Going to the North Pole.
 

Looking to go to the North Pole on a tour/ cruise, Can some one give me information?
not to expensive and not a very long trip.
Thanks!!!

There is only one way to go to the NP - by Russian ice breaker. There are two voyages a year. And it is expensive.

Check out the "cruises" topic on this site. Type in North Pole, and you will get a trip report. ((C))

Is this really genuine - why on Earth would you want to see the North Pole - is ice fascinating then?

m_kingdom2-

1- Ice is fascinating.
2- Can you imagine standing on top of the world?
3- Getting there is half the fun.
4- Read the trip report - there is a lot more to it. ((Y))

Standing on the North Pole is no different to standing anywhere else in the world, afterall a sphere is a perfectly symmetric shape. Why anyone would want to spend a relatively large amount of money on an experience that lacks luxury and interest is beyond me.

Stuck on a boat without fine cuisine, leisure facilities and shops that isn't cheap is fun?

IIRC, there was a report that in 2000 the ice at the NP had melted.

What time of year are you going?

I'm with you on this one, M-K, but I suppose everyone has different interests.

A friend of mine looked into cruises to Antarctica. It was terribly expensive, something like $4,000 per person for the cruise alone even if you share a room, and that's not counting airfare to Argentina. Plus it took a very long time to get there, since it's not near anything. I would imagine the same would be true of the Arctic, so if pninaf is looking for a short, inexpensive trip to the North Pole, I don't thing he/she will find it. But good luck anyway, pninaf.

There are at least two alternatives.

One of my oldest friends swears this story is true.

A couple of years ago, he was invited on a beano by a Russian oligarch. The beano consisted of half the company's air fleet ferrying a group of them, with provisions and flunkies, to the North Pole. (The oligarch really, really wanted to do business with my chum's company). They had the ritual reindeer BBQ, consuming half the vodka production of Murmansk to keep the cold out. As they started the football match for the photo ops, just prior to packing up and flying back, they saw a speck a mile or so away.

The speck got bigger. Just as the final passenger was getting on board, they realised the speck was a solitary human being, dragging behind him rather less than most of them had eaten and drunk during the previous few hours.

He'd walked - for the past few months - from Canada. He'd sustained privations of the sort none of us could imagine.

And when he realised this bunch of football hooligans had come to the North Pole on a day's outing, he broke down and wept.

m_kingdom2-

I am getting the odd feeling that you would not be interested in going to the North Pole. Could this possibly be the case? ;;)

I think it is worth it, but only mid-June..Always wanted to see a supreme white-nite! Apparently the sun never sets at all- just kind of dips and then goes back up...

Plus those polar lights! (This, of course, would require a night at some point, so would not be in June) Must be great though....

Also fun would be to stay at one of those ice-hotels! Has anyone ever done this? I heard there was one in Canada now too...

I was kinda curious, so I went looking on Google. They all seem to be on one or two ice breakers - 15 days. Cheapest I could find was $15,000 US per person.

http://www.tour-land.ru/extr/north_p/eng/index.shtml


Apparently, the thing to do when you get there is this:

http://www.tour-land.ru/extr/ship/img/north-pole.jpg

I would be more inclined to visit Antartica as it would be cheaper to go to than the NP, but primarily because it is a continent. One of my life goals is to visit all 7 continents. Have made it to 4 so far. Africa, Antarticia and South America await.