• 15-day Cruise to the North Pole
• Breaking thick pack-ice in the Polar Ocean
• Stopovers in Franz-Josefs-Land
• An Exclusive First Class Adventure
• The North-Pole: The Dream of a Life comes true

At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century the conquest of the North Pole had been one of the last great challenges on earth. The race was won by the American Robert E. Peary, who - with the help of Polar Eskimos - reached the Pole on April 6th in 1909.
Peary had ambitiously achieved his life-goal. The message he sent back to New York lateron read: "Stars and Stripes are nailed on the Pole".

The North Pole is the point, from which all meridians begin. The only possible direction to go is 'South'. The Pole is a geographical point in the midth of the Polar Ocean, to be described simply by its latitude as '90 degrees North'.

Times have changed. Nowadays you may reach the Pole without excessive strain or life-dangerous adventures. You can reach this destination rather relaxed, enjoying the First Class comfort and service of a very extraordinary vessel: a nuclear powered Russian ice-breaker, which can accommodate a few selected passengers: the '50 Years of Victory'!

However, even for this ship it is not easy to reach the Pole. The ice-cap on the Polar Ocean remains to be challenge: it is some 6,5 to 10 feet thick and shifting. Imagine how mighty and reliable a vessel has to be, to break these ice-masses. At times the '50 Years of Victory' really has to utilize all of it's enormous nuclear power, to make its way.
On the way to the Pole we shall come across walruses', seals and birds' rookeries. Polar bears might get curious enough to approach the icebreaker to examine it from a very close distance. Sometimes they rise onto their rear paws, coming very close to the ship… It is a sort of a Zoo vice versa - with animals studying humans…

Please keep in mind, that this is a unique expedition to a remote and very little explored part of the globe. Our sample itinerary should therefore be read as a guide only, heavily dependent on weather-, ice-conditions and other circumstances.



Scheduled Itinerary:

Your independent arrival at Helsinki international airport is followed by transfer to a 5 star hotel located in the center of the city. Your guides will meet you at the lobby of the hotel.
Please, note: If your time of arrival does not match the time of the group transfer, please, contact us for booking an individual transfer for you.

After a short Helsinki city tour we will go to the airport for our 2-hour flight to Murmansk. We'll board the "50 Years of Victory" and leave the city port passing Kola Bay in the evening.

The Barent Sea. We head northward towards the Franz Josef Land archipelago. In the meantime we will be shown around the ship and the sophisticated technical equipment in the engine room. Safety and helicopter instructions are obligatory for every passenger.

We cross latitude 80° North and penetrate into the remote world of ancient pack ice, towering volcanic mountains, icebergs and glaciers. Discovered only in 1873 by an Austrian expedition aboard the "Tegetthoff", most of the archipelago remains largely unexplored.
Our onboard helicopters will afford astonishing views of the area's magnificent landscape.
If the weather and ice approve of our expedition plans we'll call at Tikhaya (Calm) Bay to view Rubini Rock with numerous seabird colonies. Our experienced Captain will do his best to approach the sheer basalt cliff closest possible.
If there is no fog by the coast of the bay, we will witness a deserted research station.

We have good chances to encounter polar bears and walruses whilst passing by the archipelago. Walruses are imposing, while the touching behavior of polar bears sometimes makes us forget about the wild and predatory nature of these animals. Attracted by the unfamiliar object and smell curious polar bears approach close to the ship, offering an excellent photographic opportunities.

It's hard to say whether the achievement of a goal is more exciting than the process of achieving it. The experience of watching the 75,000 horsepower '50 Years of Victory' battling its way through some of the toughest ice in the world may be one of the most memorable. Experiencing the breath-taking views of the operating icebreaker as observed from our helicopters will further deepen your emotions. If we find a suitable block of ice we can take a walk on the ice.


We expect to reach the North Pole in the evening. We hope to find a suitable ice floe to disembark and have the North Pole picnic on the ice. Now you know what it is like: standing on the top of the world. The most daring can take a plunge into the Arctic Ocean. You can literally have a round-the-world walk in our International round dance.

Though the North Pole is the main goal of our expedition, our adventure is not over yet and we have some more interesting things to see in the latter part of our expedition. Our icebreaker is heading south, smashing through ice hummocks and pack ice. If weather and ice conditions are not against our plans we will visit some places on the Franz Josef Land archipelago.

You will have time to share your emotions with your companions and the expedition-team; it will take time to comprehend that you now belong to a small, exclusive group of people, who have conquered the North Pole.
After disembarkation in the port of Murmansk we will fly to Helsinki to spend one more evening in the capital of Finnland.

After breakfast group busses will take us to the international airport for the flight home. Please, note: If your time of arrival does not match the time of the group transfer, please, contact us for booking an individual transfer for you.


The Icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" is one of the most powerful and sophisticated ships in the world. Designed as a working ship for ploughing Russia's sea routes in the North, the "50 Years of Victory" can crash through the thickest and heaviest ice. This remarkable vessel combines advanced technology and comfortable passenger accommodation. The Crew of the "50 Years of Victory" consists of 150 persons.
Passengers aboard "50 Years of Victory" are lodged in 50 outside cabins (i.e., having windows or portholes) and the first class cabins with all conveniences including large portholes, desk, television, etc. Public areas include a large passenger lounge (that can accommodate all passengers at once), restroom, cinema/lecture hall, basketball court, gymnasium, and an indoor swimming pool filled with heated seawater, in addition to a sauna. The Bridge (open almost around the clock) and wide open decks at various levels provide splendid views from the ship. The vessel is equipped with the most up-to-date satellite navigation system and communication equipment, including a telephone, telex, fax and e-mail. The "50 Years of Victory" also has a good library and a small infirmary.

Superb cuisine! Qualified chefs prepare varied international cuisine, and experienced staff attends your needs. The bar has a large supply of alcoholic and soft drinks.

I/b "50 Years of Victory" belongs to the Russian government and is operated by Murmansk Shipping Company.

2 overnights in a 5* hotel in Helsinki with breakfast;;

Flight Helsinki - Murmansk tur/retur

Transfers between Airport Murmansk and Vessel;

Luggage transfer between Airport Murmansk and Vessel;

Voyage aboard the vessel '50 Years of Victory' as indicated in the itinerary;

All shore excursions and activities, helicopter flights (as included in planned group excursions);

Program of lectures by noted naturalists and the service of an experienced guide;

Four meals a day;

Pre-departure materials and expedition log;

All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program;

Special expedition parka.

Flight to Helsinki (tur/retur);

Visa expenses (Russian Visum necessary);

Government arrival and departure taxes (if required);

Meals ashore and supplement for single hotel accommodation;

Luggage-, cancellation insurance (strongly recommended);

personal medical insurance (compulsory!);

Excess Luggage charges;

Telecommunication services; laundry, bar and beverage charges aboard the vessel;

Standard tips at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personal aboard.

23.07 – 06.08.2009
04.08 – 18.08.2009

$US 15.990 (Twin Standard Cabin)

$US 17.990 (Mini-Suite)

$US 23.990 (Suite)

Rates are per person in US Dollars, based on double occupancy. The rate of single occupancy is 1.7 times the shared rate

This Cruise-Expedition is being organized by a Russian tour-operator, located in Moscow.

If interested in this journey, kindly contact









Photos: © Dr. Adler, Prof. Friedhuber, Poseidon

© 2008 Dr. Christian Adler - letzte Änderung: 06.10.08 Impressum zur Startseite     to Homepage