After a hopefully restful and smooth first night aboard MS Spitsbergen, you awoke to a stunning Arctic morning—bathed in sunshine, under clear skies, and surrounded by calm, silent air.

The morning was filled with presentations, including an introduction to AECO—the guidelines we follow to help us behave responsibly in this fragile environment. But even amidst that, nature had its own surprise in store: graceful belugas made an unexpected appearance, arching their gleaming white bodies out of the water to the delight of all who watched.

In the afternoon, we reached our first stop at a scientific settlement on this journey: Ny-Ålesund, the northernmost permanent research town in the world.

You had the chance to explore this unique place—whether by walking to the 35-meter-high Amundsen mast, from which the legendary explorer set off toward the North Pole with the airship Norge in 1926, visiting the small museum, picking out a souvenir (hopefully the one with the correct coordinates: 78.55° N), sending a postcard from the iconic light-blue post office, or simply enjoying the raw beauty of the surrounding tundra.

All the while, the air was alive with the song of snow buntings and the cries of Arctic terns—now fiercely protective as the breeding season nears. A vivid reminder that life in the Arctic, no matter how delicate, is always determined.