The Svalbard Expedition was fabulous from start to finish! The small ship (the Freya) experience with only 12 guests was great and the accommodations and food were superb (not to mention the sauna and hot tub which were very much appreciated after the Polar Plunge!) - this was NOT roughing it by any measure. Having only 12 guests made the zodiac excursions relatively simple and easy to do. The guides with SecretAtlas (Piet and Miriam) and Reefs to Rockies (Cheryl Opperman) were terrific, providing very helpful information regarding the arctic environment and wildlife, and photography advice and assistance. I had an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience and have hundreds of photos (sublime landscapes, Polar Bears, walruses, seals, Arctic Foxes, reindeer, and too many different kinds of birds to count!) to prove it! Highly recommend this trip!