OFF TO FIND A SHIP.

 

WE MUST FIND A SHIP:

We have very much enjoyed our stay here at the Funken Lodge. 

Awakening we find the skies are overcast and the clouds are wrapping the surrounding peaks. 

Our bags need to be out by our door at 0900. First some breakfast and then we need to check in for the ship here at the Funken Lodge at 0830. We are then free to go back and further explore Longyearbyen. Our lunch will be served here between 1300 and 1400. At 1600 a bus will take us to the ship. Well, that is the plan. 

 

 

As we were about to go and check in we spotted an Arctic Fox run past our window. Even though we scrambled to get a camera he was soon gone. It was kewl to see him. 

As they say the best laid plans can change as so they did. As we say in Iceland þetta reddast. There would be no one coming to our hotel from the ship to check us in, we could however check in on the ship or go to the Radisson Blu and check in there. We packed up our hand luggage and stored it with reception. 

When traveling on an Expedition Style Cruise one must totally be ready to go with the flow. þetta reddast.

 


We walked down to the Radisson Blu and checked in for our voyage. First is ye olde health questionnaire then you drop off your passport and receive a packet with your stateroom card and lanyard, a patch for our coat which designates our excursion group (we are in the Narwhal group), ships schedule (safety and meal times), notification of a Loyalty Program welcome cocktail (special for their 130 year).  

One of the expedition team greeted us saying “I recognize you”. I guess this is a good thing :). 

 

               Remember frozen pizza in Norway is a big thing.
 

As we had a coupon for a free hot drink at Cafe Huskies, off we went to enjoy a coffee. After our coffee we started our walk back to the Funken Lodge. 

We made a stop at a sporting goods shop and I found a a really KEWL hat. 

 

 

 

It is based on a Moomin character. The Moomins are a family of white, round fairy-tale trolls with large snouts who live in an idyllic house in Moomin Valley. Created by Swedish-speaking Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson, the beloved characters debuted in 1945 with the book The Moomins and the Great Flood. Jansson originally drew the prototype creature on an outhouse wall during a childhood philosophical argument with her brother. Today, they are a massive international cultural phenomenon spanning novels, comic strips, multiple animated series, merchandise, and theme parks. 

Depicted on my hat is Moomintroll. Moomintroll is kind and curious, a great lover of nature and a true friend. His life is full of excitement and adventure. Although he can be sensitive, anxious not to offend, and susceptible to being teased (especially by Little My…), Moomintroll is bold and courageous whenever it is required of him. He is inclined to look for the positives in any situation and embraces every experience that presents itself, making him a lot of fun! “Isn’t life exciting! Everything can change all of a sudden, and for no reason at all!”

We made an additional stop for more room treats, then one more stop for a free pin and Lynn found some dice for her Mahjong games (they have paw prints for dots). 


 
Meanwhile back at Funken Lodge, we retrieved our hand luggage and got a drink with the tokens we had received. Then caught up on the logbook and this Blog.  

We are in stateroom 626, we choose our stateroom usually based on a location near an exit or stairway as quick access is imperative for when the call goes out for a kewl critter sighting. 




While on the ship we basically have an open bar, this seems common on most expedition voyages. 

MS SPITSBERGEN:

The MS Spitsbergen is a specialized, ice strengthened polar expedition vessel. She was originally built in Portugal in 2009 as a passenger ferry named Atlântida, the ship was purchased by Hurtigruten in 2015 and underwent a massive dry dock reconstruction into an elite maneuvering explorer ship. Named after the largest island in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, it is specifically designed to navigate narrow fjords, polar waters, and remote coastlines.

Vessel Specifications
Length: 100 meters
Width: 18 meters (22 meters over bridge wings)
Speed: 14.5 knots cruise speed (17 knots maximum)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric drive system powered by 4 main engines
Passenger Capacity: Approximately 150 passengers depending on the route and configuration. We have learned our sailing will have about 125 passengers along with 80 crew.  
Cabins: 180 guest cabins 

Life Onboard
The ship prioritizes learning and direct environmental immersion over standard cruise entertainment, offering an intimate, Scandinavian-style atmosphere. 

The Science Center: A modern onboard hub equipped with microscopic research tools, where the expedition team hosts advanced geological and biological lectures.
Public Amenities: Features the Aune Main Restaurant (focused on authentic local cuisine), Brygga Bistro, the Explorer Bar and Lounge, a panoramic observation deck, a fitness room, a sauna, and outdoor hot tubs. 
Expedition Launch: Located on Deck 3, this staging area is built to rapidly deploy guests into heavy-duty Zodiac boats for close-range wilderness exploration. 
Cons (which I see as pros) - Minimal onboard commercial entertainment.  Con -  No live bands, musicians, or theater shows. Con - No traditional swimming pools or cinema facilities. 
Pros - Outstanding (“EXCELLENT” service, no speech). Maneuverable hull size can visit isolated ports. Focus is strictly educational rather than resort-style sailing. 
This will be our first time on MS Spitsbergen and I feel confident it will be on par with our other HX and Hurtigruten experiences.  

We were assigned Bus #1 to go to the port. Our ship was docked at the Coal Port. This is a working port where coal is shipped from. Now there is a dock there as the first time we sailed from the coal port we had Zodiacs to tender us to the ship. That was 2015. 

 
Once on the ship, we went straight to our room where our luggage had already been delivered. We started the unpacking process. As this is an older ship, the staterooms are a little bit tighter, but very functional, and will work great for us.

 

                                   Welcome treats

 

 

On HX Expedition sailings one receives a wind and waterproof shell made by Helly Hansen. As we already have these, we turned ours in and each received a 30 Euro room credit. 

I then got our ship board account set up and logged onto the onboard app. This app is used to keep one up to date on the ships activities. 

Then came the Safety Drill and straight to dinner. 

                                        Great Barf Bags 

                                  Bye Bye Svalbard

 

 

On the way to the dining room we went through the ships store and the Brygga Bistro. The bistro is open when Aune is closed. There is also a cooler with grab and go items such as fruit, salads, sandwiches etc when the restaurant is closed. 

 

 

 

                                     Great mango sorbet



Dinner tonight was a buffet with excellent selections. The main meat was lamb and haddock for the fish selection. The salad bar was jammed packed with choices as was the same for the desserts. 

 



After dinner we explored the outer decks. I am impressed with the amount of open deck space on Deck 8. 

Back to the room where we will watch the daily briefing, catch up on the Journal and Blog. 

 



I am sure I will be up early to sample the morning coffee station. 

A DAY IN LONGYEARBYEN AND A ELECTRIC BOAT CRUISE:

 

 

 

A DAY IN LONGYEARBYEN AND A ELECTRIC BOAT CRUISE: 

I am up nice and early and feel like I slept well. Lynn says she also slept well. 

After cleaning up and organizing stuff for the day I went to the reception area for a coffee. Had a nice chat with the front desk person. She said the locals are ready and looking forward to the Polar Nights. 

I will say I do like this property as the whole history is amazing. I really think a return trip in the winter might be interesting. I can only imagine the Aurora dancing here. 

They do have sweaters here, a good brand, classic style, and the price is good. :) 

        I like that more properties do the Green Stay Thing:

I did learn the mine (Nybyen) above the Funken Lodge is believed to be the home of the Norwegian Santa Clause. During the Christmas season the mine entrance is decorated with lights. 

I think our plan for the day is to amble about town until about 1400 (2:00) when we catch a bus to board the MS Bard. 
A very nice breakfast with excellent coffee and the view is great. 

                  A School Bread pastry is a must in Norway 

After breakfast we gathered ourselves together and started our walk into Longyearbyen. We were very early making a stop at Cafe Huskies, which had not opened. We then continued to the North Pole Expedition Museum. For me this is my favorite museum here in Longyearbyen. Yes, we were also to early to visit.  We walked back to Cafe Huskies for a coffee. 

 

I must say their pastries there are great as well as the coffee. 

We enjoyed the coffee and the company of the pups. 

My next objective is the Circle K for a hot dog. Well it is no longer a Circle K. 

 

They do have hotdogs and they are good, but not Iceland or Bergen or Tromso. 

In our past visits we have not really visited the Rubber Tomahawk Shops (souvenir shops). As we walked back to our lodging we did stop in several of said shops to  check out their wares. At the sporting goods store I got a Polar Bear multi tool key chain. 

We did stop at the grocery store and got some bulk candy and chips for the ship.  The bulk candy is fun with all the choices. We will not be visiting a port with a grocery until we land in Reykjavik. We do get one village visit in Greenland but have been advised not to purchase any staples as the are a valuable commodity in limited amounts. 

ICE BEARS EVERYWHERE:

 

 

 

 

We really like the Funken Lodge as it has a warm rustic appeal. The only down side is the return walk has a nice hill with a significant incline. 

Oh Look A Sweater! (At a very good price). SCORE!! I should mention things are expensive in Norway and even more so in Longyearbyen. A good wool hat might cost $70 USD, a wool sweater $300 and up, firearms are about double the cost of what one finds in the USA. 

We took a bit of time to get a drink and chill before we get picked up for a scenic fjord cruise on the MS Bard. 


MS Bard:

MS Bard was a significant step forward in Brim Explorer’s mission to create purposeful, low-impact experiences at sea.
Carrying up to 145 guests. Its inclined bow and raised main deck offer greater stability and seakeeping, making it well-suited for both open waters and longer voyages.
What distinguishes MS Bard is its advanced propulsion system — fully electric, powered by Brim Tech high-torque engines paired with 1700mm fixed-pitch propellers. This setup eliminates the need for a traditional gearbox, allowing for smoother operation, improved energy efficiency, and near-silent cruising.

Our trip took us to Billefjorden and the glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. The crossing across was a tad rough and rocky. 

                                                       The International Seed Vault

The MS Spitsbergen which we will board tomorrow. She is in port with no passsengers for the night and the crew is having a party. GOOD FOR THEM AS I KNOW THE WORK VERY HARD, well deserved.  

The engine and propellers are specially designed to minimize the noise and vibration. This not only takes us closer to nature; More importantly, the surrounding wildlife is less disturbed by our presence.

On the tour, we were served a vegetarian lentil veggie soup that’s very good. 

We had plenty of deck and seating as there were only 17 of us on board. 

NORTH TO 78.2253

 North to Longyearbyen: 

 

 



Where in the world is Svalbard? Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Situated north of mainland Europe and is about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. Spitsbergen is the largest island of the Archipelago .  

On Spitsbergen you find Longyearbyen. We will be flying to Longyearbyen today. 

Longyearbyen is the administrative center of Svalbard and holds the title of the world's northernmost permanently inhabited town with a population of over 1,000 residents. Situated on the island of Spitsbergen along the banks of the Adventfjord, it serves as the cultural and economic hub of the high Arctic. 

Longyearbyen is very interesting and different: 


International Community: Home to roughly 2,400 residents representing over 50 different nationalities. 

High Turnover: Around 20% of the population changes every year, with a median stay of just over three years for Norwegians. 

Polar Bear Safety: Residents and visitors are required to carry a firearm for protection whenever leaving the town limits. 

City Limit sign where travel beyond requires a firearm. 

No Shoes Indoors: A lasting tradition from its historical coal-mining days requires people to remove their shoes when entering hotels, restaurants, and public buildings. 

Unique Regulations: To preserve the local ecosystem, cat ownership is banned. Additionally, due to permafrost preventing decomposition and the lack of advanced medical infrastructure, dying in the town is legally forbidden.


Last night I was really fighting the Sandman as the eyelids were heavy as I finished and published yesterdays entry. 

Having slept a good bit, I still have found myself up early wanting to get this day lived in. It is about 0350 hrs at this moment. Lynn is still sleeping, and the coffee is on. I guess I am like a kid the night before Christmas too excited to sleep. 

 



Checking the Longyearbyen weather, I am anticipating the temperatures to be form a low 40’s to a high in the low 50’s, mostly clear skies and calm seas. Then again it is the arctic at about 78’ North 

Morning plan is to clean up and have breakfast, then pack up our bags for the days travel. 

The day should be pretty darn simple, as all we really have is our flight to Longyearbyen. The flight is on SAS leaving at 1450. The flight should take about 3.5 hours. We will arrive in Longyearbyen and get a bus to our hotel for the next two nights. The Funken Lodge is where we will be for two nights. 

We have been told we will get further information about our stay in Longyearbyen when we check into our hotel. 

Longyearbyen’s enterprising spirit has seen the town through many changes. Whalers first fished its icy shores in the early-17th century, and, in 1896, Hurtigruten (then Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab) brought tourists to visit Svalbard. The founder of Hurtigruten, Captain Richard With, even shipped an entire hotel here to house the visitors who were as curious then as we are now about a land so far north.

 
It wasn’t until 1898 that two families spent the whole winter here. A year later, the first commercially viable coal was mined and coal mining began in earnest in 1901. The industry transformed Longyearbyen into a bustling company town, and modeled other mining towns such as the now-abandoned Pyramiden, to the northeast.

 
During World War II, German forces scorched the earth of Longyearbyen, leaving only four buildings standing. Post-war rebuilding and the migration of mining outside city limits in the 1990s paved the way for modern industries like tourism, Arctic exploration and climate research.


Today, Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost settlement with a population over 1,000. The Midnight Sun, stark beauty and unique wildlife that surround it draw people from all over the world; it helps that citizens of countries that signed the Svalbard Treaty can live and work in the archipelago indefinitely.

As a result, Longyearbyen is very multicultural, and a hub for scientists, adventurers and tourists. Film crews have even used it as a base for blockbusters like Mission: Impossible 8. The iconic Global Seed Vault is perched on a hill overlooking the town, plays a vital role in preserving the planet’s biodiversity. 



 

Upon arrival we will get a picture of the milepost sign at the airport and the polar bear that will greet us. :) These are the classic photo ops. 

Arrived in plenty of time to checkin, security, get a bite to eat, passport control and be at our gate. 

 

 

The flight was nothing really different. 

Landed at Longyearbyen and collected our luggage and were were assigned a bus to take us to the Funken Lodge. 

We checked in and got sorta together for our stay here at the Funken Lodge. I think the Funken Lodge has some pretty KEWL!!! History. 

 

Funken`s history: 

After World War II, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani A/S (SNSK) started a large-scale rebuilding of Longyearbyen. One focus of the new town was a group of buildings at the foot of Gruve 2 (Mine 2) – Nybyen.

Five barracks were built during the summer and autumn of 1946, each to house 72 men in 36 two-man rooms and a Foreman's mess. Stormessa and the women's house, Jomfruburet (The virgin cage), were finished in 1947. The year after, a bath, laundry, pump station and shop were also built. The responsible architect was Jacob Olav Martin Hanssen (1892 – 1962), who also designed the Colosseum Cinema in Oslo. Under the employ of SNSK he drew up the plans for the buildings on Haugen, Forsamlingshuset and many of the buildings in Nybyen.

During the summer of 1946, Haugen also saw its first buildings. These included three houses for four people, and the foundations for the reception building (now known as Funken), hospital and offices were set down. These buildings were completed in 1947.

June 11, 1953, a large avalanche swept down Vannledningsdalen. Three people were killed and the buildings of Haugen were more or less flattened. The avalanche destroyed the hospital, family housing and parts of the reception building. On the very day of the avalanche, brand new furniture had been moved into the main reception wing, and it was all destroyed. After the avalanche the reception building was rebuilt and extended. 

The reception building, 'Funktionærmessa' (commonly known as Funken), was also home to the unmarried administrative staff. Funken had separate corridors for the women and men with single rooms, shared sitting rooms, salons, and billiard and table tennis rooms. Here the staff enjoyed a dining room with chefs, cleaners and waiters. The reception area of the building, called 'Repen' was located through the salons with its own dining area as well as several guest rooms.

The cellar was also full of facilities. Here there were separate showers and bathrooms for each sex, as well as a sauna. There was a laundry with communal washing machines, spin-dryers, rollers and drying cupboards, which were also shared with the families living on Haugen. The cellar corridor was used as an indoor shooting range, perhaps rather carefully, given that 'Nordpolet', SNSK's alcohol store, was also located in the cellar, with many rare vintage wines that were served on special occasions.
'Nordpolet' was located in Funken's cellar until Svalbardbutikken moved into the new town centre in March 1992. The cellar was also home to a milk room, where those who lived on Haugen could collect their quota. This continued until 1985 when the fresh produce store opened.
Funken was home to the social activities and entertainment for the administrative staff, hosting everything from bridge evenings to themed parties. Locals still tell stories about the time a skiing competition was held in the kitchen staircase, from the loft to the cellar. As part of another celebration, a trapper’s cabin was built in the salon.  All the important social events took place here, from stiff, formal dinners with official guests from the mainland to boisterous Christmas parties for the staff.
Until 1985, three full meals were served each day at Funken. At that stage, many of the staff had moved out, but came back here for their meals. The office workers at SNSK's administration building on Haugen had lunch at Funken each day. The very last of the permanent administrative staff moved out in 1985, and since then the building has been used for accommodation of visitors, firstly those visiting SNSK, and more recently tourists.
After running Funken for several years, Hurtigruten Svalbard AS bought the building from SNSK in 1993. A major refurbishment began immediately, including the building of a new wing and an additional entrance, reception, communal areas, lift, bar and 20 first class double rooms. During the winter of 1996-97 the original wing was completely renovated, and with its unique suites and themed rooms, as well as the original salons and sitting room. During the same period, five new double rooms and a relaxation department were built on the ground floor of the new wing.

During the autumn of 2017, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the building, Hurtigruten Svalbard decided to pursue a major renovation of Funken, returning it to its place as the most elegant building in Longyearbyen.  We have managed to find the perfect balance between history and modernity. To enhance its exclusivity, all the rooms, dining options, and facilities have been renewed at a premium level, reflecting the strong historical and cultural charm of the building, combined with a touch of sophistication, innovation and originality. 

In our room on the bed were tote bags. Inside the bags were coupons for local businesses, drink coupons, a map and information about our activities for the next two days. 

Tonight a bus will pick us up and take us to Huset Restaurant. This was a nice buffet meal. 



 

 

We were some of the first folks to finish our meal and there was a long wait for the bus to return us to the Funken Lodge. Not wanting to wait we decided to walk back. 

The walk back took us about 30 minutes and we did make a stop to photo a reindeer who was lounging and munching away. 


About 11,000 steps today. 

Time to call it a day and get some sleep as we have some exploring to do tomorrow.