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KAPITAN
DRANITSYN
"Kapitan Dranitsyn"
is a powerful conventional
propelled ice breaker, constructed in
1982
at shipyard Wartsila, Finland.
"Kapitan Dranitsyn"
is a powerful ice breaker intended
for working in the conditions of the
Northern Sea Route and the Baltic Sea. Since
1993
this ice breaker has paved the way to the
most remote places on our planet. Within the
last few years she was modified and achieved
the class as a passenger vessel in addition
to all the international certificates.
"Kapitan Dranitsyn"
has
49
comfortable outside cabins for
100
passengers. All the cabins
have: a big bathroom, a desk and two beds.
Standard cabin is intended for comfortable
accommodation of three people. Public places
include spacious drawing rooms, bars, warmed
swimming pool, gym and sauna. From the
navigation bridge you can see excellent
views and the landscapes can be admired from
all the decks. The vessel has a library, a
lift and a small hospital.
View the Franz Josef Land
Photo Gallery
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Helsinki -
Murmansk - Franz Josef Land - Murmansk -
Helsinki Franz Josef Land
archipelago is the closest land to the North
Pole in the Eastern Hemisphere (about 540
miles to the North Pole from its utmost
Northern point). It was discovered 132 years
ago by the "Tegetthof" expedition. Nowadays it
is one of the rare 'wild' places left on Earth
(it is unpopulated except one small Russian
military base in the utmost west). The
archipelago consists of 191 islands, 83% of
them are covered with permanent ice.
The passengers should keep in mind that
this is a unique expedition to a remote and
very little explored part of the globe. Our
sample itineraries should therefore be read as
a guide only, depending heavily on weather and
ice conditions, as well as on other
circumstances. The landing sites, listed in
this itinerary, might be changed, should the
insuperable obstacles (such as hard ice and
unsuitable weather conditions, or governmental
and administrative orders) appear.
Nevertheless, our Expedition Team will do
their best to accomplish as many landings as
possible, taking good care of your exploration
time. Franz Josef Land is a home to polar
bears, walruses, seals and a great variety of
Arctic birds. All of them are likely to be
seen all over the archipelago, so the
following program contains no special
reference to Arctic fauna representatives that
we expect to watch.
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Prices
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| Triple Cabin |
TBA |
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| Twin Cabin |
TBA |
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| Suite |
TBA |
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| Corner Suite |
TBA |
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Rates per person in US Dollars,
based on double occupancy. The
rate of single occupancy is 1.7
times the shared rate.
Expedition rates include:
*
Transfers between the airport, ship
and airport;
*
Baggage transfer between the airport
and the ship;
*
Voyage aboard the vessel "Kapitan
Dranitsyn" as indicated in the
itinerary;
*
All shore excursions and activities
throughout the voyage by "Zodiacs"
and helicopters (as included in
planned group excursions);
*
Program of lectures by noted
naturalists and the service of an
experienced guide;
*
Four meals a day;
*
Special expedition parka.
Not included:
*
Airfares;
*
Passport and visa expenses (if
required);
*
Government arrival and departure
taxes (if required);
*
Meals ashore and supplement for
single hotel accommodation (if
required);
*
Baggage, cancellation and personal
insurance (which is strongly
recommended);
*
Excess baggage charges;
telecommunication services; laundry,
bar and beverage charges;
*
Standard tips at the end of the
voyage for stewards and other
service personal aboard (at your
discretion). |
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Day 1
A charter
flight from Helsinki arrives at the Murmansk
airport. After the bus transfer we embark
the icebreaker
"Kapitan Dranitsyn". The first evening
aboard you have time on your own.
Please feel
free to explore the ship, but listen to
radio announcements carefully: your
expedition
leader will
want to welcome you.
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Day 2
The whole day we are
at sea on the way to Franz Josef Land . We
shall spend this day getting to learn more
about our icebreaker - you'll need to have a
good idea of inner layout of the vessel to
be able to get around well. Expedition staff
members, helicopter pilots and crew officers
are introduced to the passengers in the
Lecture Hall. Mandatory lifeboat drill and
instructions on how to use helicopters,
Zodiac type boats and rescue facilities
follow.
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Day 3
We expect to reach
the archipelago towards late evening today,
should the weather allow us to do it. The
officers on duty at the navigation bridge
keep a constant watch for the Arctic
Wildlife to advise the tourists timely.
Weather permitting, we might have BBQ on the
open deck. Today we might also land on the
Bell Island for a hike in order to visit the
house built by Lee Smith expedition in 1881
that has remained in perfect condition up to
now. Wonderful sight to have a picture of!
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Day 4
In the morning we
are to attempt our landing at Cape Flora on
Nordbrook Island , discovered by Lee Smith
expedition in 1880. They had to winter on
this island after the steam yacht "Aira" had
been crushed by ice and sunk in the
immediate proximity of the coast. Jackson
expedition (1894-1897) dwelled here longer
than any other one and made a major
contribution to the exploration of the
archipelago. A whole settlement was built by
the expedition; its remains may be seen
there nowadays. In 1897 a memorable meeting
of Jackson and Nansen took place on the
island. Several memorial stellas were
erected on the island over past decades, to
commemorate the daring Arctic explorers. A
huge sea birds colony has its home on the
cliffs towering over the southern side of
Cape Flora .
Today we are also to
reach Tikhaya Bay on Hooker Island . There
is a huge cliff in the bay, the famous
Rubini Rock, the home to thousands of sea
birds. We will try to approach the cliff as
close as possible, but very cautiously in
order to watch kittiwakes and other Arctic
birds without disturbing them. There is a
derelict polar station in the bay. Weather
permitting, we will go ashore.
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Day 5
During the night we
sail to Cape Norway on Jackson Island . In
1895-1896 Nansen and Johansen wintered here
for over 7 months, after a failed attempt to
conquer the North Pole.
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Day 6
Today we are at
Stolichky and Appolonov Islands . The main
attraction of the islands is walrus
rookeries. We will lower our boats and get
to the rookeries as close as possible.
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Day 7
Cape Heller on
Wilczek Island . In 1899 two sailors,
members of the Welle expedition wintered
there, waiting for the core of the group
that was trying to conquer the North Pole.
As everywhere on Franz Josef Land , we are
very likely to view Polar bears and sea
mammals. Attracted by unfamiliar smells, the
bears come to the very board of the vessel
and rising to the hind paws sniff the air...
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Day 8
Our goal is
Champ Island in the very center of the
archipelago. The landscape here is majestic:
the cliffs and ice-capped mountains are the
highest on the archipelago. We are to land
onto the island to see the remarkable
creations of the Mother Nature: the stones
of ideal spherical shape (up to 3 m of
diameter).
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Day 7
Cape Heller on
Wilczek Island . In 1899 two sailors,
members of the Welle expedition wintered
there, waiting for the core of the group
that was trying to conquer the North Pole.
As everywhere on Franz Josef Land , we are
very likely to view Polar bears and sea
mammals. Attracted by unfamiliar smells, the
bears come to the very board of the vessel
and rising to the hind paws sniff the air...
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Day 8
Our goal is
Champ Island in the very center of the
archipelago. The landscape here is majestic:
the cliffs and ice-capped mountains are the
highest on the archipelago. We are to land
onto the island to see the remarkable
creations of the Mother Nature: the stones
of ideal spherical shape (up to 3 m of
diameter).
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Day 9
We are at
Alger Island . Our goal today is to land at
the wintering place of the American Arctic
expedition headed by A. Baldwin. If the
weather is calm, we will lower Zodiac crafts
and dodge among drifting icebergs in order
to admire the view, and to take pictures of
these majestic giants from the very sea
level. If the weather conditions are
favorable, we might spend another evening at
Hall Island , where expedition headed by
Weyprecht and Payer has first seen the land
( Cape Tegetthoff ).
The island
sights are very impressive: huge cliffs
resembling dorsal fins of gigantic sharks
submerge into the depths. The remains of
wooden structures built by the Wellman
expedition (1898-1899) are still there. With
a sorrow of goodbye we leave this
awe-inspiring archipelago in the late
evening this day.
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Day 10
It might be a
sea-day on the way to Murmansk . But still,
just as during the old-times expeditions we
do hope for the best. Franz Josef Land
consists of more than 190 islands - good
possibilities of its further exploration
have not been exhausted yet! But once again
- the unpredictable Arctic weather is the
Master over Franz Josef Land Archipelago. To
cope with it somehow, and to give you as
many opportunities for exploration as
possible - we might propose a night or early
morning operation (landing, zodiac cruising,
helicopter round flight).
Please,
consider it!
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Day 11
The whole day
we are at sea. We get together for our
farewell meeting and review our cruise
experience. We recall the unforgettable
places we have visited and the wonderful
wildlife of the islands, animals and birds -
dwellers of these astonishing, though severe
regions, which we have seen.
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Day 12
In the morning
we arrive to Murmansk . We disembark and are
transferred to the local airport for the
charter flight to Helsinki.
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