HIGHLIGHTS
- Marvel at the glistening icebergs that crack and calve spectacularly off glaciers into the meltwater
- Learn about the history of the Inuit, Dorset and Thule people from our experts on board
- Cruise the nutrient-rich waters of Lancaster Sound, home to harp, ringed and bearded seals, bowhead whales, beluga and narwhals.
- Gaze up at the vertiginous cliffs of Prince Leopold Island filled with nesting birdlife
- Follow in the wake of early explorers who set out to discover the Northwest Passage
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Sep 09, 2024 | Sep 25, 2024 | 7,352 |
7,984 |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Sep 09, 2024 | Sep 25, 2024 | 7,352 |
7,984 |
ITINERARY
DAY 1
KANGERLUSSUAQ
At the head of one of the longest fjords in western Greenland,
Kangerlussuaq has a history as a World War II airbase. Visit the
60-metre tall face of the Russell Glacier on the edge of the Greenland
ice cap to hear and see it crack and break off into the meltwater.
Other popular activities include kayaking on the fjords and wildlife
tours of the glacial areas that attract muskoxen, reindeer, arctic
foxes and gyrfalcons.
DAY 2
SISIMIUT
Just north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland,
Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports
hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then
Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport and we have a
chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern
side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the
Thule district in the north.
DAY 3
ILULISSAT, DISKO BAY
Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the
Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World
Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist
destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier,
thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into
the sea. The city of Ilulissat, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is
home to as many sled-dogs as people.
DAY 4
QEQERTARSUAQ
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, the largest island in
Greenland, on the west coast and part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The Lyngmark Glacier rises above the town and the
area’s lush hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches
reflect its volcanic origin. The area is very fertile and home to
diverse species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for
its hot springs as we move through floating icebergs and whales.
DAY 5
DAY AT SEA
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world
go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of
the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle
with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible
trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books.
Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or
perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our
onboard professional photographers.
DAY 6
POND INLET, NU
The scenic views of snow-capped mountains and picturesque fjords have
given Pond Inlet - or Mittimatalik - in northern Baffin Island the name
of Canada’s ‘jewel of the north.’ The
area is a prime breeding ground for narwhals, and bowhead whales,
ringed and harp seals, and walrus also warrant a vigilant eye. Stop by
the Nattinnak Centre to discover more about the region and its
wildlife. The Inuit community here are renowned for their craft skills
from printmaking and stone carving. Nearby, Qulalukat’s
thousand-year-old Inuit sod houses merit a visit.
DAY 7
DUNDAS HARBOUR, DEVON
ISLAND, NU
Dundas Harbour on Lancaster Sound is the eastern entrance of the
Northwest Passage on the southeast coast of the world’s
largest uninhabited island, Devon Island. Despite the harsh terrain,
signs of life remain with the relics of a 1000 A.D. Thule settlement
and a 1920s outpost from where Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
controlled illegal whaling. Nearby, Croker Bay is one of the deeper
inlets into Devon Island, on the northern shores of iceberg-laden
Lancaster Sound. The Devon ice cap feeds the monumental South Croker
Bay Glacier that calves into the bay. Zodiac excursions take us past
floating bergs dotted with seals and birds to get up close to stunning
glacial waterfalls, and if safe to do so, you can step onto the glacier.
DAY 7
CROKER BAY
Croker Bay is a beautiful Arctic waterway located in the colorful
Qikiqtaaluk Region. It lies off the southern coast of Devon Island in
the eastern high Arctic. Croker Bay is one of the deeper inlets into
Devon Island and is an arm of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait.
DAY 8
RADSTOCK BAY, NU
This area is most closely associated with the exploration of
Canada’s High Arctic and the Northwest Passage. Much of the
Canadian Arctic Archipelago was mapped while searching for the missing
crew of British explorer Sir John Franklin’s fateful 1845-46
Northwest Passage Expedition. Radstock Bay sits below the mighty
Caswall Tower mountain and hides many secrets, such as evidence of
sledge tracks, camps and food tins that may help to reveal what
happened.
DAY 8
BEECHEY ISLAND, NU
Beechey Island Sites are five locations across desolate Beechey Island,
now designated as important historic sites. These include the sites
where Sir John Franklin and his crew wintered.
DAY 9
PORT LEOPOLD, NU
Port Leopold is a place of raw natural beauty and rugged landscapes
that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. The pristine wilderness and
untouched terrain create a feeling of remoteness and isolation, while
the Arctic wildlife that calls this place home adds a touch of wildness
and unpredictability. The area's history as a former Hudson's Bay
Company trading post also lends a sense of nostalgia and intrigue.
DAY 9
ELWIN BAY, NU
Crossing the Lancaster Sound to Somerset Island, you pass the most
important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic, the steep cliffs
around flat-topped Prince Leopold Island are home to more than 500,000
nesting pairs of thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern
fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes. Beluga whales come to moult in the
shallow gravel beds. Sailing south to Elwin Bay, a breathtaking fjord
in Prince Regent Inlet, keep an eye out for polar bears hunting for
ringed seals that haul out onto the sea ice. Nearby at Port Leopold on
Somerset Island, English explorer James Clark Ross wintered while
searching for the missing Franklin expedition in 1848.
DAY 10
FORT ROSS, NU
Fort Ross on Somerset Island is the abandoned last trading post of the
Hudson’s Bay Company. The timber building that remains, built
in 1937, formed part of the most northerly established fur trading post
covering the Bellot Strait, before being abandoned due to severe
ice-choked conditions at sea. One of the straits along the Northwest
passage, the narrow 16-mile long Bellot Strait with steep cliffs, is
windy with strong tidal currents. Connecting Brentford Bay to icy Peel
Sound, the strait separates Somerset Island in the north from the
Murchison Promontory on Boothia Peninsula to the south, where Point
Zenith, the northernmost continental point of the Americas is
positioned. It was also here on the 1829 Second Arctic expedition of
Sir John Ross, that his nephew Sir James Clark Ross located the
Magnetic North Pole.
DAY 10
CRUISING BELLOT STRAIT, NU
The Bellot Strait is a narrow strait separating Somerset Island on the
north from the Boothia Peninsula on the south. It is approximately 2.3
km wide and 25 km long. The inlet is named after the French explorer
Joseph-René Bellot who died nearby in 1853 during an
expedition to find Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition.
DAY 11
CRUISE PEEL SOUND, NU
Choked up by ice in winter, Peel Sound is a 125-mile long channel
separating Prince of Wales Island to the west and Somerset Island to
the east. The icebound arctic waters prevented several 19th-century
explorers from achieving their goals - Sir John Franklin in 1846,
Francis Leopold McClintock in 1858 and Allen Young in 1875. Take time
to learn more about these early adventurers as you relax and spot polar
bears on the pack ice.
DAY 11
CONNINGHAM BAY, NU
DAY 12
DAY AT SEA
Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever
takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the
spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or
simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance
to the green days spent exploring on land.
BUCHAN GULF, NU (ATT! New port from JUNE 2024)
DAY 13
Buchan Gulf, a remote Arctic fjord on Baffin Island's
northeastern coast, is one of the world’s most important
nesting sites for northern fulmars, who roost on the towering cliffs
and rocks. Polar bears roam the shores of Icy Arm, a narrow fjord with
the relics of an ancient Thule semi-subterranean home sitting on the
edge of the boggy tundra. Pods of narwhals are at home in the deep
waters of this glacial fjord system on eastern Baffin Island.
DAY 14
QIKIQTARJUAQ
Qikiqtarjuaqis is a remote and beautiful Baffin Island community
surrounded by towering mountains and stunning glaciers. The town's
Inuit culture and traditions are still alive, making it a unique and
immersive experience for visitors. The rugged landscape and pristine
wilderness offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, from
kayaking to wildlife watching. But what truly sets Qikiqtarjuaq apart
is the warmth and hospitality of its people, who welcome visitors with
open arms and share their rich history and traditions with pride.
DAY 15
DAY AT SEA
Today as you sail, you’ll bask in the endless comforts of
your ship. From the deck, marvel at the dramatic sea views. Relax with
a nurturing facial treatment or massage in the spa or delve into the
ship’s learning resources. Or, simply take refuge in your
cabin and enjoy the opportunity to rest.
DAY 16-17
KANGERLUSSUAQ
At the head of one of the longest fjords in western Greenland,
Kangerlussuaq has a history as a World War II airbase. Visit the
60-metre tall face of the Russell Glacier on the edge of the Greenland
ice cap to hear and see it crack and break off into the meltwater.
Other popular activities include kayaking on the fjords and wildlife
tours of the glacial areas that attract muskoxen, reindeer, arctic
foxes and gyrfalcons.
SH Vega (Luxury Expedition, 152-guests)
Making her maiden voyage in April 2022, our 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offers you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage.
Our brand new ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (ONLY available for Antarctica cruises starting or ending in Ushuaia, Arctic cruises starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
- Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
- One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
- All meals onboard
- Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
- Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
- Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
- Standard WiFi
- Onboard gratuities & port taxes