Arctic and Antarctic bookings have an increased deposit requirement of 20% of the full voyage cost (before any discount). The balance is due 120 days before departure. If a booking is cancelled 120 days or more before departure - the cancellation fee is the full loss of the deposit paid. If a booking is cancelled between 119 days and departure - the cancellation fee is 100% of the total price of the voyage. Other fees may apply for air tickets and other arrangements booked in conjunction with a Polar voyage. ADVENTURE OPTIONS Kayaking is available to book on all Arctic voyages (except the North Pole). This must be booked prior to departure and incurs an additional cost. Spaces are limited so please enquire at time of booking. To participate in kayaking, previous, recent experience is essential. In addition, there are other included optional activities offered on some voyages such as hiking.. These activities do not need to be booked in advance and no additional cost applies. Your voyage is operated by our sister company, Quark Expeditions. All accommodation and transfer arrangements as listed in the itinerary are also operated by Quark Expeditions or their local representatives. INCREASED HEALTH SCREENING MEASURES APPLY TO THIS TRIP All customers must be fully vaccinated to join this trip and you will be required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. You will need to arrive with a negative PCR test administered within 3 days prior to day Day1 (the day you arrive at your hotel) Quark Expeditions will also conduct an additional test on day 1 (the day prior to embarkation). We recommend you arrive between 10am-4pm on Day 1 of the itinerary as this is when Quark Expeditions testing teams are scheduled to be available at your joining point hotel. If you are arriving late on day one and are unable to be tested by Quark at the hotel you will be required to obtain your own PCR test from a local testing facility in the gateway city and bring the covid test result with you to show Quark staff. Contact your sales agent if you need assistance booking a covid test in a gateway city. Customers will be required to complete a health questionnaire upon 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11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 11 dinners","Transport: Expedition cruise ship, Zodiac","Accommodation:"],"price":13200,"member_discount_price":12540,"member_discount":5,"currency_code":"AUD","provider":{"name":"Intrepid Travel","description":"Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.","logo":"https:\/\/cdn.tours.racv.com.au\/temp\/2021-10-25\/1635125846084-intrepid-primary-horizontal-red-rgb.png","tech_provider":"tour_atlas","url":"","payment_terms":"Payment can be made by Credit card. Subject to a 0.5% surcharge for Debit Card, 1.15% surcharge for Visa, MasterCard and 3% surcharge for American Express or by Electronic Transfer (EFT). Please ask your RACV Travel consultant for more information. ","cancellation_policy":"Cancelled bookings will incur charges and at the minimum a loss of deposit. These charges can be up to 100% of the cost of the booking, regardless of whether travel has commenced. Fees and extra charges will apply where a booking is changed or when tickets or documents are re-issued. Each individual supplier brochure will specify cancellation fees or your RACV Travel consultant can advise you of the specific airline fees relating to changes to your flights.","other_terms_and_notes":"For full booking conditions relating to your holiday, please see the booking conditions page at the back of the individual supplier brochures, or ask us for a copy.\n\nPrices<\/span>: All prices are subject to availability and can be withdrawn or varied without notice. The price is only guaranteed when paid in full. Please note that prices quoted here are subject to change. Price changes may occur by reason of matters outside our control which increase the cost of the product or service. Such factors include currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases.\n\nDisruption to cruising and touring arrangements\/Force Majeure<\/span>: Itineraries are intended as a guide only and are subject to change without notice. Alternations may be necessary for various reasons, including but not limited to, road, river or weather conditions, war, riots, road closures, natural disaster, industrial accidents, global pandemic which are beyond our or the supplier's reasonable control.\n\nHealth<\/span>: You must ensure that you are aware of any health requirements for your travel and ensure that you carry all necessary vaccination documentation. Some tour operators and tours require you to have a reasonable level of fitness and mobility. RACV Travel recommends seeking medical advice prior to your travel overseas. Consult your local GP or visit www.smarttraveller.gov.au<\/a> for information on any vaccinations that may be required."},"ref_provider_id":"159","featured_image":{"original":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.jpg","size_1_webp":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/480x250\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.webp","size_2_webp":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/640x500\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.webp","size_3_webp":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/960x500\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.webp","size_3_jpg":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/960x500\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.jpg","size_4_webp":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/1080x500\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.webp","size_5_webp":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/1280x750\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.webp","size_5_jpg":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/1280x750\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.jpg","size_6_webp":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/1440x750\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.webp","size_6_jpg":"https:\/\/cdn.tours-racv.com\/1440x750\/tour\/25\/8815123726366-9.jpg"},"type":{"id":2,"created_at":null,"updated_at":null,"title":"Group Tours","description":"Group Tours","attributes":"Group","attributes_icon":"group","icon":"join","sort":1},"duration":12,"start_city":"Oslo","start_countries":"Norway","end_city":"Oslo","end_countries":"Norway","travel_style":["Polar","Outdoors & Nature"],"group_size_min":1,"group_size_max":132,"special_deal":null,"part":[{"id":288,"created_at":"2020-10-10T17:28:39.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-03-19T19:01:35.000000Z","title":"Day 1: Arrive in Oslo","image_url":null,"description":"Your arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway\u2019s vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy before retiring at your included airport hotel.","sort":0,"tour_id":25,"ref_parts_id":"1","extra":{"meals":{"dinnersIncluded":"1","lunchesIncluded":0,"breakfastsIncluded":0},"accommodationList":[],"includedActivityList":[],"optionalActivityList":[]}},{"id":289,"created_at":"2020-10-10T17:28:39.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-03-19T19:01:35.000000Z","title":"Day 2: Oslo to Longyearbyen","image_url":null,"description":"This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen\u2019s largest settlement, where you\u2019ll have some time to explore before embarkation. As your ship sets sail, enjoy your first view of the island\u2019s rugged, glacier-topped mountains rising majestically from icy waters.","sort":1,"tour_id":25,"ref_parts_id":"2","extra":{"meals":{"dinnersIncluded":"1","lunchesIncluded":0,"breakfastsIncluded":"1"},"accommodationList":[],"includedActivityList":[],"optionalActivityList":[]}},{"id":290,"created_at":"2020-10-10T17:28:39.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-03-19T19:01:35.000000Z","title":"Days 3-11: Around Spitsbergen","image_url":null,"description":"Your expedition will explore western Spitsbergen as well as some stunning fjords and outlying islands to the north. From polar deserts to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife. We\u2019ll cruise around this magical island located above the Arctic Circle, and your Expedition Team will be constantly searching for wildlife. Each expedition presents new opportunities so we have no fixed itinerary, however we do hope to visit some of our favorite destinations, including 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Phippsoya, Alkhornet and the Hinlopen Straight. The destinations visited on your voyage will be selected for optimum wildlife viewing and appreciation of the history and geology of Spitsbergen. Polar bear viewing is almost guaranteed, with Phippsoya being one of their preferred hunting areas since the towering cliffs of Alkefjellet provide many free bird egg meals for both them and the Arctic fox. Torellneset and Phippsoya are great places for walrus photography. Coming across a walrus haul-out is a moment you won\u2019t forget either. These giant pinnipeds of the Arctic create quite a noisy scene as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline. If you\u2019re itching to get a little closer to the action, you can book the kayaking option and take an excursion to some of the more isolated pockets of Spitsbergen. Smeerenburg is a great place for snowshoeing (optional and complimentary outings on selected voyages), where you can visit a memorial erected in 1906. This historical site remembers the whalers who lost their lives in the 17th and 18th centuries while working in extreme Arctic conditions. There is no shortage of natural beauty in Spitsbergen. The tundra can be surprisingly colorful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day you\u2019ll see something new, whether it is a rare bird species or an abandoned site from centuries ago. POSSIBLE LANDING SITES IN SVALBARD ALKEFJELLET This cliff is a seabird center, where Br\u00fcnnich\u2019s guillemots (thick-billed murres) raise their young. An estimated 100,000 breeding pairs reside in the basalt cliffs. The birds do not build nests, rather they lay an egg on the bare ledge. KAPP LEE, EDGE\u00d8YA This is a well-known walrus haul-out. The pink color to a walrus\u2019 hide as it lies in the sun is caused by blood pumped to the skin\u2019s surface to aid cooling, similar to that of a hippopotamus in Africa. LILLIEH\u00d6\u00d6K GLACIER In 1906, His Serene Highness Prince Albert I of Monaco visited Lillieh\u00f6\u00f6k Glacier to conduct scientific investigations. His great-great-grandson visited the glacier 100 years later. He, too, was part of a scientific investigation, this time to further our understanding of the arctic clam, a species that lives for more than a century. The growth rings of a single clam\u2019s shell contain evidence of the chemicals encountered by the clam. Scientists can determine the variations of the water\u2019s temperature and pollutant content by studying the shell. LONGYEARBYEN Eighteen hundred people inhabit the administrative capital of Svalbard, which is situated on the shore of Isfjorden. The settlement was founded in 1905 by John Munroe Longyear, the majority owner of the Arctic Coal Company of Boston. MONACO GLACIER HSH Prince Albert I of Monaco, a pioneer of oceanography, led an expedition to Svalbard in 1906. His team used sophisticated photographic techniques to understand the shape and position of several glacier fronts. Monaco Glacier honors the expedition, the prince and the principality over which he reigned. NORDAUSTLANDET ISLAND This is the second-largest island in the entire Svalbard Archipelago. The largest glacier in Europe is located on the island, which is a known habitat for reindeer and walrus. PALANDERBUKTA On the western coast, this bay stretches south and east from the Wahlenberg Fjord. This is a typical polar desert where the \u2018ice bear\u2019 can sometimes be seen roaming in search of food. PHIPPS\u00d8YA & MARTENS\u00d8YA, SEVEN ISLANDS This small archipelago is the northernmost land in Svalbard. Englishmen left their mark during a survey of the islands in the 1780s. The party named the islands after themselves, with the smallest and least significant island being named Nelson\u00f8ya, after the lowly midshipman, who was promoted over the years to the rank and title of Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson! The following Optional Activities are available to participate in, on some or all of the departures of this itinerary. These must be booked in advance (additional costs apply) and space is limited. KAYAKING \u2013 Our kayaking adventures are the best way to feel at one with the sea. Taken in small groups of maximum 16 people, multiple times per voyage, kayaking adventures are only conducted during calm weather conditions. Kayaking is open to all levels of experience, however kayaking in the polar waters is not suitable for novice kayakers. Beginners interested in kayaking should first take an introductory course prior to the voyage which includes how to do a wet exit. In addition regardless of your experience, we recommend you take part in some kayaking practise prior to the voyage to ensure that you are comfortable on the water in the icy conditions. INCLUDED OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES offered on some or all departures of this itinerary HIKING - Hiking is a great way to appreciate the immense windswept landscapes of the Arctic. The tundra comes alive during the brief arctic summer, with bursts of color from shrubs and plants that eke out a living in this polar environment. You\u2019ll find each hike is different - exploring communities, shorelines or glaciated landscapes, often on the lookout for wildlife. Hiking participation is optional and your Expedition Team will advise you of what levels of activity you can expect prior to each excursion.","sort":2,"tour_id":25,"ref_parts_id":"3","extra":{"meals":{"dinnersIncluded":"9","lunchesIncluded":"9","breakfastsIncluded":"9"},"accommodationList":[],"includedActivityList":[],"optionalActivityList":[]}},{"id":291,"created_at":"2020-10-10T17:28:39.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-03-19T19:01:35.000000Z","title":"Day 12: Longyearbyen to Oslo","image_url":null,"description":"The time to say goodbye has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here we\u2019ll transfer you to the airport for a charter flight back to Oslo. Your tour ends on arrival at Oslo airport at approximately 6pm. Please do not don\u2019t book a connecting flight until after 9pm. Alternatively we recommend you book an additional hotel night in Oslo in case of any delays.","sort":3,"tour_id":25,"ref_parts_id":"4","extra":{"meals":{"dinnersIncluded":0,"lunchesIncluded":0,"breakfastsIncluded":"1"},"accommodationList":[],"includedActivityList":[],"optionalActivityList":[]}}],"destinations":[{"name":"Norway","id":167},{"name":"Svalbard and Jan Mayen","id":202}],"destinations_arr":[{"city":"","country":"Norway"},{"city":"","country":"Svalbard and Jan Mayen"}],"departures_arr":[{"month":"June 2022","items":[{"start":"2022-06-19","end":"2022-06-30","sortdate":20220619,"price":13450,"currency_code":"AUD","member_discount_price":12778,"month":"June 2022"}]},{"month":"June 2023","items":[{"start":"2023-06-04","end":"2023-06-15","sortdate":20230604,"price":13200,"currency_code":"AUD","member_discount_price":12540,"month":"June 2023"},{"start":"2023-06-22","end":"2023-07-03","sortdate":20230622,"price":13900,"currency_code":"AUD","member_discount_price":13205,"month":"June 2023"}]}],"tour_type":2,"type_id":2,"style_rating":"Comfort","ref_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/BQMS"}} catch (error) {} We're sorry but travel-explorer doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. 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