Ms Spitsbergen Voyage Handbook 2019–2020
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voyage handbook MS SPITSBERGEN VOYAGE HANDBOOK 2019–2020 1 Dear Adventurer 2 Norway 4 Dear adventurer Iceland 6 ––– Congratulations on booking an ––– This handbook includes infor- Svalbard 8 extraordinary voyage on board mation on your chosen destina- our vessel MS Spitsbergen. tion. We hope you will find this inspiring. The Faroe Islands 12 ––– The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s success as an ––– And yes – we promise to pro- Orkney Islands 14 explorer is often explained by vide some adventure – in the pos- his thorough preparations before itive sense of the word. Shetland Islands 16 departure. He once said “victory Content awaits him who has everything ––– Welcome aboard for an in order”. Being true to Amund- adventure of a lifetime. Franz Josef Land 18 sen’s heritage of good planning, we encourage you to read this Your Hurtigruten Team Important information 20 handbook. ––– It will provide you with good Frequently asked questions 21 advice, practical information, and some inspiring pieces of inside Life on board MS Spitsbergen 22 information that will make your voyage even more enjoyable. Practical information before 28 and after voyage Pack like an explorer 30 Our team on board 32 Landing by small boats 34 Important phone numbers 35 Maritime expressions 35 MS Spitsbergen deck plan 36 2 COVER FRONT PHOTO: © ANDREA KLAUSSNER / HURTIGRUTEN 3 COVER BACK PHOTO: © DOMINIC BARRINGTON / HURTIGRUTEN © KARSTEN BIDSTRUP / HURTIGRUTEN / KARSTEN © BIDSTRUP era (800-1050BC) with strong climate differences create a var- Norway is a trade relations and colonies in iation in the vegetation from the Greenland, Ireland, England, north-European deciduous for- unique country Scotland and Normandy. Nor- ests in the south, to the Boreal wegian history is synonymous forest and the Fjellbirke forest and continously with this era which was respon- to the tundra vegetation in the NORWAY impresses with sible for the major expansion of north and on the mountain pla- the entire Nordic region. teaus (fjell). App. 200.000 elks its enormous Christianity was introduced in are rambling through the Nor- the 11th Century but took many wegian forests, most reindeer contrasts. centuries before it was fully are half domesticated and be- accepted and it is believed Nor- long to the Sami population, but CLIMATE The climate shows a way’s Golden Age was the late several thousand wild reindeer high range of variation due to 13th and early 14th century with still live in the Hardangervidda the enormous extension of more substantial international trade and the Dovrefjell. than 1700 km from the south to with Britain and Germany. The wolf was on the verge of ex- the north and the big difference Norway suffered the black death tinction but there are now var- in height. in 1349 where many commu- ious projects in place to protect The North Atlantic drift has a nities were entirely wiped out them, whilst Brown bears and positive influence on the climate ending this Golden Age. From wolverine live in the forests but at the western side of the Scan- 1380 onward there were many are rarely seen. des, the eastern side experienc- political alliances between vari- Norway’s birdlife is abundant es a more continental climate ous Scandinavian countries with and varied, and within the rich with extremely cold winters Norway gaining independence waters of the Norwegian sea and warmer summers. The Gulf briefly in 1814 before a forced there are vast amounts of fish of Bothnia can be frozen for a union with Sweden which lasted including cod, halibut and coal- month while the Atlantic coast- until 1905 when Norway pro- fish. line stays ice free. claimed full independence. The heating of the North Atlan- Norway is rich with natural re- POPULATION Norways popu- tic drift causes the possibility of sources and with large reserves lation in 2018 exceeded 5,2 mil- a vast expanse of agriculture, of petroleum and natural gas lion. even in North-Finnmark at a lat- discovered in the 1960s it is itude of 70°north. The height of now a prominent and wealthy SHOPPING ASHORE In Norway, the Scandes cause the enormous country with one of the highest sales tax / VAT is included in the rainfalls at the luv of the moun- standards of living in the world. retail prices. Norway is a great tain range. For example, the city place to shop for traditional Nor- © ANDREA KLAUSSNER / HURTIGRUTEN ANDREA/ © KLAUSSNER of Bergen is famous for its rain, LANGUAGE Norwegian is the wegian clothes and the sweaters Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is whilst on the leeward side the most widely spoken language are of great quality. Europe’s most north-western country. It is a farmers often need an irrigation and is closely related to Swedish system for an efficient harvest. and Danish. English is com- TIME ZONE Norway: UTC +1. sovereign and unitary monarchy whose terri- monly spoken across Norway The ship will operate to the local CURRENCY The currency in time in each port she calls. Infor- tory includes the island of Jan Mayen and the Norway is Norwegian Kroner MOBILE PHONES mation will be given on board. archipelago of Svalbard. (NOK). Foreign currencies may ASHORE Using your mobile be exchanged into local curren- phone with roaming can be very ––– The western boundary is formed by the cy at most banks during the voy- expensive. Please check with age. Credit cards are accepted your mobile provider before North Atlantic with deep fjords and thousands in most places. Please note that travelling. Access to wifi varies of islets creating a remarkable coastline. Inland there is no currency exchange from destination to destination service on board. and changes rapidly. Norway is dominated by the Scandes mountain HISTORY “The way to the NATURE AND WILDLIFE Deep range with vast countryside and unoccupied North” – has a very long, event- fjords, islets and the high moun- areas as most Norwegians live along the coast. ful and colourful history. Settled tains of the Scandes, which by the nomadic hunter as far belong to the Caledonien back as 6600 BC, Norway came mountain range, characterise to prominence during the Viking the Norwegian landscape. The © IAN LAWSON / GUEST IMAGE / HURTIGRUTEN / IMAGE GUEST / LAWSON IAN © 4 5 adherest to the AECO(Associa- NATURE AND WILDLIFE The perfect tion of Arctic expedition Cruise Iceland is renowned for it’s bird Operators) guidelines. habitat and its diverse species destination for of which the most sought after HISTORY A rich and interesting are the Icelandic Gyrfalcon, explorers past, Iceland’s recorded history the Red-necked Phalarope and searching for the is of the settlement of Viking of course the Puffin. There are explorers with their slaves . It many species of whales due unexpected. was mostly Norsemen from to the rich food of the North Scandinavia and Celts from the Atlantic Ocean - these include iceland CLIMATE The average British Isles in the 9th and 10th minke whales and killer whales. temperatuure in spring is 8 to centuries - long after the rest of 10 Celsius. Weather is very Western Europe was settled. POPULATION Iceland is the changeable and visitors should most sparsely populated be prepared for the unexpected LANGUAGE The Icelandic country in Europe, with a pure, language is believed to have unpolluted, and truly magical CURRENCY The currency on changed little from the original landscape. The population of shore is Icelandic kroner (ISK). tongue spoken by the Norse Iceland is approx. 320,000 with Foreign currencies may be settlers. English and Danish is almost 120,000 inhabitants exchanged into local currency widely spoken and understood. living in the capital Reykjavik. at banks. Credit cards are The second largest city outside accepted in most places, but MEDICAL EMERGENCIES the capital region is Akureyri not international bank cards AND MEDICATION I with approx. 17,500 inhabit- (i.e. German EC Karte). We In case of a medical emergency ants. recommend having some cash in Iceland the only means of available for use at the small evacuation is by ambulance/ SHOPPING ASHORE Local villages. Please note that there airplane/helicopter to the specialities include woollen is no currency exchange service nearest town with a hospital. knitwear, handmade ceramics, on board. This is very expensive and glassware and Silver jewellery. dependent on favourable A refund of local Value-Added ENVIRONMENT It is prohibited weather conditions. Therefore, Tax (VAT) is available to all to pick Arctic flowers as the comprehensive travel/health visitors in Iceland. Special rules environment is very vulnera- insurance policy that also apply, please check upon arrival ble and the flowering season covers medical evacuation is in Iceland. very short. Please be aware of obligatory. where you step and remember TIME ZONE Iceland is on to follow the paths. It is MOBILE PHONES ASHORE Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) strictly prohibited to walk into There is GSM coverage on most throughout the year, and does © SHUTTERSTOCK HURTIGRUTEN © / cultural/ historical remains. of Iceland including all towns not change to daylight saving Please follow the instructions and villages with more than time. of the guide/expedition team. 200 inhabitants. Iceland, where the ground is so hot it venti- Hurtigruten, as a full member, lates through hot springs, volcano © KARSTEN BIDSTRUP / HURTIGRUTEN eruptions and fiery saga tales. ––– Mythical Iceland is the land of ice and fire, with glaciers and volcanos side by side. The nature offers stunning landscapes, geysers and impressive waterfalls. 6 7 © KARSTEN BIDSTRUP / HURTIGRUTEN / KARSTEN © BIDSTRUP local currency. Credit cards are Our compliance rests on a Located on the accepted in most places. Please good cooperation with you note that there is no currency as a traveller and we will southern fringe exchange service on board . spend some time early in our voyages briefing you about the of the frozen ENVIRONMENT Hurtigruten’s guidelines applicable to your Arctic Ocean, MS Spitsbergen and her skilled specific trip.