New Svalbard regulations will be stricter than regulations that govern travel to Antarctica. If visiting Svalbard, the high Arctic, and viewing wildlife such as polar bears and walruses is on your bucket list, it’s essential to plan your Svalbard expedition cruise as soon as possible. Starting January 1, 2025, the Norwegian government is tightening travel options and restricting tour operators. Restrictions are becoming so strict that many operators are not even publishing 2026 Svalbard itineraries, uncertain if they will be able to navigate the Svalbard archipelago at all! Svalbard has one of the densest populations of polar bears, so your opportunity to see them in the wild is only becoming more limited.
I was fortunate to visit Svalbard in July 2023 with Lindblad Expeditions, and it was one of the most magical vacations I’ve had. I love Antarctica, but I am constantly telling people to get to Svalbard while they still can! The Arctic is changing drastically and melting faster than Antarctica. Plus, with these new regulations, visiting Svalbard will become significantly more difficult.
Contact Rocky at Scott & Thomas Travel to secure your space to Svalbard. Rocky has exclusive rates on every Seabourn departure to Svalbard and many Silversea expedition too! Plus bonus savings and onboard credit on other carriers too.
Svalbard’s New Regulations
To the dismay of tour operators in Svalbard, the Norwegian government is moving forward with new regulations to protect the environment and wildlife in Svalbard. The number of travelers will be significantly reduced, and close contact with wildlife will be prohibited.
Some may think enforcement could be challenging. Yet, on my visit to Svalbard, we encountered the Norwegian Coast Guard and Navy patrolling Svalbard three times in seven days. The Svalbard patrol is well-funded, and the fines are steep. No tour company is going to risk breaking the rules.
Starting January 1, 2025, in all protected areas and national parks, the maximum number of passengers on board will be limited to 200, down from 500. This means Silversea and Seabourn Expedition ships will now be too large to visit Svalbard. Even most HX Expedition, formally known as Hurtigruten, ships exceed this capacity—and Hurtigruten owns most tour businesses and hotels in the world’s northernmost town, Longyearbyen!
- The use of drones is prohibited in all protected areas.
- The use of snowmobiles and tracked vehicles on sea ice is permanently banned after March 1 in selected fjords, except for cabin access.
- Motor traffic at sea must adhere to a speed limit of 5 knots and keep a 500-meter distance from land near bird cliffs between April 1 and August 31.
- Motor traffic at sea must keep a minimum 150-meter distance from walrus haul-out sites (except for necessary port access), and the speed limit is 5 knots within 300 meters of these sites.
- A general ban on breaking fast ice.
- More camping activities now require additional permits and incur higher costs.
Watch this reel to see how close we got to polar bears and cut through the ice in 2023!
View this post on Instagram
One of the most significant changes is the limitation on landing site capacities. Larger sites allow up to 200 people on land. Yet many landing sites are only accept 39 people! Visitors can still rotate off the ship to explore these sites, but this will mean more time spent in one spot and less time to explore. In Antarctica, landing sites allow up to 100 people ashore at a time.
Changes to Svalbard Polar Bear Viewing
These regulations also impose stricter rules for polar bear viewing. The changes include new minimum distances for ships and Zodiac cruises when spotting polar bears, depending on the season:
- From July 1 to February 28 Minimum distance is 300 meters.
- From March 1 to June 30 Minimum distance is 500 meters.
While these changes aim to protect curious polar bears, they may limit up-close views or photos taken with the naked eye or phone cameras. However, with planning, visitors can still observe and capture these magnificent creatures digitally and through binoculars.
Seabourn Svalbard Special offer
If you want to visit Svalbard (find out why you should here) and you’re seeing the writing on the wall of reduced access and options. Plan your trip now. I have special offers and pricing which will get you to Svalbard in 2025 on Seabourn for a reduce price. These prices are unique to Scott & Thomas Travel customers and only available for a limited time.
13-Day Spectacular Svalbard & Greenland
Dates: May 18 – May 31, 2025 – visit when the Sea ice is thcker and the polar bears are easier to spot while they actively hunt for seals on the ice!
Seabourn Svalbard Itinerary
- Departs from Reykjavik, Iceland
- Arrives in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Visits Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard.
Includes a one-night stay at the Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh, May 30 – 31 plus charter flight from Longyearbyen to Edinburgh Plus an optional complimentary hotel stay on May 17 in Reykjavik!
- Veranda 1: $8,999 (public price $14,436)
10-Day Scenic Svalbard – Spend your entire trip exploring Svalbard with round trip charter flights to and from Edinburgh, UK. Travel Dates May 29 – Jun 8, 2025 with 1 night hotel stay included on June 7.
Looking for other dates? All Seabourn Arctic trips are on sale. Email Rocky (me) directly and I can provide you with more pricing options for all 2025 pricing. We can beat Seabourn pricing on nearly ALL Arctic departures. Do not overpay, save today. We also offer added bonus items to our trips including onboard credit, extra hotel nights and more!
Want the best travel deals? Join my facebook group with special deals for Luxury cruises and expedition travel.
Bottom Line
A trip to Svalbard under the midnight sun is a unique chance to experience the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, marvel at the wildlife of the Barents Sea, and see polar bears, Arctic foxes, and Svalbard reindeer roaming freely. However, new regulations starting January 1, 2025 will limit travel to protect the environment and animals. Most Svalbard cruise companies are reducing ship capacity to ensure travelers can still experience Svalbard in 2025. We expect further reductions in 2026 as operators, including Seabourn, may deploy their expedition vessels elsewhere. If you want to visit Svalbard, contact Rocky at Scott & Thomas Travel to book your Svalbard expedition. Rocky has special pricing lower than Seabourn direct pricing on every 2025 Svalbard departure. Don’t over pay, get the best rate with Rocky.
Many people expect the Norwegian government to continue to tighten regulations in the coming years. If you want to visit Svalbard, do so now. Otherwise it may be too late!
