Arctic Svalbard Norway Cruise

What was really special was having some of the crew and guides from our previous trip. There were crew members whom we had no day-to-day dealings with and they would call us by name!!

We had an incredibly marvelous experience in Antarctica. The trip exceeded all expectations. Only nature could improve the voyage with calm conditions in the Drake Passage. The level of service was very enjoyable. The expedition crew was wonderful in sharing their knowledge and experience. Our personal butler checked on us doing the rough seas to make sure we were well and if we needed anything. The guest lecturer on astronomy added to the experience.

The level of service was very good, from the expedition team to our butler - just as good as on the other Silversea ship that I was on. If anything, this being a smaller ship, it's even better. In fact, I particularly enjoyed the history lectures given on board.

The staff and crew were all extremely friendly and really attempted to learn all the passengers’ names. This was especially nice since we felt they were doing it on their own and not with the expectation of a larger tip (since gratuities are all included).  We enjoyed having a butler we could call on any time, day or night. The food was exceptional, and quite varied. We appreciated that they had healthy options, too. We also thought the sommelier did an excellent job of choosing some special, interesting wines from all over the world for the ship. We never felt the need to purchase something else off their wine list. This may seem like a small thing, but again it made us feel that we received really good value for our money.

Pictures don't do Antarctica justice! The "other-worldly" scenery is simply spectacular! We especially enjoyed the other travelers aboard this ship -- interesting people from all over the world. And the casual atmosphere promoted onboard made for a relaxed, more-enjoyable experience for us as we've never enjoyed the "formal" nights on other cruise ships.

The crew was wonderful and attentive and gave as much personal service as one could possibly expect. Everyone seemed to know your name before you boarded....amazing. Only one small complaint: very small forward deck area which could be very crowded and no access to the bow.

The trip surpassed our expectations.The ship’s staff, guides and crew were all very professional and took very good care of us. We take this opportunity to thank them and congratulate the entire team.

We have already talked to her about a future trip to Antarctica, on the same ship. On board the ship, everything was pretty much letter-perfect. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the service was terrific. Overall, the trip exceeded our very high expectations!

We don't have much to compare to, since we have not done cruises before; but the service onboard the ship compares favorably to that of a top-notch hotel, and it's hard to ask for more than that.

For some years, we had talked about getting to Greenland. We had seen pictures of the icebergs at Disko Bay and thought it would be an amazing place to go. We thought we would eventually do it by flying in, but last spring we were struck by your email offering 50% off on the cruise. The entire trip was memorable, but the time in Disko Bay -- particularly at Ilulisat -- was tops. Apparently we got very lucky, as we were in a zodiac that got to see a major chunk of a very large iceberg fall off, at the mouth of the ice fjord!

Our ExpeditionTrips experience was fabulous again-definitely a 10.

We booked the trip for 2 primary reasons: 1) We had such a great trip to Antarctica we decided to try for another 'exotic' trip; and 2) The price was right. I think the most memorable part of the expedition was seeing a Polar Bear slide half way down a patch of snow on a mountainside on his back and then turnover and continue on his stomach.

The only request would be for more lectures on the large animals--there was only one. They had other lectures on the vegetation, geology, and history which were all good. However, I would have preferred more on the bears, foxes, etc.

We were a little disappointed in the quantity of wild life (4 bears, 2 foxes, 2 small groups of walrus, glimpses of 3 seals and 2 whales). We understand that our expectations may have been unrealistic-we were hoping for about twice as much. Also we were kept at a VERY SAFE distance, which may be necessary but made viewing without binoculars almost impossible.

We had a long term desire to go to Svalbard; Carl being a Norwegian, combined with the opportunities the expedition trip with the Silver Explorer gave us. Although from the beginning, we would have liked a smaller ship, however, we very much liked the Silver Explorer and the size and possibilities that it gave us.

We were very impressed by the nature at Lifdefjorden and the wonderful sight of the Monaco glacier and peaks when the sun made the remainder of the fog disappear. Some more memorable aspects were the sighting of a polar bear mother with her second year cub and the ice cruising in the zodiacs.

The staff, guides and crew did their utmost at any time. We had hoped to be able to circumnavigate Spitzbergen, but unfortunately it was not possible. There was too much ice after we had days with strong northerly winds. Apart from that, everything met our expectations by far.

The staff, guides and crew were all very knowledgeable in their field, and made us feel welcome. The bridge was open to visitors most of the time. If we had any issues with our cabin, they tried to address them promptly.

We enjoy trips that enable us to see animals in their natural habitat, and also trips that include incredible scenery. Because this trip had both in abundance, it's difficult to say that any one aspect was more memorable than the other. One piece of advice for people traveling out of Longyearbyen, especially if you book your own flights: Make sure you at least book the transfer package between the Longyearbyen airport and the ship (both ways). There didn't seem to be many taxis there, and you wouldn't want to get that far and miss it.

This was also my first �upscale� cruise and it was far more luxurious and comfortable than I had ever expected (or experienced). The guides, staff, and crew were fantastic without exception. I have always ventured to the far north for vacation and Svalbard has been on my �go to� list since I lived in Norway back in the late 1960�s. Zodiac riding through the drift ice at 80.07 N under bright skies and calm seas is a memory that will last a lifetime. Awesome!

The only thing that was a little uncomfortable was the emphasis on dressing up on a few nights.

There was actually less wildlife than I had expected, and it could have been improved by spending more time in the ice way up North. The staff were superb, and Stefan's sense of humor was a highlight.

I'd also like to mention that I received excellent service from the outdoor expedition supplier you recommended as well. The people there were very helpful. I did not expect the amazing service I experienced from Silversea, and it truly isn't possible that it could have been improved upon. I don't have words to describe my appreciation for their work.

I wanted to go to Antarctica because it was the only continent I hadn't visited. The most memorable part of the cruise was the zodiac visit to Paradise Harbor. I've traveled far and wide and I've never witnessed such peaceful beauty.

The staff, guides and crew went above and beyond all of my expectations. I had a small accident while ashore, and the expedition crew rushed me back to the ship and helped (with much difficulty) me aboard as I was unable to stand on my twisted ankle. The sea was also getting rough at the time. Several able seamen were required to lift me from the zodiac. After a thorough check up and treatment by the ship's doctor, I was further amazed at the level of service from the housekeeping staff. Our cabin housekeeper brought fresh ice packs every hour without being asked. This went on well into the night and certainly beyond what could possibly have been her regular work hours. The hotel manager even sent chocolates to the room! Of course I felt like a complete idiot that the accident happened at all; The crew gives more than one lesson on how to properly and safely exit the zodiac, relying on the four people standing on either side of you when you stand. I was so excited by what I saw that I ignored them completely and simply hopped off the side of the zodiac, stumbling over my own two feet when I fell. The entire incident could have been avoided if I'd just followed the simple instructions. And yet, none of the staff made any mention of my failure to pay attention and fussed over me for days! In the dining room, they assigned a member of the wait staff to follow me through the buffet line at breakfast and lunch to take my plate to the table while I walked on crutches. There were many other instances where the staff went above and beyond what could be considered even premium service. I doubt if I would have been as well cared for in my own home! I can't say enough good things about the people who crew the Silver Explorer.

Antarctica was always on our dream list, so when Richard's 70th and the Silver Explorer coincided we decided this was it! The staff, guides and crew were all excellent. The expedition staff (like all other staff) were professional, friendly, enthusiastic and very good at what they did (several came from South Africa - and from our own hometown of Knysna!). We always felt informed, safe and special. The food was also excellent.

The comfort and service aboard the Silver Explorer went beyond my expectations, as did the staff and crew; and the guides and speakers were very knowledgeable.