Life on Board Nooderlicht

Life on board Noorderlicht

Exploring the Arctic Circle and the wilderness of Svalbard with expedition vessel Noorderlicht is an experience of a lifetime. This breathtaking landscape is certainly best explored from the water, from the comfort of your own tall ship. 

Sleeping and Relaxation

The interior of Noorderlicht is authentically decorated, giving it an informal, cosy, and nautical atmosphere. The upper and lower deck saloons have spacious cushioned seating and dining areas, providing enough space for 12 guests to enjoy meals, compare photos, or simply relax and read books. There is a small onboard library filled with informative literature about the wildlife, history, and geology of Svalbard. The upper saloon is also where the bar sits, the coffee pot is also on, and guests are welcome to use the bar as they wish, using an honesty tab. 

The sleeping area is situated at the lower deck in 10 twin cabins. All cabins have bunk berths, plenty of built-in storage, a washbasin, a mirror and charging ports. All bedding and towels are provided so you don’t need to bring your own. There are four communal toilets/showers throughout the ship which are cleaned daily when guests are on shore landings. Each bathroom has shampoo, conditioner and body wash dispensers for guests to use.

A typical day

Wake up to the smell of fresh coffee as you watch the mist rise over dramatic landscapes. Noorderlicht’s summer voyages in Svalbard all take place in the midnight sun, which means 24/7 daylight. Our ship’s cook serves a continental breakfast, followed usually by the first shore landing around 9 a.m. Shore landings are always dependent on the weather – if it’s too misty with poor visibility, the risk of a polar bear sneaking around is too large to ignore! The plans are always flexible and the guides will always update guests throughout the day. 

After the first shore landing (always tailored to the needs and wishes of the group) it’ll be back aboard for a hearty lunch, usually as the boat travels to the next anchorage. The afternoons are normally a relaxed affair, reading, napping, chatting and just observing the magnificence of the elemental beauty surrounding you. 

Noorderlicht aims to do two shore landings a day. They are not mandatory, and if you wish to remain aboard, that’s fine, too! The second landing is normally in the late afternoon, before dinner. There is also the option to climb the bow nets and climb the mast to the crow’s nest!

The food

If we have learned anything from our years of experience on sailing ships, it is the importance of good food on a ship! Although the Arctic area gives rise to limitations on the possibilities and supplies of the food onboard, our professional cook will prepare you excellent meals from the international kitchen three times a day. Breakfast is served at 8 am, a continental breakfast with fresh bread, cooked eggs, meat and vegetables, cheeses, yoghurt, cereals, muesli and fresh fruit.

The cook aims to serve lunch around 1 pm, although this will always be flexible depending on the time spent ashore. Coffee, teas and soft drinks are available from the honesty bar throughout the day and everyone is responsible for keeping the coffee pot topped up and the kettle hot! Fresh fruit and biscuits are available throughout the day. Dinner is usually served at about 7.30 pm. The cook encourages any guests with dietary needs to pop in the galley and have a quick chat with him on the first day.

Your safety 

Noorderlicht sails in Svalbard with a rotation crew: a Captain, first mate, cook, deckhand, and engineer. To meet the strict regulations for operating in Svalbard, she also has two registered guides on every voyage. This ensures the culture, environment, and, most importantly, the safety of our guests and crew are maintained. Our guides are authorised for Svalbard Guide Training (SGO) and many of our guides are educated as Arctic Nature Guides (ANG).

They are an invaluable part of the team and are responsible for your safety ashore at all times. They possess a vast amount of knowledge about the local area, wildlife, and weather conditions. They are all incredibly passionate about what they do and love to share their wonder of the natural world with guests.

The guides lead the way on the day-to-day planning and shore landings. They talk through everything, from getting on and off the boat, in and out of the tender, to how to walk ashore and react to polar bears. They work in tandem to scan every shore landing and “clear the area of bears”, establishing two high points for maximum visibility. Guests need to stay between the guides at all times, although the radius is more generous than you’d expect, so you still feel very much free to roam. The route is discussed together so everyone is always as informed as they can be.

The first evening is spent observing and listening to a series of safety talks and expectations for the week. A few words from the first mate about the operation of the boat, the toilets and most importantly, keeping the coffee pot full. An alarm drill to establish the muster station is a good guest bonding experience as you help each other in and out of life jackets! It’s split over a few hours, with tea and coffee in between.