Grands Espaces

FAQs

• 1. Why higher prices compared to traditional cruises?
  In the Far North, due to the remoteness and environmental conditions, prices are very high. The fuel we consume, for example, is the most refined, the least polluting and the most expensive... Norway, Iceland and Greenland are among the most expensive countries in the world. In addition, you share the costs between 40 to 100 people, not between 500 to 3000 people…
  2. Will I be cold?
  If you are cold, you return to the bridge, sharing the same view as that of the Commander: the best. In Spitsbergen, count 0 to +15°C and in Greenland +5 to +20°C. It's not cold, but bring your winter clothes for the zodiac rides.
  3. Will I get seasick?
  Air transport eliminates long crossings and our coastal or ice navigation does not concern rough seas. In addition, summer is the great calm period... But we are never safe from a storm...
  4. Will we go in the mirrors?
  Yes, you will sail in the pack ice (depending on the cruises) and touch the icebergs: our boats are made for that! They are the best of their class, commanded by the most experienced officers.
  5. I'm 75, isn't this trip too sporty?
  These trips are open to all non-disabled people. The boats are comfortable (but not luxurious), like a 2 star hotel. Participants of excursions are divided into two groups: walkers and hikers. There are generally 1/3 of people under 50 and 2/3 over 50.
  6. Walks and landings in zodiacs scare me…
  Unlike rowboats, zodiacs do not sink on contact with an obstacle. Unlike rowboats, they allow landing at the easiest place, with a very shallow draft. Unlike rowboats, you are only 8 to 14 people and have an excellent view. In the Arctic as in Antarctica, tens of thousands of people appreciate these remarkable boats.
  7. What is the “plus” of these cruises?
  The discovery of otherwise inaccessible places and the observation of animals. A very instructive trip given the supervision. An enthusiastic spirit of discovery shared by all. During a traditional cruise, you travel 12 to 15 days to see the chosen site for only 1 to 2 days (if the stops are not canceled due to ice or bad weather). We offer trips of 9 to 14 days including 7 to 12 days on the sites!
  8. Will I see animals?
  Yes, but we cannot promise… Nature remains wild. In general, bears and walruses are easier to observe on the east coast of Spitsbergen, whales and muskoxen in Greenland, the birds are clearly visible.
  9. Why the summer months?
  These months are the best period because:
  The ice conditions are the most favorable.
  Polar bears, whales and other mammals are the most visible and, from mid-August, mosquitoes are inactive.
  The days remain long but, from August 15, you can observe the famous aurora borealis.
  The temperatures are the most pleasant there and the seas are not yet agitated by the storms of October.
  10. Does Grands Espaces rent the entire boat?
  Yes, in Spitsbergen and Greenland and the trips are then marked “Organization of Great Outdoors”. When we charter half of the boat (English and French are the official languages ​​there), the trip is marked “Co-organisation Grands Espaces”.

• THE POLAR SPECTACLE
  • Will we see bears? About how much, and how far?
  The bear is lord of the Far North, and we look to see him on every trip. In Spitsbergen, you will see 5 to 30 per trip (out of a population of about 3000 individuals), often at a few tens of meters during zodiac cruises, or even at 3 meters if it approaches our (large) boat. On land, we avoid it.
  There are only 200 bears on North East Greenland, so in these places, its observation is more random.
  • What other animals can we see?
  During a polar cruise, we generally see bears, walruses, whales, seals, polar foxes, polar birds. In East Greenland, musk ox is regular. Narwhals and belugas are rare, difficult to see.
  • Will I be able to meet the natives and their way of life? Are they very westernized?
  During our stops in the Inuit villages, we have very sincere encounters, unlike the boats of 200 people who dump their cohorts by invading the communities. Many of our guides, such as Pierre Taverniers or some of our Inuit guides, are such experts that you will share a unique experience. But beware, more igloos (visible moreover than in winter), the Greenlanders or Canadians live like us, in wooden houses; they are much more "facebook" or web than us, their hospitals are much more welcoming than ours: the Inuit society is one of the most developed in the world.
  There are no natives in Spitsbergen (they have never been able to arrive, from Greenland, because of the East-Greenland drift).
  • Will I be able to see sled dogs and slide with them on the ice?
  In all the Inuit settlements, you will see sled dogs, but it is only in the spring that you can make these excursions. Contact us for this, we will organize your trip with our panel of mushers, both in Canada and in Spitsbergen and Greenland…
  • What is the best time, in terms of time of year, weather and temperature, to see the Northern Lights?
  The Northern Lights are only visible when the sky is dark, i.e. from August 25 in Iceland or Greenland, or during our tours in Alaska, and from September 15 in Spitsbergen… that's why these trips take place in September/October.
  The Canadian Far North (Inuvik region) is the safest place (because the most continental and dry) in the world: 90% chance of seeing them every night, thanks to the clear skies. We organize trips to these places, on request.
  • What is the probability of seeing which types of icebergs?
  Icebergs come from glaciers; it is in Greenland that we have the largest polar ice cap in the Arctic, and therefore the most imposing icebergs: in the East, there are 7 large ice fields, 4 in the West… In Antarctica also, the 14 million km² give large icebergs. In the very mountainous regions, the glaciers are of the alpine type, descending the slopes and fracturing at sea into blocks, which will drift. In flatter regions, such as the Weddell Sea in Antarctica or North Greenland, it is the ice caps that reach the sea, giving the "tabular", less impressive, but whose sizes are enormous, sometimes several kilometers on a side...
  Our team is fortunate to include Christian Kempf, a great specialist in icebergs (he is the author, among other things, of the book “Icebergs, cathedrals in danger”). In this book better than any other, you will learn a lot about these silhouettes that forge the polar image.
  • Do we sail at night?
  During our cruises, the “night” (in fact it is broad daylight in summer…) is used to go from one point of interest to another. On the Polaris or the Hans Hansson, on the other hand, we often stay at anchor, to make the most of the evenings spent on decks admiring and experiencing the country.
  • Will we see the famous krill?
  The polar seas are the richest in the world. The Bering Sea and Okhotsk (Russia) are the richest, then Antarctica and Barents (between the North Cape and Spitsbergen). Even if the krill is underwater, we see these animals, some of which are a few centimeters in length (less than 3 cm.); we take some in plankton nets to show them on board.
  If we navigate in the pack ice, we will also see seagulls and gulls feeding on polar cod, which are abundant in these places and which feed on the plankton that settles under the ice.
  • Are there mosquitoes in Spitsbergen and elsewhere at the poles (south and north)?
  There are no mosquitoes in Antarctica or Spitsbergen (There are 'mosquitoes' in Spitsbergen, but they do not attack humans); on the other hand, everywhere else in the Far North, mosquitoes abound and harass, really; this is one of the reasons why we only organize trips after the mosquitoes are over, which is in August (except therefore in Spitsbergen).
  • Will we see climate change? In what forms?
  During a polar trip, climate change is obvious: thinner pack ice, retreating glaciers... We organize these trips, among other things, to make you aware of the gigantic climate threat that weighs on our future; nowhere better than in the Arctic is climate change so clearly visible,
•  
• EQUIPMENT
  • Will I be cold?
  Yes, you will be cold on such a trip!
  Temperatures fluctuate between – 5 and + 5°C, like in winter “at home”.
  The cold is a sensation, and you can be more or less sensitive to it, so see in winter how to dress in summer… You will
  find photos in our catalogs that will suggest equipment, moreover detailed in our travel sheets. Finally, our catalogs are self-explanatory.
  In North-East Greenland, temperatures are sometimes above +10 or +15°C.
  In a zodiac, it will also be necessary to take good windbreakers (Kway, oilskins) and something to have when you are seated and motionless on board. Take good lined boots.
  By dressing in onion skins, you will be well equipped.
  Arctic, Antarctica, Siberia are known for their -50°C… in winter! And we go there in the summer!
  • Should I bring binoculars?
  They are essential, because the animals are often shy and you can help us spot them from afar... Binoculars are as essential during a trip or cruise with Grands Espaces, as a vest-triangle-alcohol tester on a road in France . If you must get one, we recommend at least 8×30 enlargement, 10×40 or 50 being better.
  • For photography, what will be the light conditions?
  The shooting conditions are excellent, with evenings/"nights" in warm and splendid colors ("midnight sun"). You will take a lot of pictures!
  Take focal lengths/zoom ranging from wide angle to 200-300mm. And a 400mm. will allow you to fix the animals better. The tripod/pod is bulky, but if you're a photography junkie, pack it. We have many amateur and professional photographer passengers on board.
  In these little hunted places, man is (no longer) a danger, and you can wear colorful colors, preferably; Indeed, what could be sadder than gray or black anoraks, while an orange, lemon yellow, flashy blue or apple green looks so good on landscape photographs…
  When we are close to the animals it is obviously advisable to be discreet and not to raise our voices. Our guide team will take care of it.
  We also follow the codes of conduct that we have established for 20 years, as well as the instructions of the AECO (Association of Expedition Cruise Organizers) of which we are members.
  • Should I take sunscreen, sunglasses and head protection?
  We are on the high seas, in the high mountains: sunscreen, sunglasses are essential, as well as hats and gloves. 
•  
• LIFE ON BOARD
  What will an “inside” polar cruise look like? But also everything about meals, cabins, life together on a boat...
  A TYPICAL DAY
  What does a typical day look like in detail?
  A typical day begins with an alarm clock given by loudspeaker with our position, the weather conditions and a reminder of the activities.
  Breakfast is served between 7:30 and 8:30. Before each activity, a briefing is organised, and so at 9 am, briefing, advice on clothing, possibility of observation, distribution of groups.
  9:15 a.m. meeting at the gangway/staircase and boarding a zodiac to explore a peninsula rich in flora and historical remains; 3 groups are guided by 2 guides each, and according to the physical conditions of the participants. Some steps go to… 500 meters, others to 5 km… return on board around 11:30 am, rest.
  Lunch buffet or served at the table at 12:30 p.m., but at noon, the footbridge signals 2 whales; we turn the boat around and observe them from 30 meters away!
  Back to the table around 1:45 p.m., dishes a little colder, but what a feast for the eyes we had.
  A good nap? No, because around 2:30 p.m. we see the pack ice…
  3:30 p.m.: zodiac cruise in the pack ice, with the aim of: seals and bears (?)
  return around 5:15 p.m. Conference on the pack ice at 6 p.m. in the conference room.
  Dinner at 7:30 p.m.
  After the meal, the weather is fine; no fog, although regular close to the pack ice, so our boat makes its way to land us on the ice! But this is a delicate operation, so briefing with the expedition leader at 9 p.m....
  And here we are, at 10 p.m., on the sea ice.
  After a tour of these extraterrestrial places, a glass of champagne is a must!
  Back on board around 11 p.m., a trip to the bar to celebrate this day... But going to bed? Hard, because the colors of the night become extraordinary, and in the observation room, there are 35 people watching, amazed...
  However, we "must" go to sleep, because tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock, we are in front of a huge colony of birds… If a bear does not come to disturb us at midnight, because in this case, general announcement!
  So… We take a small cake and an orange in the cabin, and we try to sleep…
  THE PASSENGERS
  Are children and babies welcome?
  These trips are all exceptional, and children are welcome, especially after 8 years old; we often organize specific activities when there are several of them. Only point: we expressly ask that they be under the total control of the parents, because in the Far North especially, the polar bears are a serious, mortal threat; our guides are armed; we cannot tolerate deviations.
  There is no baby equipment on board; they are not welcome.
  • No animals are accepted?
  Local laws prohibit any pets.
  • Does a team spirit appear during the cruise?
  It is clear that throughout the trip, we are all taken by our common objective of discovery, and there appears a real team spirit. Very often, the friendships born between these extreme places are made between the passengers.
  • Does the atmosphere depend on the number of people on board?
  No. When there are 12 of us on board the Polaris, the atmosphere is family, and when there are 100 of us, for example, we can adapt to everyone thanks to our team of guides: some follow the children, others the photography enthusiasts... there are often groups of friends on board.
  • What are the relations with the staff, the crew?
  Such a voyage is an expedition-cruise, that is, we all have the same goal and all work in the same spirit. The crew is animated by the same interest as us, and very often it is the officer of the watch who reports a bear, the captain tries the most beautiful navigations.
  As for the Great Spaces guides, remember that we are not guides or hostesses paid for a tourist service, but that we are above all passionate about these regions, which we have frequented assiduously, which we love to the point of wanting to to share their beauties which must be safeguarded.
  • Will there be other nationalities?
  Our trips are French-speaking. Some trips are bilingual French / English and in this case, it is then clearly indicated in our programs.
  The presence of other nationalities, far from being a problem, is often the occasion of beautiful exchanges, on the other hand for more effectiveness, the Francophonie is practical.
  Our team exudes a particular practice of travel and a spirit specific to Grands Espaces, and you will find them when the expedition leader belongs to our team. In case of mixed languages, everything is said and translated into French.
  And remember, one of the specificities of Grands Espaces is to offer completely French-speaking cruises.
  • Are the days tiring?  Will we be "rested" when we return from the trip?
  We want to give you your money's worth… Suffice to say that with the exception of certain cruises (on the Lena for example), our cruises and trips are dense, and you will return home tired, but with a head full of images.
  It remains that according to our activities, you will be the only judges to participate or not in an outing, according to the weather, or the difficulty of it.
  On land, we give the possibility to choose the excursion at your level, from "walker" to "walker", so as not to have your eyes glued to your feet, but above all to enjoy the landscape and the explanations of our polar guides. .
  When after dinner, we sometimes offer cruise-zodiac-expeditions, to explore some secret fjords, some prefer to stay on decks or in the observation lounge to quietly taste the calm, the serene but powerful beauty of these horizons of ice and of rocks…
  • Will there be times when we are cut off from the world?
  You will often have the impression of being far from everything... And on your return you will take some time to immerse yourself in the reality of everyday life.
  On board, we speak only exceptionally of the major world events that take place during our cruise, voluntarily, if not to mention, in the middle of the pack ice, the 800 km. of traffic jams on August 15...
  Obviously, the boat is connected by satellite telephone, radio, beacons with all the stations and rescue networks. From this angle, we are never “cut off from the world”.
  • Will we be disturbed by the absence of the (polar) night?
  You will slide into a “natural” 32 hour pace, but due to travel constraints, we keep “our” 24 hours. There are no announcements after 11 pm, unless a bear – too beautiful – is seen near the boat, or any other exceptional event… In this case, we will wake you up.
  When we see northern lights, we also wake you up.
• 
  OCCUPATIONS
  • What are the distractions on board?
  None.
  Briefings, recaps, workshops, lectures and films can cover a bad weather day, but our distraction is outside.
  We consider that having a piano bar, magicians or dancers on board in these end-of-the-world places where so many men have fought to push back the frontiers of humanity, makes these places common and devalues ​​what explorers have built legends, exploits...
  The most beautiful spectacle in the world is outside: the one for which you paid dearly: it is there, before your eyes... During such a trip, every hour matters, and we don't want to spend it distracting you elsewhere.
  If you are expecting show evenings, do not come on our polar boats!
  • Will there be conferences? Are they announced well in advance?
  Yes, because in these temples of time, you have to understand... The Inuit have 40 words for ice, 9 for bear, and these places take on more reality, value, depth when you know them better, like the natives, and we are the bridge between these places and these men and you, we are the interpreters, and therefore often give lectures... Some places, some old huts, are just piles of wood, but when you know the tragedies and stories that their are linked, they take on their true relief.
  This is why our guide team is very well documented.
  On the other hand, we will always give priority to the terrain, preferring to take you by zodiac or on foot, rather than locking you in the room to listen to our speeches.
  Thus, a successful expedition cruise is a cruise during which we will not have had time to carry out all our conferences!
  Conferences are always announced.
  • Will there be a diary or daily information sheet or posted schedule?
  Making a logbook / program information is possible in Antarctica or during some of our activities, but in the Arctic, impossible: all you need is bad weather, drifting ice, a bear or a whale , of a superbly lit landscape, to break the established program.
  Many years ago, when we started like many others today, we had a program… Never respected, fortunately.
  Today, it is information panels located in the places of passage which inform you of the activities, as well as - and especially - the announcements made over the loudspeakers.
  • Will there be reading available?
  Each boat has a polar library (often in English, except on the Polaris).
  • Will there be a place, bar or rest room, that can accommodate me at any time?
  Yes. And even on the smallest units. Inside and out, you will find "your corner". The bar is a very friendly place, which allows you to enjoy the evening lights with a drink in hand: let's not forget that the crew of Dumont d'Urville's "Astrolabe", discovering the land they will call Adélie, in Antarctica, celebrated the event by uncorking bottles of Bordeaux wine…
  The bar is open 24 hours a day. A guide or a crewman will serve you, or you can do it yourself, if we are busy elsewhere, noting your consumption.
  The latter will be paid at the end of the trip by cash or credit card.
  • Will we get a cruise report?
  Yes, our team will give you a report, which differs depending on the trip, of course, but which generally includes "souvenir" maps and photographs that you can share with friends on your return.
  • Will I be able to follow the course of the boat on the maps?
  Permanently, both at the bar and in the observation lounge (electronic charts depending on the boat) or on the bridge; Knowing where you are is essential, it's the heart of an expedition cruise and there are maps at your disposal.
  MEALS
  • What are the approximate meal times?
  7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
  Tea, coffee, cakes, fruit, are available 24 hours a day
  . A snack is provided around 4 p.m.
  • How many meals are served? Will there be snacks?
  Even if you don't come on a polar cruise to eat well, you have to eat well to enjoy life!
  You will have a good level of international cuisine, with Austrian, French, Dutch chefs, (…) and meals at “normal” times, snacks… In short, “expedition” does not mean “operation survival”.
  You will eat well!
  Meals are served at the table, but on some days it can be buffets – to “lose” less time at the table, at noon. The breakfasts are buffet and well stocked…
  The tables are not assigned, to allow you to get to know the other participants.
  At all meals, you usually have the choice between a “sea” option and a “meat” as well as “vegetarian”.
  People requesting a special diet (salt-free, kosher, halal, gluten-free, etc.) let us know and dishes adapted to this diet will be served on board.
  • And the drinks?
  Drinks are available for reasonable prices, à la carte, and will be billed to you at the end of the cruise.
  • Where do the supplies come from?
  Supplies are made in Europe, and arrive in refrigerated containers. On board, 3 cold rooms at different temperatures make it possible to preserve salads, fruits, meats...
  We can certainly taste certain local meats locally (the Inuit "matak", musk ox...), just to taste, as an aperitif for example, but there is no question of emptying the local stores on the one hand, and of being dependent on them: the management of the stewardship is too serious a thing not to plan it rigorously with a chain of custody and deadlines adequate.
  Similarly, we do not practice fishing, limited in these places for locals.
  • Will we drink reputedly pure melt water?
  We can make you taste the melting water of the pack ice or glaciers; it is reputed to be very pure… We will explain to you that it could be otherwise… But come anyway… Are you intrigued? Come on a trip with us, we will explain to you!
  THE CABINS
  • What happens when you live with someone you don't know?
  The cabin is a living space less used on expedition cruises than during major ocean crossings aboard large ships...
  In order, however, that cohabitation goes as well as possible, we put the coturns in contact if you wish.
  • What services and accessories are usually associated with a cabin?
  In the morning and in the evening cabin service is carried out. Sheets are changed every 5-6 days, towels daily, if requested.
  The cabin can be occupied at any time of the day. There are hair dryers for each cabin on some ships.
  • What about running water?
  We have water reserves on board, and also produce water from sea water. Hot water is available at all times.
  • Is there adjustable heating?
  The heating is programmed for the whole boat, where it is warm. On the other hand, each cabin has an adjustable thermostat or radiator.
  • Should windows and portholes be carefully closed?
  Depending on the boat, windows and portholes open or not. We may ask you to close them tightly if bad weather is forecast.

• Inflatable boats are our "secret weapon". We've been using them for nearly 40 years on expeditions, and these French-branded 'zodiac' boats for the most part are made of very tough rubber – much more than a stiff fiber hull that can be punctured.
  In addition, they allow us to land on all the beaches, to pass very marked shoals without running aground... This is why
  these boats are also used by professionals for perilous rescues on the high seas: there is no 'there's nothing better !
  In addition, we are comfortably seated on an inflated tube...
  On the other hand, each boat also has rafts and lifeboats approved to international SOLAS standards, which we will only use in the event of shipwreck.
  • What speed, power, number of passengers?
  Depending on the boats, we have 2 to 10 zodiacs that can accommodate 12 to 14 passengers. Their size exceeds 5 meters in length, and they are equipped with outboard motors of 40 to 60 HP. Our goal being to make you taste the Far North, we leave by speedboat, but without playing the "hero-zorros", so that you can move forward, while tasting the landscape and its fauna.
  • How many staff / crew members are accompanying?
  On our cruises, there is on average 1 guide for every 10 passengers. This high rate of supervision is linked to the regions visited: high seas, high mountains, isolation, danger of bears... This is why each guide has GPS, VHF radio and a weapon against bears.
  We follow annual courses in first aid and shooting, giving us the necessary authorizations for the job.
  • How are the outings going?
  Before each outing or almost, a meeting with the expedition leader specifies the difficulties, the objectives, and the groups that we propose, according to the aptitudes of each one.
  Our outings generally last 2 to 3 hours; afterwards, a visit to the toilet is essential, and the cold can become bothersome. We would prefer to organize 3 outings of 2.5 hours per day, than a long walk of 6 hours. Our goal: to make you feel and understand the diversity of these regions, their historical, geographical and ecological richness, and thus try to make you live various experiences.
  • How to dress ?
  Consultez notre fiche équipement. La sensation de froid est accentuée en zodiac en raison de l’immobilité et du vent. Prévoyez donc des bottes fourrées ou avec plusieurs couches de chaussettes, mais aussi gants et bonnets particulièrement chauds, en privilégiant le principe des couches superposées qui permet un ajustement…

• CRUISES AND TOURS: HEALTH
  • I am deaf or very visually impaired or have difficulty walking, can I still participate?
  The constant danger of bears can lead us to give quick orders and imperative signs. Our trips cannot therefore be aimed at the hearing impaired or the visually impaired.
  There is no lift on board our boats, which unfortunately excludes people with reduced mobility. On the other hand, a simple difficulty in getting around does not prohibit you from our trips! On the one hand, we carry out a lot of coastal navigation and our team will also inform you of the conduct to follow during landings. Some outings where the polar bear can be a danger or difficult terrain will be discouraged. Cane or walking stick are welcome.
  • What is the average equipment of a ship's infirmary?
  We are sailing in remote areas and the onboard infirmary's primary purpose is to enable the onboard doctor to provide first aid. Stretcher, splints, oxygen, defibrillator and common drugs fill the infirmary. Consultations are free and medicines on board are chargeable. You will not be reimbursed by Social Security. If you are on any particular medication, you must take your own medication. You will not be able to find them during stopovers.
  • What skills will the doctor have?
  Our on-board doctors are generalists or emergency physicians, capable of first diagnosis and first aid. They are by no means specialists.
  • I broke my glasses or lost a piece of device or need a battery, what can I do?
  We are at the end of the world, it is very difficult to find the necessary; bring spares!
  • What to do in the event of a serious accident?
  In this case, we will evacuate you with a helicopter or plane to take you to the first hospital that can take care of you. Between an accident and arrival at the hospital, it can sometimes take a long time: weather conditions sometimes prevent rescue operations.
  In the event of a serious accident, the boat may have to divert its route, cancel a program and this is why we impose the greatest caution on these trips so as not to harm the whole group.
• Convenient
• Administrative

• CRUISES AND CIRCUITS: PRACTICAL
  Daily life and its details on board a boat…
  • What is the voltage and frequency of the outlets?
  European sockets, 220 volt, 50 HZ
  • Can I bring my razor or other appliances?
  Yes.
  • Do I leave my cell phone at home?
  The laptops work with a world subscription in Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen) and in most Inuit communities in Greenland. They also work in Patagonia, but there is no network in Antarctica. The boats have a satellite telephone accessible to passengers (cost: approximately €2.5 per minute).
  • Do we have internet on board?
  Internet is available on board, but you cannot check your email or search the Internet. You can receive and send emails without attachments. Depending on the boat, a computer, a key and a confidential code are available for passengers.
  • Do we have television or radio on board?
  We do not receive any television channels on board, nor radio.
  • Is there a laundromat?
  There is no laundry available for passengers on board the Polaris, but paid laundry service exists on all other ships. As in hotels, you give your clothes to be washed to pick them up the next day.
  • I forgot to bring a garment/accessory, how can I help out? Is there a shop on board? Can we find everything during stopovers?
  No, it is imperative to bring all of your equipment.
  • What can you buy on board?
  On board and on most ships, you can buy drinks and chocolate bars. There may also be a store offering you a range of products to buy such stuffed animals, T-shirts, sweaters, books, postcards… These purchases will then be paid for at the end of the cruise, in EUR or USD or Visa/Master credit card .
  • Are we allowed to bring alcohol? Cigarettes ?
  Yes.
  • Where can we smoke?
  On board a boat, fire is the first cause of disaster and it is forbidden to smoke inside and especially in the cabin. You may smoke only in the designated places which will be indicated to you at the beginning of the voyage and on the exterior decks.

• ADMINISTRATIVE DURING A CRUISE/VOYAGE
  The process of a cruise reservation, and boarding!
  On board our trips, you will have to pay for drinks, laundry service, personal purchases and any tips. You can pay in EUR or USD and by Visa or Master credit card at the end of the cruise
  During stopovers, your credit cards will allow you to withdraw cash from the agent (local currencies) or make payments (souvenirs, drinks…).
  CRUISE/TRAVEL RESERVATIONS
  • How do I register?
  You are seduced by one of our trips described on our site.
  Here is the process to follow:
  1. You send us an e-mail in order to receive the catalog in which there is a lot of additional information as well as the conditions of registration.
  2. We strongly advise you to call one of our offices (France or Switzerland) or write us an e-mail to find out about the availability of cabins.
  3. You register in the chosen cabin by sending a deposit of 40% of the price of the trip and the registration stub from the catalog or the website.
  4. We will send you a trip registration confirmation.
  5. The balance of your registration is to be paid two months before departure and it is upon receipt that we will send you the latest information and documentation.
  Our offices are at your disposal for any information (schedules, plane, equipment, etc.).
  Note that Grands Espaces does not grant any last-minute reductions.
  • What are the formalities for travel, passport or identity card, visa?
  Formalities (for EU and Swiss nationals)
  Spitsbergen and Greenland: passport
  Argentina, Chile, Canada: passport
  Alaska: biometric passport
  Russia: passport and visa
  • Can we choose our flight?
  Unless otherwise stated, the prices appearing in the brochure and on the Grands Espaces website include flights departing from Paris or Geneva (sometimes at an additional cost from Switzerland). For any other departure city, please consult us on flight options and possible price supplements. In the event of a delayed flight from the rest of the group (pre-stay, extension, etc.), supplements may also apply.
  • What is included in the price for cruises?
  Our trips display prices including all air flights, all taxes, all excursions and transfers, accompaniment. These are prices per person, based on a double room or double cabin.
  • What is not included in the price for cruises?
  Personal purchases at stopovers and on board, drinks, laundry, tips, cancellation and repatriation insurance, personal transport to Paris or Geneva.
  • What are the difficulty levels?
  The 4 levels are:
  • Level 1 (?) : accessible to everyone. No or very short steps on level ground.
  • Level 2 (??): accessible to anyone without mobility problems. Some small steps on flat or slightly uneven ground.
  • Level 3 (???): accessible to people in good physical condition.
  That said, you don't need to be a marathon champion, but you do need to be able to walk several hours over rough terrain, for example in the rainforests of Uganda to see the gorillas.
  • Level 4 (????): for athletes, exceptional for us.
  • What are the comfort levels?
  The number of stars, from 1 to 4, corresponds to the hotel standard.
  • Can we request a personalized trip?
  Yes as well as business class flights, groups from 8 people.
  • Will we have tips to pay?
  Even if it is a service and less and less common, it allows on the other hand to gratify the services whose quality frankly surprised you. This is therefore a strictly personal assessment and we cannot therefore tell you the amount. Tips can be given directly to the person concerned or be slipped into an envelope that you will then deposit in a box provided for this purpose at the end of the trip.
  ARRIVAL AND BOARDING
  • Does the appointment always take place at the airport?
  Yes, unless you decide to go by yourself to the place of embarkation of the boat.
  (For some trips like Spitsbergen with the Polaris, the meeting takes place in Longyearbyen)
  • Will the schedules be “difficult”?
  No, unlike other operators, we try not to fly at night.
  • How will we recognize our companion?
  Your guide will have a Grands Espaces sign at the airport meeting point.
  • Will we have his number?
  Yes, we indicate in the mail of the airport appointment the name and mobile number of the guide.
  • And if someone is missing, will we be delayed?
  No, for each departure we indicate an appointment. If a person could not show up on time and despite the fact that they were able to warn us, we cannot change the course of the plane flights. The latecomer thus exposes himself - contractually - to losing all the benefit of his trip and Grands Espaces will not be able to assist him in his difficulties.
  We will be happy to answer any other questions you may not have found in this FAQ.
  Warning: the answers are not exhaustive, modifications within the FAQ are possible without notice, the document is not contractual. The trip descriptions take precedence over this document.