Itinerary

Day 1
Helsinki, Finland
Today is at leisure for you to explore independently. Overnight accommodations at a centrally located hotel are included.

Day 2
Helsinki to Murmansk, Russia
This morning we transfer to the airport for the flight to Murmansk, Russia. We depart Murmansk for the North Pole later this evening.

Day 3
Barents Sea
Today we enter the Barents Sea. Relax and explore our extraordinary icebreaker. Join our naturalists in the lecture room for presentations on the unique wildlife of the Arctic, geology, glaciology, oceanography and polar history.

Days 4, 5, 6 & 7 - To The Pole
Heading further north, we continue through the polar pack, a kaleidoscope of vast ice floes, pools of open water and channels. We marvel as the icebreaker surges forward through meters-thick ice, leaving great blocks of blue ice in its wake. Our resident lecturers continue a series of outstanding slide-illustrated presentations and help you to keep watch for polar bears, seals and Arctic birds.

The ship's open-bridge policy enables us to watch navigation and icebreaking operations around the clock. Our experienced officers guide the icebreaker through the polar ice sailing at up to 12 knots through ice thick enough to stop any conventional icebreaker. Ice reconnaissance flights, together with ice charts submitted to us via satellite and our onboard ice experts, will help the Captain to find open water leads, or cracks, in the polar ice cap. Travelling through these leads greatly facilitates our voyage.

Days 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 - The North Pole
Depending on ice conditions, today will herald our arrival at the Geographic North Pole. We gather on the bridge of the icebreaker as we confidently approach 90º North, one of few expeditions to reach the North Pole itself. Champagne will flow as we record our special achievement. Subject to conditions we wander out onto the ice. Here, at the top of the world, we explore the Arctic landscape and contemplate the heroic struggles of early explorers to reach this spot.

To accomplish our task we will remain at the North Pole for about five days, during which period we aim to complete around eight individual submersible dives to the ocean bottom, approximately 14,500 feet (4,400 meters) below. However, this ultimate number may vary significantly depending on ice and weather conditions and the complexity of the operational logistics.

Preparation of the submersibles and their support equipment will have taken place on the way to the Pole, so soon after our arrival the submersible crew will swing into action. A careful assessment will be made of surrounding ice conditions (these can vary significantly at this time of the year) before the placement of acoustical transponders, which help the submersibles navigate accurately to the exact location of the Pole on the ocean floor and, even more importantly, safely back to the vessel.

As soon as preparations are complete, MIR I will be launched for its history-making dive to the 'real' North Pole. For the first two dives of our project, only a single submersible will be 'down' at any one time. Subsequent cycles may involve double dives, with both submersibles in the water at the same time.

The chief pilot and scientist on our expedition, Professor Anatoly Sagalevitch, will make all ultimate decisions concerning submersible operations. We expect each individual dive to last about 10 - 12 hours and we will take advantage of the continuous daylight at the Pole to schedule a regular dive sequence. The return of each submersible at the completion of a pole dive, especially the history-making first one, will be greeted with suitable celebrations!
During our stay at the Pole there will be an extensive program of activities in addition to the submersible dives. Our onboard science team will be carrying out a unique science project with 'round the clock' collection of data in a number of disciplines. The scientists will give full briefings and descriptions of their programs and you are welcome to observe. Our pole visit will provide unique opportunities for scientific studies especially as we will be in the area for about five days. Ocean bottom and water column samples gathered during our dives will provide 'first time' scientific data from one of the earth's most remote places.

We also plan to carry onboard our icebreaker a sophisticated ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) System which carries a video camera as part of its hardware. We will use the ROV under the pack ice with live videos being sent back to the ship for your viewing. An ice barbecue and other interesting programs and activities are planned.

Days 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 - Southward
Heading to the south, the icebreaker navigates the tall hummocks and pressure ridges that characterize multi-year ice. The exact route back to Murmansk depends on local conditions. As always, our helicopter pilots stand ready for reconnaissance flights and excursions. We are invited in small groups to the ship's control center and engine room. Our lecture series continues.
The show of power and ever-changing icescapes easily keeps our attention - an absorbing jumble of wind-polished ice and pools of aquamarine water. As we progress south our chances of encountering polar bears increase. These 'Lords of the Arctic' roam the pack ice in search of prey and have been seen as far as 88° north. Amazingly, they often ignore the approach of our ship - a great opportunity for photography!

Day 18
Barents Sea
We sail back into the Barents Sea en route Murmansk.

Day 19
Murmansk, Russia
After breakfast this morning on board the icebreaker we continue home independently.

Note: This itinerary is a guide only; our exact program will vary to take best advantage of local weather and ice conditions (which vary from year to year) and opportunities to experience wildlife. Our goal is to operate this unique expedition voyage as outlined in the description. However our desire for success must be tempered by an overriding concern for safety and consideration for the surrounding environment.
Our polar icebreakers, the submersibles, helicopters and Zodiacs are built and maintained to the very highest standards for the most challenging conditions and we will ensure that they are operated in an environmentally responsible manner at all times.

*Airfare not included in the program

Northpole.pdf (436Kb)
Gakkel_Ridge.pdf(780Kb)