and bar are all the way aft and used for lectures and presentations. There is plenty of deck space for viewing.

Poseidon Expeditions bar

The bar aboard 50 Years of Victory. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

The bridge, often open to passengers, is a spacious additional focus to learn about navigation, chat with the officers and scan the horizon with binoculars for polar bears and walruses.

Cabins are located amidships and forward, all outside and originally designed for officers and top staff who would spend months aboard breaking ice, so there are desks and plenty of storage space. Windows open. The smallest are 151 sq. ft., while the rest range from 237-355 sq. ft.

In cabin: en suite, TV with DVD player. Suite categories have bathtub and fridge. (There is no Wi-Fi for passengers, though emails can be sent from the radio room.)

50 Years of Victory

The formidable 50 Years of Victory. * Photo: Poseidon Expeditions

Special Notes

Read carefully what the line suggests you bring and don’t burden yourself with too much unnecessary luggage. Excursions ashore in these remote parts as well as activities such as kayaking and helicopter sightseeing are subject to weather and wind conditions.

Along the Same Lines

Polar Latitudes, Quark Expeditions, Noble Caledonia, Aurora Expeditions and Albatros Expeditions are in the same league with Poseidon.

Contact

Poseidon Expeditions; www.poseidonexpeditions.com

London, UK — sales@poseidonexpeditions.com; +44 203 369 0020

US — SalesUSA@poseidonexpeditions.com; +1 (347) 801-2610

Check the website for additional offices in Germany, Cyprus and China.

TWS

 

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About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

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