Wildlife in the Wild
Search for walrus, seals, whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, seabirds and the elusive polar bear in the extraordinary environment they call home.
Aurora Expeditions • Svalbard 2027
Journey Into the Wild Arctic
Venture deep into Svalbard beneath the midnight sun, where towering glaciers, remote fjords and extraordinary Arctic wildlife create a true expedition adventure.
June 24 – July 4, 2027Sylvia EarleRoundtrip Oslo
Sail with Suzanne & Steve
Free Live Webinar
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 •
5:00 PM Arizona / Pacific Time
Beyond the Arctic Circle
This Is Svalbard
Raw, remote and astonishingly beautiful, Svalbard is the kind of place that reminds you just how wild our planet can still be.
Here, mountains rise directly from ice-carved fjords, immense glaciers descend toward the sea and Arctic wildlife moves through a landscape that belongs almost entirely to nature. Beneath the midnight sun, each day brings a new opportunity to explore.
And this is not a voyage built around a rigid series of port calls. The Expedition Team follows the conditions, the sea ice and the wildlife, adapting the experience to make the most of what Svalbard reveals each day.
Get Off the Ship
Zodiac cruises, shore landings and guided walks bring you beyond the view from the deck and into Svalbard's fjords, tundra and glacial landscapes.
Follow the Experience
Expedition travel is intentionally flexible. Weather, sea ice and wildlife help shape each day, allowing the team to pursue the best opportunities nature provides.
June 24 – July 4, 2027
Your Svalbard Odyssey
Your adventure begins in Oslo before a charter flight carries you north to Longyearbyen and the edge of the Arctic wilderness. From there, Sylvia Earle becomes your base for eight remarkable days of exploration across Svalbard.
Length11 Days
JourneyOslo to Oslo
Expedition ShipSylvia Earle
VoyageSvalbard Odyssey
01
Day 1
Arrive in Oslo
Begin your expedition in Norway's capital region and settle into Aurora's included group hotel before your journey north.
02
Day 2
Fly to Longyearbyen
Fly by charter to Svalbard, arrive in Longyearbyen and embark Sylvia Earle for the beginning of your High Arctic expedition.
03
Days 3–10
Explore Wild Svalbard
Follow the best opportunities each day through spectacular fjords, glacier fronts and Arctic tundra. Zodiac cruises, shore landings, guided walks and wildlife searches may reveal walrus, whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, seabirds and perhaps even polar bears.
04
Day 11
Return to Oslo
Cruise back into Longyearbyen, say farewell to the Expedition Team and transfer to the airport for your charter flight back to Oslo.
Expedition travel follows nature, not a fixed port schedule.
Svalbard's daily route is intentionally flexible. The Expedition Team considers weather, sea conditions, sea ice and wildlife activity when choosing where to explore, allowing each day to take advantage of the best opportunities the Arctic provides.
Ready to Learn More?
Interested in Svalbard?
Have questions about the expedition, available cabins, pricing or whether this style of travel is right for you? Suzanne and Steve would be happy to help you explore the possibilities.
The Expedition Experience
This Is How You Explore Svalbard
Expedition cruising is about getting closer. Instead of simply watching the Arctic pass by from the ship, your days can take you onto the water, ashore and into the remarkable landscapes and wildlife habitats of the High Arctic.
Included
Zodiac Cruising
Leave the ship behind and explore at water level. Zodiacs can carry you through quiet fjords, along glacier fronts and toward remote stretches of coastline that larger vessels simply cannot reach.
Included
Step Ashore
Guided landings and walks put you directly into the Arctic landscape. Cross open tundra, explore dramatic coastlines and discover the geology, history and wildlife of places few travelers ever visit.
Always Be Watching
Wildlife Encounters
Keep watch for walrus, seals, whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, seabirds and the iconic polar bear. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but searching for it in its natural habitat is part of what makes every expedition day unique.
Optional Adventure
Sea Kayaking
For an even more intimate perspective, Aurora offers optional sea kayaking on this expedition. Paddle through Arctic waters surrounded by extraordinary scenery under the guidance of experienced expedition staff. Space is limited and additional charges may apply.
130
Maximum Expeditioners
Your Expedition Ship
Meet Sylvia Earle
Purpose-built for exploration, Sylvia Earle is less a traditional cruise ship and more a comfortable base camp for adventure.
With a maximum of just 130 expeditioners, the ship is designed to help guests spend more time experiencing the destination. Dedicated Zodiac access, an expedition mudroom and extensive observation areas make getting out into the Arctic — and watching it from onboard — central to the experience.
Between adventures, you can warm up in the sauna, relax in the Jacuzzis, enjoy the heated outdoor pool, attend presentations from naturalists and specialists, or simply find a window and keep watching the extraordinary landscape outside.
Ice Class 1A
Purpose-built for expedition cruising
Ulstein X-BOW®
Designed for smoother transit through waves
15 Zodiacs
With four dedicated boarding doors
Built 2022
Modern expedition design and amenities
Built to Get You Outside
The mudroom and dedicated Zodiac platforms are designed to make transitions from ship to expedition as efficient as possible.
Made for Watching
Observation areas and floor-to-ceiling windows keep the Arctic landscape in view even when you are back aboard.
Learn as You Explore
The lecture theatre and science center bring naturalists, specialists and expedition knowledge into the onboard experience.
Comfortable Between Landings
Relax with comfortable accommodations, dining, lounges, a sauna, gym, heated pool and two Jacuzzis between Arctic adventures.
More Built Into Your Expedition
What's Included
An expedition fare covers much more than your cabin and meals. From getting you to Svalbard to equipping you for shore landings, Aurora includes many of the essential elements that make this High Arctic adventure possible.
Oslo Hotel
One night's hotel accommodation in Oslo on Day 1, including breakfast the following morning.
Svalbard Charter Flights
Return charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen are included as part of the expedition itinerary.
Meals & Beverages
Meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices are included onboard, along with beer and house wine at dinner.
Zodiac Cruises & Landings
Shore excursions and Zodiac cruises led by Aurora's Expedition Team are included throughout the voyage.
Expedition Team
Expert guiding, wildlife interpretation and educational lectures are all part of your expedition experience.
Polar Expedition Gear
Receive a 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket and complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
Wi-Fi
Included onboard, although connections can be limited
in remote Arctic regions.
Permits & Landing Fees
Port surcharges, permits and applicable landing fees
are included.
Medical Consultation
Initial consultation with the onboard expedition doctor
and medical clinic is complimentary.
Longyearbyen Orientation
A sightseeing tour is planned prior to embarkation
when timing permits.
Good to Know
Plan Separately
A few important parts of your overall trip are not included in the standard expedition fare and should be planned separately.
- International airfare to and from Oslo
- Travel insurance and emergency evacuation coverage
- Optional activities such as sea kayaking
- Personal expenses and laundry
- Alcoholic beverages outside included dinner service
- Onboard crew gratuities for most stateroom categories
Gratuity note: Aurora currently adds a suggested crew gratuity of $15 USD per person, per day to the onboard account. Guests may adjust or remove this amount when settling their account. Expedition Team members do not require additional tipping. Crew gratuities are included as a benefit for guests booked in suites.
Our First Svalbard Expedition • June 2023
The trip that started it all.
Our first expedition voyage showed us an entirely different way to experience the world — and gave us plenty of reasons to want to return.
Sail With Suzanne & Steve
Why We're Going Back
Svalbard was one of those journeys that changed what we thought a cruise could be.
We explored fjords and glaciers by Zodiac, hiked ashore through Arctic landscapes and were fortunate to encounter an extraordinary variety of wildlife, including walruses, seals, whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes and polar bears. Just as memorable were the expedition guides who brought the region to life and the ease with which Aurora made every landing and adventure happen.
Since that first voyage, we've experienced expedition travel in other remarkable parts of the world. Each has been special in its own way, but Svalbard has remained the experience that stands apart. That's why we're so excited to return with Aurora in 2027 — and especially to experience it alongside a group of our own travelers.
June 24 – July 4, 2027•Escorted by Suzanne & Steve
You're Part of the Destination
The Zodiacs, landings and hikes meant we weren't simply watching Svalbard from the ship. We were spending our days out in it.
The Expedition Team Matters
Knowledgeable guides made the wildlife, history and landscapes far more meaningful while the hospitality team made getting on and off the ship remarkably seamless.
You Share the Adventure
A small expedition ship creates a different kind of camaraderie. Some of our favorite memories came from sharing each day's discoveries with the people traveling alongside us.
Your Arctic Adventure Starts Here
Discover Svalbard With Us
Join Suzanne and Steve for a free live webinar as we share what expedition travel in Svalbard is really like, why this extraordinary place drew us back, and what you can expect from our 2027 journey aboard Sylvia Earle.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
5:00 PM Arizona / Pacific Time
Free Live Webinar
Join Our Escorted Expedition
Svalbard Odyssey • June 24 – July 4, 2027 • Sylvia Earle • Escorted by Suzanne & Steve
