If you’re tired of feeling hemmed in, think about taking a charter to the Arctic Circle this summer on a luxurious 253-foot, ice-breaking yacht, fully equipped with a helicopter, a submarine and a 16-person Jacuzzi.
Ariodante Travel has just announced Arctic Circle tours on Legend, an expedition yacht with a Lloyds 1A ice-class hull. The tours start in the Svalbard archipelago (pop: 2,642), midway between mainland Norway and Iceland. From there, Legend can go just about anywhere in the Arctic Circle, including the North Pole, Greenland, the North Cape and Spitsbergen.
We have to wait for international travel restrictions to be lifted, but private charters could start in June. Visits to the North Pole are best in July and August, with the optimal Northern Lights and wildlife (whales, polar bears and penguins) viewing a bit later. The helicopter (operating from a commercial-grade heliport) and the submarine create trips not available to most visitors to the area.
Legend was built by Icon Yachts in 1974 and had a major refit in 2015. It can hold 22 guests in 11 cabins, plus 28 crew. The outside is tough; the inside is luxe. Amenities include a movie theater, swimming pool, gym, spa, beauty salon and the giant Jacuzzi.
The yacht has a top speed of 12 knots, and cruises at 11 knots. Prices start at $23,450 per person, per week.
If the Arctic Circle is too far, Ariodante also operates luxury charters in the Med and many other parts of the world. Read more:
https://hk.asiatatler.com/life/the-north-pole-luxury-private-expedition-yacht
