SmallShips.travel - MS Bremen | Roundtrip from Tromsoe July 25 2012

Spectacular Virgin Territory at the End of the World- Roundtrip from Tromsoe
MS Bremen July 25 - August 18, 2012
Voyage BRE1215

Be among the first to experience the adventure that awaits you when you set out for a very special expedition premiere with the BREMEN - taking you to territories hardly anyone except researchers and discoverers has ever seen. Far away from civilisation, you will explore the Russian Arctic, a region which was a prohibited area and thus inaccessible for several decades and today thrills you with magnificent natural landscapes.

Welcome to a unique expedition experience.

Date	Destination
Wednesday 25-Jul-2012	Charter flight Hanover to Tromsoe, Norway. Embarkation on the MS Bremen. Departure at 18:00hrs.
Thursday 26-Jul-2012	Relaxation at sea
Friday 27-Jul-2012	Murmansk/Russia, from 6.00 to 18.00 hrs (subject to the tides)
Saturday 28-Jul-2012	Relaxation at sea
Sunday 29-Jul - 30-Jul-2012	White Sea/Russia (Anserski , Solovetsky , Umba )
Tuesday 31-Jul-2012	Kanin Peninsula/Russia
Wednesday 1-Aug-2012	Kolguyev Island/Russia
Thursday 2-Aug-2012	Relaxation at sea
Friday-Saturday 03-Aug-04 Aug-2012	Novaya Zemlya/Russia
Sunday 5-Aug-2012	Relaxation at sea
Monday-Tuesday 06-Aug-07-Aug-2012	Severnaya Zemlya/Russia
Wednesday 08-Aug-2012	Relaxation at sea
Thursday -Monday 09-Aug-13-Aug-2012	Franz Josef Land/Russia
Tuesday-Thursday 14-Aug-16-Aug-2012	Relaxation at sea
Friday 17-Aug-2012	Honningsvag/Norway, from 8.00 to 14.00 hrs
Saturday 18-Aug-2012	Tromsoe/Norway, arrival 7.00 hrs Charter flight Tromsoe - Hanover

First Discoveries Beyond the Polar Circle
Your expedition across the Arctic Ocean begins in Murmansk, the world's largest city to the north of the Arctic Circle. Get into the mood for unforgettable days by gathering impressions of Murmansk* or discover the Kola Peninsula*. A visit to a nuclear-powered icebreaker* also augurs enthralling insights.

Witnesses of History in the White Sea
In regions where new territory begins for most cruise ships, the BREMEN plays out her strengths - at the entrance to the Onega Bay in the White Sea, she sets course for the small archipelago of the Solovetsky Islands. Forests, marshes and more than 360 lakes characterise the landscape of the islands Anserski and Solovetsky; only the latter is inhabited. Here, you have the opportunity to visit the famous monastery, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Founded by monks in 1429, it was converted into a labour camp in 1923 - and subsequently went down in history as the "Gulag archipelago". In the south of the Kola Peninsula lies Umba, the habitat of whales and seals. On a hike with the experts, you will discover a wealth of bird species in the national park.

In the Village of the Sand People and in the Land of the Nents
The BREMEN sets course for the Barents Sea and the Kanin Peninsula. The inhabitants of the village of Shoyna are struggling with the sand which is blown over from the White Sea and threatening to bury their houses. A little further north lies Kolguyev Island. It is the traditional settlement area of the Nenets, an indigenous people that used to live a Nomadic lifestyle and nowadays pursue reindeer farming and fishing for a living. In the small village of Bugrino, you will get a warm welcome and hike through the vast, barren tundra landscape.

On the Trails of Willem Barents
The name of Russia's Novaya Zemlya consisting of two islands translates into "new territory", and with the BREMEN, you will discover this new territory in a manner only a small expedition ship can offer. For instance when you set out with the Zodiacs in the bay of Gribovaya, Besymyannaya or Arkhangelskaya to impressive bird cliffs which are among the largest in the world and the breeding ground of thousands and thousands of guillemots and other seabirds. Observing this habitat from up close and having it explained to you by experienced experts ensures a unique moment. While the BREMEN relentlessly advances further north resisting the ice with her reinforced bow, varying landscapes will take your breath away. On the south island, tall mountains are framed by the seemingly endless tundra, which is interspersed by increasing amounts of ice on the north island. Mighty glaciers now cover the land and end in the sea with high ablation zones. From the deck of the BREMEN and from the Zodiac, you will enjoy fantastic panoramas. However, not only the landscape is dramatic; dramatic events also occurred on Novaya Zemlya in historic terms - in the year 1596, the Dutch seafarer Willem Barents attempted to circumnavigate the island in order to find a northeast passage to China. Unfortunately, the ship got stuck in the pack ice, and the crew was forced to spend the winter on Novaya Zemlya, making them the first Europeans to overwinter in the Arctic.

Fascinating Animal Observations on Severnaya Zemlya
Hardly any ships make it to this region, and when the BREMEN sets course for the semi-glaciated islands, you will be one of the select few to ever set eyes on them. Around 1,000 km to the east of Novaya Zemlya, deep in the land of the midnight sun, lies Severnaya Zemlya, the "northern land". Here, the Russian Arctic awaits you with all its wealth - polar bears, Arctic foxes, mountain hares, walruses and seals are at home on the almost entirely unpeopled islands, and large colonies of seabirds incubate their eggs on the steep, rocky coasts of deep fjords. Majestic glaciers will thrill you with their play of colours. If you let your gaze wander across the ice and vast, tranquil tundra landscapes, peace of mind is predestined. With their many years of experience in the polar regions, the captain, the crew and the experts spontaneously and flexibly react to the weather and ice conditions, ensuring an unsurpassable expedition experience. The Zodiacs are constantly in use - among others, landings on the small Sredny Island in the west and on October Revolution Island at the centre of the archipelago are planned. On a hike in the tundra, you can explore a vegetation which also bears evidence to the power of life beyond the polar circle. And in front of the ablation zone on the edge of the Vavilov Glacier, you may be lucky enough to catch sight of polar bears - they can frequently be seen between the glacier tongues in search of seals and walruses.

Unreachable until Recently - Franz Josef Land
Where the icefields of the polar ice cap begin lies a wonderful destination the world only became aware of at the end of the 19th century. Now you are standing on the deck of the BREMEN and gazing at the horizon in anticipation as the breathtaking coast of Franz Josef Land appears. You will be just as amazed as the explorers of the Payer-Weyprecht-Expedition, who discovered the territory on 30 August 1873. The crew first went ashore on Wilczek Island, the southernmost island of the archipelago. Almost 150 years later, you will take the same step and visit the grave of Otto Krisch, the engineer of that expedition. Like everywhere on Franz Josef Land, you have good opportunities to watch polar bears, seabirds and various marine mammals here. Massive glacier fronts interrupted by protruding plateau mountains shape the scenery of the remote archipelago. While cruising with the BREMEN and on numerous rides and landings with the Zodiacs, you will discover the most spectacular spots of this group of islands. On the glaciated southeast coast of Wilczek Land, for instance, tabular icebergs with lengths of up to 300 m break off time and time again - an almost unimaginable phenomenon which you may be able to watch from a safe distance on the deck of the BREMEN. And if walruses, seals or belugas should suddenly move into sight, you will experience another adventurous moment that will remain unforgettable for a long time. The vast, wild landscape of Wiener Neustadt Island invites you for exploratory walks between the terminal moraines of mighty glaciers. The Zodiacs take you ashore here, just like they will on Champ Island. On the latter, you will be perplexed in the face of a unique miracle of nature which the experts will explain to you - perfect, massive spherical stones measuring up to 3 m in diameter that have evolved from the sedimentary rock and are lying in the landscape like huge marbles. Hooker Island is located in the southwest of the archipelago. The "silent bay" Bukhta Tihaya may well be one of the most beautiful places in the Arctic. From 1929 to 1959, the Soviet Union maintained a base here which was permanently inhabited. The distinctive basalt rock Rubini Rock is home to black-legged kittiwakes and thick-billed murres which incubate their eggs amidst colourful lichens in the Arctic summer. At Cape Flora on Northbrook Island, various relics are reminiscent of the pioneering days of polar research. The base camp of the Jackson-Harmsworth-Expedition lay at the foot of the impressive escarpments of the plateau mountain which majestically rises out of the sea. It saved the life of Fridtjof Nansen who, exhausted after his futile attempt to reach the North Pole on foot, happened to meet Frederick George Jackson at Cape Flora. Retrace their footsteps yourself and marvel at the Arctic's diversity of animal and plant species while doing so. Soon after, it will be time for us to leave Franz Josef Land. Via Murmansk, the BREMEN sets sail for Norway, and from Honningsvag, you can join a drive to the North Cape* - the last of many highlights on an unforgettable expedition.
* These arrangements are not included in the cruise price. The
shore activities listed here are in the planning stage and are subject to changes.

A change in itinerary may become necessary on this expedition to the Arctic. The captain will decide on the best possible alternatives depending on weather and ice conditions.

Category	Cabin type	Price in Euros € (per person)	Cruise Only Fares in USD²
1	Two-berth, outside Deck 3	14,744 €	$17,693
2	Two-berth, outside Deck 4	16,524 €	$19,829
3	Two-berth, outside Deck 4	18,304 €	$ 21,965
4	Two-berth, outside Deck 5	20,074 €	$ 24,089
5	Two-berth, outside Deck 5	21,854 €	$ 26,225
5	Two-berth, outside, single occ. Decks 3-5	25,404 €	$ 30,485
6	Two-berth, outside, with balcony, Deck 6	25,404 €	$ 30,485
7	Two-berth suite, outside, with balcony, Deck 7	30,734 €	$ 36,881
0	Two-berth, outside, guaranteed cabin	14,744 €	$ 17,693

²United States Dollar prices are based on the current Euro to Dollar exchange rate as of January 9,2012 and are subject to change. These rates do not include airfare to or from Hanover.

Important note:
In planning, organisational and nautical terms respectively, this expedition to Franz Josef Land and to the Russian Arctic is one of the most challenging expedition cruises we offer. The BREMEN is one of only a limited number of ships to tackle this cruise adventure, which was carefully planned on the basis of average ice and weather data and upon in-depth consultation with the local Russian authorities. Despite meticulous preparations, the actual itinerary very much depends on the local conditions at the time of travel. Besides the weather and the ice, these are primarily determined by the decisions of the Russian authorities, who reserve the right to only grant the necessary approvals shortly before the beginning of the cruise and to also deny them where appropriate. As a matter of course, we will do everything in our power to be able to go ahead with this cruise as advertised. We would nevertheless like to inform you of these extraordinary circumstances at this early stage and raise your awareness of the fact that this cruise bears the traits of an expedition. In the case of the itinerary being significantly impacted by the authorities or the weather and ice, we plan to intensify our stay in the White Sea as well as heading for Spitsbergen as an alternative. You will be informed of any itinerary changes as early as possible. We wish you an unforgettable time aboard the BREMEN on a truly legendary expedition! Different Terms and Conditions of Travel apply to this cruise.

glaciers surround you as you sail into the Arctic circle