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THE NORTH POLETHE ULTIMATE
GOAL FOR THE MOST AMBITIOUS EXPLORER
June
25 - July 10, 2007 (16 days) The top of
the world. For centuries, adventurers and explorers tried to get here by sled,
ship, aircraft, dogs and balloons. The harsh realities of the Arctic climate
defeated every single one of them until 1948. Even today, reaching the North
Pole is a difficult and challenging journey. Only a select few make it each
year. Here is a chance to add your name to the short list of adventurers who
have made the ultimate journey to the top of the world. Yamal The renowned
Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal is one of the few surface ships ever
to reach the North Pole. It boasts 75,000 horsepower, and its armored steel
hull is designed to withstand the most formidable polar conditions. Day 1
The expedition begins in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, which is
served by flights arriving from the continental United States, Europe and
Asia. You may arrive at any time during Day 1 of the expedition. The transfer from the airport to the host hotel will take about half an
hour and cost, in July 2006, approximately30 €. A taxi station is located
outside the arrivals hall of the international terminal. Please transfer at
your own cost to our centrally located 4-star hotel. At the hotel, please register with the front desk. Note that your room
may not be available for occupancy until mid-afternoon. You may store your
luggage and explore the community should you arrive early. Helsinki is a city made for exploring on foot. We suggest a visit to
Senate Square, dominated by the pristine, white-columned, Neo-classical
Helsinki Cathedral. On Mikonkatu, a pedestrian street, where many restaurants
and clubs are located, the temperature of the Arctic Ice Bar is always minus 5
degrees, regardless of the time of year. We can guarantee the temperature of
the public spaces of Yamal is
considerably warmer than that! Day 2
After
breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred as a group to Helsinki
Airport for the charter flight to Murmansk, Russia. Have your identification
in your hand. You will need it to board the plane and the ship. Please note:
You will not be permitted to take images of the ship while it is moored or
departing the harbor. This is a Russian security requirement. Once the ship is
out at sea, you may begin photographing the immense ship. The Expedition Team directs you to the lounge, for a safety briefing.
Emergency procedures are explained then followed by a practical demonstration.
One of the enclosed lifeboats may be lowered to give you the opportunity to
see what is within and how you would survive in the unlikely event of an
emergency at sea. When the Russian authorities complete immigration, customs and other
procedures, the lines are cast off, a salute is sounded on the foghorn, and
the voyage into the Barents Sea begins. Although our style is distinctly informal, there may be one or two
occasions during this expedition when you choose to wear something a little
less informal than expedition gear. The first would be the Captain’s Welcome
Reception, an opportunity to meet the Captain and his very experienced
officers, who maneuver the ship with such skill during the voyage. The daily
program, which is delivered to your cabin each evening, informs you of the
next day’s activities and special events such as this one. Later a three-course dinner with a choice of main courses and a
complimentary glass of wine is served in the dining room. During the after-dinner Welcome Briefing, the Expedition Leader
introduces the team of specialists that accompanies every expedition. The EL
delivers an overview of the voyage, after which the ship’s doctor may
provide practical advice about coping with seasickness. Day 3 to 7
As Yamal pushes farther and
farther north, each day begins with a wake-up call over the ship’s public
address system. You are informed of the ship’s latitude and longitude, sea
conditions, and weather. After breakfast, the education program commences with
a presentation that could be about the early days of the search for the North
Pole. Alternately, you could hear a variety of presentations on the life cycle
of the wildlife you will encounter on the pack ice. In the afternoon a film such as the classic Nanook of the North or the recent award-winning Atanarjuat:
The Fast Runner could be shown. Perhaps,
another of our shipboard specialists may speak after the film on subjects such
as the formation of polar ice. The artist-in-residence may introduce you to a style of art known
internationally as Inuit. Hand-crafted in a variety of media, it is the work
of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. When weather
conditions permit, you will board the helicopters for an aerial view of Yamal
breaking ice. Do not forget to carry your camera. Day 8
The tension
mounts as the Global Positioning System reads nearer and nearer to 90°N. A
cheer will erupt when the announcement is made that you have reached the top
of the world. It is a moment you will remember for the rest of your life. The occasion
demands a celebration and we deliver. The Expedition Team marks 90°N in the
ice with a pole brought along especially for the event. Then the world’s
fastest circumnavigation occurs as you circle the world in under a minute! Day 9 to 11
As Yamal
pushes south, the members of our expedition team prepare you for the landings
in Franz Josef Land, presenting a series of formal presentations about the
wildlife, landscape and history of one of the world’s most recently
discovered archipelagos. While the
ship works through the ice pack, spend time on deck watching for polar bears
who roam the ice hunting for food. You may be fortunate enough to see a female
polar bear teaching her cub survival skills. Throughout the expedition our extremely talented chefs host many themed
dinners, such as the ‘black and white dinner,’ during which fun trumps
formality. These special dinners celebrate many of the different nationalities
represented by your fellow adventurers. Movies will
be shown in the auditorium in the evenings after dinner. Day 12 and 13
Watch as
each Zodiac driver rides the inflatable craft as it is lowered by a crane from
the deck to the water. You will be moments from the first Zodiac cruise of the
expedition. Franz Josef Land is a naturalist’s paradise. Polar bears, arctic
fox, seals and belugas inhabit the region. Vast colonies of seabirds abound. Located between 80.0° and 81.9° north, the 191 islands that comprise the
archipelago are the most northerly in Eurasia. We
will attempt to explore this fascinating coast by Zodiac. The helicopters will
be used for aerial views of the spectacular glaciers and volcanic plateaus.
But remember, this is northern Russia. All landings are subject to the
cooperation of government and weather. Day 14 and 15
Approaching
Murmansk, a Hero City, from the Barents Sea, the shipboard historian may
relate the harrowing tale of the destruction of the city by Nazi forces in
World War II. Murmansk was a vital port through which precious supplies were
brought to Russia by 78 Arctic convoys between August 1941 and May 1945. From the
port you will be transferred to the airport for the charter flight to
Helsinki, where you spend the night in a centrally located hotel. Day 16
After
breakfast, you will make your way to the airport in Helsinki for your flight
home. SUMMARY
Inclusions: ·
Leadership
throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader. ·
Return air fare
from Helsinki, Finland, to Murmansk, Russia. ·
Shore landings by
Zodiac or helicopter. ·
A shipboard
education program conducted by the Expedition Team. ·
A specially
designed Quark Expeditions parka that is yours to keep. ·
One night
pre-expedition hotel accommodation. ·
All shipboard
breakfasts, lunches and dinners throughout the voyage. ·
Expedition Log DVD. ·
Group transfers
from the Helsinki hotel to the airport; from the Murmansk airport to the ship;
from the ship to the Murmansk airport; and from the Helsinki Airport to the
hotel. ·
All baggage
handling aboard the ship. ·
Comprehensive
pre-departure materials. Trip
grade:
Easy Cost: Twin Private
US$ 21,000 All rates
are per person in US dollars based on twin occupancy (except rate for single
occupancy). Please
ask us about the significant savings solo travelers can from our Request-Share
program, which matches solo travelers of the same gender. All
cabins are smoke-free. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas only ‘YAMAL’Nuclear Icebreaker With
a displacement of 23,000 tons, 75,000 total horsepower and an armor steel
icebreaker hull no less than 48mm thick, the ‘Yamal’ is among the
world’s most powerful and sophisticated ships. Designed as a working vessel
to keep shipping lanes open along Russia’s Northern Sea Route, the
‘Yamal’ is one of the few surface ships to have ever reached the North
Pole. The ship is a model of technology – and of passenger comfort.
‘Yamal’ has taken adventurous travelers to the North Pole since 1993. Quality accommodation
The
vessel accommodates passengers in 50 first-class outside cabins and suites,
all with private facilities and large windows, as well as a desk, television
and other comforts. Public areas include a large dining room (accommodating
all passengers in one sitting), library, lounge,
theatre-style auditorium, volleyball court and gymnasium, heated indoor pool,
sauna and small infirmary. Views are excellent from the navigation bridge
(where we are almost always welcome) and there are large open decks on several
levels. Expedition staff, officers and crew
An
experienced crew of 150, including 50 officers and engineers, staffs our
icebreaker. With the world’s largest and most modern fleet of icebreakers,
the Russians are recognized experts in polar operations. The voyage is
directed by an expedition leader and highly qualified staff chosen for their
local knowledge and experience. Excellent European cuisine
European
master chefs present an excellent and varied international menu with fine
provisions from around the world. The
popular bar is stocked with a wide variety of spirits, wines and champagnes. Unique helicopter excursions
Essential for navigation in the ice, the ‘Yamal’
carries a helicopter for reconnaissance and passenger excursions.
The aerial views of polar landscapes and of our ship as it crashes
through meters-thick ice are unique features of the expedition.
In addition, the ‘Yamal’ carries Zodiac landing craft that we may
use if ice conditions allow. Technical gear
The ‘Yamal’ is assisted by an air-bubbling
system, which delivers hot water from jets beneath the surface, polymer
coatings and the capability of rapid movement of ballast water. Ice may be
broken while moving ahead or astern.
The vessel is driven by three propellers, each with four seven-ton
blades. Its two nuclear reactors, which provide the steam for propulsion, are
encased in 160 tons of steel, high density concrete and water. Double vacuum
stills produce five tons of fresh water per hour.
Our vessel is also equipped with the latest satellite navigation and
communication equipment, including telephone, fax and e-mail facilities. Specifications
of the ‘Yamal’: Length: 150m,
Breadth: 30m, Draft:
11.08m, Displacement: 23,000,
Propulsion: Two steam turbines
driving 6 generators (75,000 total hp), cruising speed:
20knots, Crew: 150,
Passengers: 100, Registry:
Russia
Please note:
this voyage may be operated by the sister vessel of the ’Yamal’, the
’Sovetskiy Soyuz’, with identical specifications. The itinerary would
remain exactly the same.
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