Magdalenefjord

Magdalenefjorden is an 8km long and up to 5km wide fjord between Reuschhalvøya and Hoelhalvøya, Albert I Land, on the west coast of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago.

William Barents was the first to explore Magdalenefjorden in 1596. He found walrus tusks, so he named the fjord Tusk Bay. English explorer and whaler Robert Fotherby entered the fjord in 1614 and named it Maudlen Sound, the small, sheltered bay on its southern shore was called Trinity Harbour. The English established a whaling station in Trinity Harbour, on what is now called Gravneset. The remains of four blubber furnaces have been found on Gravneset, as well as a graveyard with around 130 graves dating back to 17th-late 18th century.

If you are lucky, you may just spot polar bears and migrating whales, along with many Arctic seabirds and stunning scenery of glaciers and rugged mountain peaks.

Depending on weather conditions, your cruise ship may anchor and Zodiac (inflatable boats) used.