Polar bears, penguins and stunning fjords - Delve into the Arctic and Antarctica with Poseidon Expeditions

Picture this - a small, intimate ship, maximum time ashore, open decks, experts ready to utilise and a plush level of onboard comfort. Well, Poseidon Expeditions offers all this and more.

Poseidon Expeditions is one of just two worldwide operators who offer North Pole voyages aboard a mighty icebreaker. The line also goes one step further and spends almost all its time in the Arctic and Antarctica year-round to gain unmatched expertise.

Hop onboard m/v Sea Spirit and enjoy the intimacy that only a capacity of 114 passengers possesses. Of course, with the opportunity to take part in at least two to three activities per day, you will appreciate returning to either learn more with the onboard educational enrichment programme or simply just sitting back and relaxing.

If you fancy an adventure for 2022 and beyond, then read on to discover who Poseidon Expeditions is and the hand-selected itineraries that are waiting for you - with each itinerary boasting a 30% discount currently, we're booking our ticket right now.

In-depth Arctic expedition & polar bear safari

Svalbard

Explore every inch of Svalbard - the home of the world's northernmost, well, almost everything.

If you are a newbie explorer, Svalbard is the perfect place to start and Poseidon Expeditions' 'In-depth Arctic expedition & polar bear safari' brings you right to the action from 16 to 29 July, 2023.

Start your holiday with a one-night hotel stay in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, where you can enjoy the freedom of stepping out of your idyllic hotel to explore the walkable town centre. Keep your eye out for reindeer prowling throughout the town - you certainly won't find that in your local town centre.

One thing you may not notice initially is that the streets actually have no name, this is where your navigation skills will come in handy and where the adventure begins!

Ensure that you visit the Svalbard Museum to learn some fascinating history before heading over to a quaint restaurant for some dinner, where you will notice that the sun never sets.

- READ MORE: Discover new expedition cruise ships for 2022 -

Welcome onboard

After a morning of continuing your explorations of Longyearbyen, you will be transferred to the pier in the afternoon to be welcomed onboard Sea Spirit.

Get to know your new home away from home and delve into the world of expedition cruising.

Meet your friendly expedition team who are prepped and ready for your thousands of questions about the region before enjoying a delectable dinner and spending the evening on an open deck to make the most of the 24-hour daylight and stunning scenery.

Ensure you keep an eye out for any passing wildlife as you set sail through the waters of Isfjorden.

Explore the Arctic wilderness

Enjoy the unpredictability of an Arctic cruise with Poseidon Expeditions, as the exact route will be influenced by the weather, sea ice as well as the expertise of your expedition experts and captain.

So, go where the sea takes you. If you are embarking during the summer, then the weather will guarantee you favourable ice conditions so you can go completely around Spitsbergen as well as to the northeastern most part of Svalbard's archipelago, Kvitøya.

Highlights include plenty of wildlife sighting opportunities, especially in the sizable Northwest Svalbard Nature Reserve, where it is likely you will bump into polar bears and walruses as well as see seabirds overhead.

This nature reserve also features the massive Austfonna ice cap, which lies alongside the sea along a 45km ice cliff - truly a sight to behold.

Follow in the footsteps of explorers and visit Kvitøya, also known as the White Island, which - fun fact - is the most rarely visited island due to not being accessible to many expedition ships. This island is completely covered in ice and the Swedish polar explorer Salomon August Andrée ended his failed polar balloon expedition here.

Disembark

After you have made memories to last a lifetime, it's time to disembark the ship - after indulging in one last buffet breakfast of course.

Realm of Penguins and Icebergs

If Antarctica has been at the top of your bucket list for years - then this is the cruise for you.

Start your adventure off with a one-night stay in the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia on the 'Realm of Penguins and Icebergs' itinerary, departing 10 to 20 December, 2022, 8 to 19 February, 2022, 18 to 1 March, 2023, 12 to 22 November, 2023, and more - you are spoilt for choice!

Explore the wide variety of nature by hiking or cycling before indulging in traditional Argentinian fare such as tender Patagonian lamb before hopping onboard for the first time.

- READ MORE: A complete guide to adventure cruising -

After you embark on your adventure base, m/v Sea Spirit, you will sail across the famous Drake Passage where you can spot an array of humpback whales and fin whales - be sure to have your camera ready to make the memory last a lifetime.

Other glimpses of wildlife you may spot include albatross and a selection of subantarctic seabirds such as puffins - luckily for you, you'll have expansive open decks as well as your personal balcony to observe in ultimate comfort.

Expand your mind as you cross the Antarctic Convergence (which marks the true outer edge of Antarctica) and learn all about the wonders of Antarctica from the experts onboard.

Arriving in the South Shetland Islands, the northernmost islands in Antarctica, on the evening of your second day at sea, dive into the very best that the region has to offer.

Gaze at the impressive landscapes - from mountain peaks to icebergs of every size imaginable.

While you're admiring the view, you will most likely spot a penguin (or ten or twenty!) foraging at sea - or - even witness pairs of penguins taking turns incubating their eggs.

Don't worry, you won't miss any of the wildlife action as Poseidon's knowledgeable guides will lead a hike or a kayak session so you can get the best view of seals, penguins, leopard seals and much, much more.

Like a true expedition explorer, your route will be shaped by the weather and ice conditions, yet, with a staggering 20 hours of daylight per day, you have plenty of time and light to explore.

You will then navigate back across the Drake Passage before disembarking in Ushuaia to reflect upon the experience of a lifetime.

M/v Sea Spirit

Across all of these stunning itineraries (did we mention there's 30% off?), Sea Spirit is the ship that takes you there.

As the epitome of a flexible ship, Sea Spirit will take you to wherever the action is. Whether there is a pod of whales to follow or a ice-clad mountain vista to sail past - she'll take you there.

Onboard, not only is there ample opportunity to network with your fellow passengers and expedition experts, but you can also find open decks which are perfect for wildlife spotting.

You have plenty of cabins to choose from - perhaps opt for the most luxurious of them all with the Owners Suite at a staggering 678 square feet with a separate living room and jetted bathtub.

Alternatively, if you like to pinch your pennies and are travelling in a group, go for the triple suite. At 226 square feet, the room features two comfortable twin beds and a sofa bed alongside a safe, mini-fridge, TV and hair dryer.

We really feel like we have found you the perfect way to explore the Arctic - and with 30% off these select sailings, you can't go wrong!