No, a visa is not required for entry to Spitsbergen. However, you do need a valid passport.

However, as the arrival by plane goes via Oslo, you must check whether your home country requires a visa for entry to Norway. If so, you must have a return transit visa for transit.

If the journey does not take place via the Norwegian mainland, these conditions do not apply.

The official currency on Svalbard is the Norwegian krone (NOK), but everyday life functions mainly without cash. We therefore recommend payments by credit or debit card.

Most shops also accept euros, USD or GBP. However, as the exchange rate is unfavourable, cash payments are not recommended. There is also no bank and no ATM on the island. It is therefore not possible to withdraw cash locally.

The weather conditions in the Arctic are very changeable and it is not uncommon to have different weather conditions on the same day. Besides wonderfully warm and sunny hours, there are also cold and windy days. With the right preparation, however, you can enjoy the island at any time of year.

In general, it is important to remember that you should dress according to the so-called "onion principle" when travelling here on Spitsbergen. Several layers of clothing, so you can take something off when it gets warmer and put something on when the wind comes up or the sun disappears behind clouds.

The space for your luggage varies on the different ships. In principle, however, it can be said that in each cabin there is enough space to accommodate the clothes you bring. If the suitcase or bag can not be stored directly in the cabin, then there is the possibility to store it somewhere else in the ship, so that you have more space in your cabin.

Each cabin is equipped with a closet, there is smaller storage space in drawers or compartments and there are various hooks distributed in the room.

No, there are generally no rubber boots on board that can be borrowed. The ships we work with are too small for that. The exception is the Ship Expedition with the SV Meander. There, rubber boots are included.

Rubber boots are the ideal footwear for expedition cruises and are highly recommended for such a tour. With a good, insulated and solid sole, they will get you ashore dry-footed and you can also manage hikes with this footwear.

If you don't have room in your luggage, you can also rent them from us.

You can find more information here: rubber boot rental

No, formal dress is not required at any time on the expeditions we organise.

It is important to have sufficient travel insurance for an expedition cruise. This is the responsibility of the traveller.

We also recommend that travel interruption insurance and travel cancellation insurance is taken out. This will also cover you in the event of an unexpected trip interruption during the expedition.

Above-average fitness is not a prerequisite for our ship expeditions.

However, good health is essential for this trip. In order to participate in all activities, it is important to be able to get on and off a Zodiac boat without any problems and to be able to walk well in different terrain.

In addition, there are various options on land, so that instead of a strenuous hike, an easy walk can always be chosen.

When travelling by boat on Svalbard, it is quite possible that the sea will be a bit rougher. This will mostly be when navigating between the individual islands. Once we are in a sheltered bay, we escape heavy seas.

If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend that you equip yourself with tablets or at least acupressure bands for this trip.

A small first-aid kit is available on the ships, which is needed for first-aid operations.

Personal medicines must be brought on board by the passengers themselves. It is possible to obtain specific medicines from the pharmacy or hospital in Longyearbyen, but this is very inconvenient.

No, on the smaller ships we travel with, there is no doctor on board.

However, the treatment of minor incidents is not a problem. Both the crew and the guides have extensive first aid training.

As soon as a simple scare is not sufficient, the hospital in Longyearbyen and the SAR team are contacted and if necessary a helicopter evacuation is initiated.

No, it is not common for the smaller ships to have Wi-Fi on board. In addition, as soon as we leave Longyearbyen, we are no longer connected to the mobile phone network.

It is advisable to check out with your loved ones at home before the journey and enjoy the trip under the motto: "No news, good news".

On expedition tours, all activities are included in the tour price.

Expedition tours differ from cruise tours mainly in these activities. The ship is your accommodation for the duration of the voyage and there are several daily activities, such as Zodiac rides, hikes or visits to a settlement, which do not have to be booked separately.

Additional costs on board may be incurred for alcohol consumption, souvenirs or tips for the crew and guides.

If an additional pre- or post-cruise programme extends your trip, this must be booked separately.

If you would like to share a single cabin on the cruise, you will have to pay a supplement.

If you would like to share a cabin but do not have a travel companion, most tour operators offer the option of sharing a cabin with another traveller of the same sex. In this case, there is no price surcharge. Most of the time, these encounters with like-minded people are very enjoyable and with a bit of luck, you will even have the cabin to yourself if no other guest with the same wishes could be found.

Although our experienced guides will do everything possible to fulfil this wish, we cannot guarantee this.

Polar bears are at home on Svalbard and there are various sightings throughout the year. On a boat expedition, the chances of seeing a polar bear are higher if everyone on board is on the lookout.