Clients’ comments

“A very enjoyable trip and the ship was very good particularly the enormous cabins! I thinki I sailed on one of her sister ships some years ago. I also enjoyed meeting Peter your other client who had many interesting tales to share!”
Sheila Westwater, Across the Arctic Circle

“First of all, thank you for arranging on my behalf the trip from Aberdeen to Longyearbyen earlier this month. It was a very good trip indeed and most enjoyable. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was different from last year’s – which is what I wanted. I felt that I was well-served by you and on the whole, the trip went very well indeed. Jan Mayen is an experience – you have to believe it. What weather!”
Stephen Mott, Arctic Ocean, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen

“Once we finally got past the ridiculous amount of changes, problems and hurdles that seemed to beset us before we went, we had an amazing holiday. In my previous two trips, I’d seen one polar bear per trip, distant. Two arctic foxes that almost ran past me and disappeared on the first trip, none on the second. Never seen a beluga. Well, this time, we had five bears, two really close. More arctic foxes than I can count, with gorgeous cubs coming incredibly close. Three to five belugas. The weather was mostly very kind to us. Most activities went to plan and, even on the day that a bear stopped us walking, he hung around to sleep and chill out, allowing us to get fabulous views from the zodiacs. The upgraded cabin was really nice, as was the lounge with the lovely large, low windows, perfect for wildlife watching in comfort.”
Sue Henning, Around Spitsbergen on Hondius

"Yet again thank you for making the travel arrangements to and from Sea Spirit so easy. Another educational and enjoyable trip. Including time spent in this part of the world in the early 1960s it must be about my 20+ time to have crossed 66°30’N.  After about an hour from sailing we came across a feeding frenzy which included whales (Humpback), dolphins, gannets and other sea birds. Yet another amazing sight to add to the list."
Peter Wright, Crossing the Arctic Circle on Sea Spirit

“Just a brief note to say thank you for your efforts. The travel arrangements went very smoothly. My cabin was midships on the lowest deck, and was exactly where I would have chosen for myself. The first two days were the roughest weather I have ever encountered, with winds 45-50 knots. There were only about twenty other passengers in the dining room with me (out of 106), during that time! Very congenial company on board. Plenty of activity, usually two shore trips per day, with choices of charging and grades between, right down to a gentle saunter.”
John Hoskins, North-East Greenland voyage

“Ship was very comfortable, lovely food, waiters and cabin stewards did a grand job. Good selection of talks and entertainment. It was a privilege to be welcomed into the Inuit and Newfoundland communities. A unique, once in a lifetime experience that I’ll look back on with great pleasure.”
Christine Lord, Wild Labrador and Greenland

“The holiday was fantastic. Favourite aspects were the wonder of the Scoresby Sund fjord under clear blue skies, the northern lights and the icebergs. In Iceland the bus drivers, both male and female, were all very courteous. The B&B was excellent, very clean and friendly staff. I chose you as you offered en route accommodation and return flights – definitely a point in your favour.”
Sandy Lawson, Scoresby Sund

“Pre-departure the service was very helpful and friendly. The whole trip was wonderful and friendly and everything went like clockwork. We enjoyed it all.”
Pat Gellion and Margaret Moore, Scoresby Sund (Professor Molchanov)

“Thank you for arranging our trip to the Arctic. We found Fiona to be extremely helpful and very knowledgeable about the destination. We had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the Arctic experience. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to friends and would certainly use Arcturus again.”
Gillian and Neville Ham, Spitsbergen and NE Greenland

“I had a splendid holiday, I liked the Polar Star very much. Nansen Fjord was superb, at last we had sunshine. That night there was a good display of the aurora, the first time I had seen it. I had never been to the Westmann Islands and I found the harbour at Heimaey delightful. The arrangements you made for me were very good and I recommend Arcturus to all.”
Elizabeth Lonkhurst, Steam to Ice (Polar Star)

“Once I got north of the Baldur Ferry it was more like Scotland. My hire car was excellent and the weather was kind – a cool wind but sunshine. In the Westfjords, the Fisherman Hotel at Suoureyri is lovely as is the Breidavik.”
Martin Dawson, Iceland and Greenland

Fiona’s travel tips

DID YOU KNOW: Svalbard has more than 20 per cent of the world’s population of polar bears?

WEATHER: Strong winds can occur in late autumn and winter, but are rare from late March to mid-October. Snow and sleet are not uncommon in winter.

TOP TIP: Book a Scotland to Spitsbergen voyage and then the consecutive North Spitsbergen one. It’s fun to leave the UK by ship and you will get a discount off the second voyage.