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+44 207 384 2332 Plan Your Trip
GBP (£)
  • GBP (£)
  • US DOLLARS ($)
+44 207 384 2332 Plan Your Trip
+44 207 384 2332 Plan your trip
Expedition Ship
The Arctic

MS Sjøveien

MS Sjøveien
MS Sjøveien
MS Sjøveien
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MS Sjøveien

Highlights

  • An intimate expedition for just 12 guests: With space for only a dozen passengers, MS Sjøveien offers one of the most exclusive ways to explore Svalbard. The small group size allows for a highly personalised experience and easy access to the expedition team throughout your voyage.
  • Explore where larger ships simply can’t: Purpose-built for polar waters, MS Sjøveien’s compact dimensions allow her to navigate narrow fjords, shallow bays and remote anchorages that are inaccessible to larger expedition vessels, opening up quieter corners of the Arctic.
  • Exceptional wildlife encounters: Svalbard is one of the world’s finest wildlife destinations. Depending on conditions, you may encounter polar bears, walrus, Arctic foxes, reindeer, whales and vast seabird colonies, with your expert guides helping you interpret every sighting.
  • Flexible itineraries shaped by nature: Rather than following a rigid schedule, each voyage adapts to sea ice, weather and wildlife opportunities. This flexibility maximises your chances of unforgettable encounters and allows the captain to take advantage of changing Arctic conditions.
  • Immersive daily exploration: Almost every day brings opportunities to head ashore by Zodiac, walk across the tundra, visit historic trapping cabins or cruise beneath towering glaciers, ensuring you experience the Arctic from every perspective.
  • Comfortable Scandinavian hospitality: Life on board is relaxed and informal, with comfortable cabins, hearty Nordic-inspired cuisine and welcoming communal spaces where you can unwind, share the day’s adventures and learn more from the expedition team.
MS Sjøveien

Features

  • Constructed: Built in Norway in 1964 as an ice-strengthened working vessel. Extensively refurbished in 2017, transforming her into an elegant expedition yacht while retaining much of her classic Scandinavian character.
  • Capacity: Accommodates just 12 guests in eight outside cabins, creating one of the most intimate expedition experiences available anywhere in the Arctic.
  • Expedition Team: Two experienced expedition guides lead Zodiac cruises, shore landings, wildlife encounters and engaging onboard presentations, giving the ship an exceptional guide-to-guest ratio.
  • Crew: A professional crew of seven, including an experienced captain, engineer, chef and hospitality team, ensures a safe, comfortable and highly personalised voyage.
  • Speed: Cruises at around 11 knots, providing the flexibility to adapt itineraries to wildlife sightings, sea ice and changing weather conditions.
  • Size: Measuring approximately 41 metres in length, MS Sjøveien’s compact size allows her to reach narrow fjords, secluded bays and remote anchorages inaccessible to larger expedition ships.
  • Dining: All meals are served together in a welcoming dining room, where hearty Nordic-inspired cuisine is accompanied by ever-changing Arctic views through large picture windows.
  • Leisure: Facilities include a comfortable lounge with library and bar, spacious observation decks, an open bridge policy and a traditional wood-fired hot tub on deck – a memorable place to relax after a day’s exploration.
  • Cabins: Eight comfortable, outward-facing cabins all feature private en-suite bathrooms. Accommodation ranges from cosy twin cabins with portholes to spacious superior cabins with large windows and additional living space.
  • Top Tip: With only 12 guests, MS Sjøveien feels more like a private yacht than an expedition ship. Shore landings are exceptionally quick, itineraries remain highly flexible and you’ll often enjoy wildlife encounters without another vessel in sight.

Good to know

Are children welcome?

Yes, children are welcome on board MS Sjøveien, but it is best suited to older children and teenagers with an interest in wildlife and adventure rather than young families.

Giving back

MS Sjøveien offers a naturally low-impact way to explore the Arctic. With just 12 guests, responsible wildlife viewing and carefully managed shore landings, the focus is on preserving Svalbard’s fragile ecosystems. The ship itself has been thoughtfully refurbished rather than replaced, while expert guides help foster a greater understanding of Arctic conservation throughout the voyage.

Why we love MS Sjøveien

It’s the rhythm of life on board that stayed with us. There’s no rush, no formalities and no sense of being part of a production line. Whether you’re warming up beside the wood-fired hot tub after a Zodiac cruise or chatting with the captain on the bridge, the experience feels refreshingly authentic and distinctly Scandinavian.

Caroline 130
Caroline Maber

Specilises in

Latin America, The Caribbean and Polar Regions
MS Sjøveien in Svalbard

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team member on an arctic adventure
Karen Chapman
Caroline 230
Caroline Maber