Price start from :
$
200
Contact Us
29 May 2025 - 31 May 2025
3 Days/2 Nights
Vlissingen - Aberdeen
Search for whales, seals, and seabirds on a scenic voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to culturally rich Aberdeen, the "Granite City" of northeast Scotland. White-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, orcas, and various species of seabird are all possible sights.
Description
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Note:
We will have at least one dedicated expedition guide in our team who will share their expert knowledge about bird species and who will be available to help you identify, photograph on deck and learn more about the birds that we see. In addition to outdoor sessions, our guide will focus on species and related information on the birds of the Arctic in re-caps and lectures onboard.
Northward bound
You board the vessel at midday in Vlissingen, headed north. Far north.
Sea life on the move
Crossing the North Sea and sailing by Doggersbank, we hope to be lucky enough to spot such species as white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and orcas.
Sights of the Granite City
Passengers who boarded in Vlissingen will be offered an excursion by bus to Fowlsheugh, a seabird cliff south of Aberdeen. Over 100,000 pairs of seabird of different species can be seen here. Alternatively, you can join an excursion to the Ythan Estuary, where the beaches are teeming with harbor seals, grey seals, and birds that keep to the shorelines. Both outings are included in the price of booking.
Highlights You Might Experience
Blue Whale
Barnacle Goose
Beluga Whale
Arctic Skua
Arctic Fox
Arctic Tern
Black Guillemot
Atlantic puffin
Bowhead Whale
Brunnics Guillemot Guillemot
Fulmar
Fin Whale
Bearded Seal
Glaucous Gull
Grey Phalarope
Hooded Seal
Ivory Gull
Harp Seal
King Eider
Killer Whale
Humpback Whale
Kittiwake
Little Auk
Northern Bottlenose Whale
Minke Whale
Pink-footed Goose
Polar Bear
Long-tailed Skua
Ringed Seal
Ptarmigan
Sperm Whale
Walrus
White-Beaked Dolphin
Svalbard reindeer
Cabins and Pricing
Quadruple Porthole
2 upper & lower berths
Complete Cabin
USD
1200 USD
800 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
300 USD
200 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Triple Porthole
1 upper berth & 2 lower berths
Complete Cabin
USD
900 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
300 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Porthole
2 single beds
Complete Cabin
USD
600 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
300 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Window
2 single beds
Complete Cabin
USD
680 USD
460 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
340 USD
230 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Deluxe
2 single beds
Complete Cabin
USD
800 USD
580 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
400 USD
290 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Superior
1 double bed
Complete Cabin
USD
800 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
400 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Junior Suite
1 double bed
Complete Cabin
USD
900 USD
680 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
450 USD
340 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Grand Suite with private balcony
1 double bed
Complete Cabin
USD
960 USD
740 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
480 USD
370 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Map
IMPORTANT
EXCLUDED
INCLUDED
- Flights to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point.
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Meals ashore.
- Personal health Insurance for Medical, Accident and Repatriation/Evacuating.
- All personal expenses, including but not limited to laundry services, bar beverages, and excess internet usage charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
FAQ
What happens if we cannot camp?
- Our expedition leaders always do their best to ensure the camping activity is carried out, but sometimes this is impossible due to unsafe environmental conditions. If such is the case, we may offer camping on the outer decks of the ship.
Can I access any digital reading material while on board?
- Yes, we offer an app called PressReader that gives you access to a number of magazines and periodicals while you're on board. Simply connect to the ship's Wi-Fi, use the QR code or link to access the app, and enjoy reading.
What forms of payment do you accept when making a reservation?
- We accept payment via bank transfer, Wise or credit card (Mastercard and Visa). When paying with a credit card, we have to pass on a credit card fee.
Will I be able to change currency on board?
- No, you are not able to change currency on board.
Where do we go on Svalbard?
- Svalbard is one of our core Arctic locations, a great place for enjoying wildlife, activities, and scenery. For this reason, there are too many areas we visit to list here. For details on intended routes and landing sites, see the Svalbard page at our website.
What wildlife can I see in Spitsbergen?
- Your cruise to Spitsbergen will come with an enormous amount of opportunity to spot wildlife. Polar bears are obviously the main attraction regarding wildlife. There are six national parks throughout Spitsbergen, and Svalbard alone is known to contain, Polar bears, reindeer, Arctic fox, numerous birds (such as guillemots and little auks) and several high Arctic seal species inhcluding the iconic Walrus. You might also encounter a variety of whales including the largest of them all: the Blue whale.
When was the Hondius built?
- The Hondius was built in Croatia in 2018 and delivered in 2019.
How many people can travel on board the Hondius?
- The number of passengers is limited to 174 on the Hondius. Furthermore the vessel is manned by 24 highly experienced international nautical crew, 32-34 international hotel crew, 13 expedition staff (1 expedition leader, 2 assistant expedition leaders and 10 guides/lecturers) and 1 doctor.
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