Firstly, thank you to Georgie, who again helped us with the planning of this holiday and was always quick to answer any queries. We chose this cruise because of the itinerary and weren't disappointed. We got to sail 81 degrees north and see puffins, arctic terns, walrus and polar bears in their natural habitat. The ship was brand new and at first
...read more we thought it a bit too "glitzy" but we came to like its varied spaces, lighting, décor and the many dining options. The food and service was outstanding, and our deluxe veranda suite very comfortable.
Our only gripe was the flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen. We were divided into two groups, one group had a chartered direst flight to Longyearbyen and were served a meal. We were on a much longer, regular SAS flight which flew via Tromso, requiring us to go through security and immigration again. Any food or drink required payment, including water. We arrived at the ship much later in the afternoon than the other group.