Mocamps Posted December 14, 2018 #1 Share Posted December 14, 2018 We are considering an Arctic cruise from Iceland to Tromso in June next year. It spends 6 days in Svaalbard and I'm wondering whether anyone who has done similar cruises with Silverseas can tell me if you saw polar bears? Also, any other views on this cruise or similar ones would be welcome. We have just done the Antarctic and I've developed a passion for polar cruising. The Arctic is a bit nearer so thought it might be worth trying that while we have all the gear handy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kschreib Posted December 15, 2018 #2 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Yes, seven---ca. 3 years ago on the Silver Explorer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocamps Posted December 15, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Wow!...that's encouraging. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted December 17, 2018 #4 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Yes we had several nice sightings on our August 2011 Longyearbyen to Tromso, starting in Oslo. The Arctic is different in that the density of wildlife is somewhat less than in the Antarctic. Other than birds, that is, which are very plentiful... I did a detailed trip report (without pictures; that was before I learned how to do it) but the search index is still processing so it's a pain to find. This old link may still work. I have a bunch of Svalbard pictures in my smugmug galleries, if you want to see what our bear sightings were like. https://jpalbny.smugmug.com/Svalbard-and-Tromso-August-2011/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol From California Posted December 18, 2018 #5 Share Posted December 18, 2018 On 12/14/2018 at 10:09 AM, Mocamps said: We are considering an Arctic cruise from Iceland to Tromso in June next year. It spends 6 days in Svaalbard and I'm wondering whether anyone who has done similar cruises with Silverseas can tell me if you saw polar bears? Also, any other views on this cruise or similar ones would be welcome. We have just done the Antarctic and I've developed a passion for polar cruising. The Arctic is a bit nearer so thought it might be worth trying that while we have all the gear handy! We went to Antarctica with Silversea in February of this year and like you now want to go on an Arctic cruise. We booked the new Scenic Eclipse for July, 2020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocamps Posted December 18, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted December 18, 2018 On 12/17/2018 at 12:09 PM, jpalbny said: Yes we had several nice sightings on our August 2011 Longyearbyen to Tromso, starting in Oslo. The Arctic is different in that the density of wildlife is somewhat less than in the Antarctic. Other than birds, that is, which are very plentiful... I did a detailed trip report (without pictures; that was before I learned how to do it) but the search index is still processing so it's a pain to find. This old link may still work. I have a bunch of Svalbard pictures in my smugmug galleries, if you want to see what our bear sightings were like. https://jpalbny.smugmug.com/Svalbard-and-Tromso-August-2011/ Thank you so much....looks great. We've booked!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyrreb Posted December 25, 2018 #7 Share Posted December 25, 2018 We saw 2, from a very great distance. Fortunately, our cruise (Explorer July 2015) ended in Longyearbyen, where there were many fine taxidemied specimenes available for life-like closeup photos. But there are so many other wildlife and natural attractions to see that missing the polar bears wasnt a big deal. It’s a wonderful trip and a wonderful ship and crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeforthree Posted December 27, 2018 #8 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Also saw 2. One on the first morning. He was eating, so quite interesting. The second was sleeping; in fact one of the advanced team thought he was a rock...alas, he didn't do too much other than an occasional roll over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrlevin Posted January 26, 2019 #9 Share Posted January 26, 2019 We spent six days in Svalbard in 2017; after Silver Explorer's mishaps in the ice in 2014. We spent only one day ice cruising and saw a total of two bears. No effort was made to find additional bears. After another Silver Explorer cruise to the Arctic in 2018 where the Captain was afraid to go into the ice; I believe that Silversea's insurance company has put their foot down about taking any long runs into the ice. Without ice much harder to see polar bears. After a beautiful Antarctica cruise on Silver Explorer followed by three not so good Arctic cruises; we have decided to never cruise on Silversea again (except to use up the small credit they gave us for so royally screwing up last year's trip). I would run, not walk, away from a Silversea Arctic cruise if your goal is to see polar bears. If you like long hikes and pleasant scenery and a wonderful crew; go for it; but do not expect to see polar bears. Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FauxNom Posted February 22, 2019 #10 Share Posted February 22, 2019 We did the Greenland to Nova Scotia cruise last September and had several bear-filled days. It was simply amazing, as we were able to get pretty close in the Zodiacs, and spend a long time watching. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted February 22, 2019 #11 Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) We did it on Explorer. Sometimes you get lucky... Edited February 22, 2019 by PaulMCO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare drron29 Posted February 23, 2019 #12 Share Posted February 23, 2019 (edited) We also saw several polar bears cruising on the Explorer when it was the PA 2.Saw 8 in one spot feeding on a dead whale.Included one delightful cub.Yes sometimes you are lucky but the polar bears have no knowledge of ship's itineraries so sometimes none to be seen.On that cruise we saw no walrus. I wasn't a member of CC back then but did do a report. https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/threads/drron-takes-to-cruising-the-arctic-here-we-come.24607/page-2 Edited February 23, 2019 by drron29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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