Arctic Experience Days Give Expedition Cruise Goers a Unique Perspective

Full-day kayaking, snowshoeing and enhanced photography added for the first time by polar cruise operator

Leading small ship Polar expedition cruise company, One Ocean Expeditions, has introduced a unique “Off the beaten track” program to its Arctic voyages, with early bird booking discounts available. Sailing from June 2014, these Polar cruises will include full day sea kayaking excursions, snowshoeing and enhanced photography workshops – a first above the Arctic Circle.

Recognised for their exceptional customer service and environmental values, One Ocean Expeditions constantly strives to innovate in order to deliver world explorers with new and exciting opportunities to feed their appetite for adventure and get closer to nature. These new Arctic adventure programs have been created in conjunction with leading snow sports and photographic experts to give travellers a truly incredible perspective on this magnificent landscape.

“Our extended kayak options, as well as the snowshoeing and enhanced photography experiences have been operating with great success on our Antarctic expeditions for some time,” says Aaron Lawton, Ships Operation Director at One Ocean Expeditions. “We created these excursions so that our customers can really explore and immerse themselves in these incredible locations and we are very excited to now offer these to adventurers on our Spitsbergen and Canadian Arctic routes.”

Full day sea kayaking excursions will be led by world re-known guides. Travelling amongst icebergs in a traditional manner, paddle in hand, creates a unique perspective. State of the art clothing and equipment will ensure that customers can even forget the water temperatures.

Snowshoeing is available on expedition landings where there is enough snowpack available. When snow is deep snowshoes offer much greater accessibility. Ideal for trailblazers who want to go that bit further, this option can add a fun and unique approach to hiking in the Arctic.

Enhanced photography offers keen amateurs the opportunity to learn alongside leading polar professionals, such as Daisy Gilardini. Over and above One Ocean Expeditions regular on board photographer in residence, this enhanced photography experience offers more time to each passenger through both on-board and onshore workshops, focusing on following the prime light conditions in this incredible landscape.

These “Off the beaten track“ experiences are available on the following cruises, depending on conditions:

Spitsbergen 2014

June 5 – June 13, 2014 Spitsbergen Encounter – Full Day Sea Kayaking, Enhanced Photography and Snowshoeing
July 4 -14, 2014 Spitsbergen Explorer – Full Day Sea Kayaking and Enhanced Photography

Canadian High Arctic 2014

July 22 – August 1, 2014 Arctic Explorer Crossing the Circle – Full Day Sea Kayaking and Enhanced Photography

As a special offer, One Ocean Expeditions is offering US$500 per person for passengers to use towards the cost of their flights to join the 10-night Spitsbergen Explorer cruise or the shorter 8-night Spitsbergen Encounter departure.

The special offer for Canada’s 10-night Arctic Explorer expedition departing on 22 July 2014 is a flight credit of US$1000 per person.

“Our Arctic experience is vast and our detailed knowledge of the wildlife, and where to find them, is far reaching, from one side of the Arctic to the other!” Adds Lawton. “We are arguably the most experienced polar expedition team afloat these days and our aim is to be the most attentive to our guests’ needs.”

About One Ocean Expeditions

One Ocean Expeditions is managed by one of the most seasoned teams in the expedition cruise business. Known for their focus on delivering high quality, superior luxury adventure travel, One Ocean Expeditions is poised to set a new standard in the expedition cruise industry.

For further information please visit oneoceanexpeditions.com

About Spitsbergen

Deliciously remote and yet surprisingly accessible, the archipelago of Svalbard is Europe’s most evocative slice of the polar north and one of the continent’s last great wilderness areas. Shapely peaks, massive ice-fields and heartbreakingly beautiful fjords provide the backdrop for a rich array of Arctic wildlife. From the moment the Akademik Sergey Vavilov glides out of Isfjorden (Ice Fjord) into the ringing silence of the snows we are in the land of the polar bear, the beluga, the walrus and the reindeer.

Over the course of the voyage birdwatchers are likely to see Brunnich’s guillemot, little auk, barnacle and pink-footed geese and the Arctic tern. One Ocean Expeditions has revised their Spitsbergen 2014 itineraries with the goal of heading for the north of the island and the ice. Everyone wants that iconic shot of a polar bear on an ice floe!

About Arctic Explorer – Crossing the Circle

Sailing in and out of Iqaluit (accessible via scheduled air), this brand new 10-night Arctic Explorer voyage around the south east corner of Canada’s Baffin Island has something for everyone: spectacular wildlife viewing with walrus, polar bears and birdlife, magnificent scenery and opportunities for zodiac cruising, hiking, kayaking and photography. For art enthusiasts the Inuit art in Pangnirtung is coveted by serious collectors worldwide. And, although all One Ocean Expeditions’ Arctic voyages sail above the Arctic Circle, this trip actually sails across the Circle.