Abercrombie & Kent to Cruise the Arctic in 2013

Abercrombie & Kent was one of the first expedition outfitters to marry the term "luxury" with "adventure travel." Over the years the company has continually created new and interesting itineraries, and recently added a new voyage to its 2013 roster called An Arctic Cruise Adventure: Polar Bear Country.

To make this Polar voyage a reality, the company has chartered Compagnie du Ponant's luxurious expedition ship MV Le Boreal. This agile vessel will help guests discover the majestic beauty of Norway's Svalbard archipelago from July 15–30, 2013.

Changing weather conditions are opening up places that few visitors have ever seen in this region, and this itinerary will reach the ice edge where polar bears roam, just 600 miles from the North Pole. Passengers can took forward to picture-perfect sites like snow-capped mountains and crystal blue glaciers as well as up-close encounters with wildlife like polar bear, reindeer, musk oxen, walrus, seals, and a variety of birds, including puffins.

As the Abercrombie & Kent team of naturalists, geologists, historians, marine biologists, ornithologists, and photographers search for the best wildlife sightings, they'll also point out Greenland's Bronze Age villages, Inuit settlements, and Iceland's extinct volcano of Snaefellsjokull.

Only a handful of ships visit the Arctic each year and this voyage promises to be one of the most luxurious. (Silversea's Silver Explorer also offers a five-star expedition in the area.)

Le Boréal is a 132-cabin mega-yacht outfitted with the most advanced stabilization system that helps it combat rough seas and provides a smooth sail for its guests. The ship has an ice rating exceeding what's required in the Arctic and is also equipped with the latest navigation, communications, and safety equipment, including a satellite weather system that receives real-time images of weather and ice conditions. The ship offers a variety of stateroom configurations, including two-room, two-bath suites for families. All cabins feature a private balcony.

This 16-day Arctic itinerary includes pre-cruise lodging in Oslo, a charter flight to Longyearbyen, on-board lectures, twice-daily shore and Zodiac excursions, most drinks, and crew/staff gratuities. The per person, double occupancy rate is $11,995.

Photo credits: Photos courtesy of Compagnie du Ponant.