Is the North Pole on your bucket list? If so, better act fast. The Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker called 50 Years of Victory will stop operating passenger voyages to the North Polar in 2015 and instead focus on clearing the way for cargo ships and scientific expeditions.
Poseidon Expeditions, a company that operates cruises to Polar regions, has opened sales on the last North Pole voyage by 50 Years of Victory in summer 2015. The 128-passenger ship will operate its final passenger voyage July 30-Aug. 12, 2015.
"These voyages have been an unqualified success and a great opportunity for intrepid travelers looking for the ultimate polar adventure," said Nikolay Saveliev, president of Poseidon Expeditions. "Unfortunately for the expedition market, practical considerations will take precedence following the 2015 season. Simply put, there is stronger demand for this powerful ice-breaking vessel to lead cargo and scientific ships to hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic and along the Northeast Passage."
Another adventure operator, Quark Expeditions, has opened sales on three voyages during 50 Years of Victory's final passenger season - a 15-day cruise departing June 3, 2015, and 14-day cruises departing June 14 and June 26, 2015.
The vessel is owned by Atomflot, which charters it to Poseidon, Quark and other adventure operators. As of 2016, Atomflot's nuclear icebreaker fleet will no longer be available for passenger voyages due to the heavy increase in shipping traffic in the Russian Arctic waters, Quark explained.
However, Poseidon also is selling space on the Victory's three 14-day North Pole voyages this year, which depart July 14, July 25 and Aug. 5, 2014. Per-person rates start at $24,995 for the 2014 season and $25,995 for the final 2015 season.
Quark has already sold out its June 30, 2014, voyage but is still taking bookings on a June 19-July 2, 2014, departure priced from $24,995.
The 50 Years of Victory is the largest nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world, capable of driving through Arctic ice nearly 10 feet thick. Despite being a working vessel, the ship has a dining room, salon for lectures and socializing, a bow-facing bar and lounge, library, gym, two saunas and swimming pool with heated seawater. It carries a physician.
So does this spell the end of expedition travel to the North Pole?
"The way that demand has been shaping up for non-tourism use of 50 Years of Victory, it doesn't look like this vessel or other Russian icebreakers will be available for tourism charter for the foreseeable future," said Steve Wellmeier, the former administrative director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators who now handles public relations for Poseidon. "Of course, one can never say never, but Russia's recent push to promote year-round commercial shipping through the Northeast Passage necessitates that these rugged vessels be available to ensure the route is navigable for containerships and so forth. There are powerful economic forces at play."
Wellmeier said the same thing happened to the Kapitan Khlebnikov, which formerly was chartered for Antarctic voyages for a number of years but has been used on "more mundane but most likely more profitable ventures in Russia's Arctic waters" since the 2011-12 austral summer.
Obviously, it wasn't a huge market - Wellmeier calls icebreaker expeditions "a niche within a niche." But, they were very popular with a certain clientele, and it will be shame to see it disappear.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
