The World’s Svalbard Expedition: Arctic Pack Ice Cruising (and Polar Bears)

Arctic pack ice, north of Svalbard, at Latitude 82º 37’ with the forward section of deck 7 of our Ship (packed with viewers on the lookout for polar bears) visible at the bottom of the photograph

 
From Lilliehöökfjorden on the northwest side of Spitsbergen Island, Svalbard, we headed due north towards the North Pole to cruise in the Arctic pack ice, looking for wildlife. Midday we were at Latitude 82º 37’ North and Longitude 022º 58’ East where we spotted and watched a number of polar bears from the outdoor decks and bridge of our ship. Later in the day, we continued sailing north, reaching Latitude 82º 41’ North and Longitude 022º 57.91’ East – setting the record for the furthest north our Ship has ever sailed. At that point we were only 439 nautical miles from the North Pole! We had a champagne celebration before dinner that evening on board the Ship to commemorate this new milestone. [Note that in 2017 our Ship set the record for the furthest south any ship in history had ever sailed – while visiting the Ross Sea in Antarctica.]
 

A male polar bear on Arctic pack ice, north of Svalbard, at Latitude 82º 37’

Arctic pack ice, north of Svalbard, at Latitude 82º 37’

A male polar bear on Arctic pack ice, north of Svalbard, at Latitude 82º 37’

Arctic pack ice, north of Svalbard, at Latitude 82º 37’

A drone photograph of our ship in the Arctic Pack Ice at Latitude 82º 37″; photograph © 2018 by (and courtesy of) Richard Sidey