Kumashiroya / Entertainment
Everything on this page except the fjord kayak trips is included in both ticket types and open to guests of every age, unless noted. Alcoholic drinks are not included. The casino has its own page.
A typical evening
Times vary a little from day to day. The daily programme is delivered to your cabin each afternoon.
The walls, the bar and the glasses are all ice. Our ice sculptor carves glasses on board, and on a quiet evening you can watch yours being made. Thermal capes and gloves wait at the door, and visits are kept short so nobody gets too cold.
Hot drinks and alcohol-free cocktails are always on the menu; alcoholic drinks are charged extra. On the last morning the Ice Bar opens early for a farewell breakfast before we reach Bergen.
Marine biologists talk about polar bears, whales and the changing Arctic: how sea ice forms and melts, what the bears eat when it is gone, and how scientists count whales from the air.
Polar bears live on Svalbard, far north of our route, so you will meet them on the big screen rather than from the deck. Seabirds and seals are common along the coast; whales are possible but never guaranteed.
A crew member keeps watch from the top deck and sends an alert to cabins when the sky turns interesting, with hot chocolate waiting outside.
Honest timing: the June and July sailings run under the midnight sun, when the sky is too bright to see the aurora, so the watch becomes a midnight-sun watch. In mid-August the nights start to darken and the aurora becomes possible, but it is never guaranteed.
A wood-lined sauna with a window onto the sea, and a cold plunge pool on the open deck for anyone brave enough. Towels and robes are provided; book a time slot at the spa desk on the first day.
Guided kayak trips at port stops, in small groups with a guide in front and one behind. Dry suits, gloves and buoyancy aids are provided, and no experience is needed. Trips depend on the weather; the guide has the final word.
Shore excursions are not included in the ticket price. Places and prices are confirmed by your manager.
Documentary screenings every evening: polar expeditions, whales, the people of the far north. Blankets are on the seats, and on the southbound sea day the cinema runs a double bill.