The North Pole cruise season is over

Yesterday the last of 2011 three icebreaker cruises to the North Pole organized by the Russian operator “Poseidon Expeditions” came to an end.

About 400 travelers were taken to the North Pole by “Poseidon Expeditions” this year. They reached the northernmost point of our planet along the route Murmansk – North Pole – Franz Joseph Land – Murmansk on the “50 Years of Victory” icebreaker ship.

The cruise to the North Pole is both educational and entertaining at the same time. Not just professional guides attend to tourists’ needs but specially invited scientists, who tell tourists about Arctic environment and the history of the North Pole discovery. The tourists disembark at ice floes and arctic islands, such as Franz Joseph Land with its mysterious round spherolith stones, crowded rookery and unexpectedly green, almost Scottish, hills. They fly a helicopter over the stunningly beautiful body of water and watch northern fauna in its natural habitat – polar bears, walruses and whales.

The culmination of the cruise is the North Pole – the top of the world. Every guest is sure to hear his country’s national anthem at this legendary spot. The tourist holding hands reel around the North Pole making a symbolic journey around the world. Next goes the northernmost barbeque, the northernmost dance and bathing in the northernmost ice-hole for the bravest…

This year the icebreaker welcomed tourists from Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong-Kong, India, Eastern and Western Europe. And of course our fellow countrymen of which there were over 40 – four times more than the previous season.

In less than a year’s time the North Pole will host new travelers. Poseidon Expeditions have already announced the dates of the first cruise -  July 20, 2012.