The Northwest Passage

HIGHLIGHTS

• 27-day Northwest Passage expedition cruise, attempting to follow this epic route from Iceland and Greenland to Nome in Alaska, and onto Vancouver.
• Discover UNESCO-listed sites, spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and Inuit settlements – guided by our expert Expedition Team.
• Explore the breathtaking Bering Strait, navigating ice floes and spotting Arctic wildlife like whales, caribou and even polar bears.

ITINERARY

DAY 1
Cosmopolitan Reykjavík
Discover Iceland's modern capital
Packed full of art, culture and history, Reykjavík is a delight to explore. Take a stroll along Laugavegur with its boutiques and outdoor shops, or head to the striking Hallgrímskirkja church or the fascinating Reykjavík Art Museum.
MS Fridtjof Nansen awaits you in Reykjavík Harbour. After collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore the ship as we set sail on this epic expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage.
If you'd like to spend more time here before you set off on your Northwest Passage expedition cruise, you can book a Pre-Programme with us to tour the Golden Circle or Icelandic Highlands.

DAY 2-3
Across the Denmark Strait
In the wake of Vikings
We sail to Greenland across the Denmark Strait, the route taken by Erik the Red, supposedly the first European to have settled there. Take this time to relax and explore the stylish onboard facilities of our hybrid electric–powered ship.
Your Expedition Team will explain the protocols of respectfully visiting wildlife habitats and indigenous Arctic communities. In the Science Center, you can learn more about Greenland's geology, or join one of our Citizen Science projects. Then hit the gym, soak in one of our on-deck hot tubs or enjoy a delicious meal in one of our three onboard restaurants.

DAY 4
Prince Christian Sound
Breathtaking panoramas and abundant wildlife
We aim to explore the incredible waters of the 60-mile-long Prince Christian Sound today. Sharp-peaked granite mountains provide a stunning contrast to the bright white glaciers. Look out for calving icebergs and colourful houses in the village of Aappilattoq.
Nature is abundant here. Keep an eye out for ringed and bearded seals resting on the ice, and Glaucous Gulls and Black Guillemots soaring above. You may even spot minke and humpback whales.
If sea ice prevents us entering the sound, we'll head to craggy Cape Farewell, the southernmost point of Greenland.

INCLUDED
Experience a day of pioneer-style exploration and discover beautiful scenery and wildlife.

DAY 5
Ivittuut: forgotten town
Ivittuut's fascinating WWII history
As you wander around the abandoned ruins of this ghost town, it’s hard to believe that Ivittuut, a former mining outpost, once played a pivotal role in the course of history.
During WWII, the US secretly stationed troops here to prevent rare cryolite – used to make aluminum alloys – falling into enemy hands. Supplies were instead shipped to the UK to manufacture aircraft used in the Battle of Britain.
Here, you can walk among the area's deserted buildings. Once the last Viking settlement in Greenland, these days the only inhabitants you’re likely to see are musk oxen.

INCLUDED
Explore a fascinating ghost town where nature rules.

DAY 6
Nuuk, Greenland's capital
Experience Greenlandic culture, old and new, in Nuuk
After several days exploring remote, idyllic icescapes, you'll cruise into Nuuk, Greenland’s colourful capital. With a population of 18,000, it has a striking mix of old and new buildings.
Compare the old buildings – such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral – with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland building.
Visit the national museum to gain fascinating insight into life here 500 years ago and see the six Qilakitsoq mummies. Or join a long nature walk through Paradise Valley and around Mt. Lille Malene.

INCLUDED
Attend a fascinating Greenlandic performance to see the Mask Dance and hear traditional music and a local choir.

DAY 7-8
Crossing the Labrador Sea
Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science
Leaving Greenland behind, our expedition cruise continues to Canada across the Labrador Sea. We'll enter the Davis Strait, named after English explorer John Davis, who led expeditions here in the 16th century. The Expedition Team will continue their onboard lectures on topics such as the wildlife of Northern Labrador, Inuit culture and the history of Arctic exploration.
The strait is known for its abundance of seals, whales and cod. Why not take part in one of our Citizen Science programme projects, helping photograph and track whales, or observe the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.

DAY 9-21
The Northwest Passage
Crossing a historical sea corridor through Canada's Arctic archipelago
Like the pioneering explorers who've come before you, we won't have an exact itinerary as we attempt to sail our state-of-the-art, ice-class ship from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the famed sea route: the Northwest Passage. Stops might include Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbour, Fort Ross, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay and Smoking Hills.
As we explore, we'll land at sites linked to early exploration history, visit Inuit communities, and look out for Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales, narwhals, seals and seabirds.
You'll go small expedition boat cruising between ice floes, and go ashore to experience the pristine wilderness first hand. Your Expedition Team will adapt activities to ice and weather conditions, giving you the best experience possible.
We’ll try to reach Pond Inlet and the Inuit community of Mittimatalik on Baffin Island. On Devon Island – the largest uninhabited island on Earth – we'll visit Dundas Harbour and learn about its Thule heritage. We may even pay our respects at the graves of three Franklin expedition team members on Beechey Island.
We'll continue west to Fort Ross, a former Hudson Bay Trading post, before sailing to Gjoa Haven, where Roald Amundsen learned polar survival tips from the Netsilik Inuit people. If we are able to land here, we'll take a walking tour to learn more.
From here, we'll sail onward to wildlife-rich Cambridge Bay, where you might see Arctic char, musk oxen and caribou. Pick up some prints, tapestries, and other crafts made by local artists in Ulukhaktok before we arrive in the Amundsen Gulf.
Here we hope to see the remarkable Smoking Hills, where lignite – eroded shale mixed with pyrite – spontaneously ignites when exposed to air, creating a photogenic phenomenon of smoke billowing from the cliffs.

DAY 22-25
Along the Alaskan coast
Science and wildlife watching at sea
Having successfully traversed the Northwest Passage, our expedition cruise continues towards Nome. Join your Expedition Team for more insightful lectures. Topics might include subjects such as wildlife, tectonic activity, glaciology and local history.
Wildlife lovers and birdwatchers are in for a treat. Keep an eye out for bowhead and grey whales as we cross the Beaufort Sea to Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the United States, before crossing the International Date Line – with 'tomorrow' on your right and 'today' on your left.
As we sail through the Bering Strait, look out for over 30 species of seabirds, including Black-legged Kittiwakes, auklets and murrelets.

DAY 26
No place like Nome
Fascinating history of gold prospectors and explorers
Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You'll see evidence of the Gold Rush era all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique and intriguing atmosphere.
You’ll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions, making it a fitting place to end your own great adventure before flying onward to Vancouver.

DAY 27
Vibrant Vancouver
Enjoy British Columbia’s largest city
Our Northwest Passage expedition cruise ends in the beautiful city of Vancouver, located at the foot of the Rockies. You'll spend the night here before returning home.
Vancouver's neighbourhoods buzz with restaurants offering delicious international cuisine. Don’t miss Gastown, Vancouver’s old Victorian district. Here you'll find the Vancouver Lookout, offering 360º panoramic views over the city.
While you're here, why not join our Post-Programme to the beautiful mountain resort of Banff. What better way to end your adventure!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Economy class flight from Nome to Vancouver
• Transfer from the ship to the airport in Nome
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Vancouver
• Overnight in Vancouver after the expedition cruise, including breakfast

Expedition Cruise

• A stay in a cabin of your choice
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner including beverages* in restaurants Aune and Fredheim
• À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
• Complimentary tea and coffee
• Complimentary Wi-Fi on board*
• Complimentary reusable water bottle
• English-speaking Expedition Team who organise and accompany activities on board and ashore
• Range of included activities

*House beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water
*Please note there is very limited Wi-Fi and phone signal in the remote areas we travel to, and streaming is not supported.

Onboard Activities

• In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
• Full use of our Science Center, extensive library and advanced biological and geological equipment
• Citizen Science Programme where you can assist with ongoing scientific research
• Photography tips and techniques for capturing landscape and wildlife from our onboard professional photographer
• Use of ship's hot tubs, infinity pool, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor gyms, and running track
• Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings

Landing Activities

• Escorted landings with small expedition boats
• Loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities
• Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket
• Expedition photographers on hand to assist you

Notes

• All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
• Excursions and activities are subject to change
• Please make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements
• No gratuities expected

Not Included

• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Luggage handling
• Optional shore excursions with our local partners
• Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
• Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area