Ny Alesund, Norway Port

Ny Alesund is a small settlement in the Arctic Circle, situated on the north-western side of Spitsbergen, one of the Svalbard Islands. These islands are located halfway between Norway and the North Pole, and are renowned for their dramatic and harsh landscapes with glaciers covering over half of the area. Despite this, the climate is actually relatively mild, making the island comfortable to visit on your luxury cruise.

Ny Alesund is a former coal mining settlement, but a tragic accident in the 1960s ended that industry here, and the area was reborn as a scientific research hub. Your ship will anchor in the bay and you’ll arrive in the town on Zodiac. You’ll be able to visit the Norwegian International Research Centre, a fascinating organisation with numerous laboratories where scientists monitor the environment and the climate, and try to find out more about the wonders of the polar region. You can also use Ny Alesund as a base for spotting various species of wildlife – reindeer and polar bears inhabit the region, while there are many different seabird around the coastline for you to spot.

The currency in Ny Alesund is the Norwegian Kroner. Ny Alesund is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2).