RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule 2012

Trip Details

Voyage code: RVR12 & 14
   
Voyage: RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule
   
Date: RVR12 from 23-07-2012 to 07-08-2012
German speaking
RVR14 from 22-08-2012 to 06-09-2012
English speaking
   
Duration: 15 nights / 16 days
   
Language: RVR12 = German
RVR14 = English
   
Embarkation: Upernavik
Disembarkation: Upernavik
Vessel: s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule 2012

Voyage: RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule
Date: RVR12 from 23-07-2012 to 07-08-2012 German speaking
RVR14 from 22-08-2012 to 06-09-2012 English speaking

Day by day Itinerary

Day 1 - We arrive in Upernavik from Reykjavik by chartered plane. Upernavik (1500 inhabitants) is the main town in North Greenland, where the people still live from hunting seals.

Day 2
- We will go ashore on Kipak, and Kap Shackleton on Agparsuit which still have huge colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots.

Day 3
- At the southern end of Melville Bugt we land at Kuvdlorssuaq the northernmost settlement of the Upernavik district.

Day 4
- We land at Lille Renland, where Reindeer have been found. Here we can walk on the Greenland ice-cap. In this area we may encounter our first sea ice and, if so, there is a chance of spotting Polar Bears hunting seals at the ice edge. Later we land at Red Head. The coast here is dominated by the vast Greenland ice cap which reaches the sea as a series of enormous glacier fronts, the largest outside Antarctica.

Day 5 - Today we sail to the western side of Melville Bugt, calling at Cape Melville and then continuing into Meteor Bugt where the shoreline mountains teem with Little Auks.

Day 6
- On Meteor Island we land at Savigsivik, the southernmost Thule settlement. It was on this island that the famous York meteorite provided the Inuit with a source of iron - until Peary removed it and sold it to an American museum.

Day 7 - At the west side of Saunders Island we will cruise below cliffs on which nest 150,000 Brünnich’s Guillemots, together with Kittiwakes and Fulmars, making it, perhaps, the largest seabird colony in Greenland.

Day 8 - We land at Cape Chalon, where we visit old houses of the Thule culture. Then we sail to Siorapaluk, the northernmost Greenlandic village where the people still depend on the hunting of Polar Bear, Narwhal, seals, seabirds and wildfowl. Later we sail into Inglefield Bredning where the icebergs are carved into fantastic shapes by the natural forces of wind and water.

Day 9 - Today we call at Thule (Quaanaaq) the main settlement of the area. In the 1950s the inhabitants of Old Thule (Dundas) were forced to move to Quaanaaq when NATO created an air base at their village. We continue to Hakluyt Island to view a large colony of Brünnich’s Guillemots. At this time of year the young are jumping from the ledges into the sea to start their southward migration.

Day 10 - In Booth Sound we make a trip inland to visit an area of High Arctic tundra. There are many lakes here, with a breeding population of ducks and geese.

Day 11 - Just east of Parker Snow Bugt we visit again some colonies with Brünnich’s Guillemots and cruise below the spectacular, ice-capped Crimson Cliffs to reach Cape York where, in 1818, the Inuit and White Men first met when Royal Navy ships under John Ross arrived. Today the small settlements on the eastern side of the Cape are deserted, though the mountains behind the shore are still home to thousands of Little Auks.

Day 12
- We sail east through the immense Melville Bugt, admiring again the awesome Greenland ice cap to the east. As we sail close to the edge of a nature reserve we have some chances to see Narwals along the ice edge.
 
Day 13 - We will sail as close to shore as we can and hope to land on Cape Seddon near the remains of a Thule culture village.

Day 14 - Depending on our schedule we land in the area of Kraulshavn.

Day 15 - At Kingigtorsuaq, where 14th Century Viking Ruins were found, we will try to find the place where the Vikings built a cairn with the inscriptions. From there we sail to Upernavik the main town in North Greenland.

Day 16 - From Upernavik we fly to Reykjavik by chartered plane.


RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule 2012

Voyage: RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule
Date: RVR12 from 23-07-2012 to 07-08-2012 German speaking
RVR14 from 22-08-2012 to 06-09-2012 English speaking

Vessel s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

S/V ‘Rembrandt Van Rijn’  was  built as a herring lugger early last century. The vessel was rebuilt as a three-mast passenger sailing schooner in he Netherlands in 1994 and sailed in Spitsbergen (1994 – 1996) and in Galápagos (1998 - 2001). The vessel underwent a complete rebuilding and refurbishment program until 2011. The communication and navigation equipment has been completely renewed according to the latest SOLAS regulations.

The Rembrandt van Rijn measures 56 meters in length (168 ft.), 7 meters in width and has a draft of 2,5 meters. The maximum speed on engines is 9 knots. It has an experienced crew of  7 persons on board including 2 tour guides.

The ship is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offer good open deck viewing areas, also when under sail. The 2 inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.


Ice class:
The s/v Rembrandt van Rijn has no ice class. During her refit, the bow of the vessel was enforced and is therefore suitable to sail in the Greenlandic waters.


Length: 56 meters (168 ft)
Breadth: 7 meters (22,9 ft)
Draft: 2,5 meters (8 ft)
Ice class: -
Displacement: 451 Ts
Engines: 2 cummins engines together 550 KW
Speed: 9 knots maximum
Passengers: 34

The Cabins
The ship can accommodate a maximum of 34 passengers in 17 twin cabins in (1 twin shared with porthole (shared shower and toilet), 6 twin private inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole), 10 twin private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole).

Public Areas
A spacious restaurant on board the vessel allows all passengers to have their meals (buffet style). The vessel furthermore consists of a separate bar including a reading table.

Age range & Nationality onboard
Passengers on a typical voyage range between 30 - 55. Our expeditions attract independent-minded travellers from around the world. They are characterised by a strong interest in exploring remote regions. The camaraderie and spirit that develops aboard is an important part of the expedition experience. Many departures have several nationalities on board.

Catering
Three meals of international cuisine per day are served buffet style in the restaurant and is prepared by our cook.

Combating sea sickness
Anticipate some rough water on the voyage. Should you be prone to motion or sea sickness, please consult your personal physician which medication is appropriate and its side effects. On board s/v Rembrandt van Rijn there is no phycisian available. To avert motion sickness, avoid alcohol, tobacco, excess liquids, and confined spaces. Most people feel better sitting on deck looking at the horizon or prone with eyes shut. Oddly, you will feel better with some food, such as crackers or dry toast in your stomach. Many people eat to avoid feeling sick. Remember, once you start to experience motion sickness, medications are of little help.

Dress code
In keeping with our expeditions atmosphere, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities. Keep in mind that much of the spectacular scenery can be appreciated from deck, which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles and make sure the parka is never far away in case of the call "Whales!" comes over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside. Wear layers since it is comfortably warm aboard the ship - and often cold on deck.

Electric Current
The electrical supply aboard the ship is 220 volt 50hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins. U.S. passengers may need a 220v/110v converter.

Excursions & Landings
Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take three to six hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers´ wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.

Gratuities
The customary gratuity to the ship's crew and expedition leader is made as a blanket contribution at the end of the voyage. You will receive detailed guidelines aboard. Tipping is a very personal matter and the amount you wish to give is at your discretion. We suggest to give cash in Euros, US Dollars or Danish kroner.

Non-smoking policy
On board our vessels we have a non-smoking policy. It is prohibited to smoke inside the ship. You can smoke on deck but do not throw your cigarette filter overboard ! Do not smoke on the aft deck in the proximity of zodiacs, engines and fuel. Please respect the wishes of non-smokers.

The crew
The crew of the ´Rembrandt van Rijn´ consists of 7 experienced crew and 2 tour guides and a cook. The sailors are in charge during sailing and will bring us ashore. Whilst sailing the assistance of the passengers is appreciated for handling the sails and taking the helm. This includes being on watch during nightly sailing.

Your physical condition
You must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice. Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.

Deck Plan

RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule 2012

Voyage: RVR12 & 14 North Greenland, Ultima Thule
Date: RVR12 from 23-07-2012 to 07-08-2012 German speaking
RVR14 from 22-08-2012 to 06-09-2012 English speaking

EUR Rates 2012 per person in 1/2 Twin Room:

Twin Shared Porthole: € 3950
Twin private Inside: € 4350
Twin Private Porthole: € 4800
Single occupancy: All cabin types at 1.7 times the share price


Fares include:

  • Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
  • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
  • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
  • On Rembrandt voyages: Transfers and baggage handling between airport and ship in Greenland harbours on the chartered group flights.
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
  • AECO fees and governmental taxes.
  • Comprehensive pre-departure material

Not included:
Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

.

Charter Flight Rates (non commissionable):

Reykjavik-Upernavik 23.07.12 / 22.08.12 = EUR 376 p.p. incl airport tax

Upernavik-Reykjavik 07.08.12 / 06.09.12 = EUR 424 p.p. incl. airport tax





Bar sitting area
Deck Plan Rembrandt
Bar sitting area at Rembrandt
Dining area
Dining area at Rembradt
Dining area Rembrandt
Dining deco
Twin porthole cabin shared facilities
Twin private inside cabin
Twin private inside cabin rembrandt
twin private inside cabin toilet
twin private porthole cabin
Twin private porthole cabin shower
    
 
 

Newsletter

Sign up for our news letter and special offers
Guðmundur Jónasson Travel   |   Borgartún 34   |   105 Reykjavík   |   Iceland   |   Tel: +354-511 15 15 | Fax +354-511 15 11 | email: gjtravel@gjtravel.is | KT 410166-0389 | VSK # 12977 Inspired by Iceland