HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN EXPEDITION IN SVALBARD
Your Guide to Exploring the High ArcticImagine standing on the deck of a small expedition ship,...
When we think of an Arctic journey, we often imagine large cruise ships sailing slowly past glaciers while passengers watch from a distance.
Some ships cross the sea; others seem to preserve its memory. Polarfront belongs to the second group. She spent decades in the North Atlantic gathering meteorological and oceanographic data and now takes small groups into the Arctic.
With just 12 guests, Polarfront offers an intimate experience: landscapes viewed from the deck, conversations with the guides and itineraries that adapt to sea, ice and wildlife conditions. It is a different perspective for anyone dreaming of a Svalbard expedition, a voyage along the Norwegian coast or a journey to Greenland.
Built in Norway and delivered in 1976, Polarfront served for 34 years as a weather ship at Ocean Station M, about 450 kilometres off the Norwegian coast. Her crew collected temperature and salinity measurements at sea and, for a period, CO₂ data for NOAA.
After her service ended in 2010, the ship began a new life. Purchased and converted for travellers in 2017, she welcomed her first tourist expeditions in April 2018. Originally built to observe atmospheric and oceanic phenomena, Polarfront now explores the polar regions.
Her propulsion system was renewed in 2024. Electric motors powered by generator sets and a new five-bladed propeller were designed to reduce noise and vibration. Her operator, Latitude Blanche, reports a 35% reduction in fuel consumption compared with the previous configuration.
Polarfront is 55 metres long, 10 metres wide and has a 4.2-metre draught. Her stated maximum speed is 9 knots. The hull is reinforced for icy waters and the ship has anti-roll stabilisation.
Polarfront is not a full icebreaker, but she can navigate along the edge of the pack and in scattered ice, and may cross compact ice up to half a metre thick. Routes are always determined according to conditions and the captain’s decisions.
A maximum of 12 passengers travel with 10 crew members and 2 guides. This small scale allows a more relaxed experience and small-group shore landings and Zodiac outings.
Life onboard alternates exploration with time in the communal spaces. The Coriolis lounge hosts guide lectures and conversations about the day. There is also a dining room, a library with a shop, outdoor observation decks and access to the bridge.
For relaxation, enjoy a panoramic sauna and a Nordic hot tub on deck. Meals are prepared by the onboard chefs and served in the dining room. Starlink internet is available; electrical sockets are European, 220 V and 50 Hz.
Naturalist guides lead shore activities and Zodiac outings and offer talks during the voyage. The daily programme may change according to weather, sea, ice and sightings: the unexpected is part of a polar expedition. This is where Polarfront truly stands out.
Feel the cold air on your face beside a glacier. Hear the sound of ice breaking in the distance. Experience the overwhelming silence found only in such remote places on Earth.
It is a raw, immediate experience that is impossible to describe fully until you have lived it yourself.
Although our programme describes an itinerary, a true expedition has no fixed schedule. Each day depends on:
You might wake up to:
Zodiacs are your gateway to exploration, bringing you close to the environment.
Several open decks provide spacious observation areas overlooking the Arctic landscape. With her sturdy hull and two Zodiacs, Polarfront can reach secluded anchorages, offering encounters with Arctic wildlife and local communities. Visitors are welcome on the bridge, which offers panoramic views of the surroundings.
Travelling aboard Polarfront requires a certain outlook.
Polarfront combines maritime and scientific history with an intimate travel experience. With 12 passengers, eight suites and a large crew relative to the ship’s capacity, she offers a more personal way to explore the North.
For travellers seeking a small-group Arctic expedition, a deeper understanding of the landscapes and a flexible itinerary, Polarfront is a distinctive ship. She is a mobile base for observing the Arctic closely, with time to listen to its silence and follow its changes.
FRAMTours offers journeys and expeditions in the polar regions. For information about departures, destinations and ways to travel, contact our team. We will be happy to help you find the Arctic experience that suits you.
No crowds.
No packaged experiences.
Just you, the Arctic and the unknown.
