Day 1 - Friday - Aug 18, 2023
Enjoy British Columbia's largest city. Our expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage starts in the beautiful city of Vancouver at the foot of the Rockies. Visit Gastown, the city's oldest neighbourhood, and climb Vancouver Lookout for views overlooking neon-lit Granville Street, West End beaches, and the towering cedars of Stanley Park. Vancouver has a flavor all its own-and so does its global cuisine. Dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market, or Little Italy as you soak up the city's buzzing atmosphere.
Day 2 - Saturday - Aug 19, 2023
Fascinating history of gold prospectors and explorers. You'll start the day flying from Vancouver to Nome in Alaska. Nome was the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions, including an aircraft attempt to reach the North Pole in 1926. A fitting place to board our expedition ship-MS Roald Amundsen-and embark on our own epic adventure. Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. Wyatt Earp even opened a saloon here. You'll see evidence of the gold rush all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the-century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique atmosphere.
Day 3 - Sunday - Aug 20, 2023
Science and wildlife watching at sea. As our expedition cruise sails from Nome, prepare for your adventures ahead with lectures from the Expedition Team on tectonic activity, glaciology, wildlife protection, and meeting local communities. As we sail through the Bering Strait, look out for over 30 species of sea birds, including black-legged kittiwakes, auklets, and murrelets. We'll cross the international date line and Chukchi Sea, before reaching the Beaufort Sea and Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the USA. You may spot bowhead and grey whales here. From the Amundsen Gulf, we hope to reach Smoking Hills.
Day 4 - Monday - Aug 21, 2023
Day 5 - Tuesday - Aug 22, 2023
Day 6 - Wednesday - Aug 23, 2023
Day 7 - Thursday - Aug 24, 2023
Day 8 - Friday - Aug 25, 2023
Day 9 - Saturday - Aug 26, 2023
Day 10 - Sunday - Aug 27, 2023
Day 11 - Monday - Aug 28, 2023
Day 12 - Tuesday - Aug 29, 2023
Day 13 - Wednesday - Aug 30, 2023
Day 14 - Thursday - Aug 31, 2023
Day 15 - Friday - Sep 1, 2023
Crossing a historical sea corridor through Canada's Arctic archipelago. Like 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 Smoking Hills, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Fort Ross, Dundas Harbour, and Pond Inlet. 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 cruise 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. Smoking Hills is where lignite-eroded shale mixed with pyrite-spontaneously ignites when exposed to air, creating a photogenic phenomenon of smoke billowing from the cliffs. From here, we'll sail through the Amundsen Gulf to Ulukhaktok, where you can pick up some prints, tapestries, and other crafts made by local artists. We'll then continue onto wildlife-rich Cambridge Bay where you might see Arctic char, muskoxen, and caribou. Then onwards to Gjoa Haven, where Roald Amundsen learned polar survival tips from the Netsilik Inuit. If we are able, we'll take a walking tour to learn more. We'll continue east to Fort Ross, a former Hudson Bay Trading post. We may stop at Beechey Island and pay our respects at the graves of three Franklin expedition team members. On Devon Island-the largest uninhabited island on Earth-we hope to visit Dundas Harbour and learn about its Thule heritage. On the final stretch, we'll try to reach Pond Inlet and the Inuit community of Mittimatalik on Baffin Island, rounding off what we hope will be an incredible 10 days of exhilarating exploration.
Day 16 - Saturday - Sep 2, 2023
| Captain's Choice, United States |
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Day 17 - Sunday - Sep 3, 2023
| Captain's Choice, United States |
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Day 18 - Monday - Sep 4, 2023
| Cruising Detroit de Davis, Canada |
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Relax at sea as we sail towards Greenland. Leaving Canada behind, your Northwest Passage cruise will cross Baffin Bay and Davis Strait on its way to Greenland. Join your Expedition Team for more insightful lectures on the renowned route we're sailing. Topics may include historic explorers and expeditions, Greenlandic culture, local wildlife and geology. Take time to enjoy all the facilities onboard too. Lie back in the infinity pool, the hot tub or the sauna, or get your heart pumping in the indoor gym or on the running track. Then in the evening, head for the panoramic Explorer Lounge & Bar to share stories of your travels.
Day 19 - Tuesday - Sep 5, 2023
The town where you can see and hear the ice flow. Our expedition cruise reaches Disko Bay-a haven for walruses, whales, and seals. You're in for a unique experience. Nestled in magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Against a backdrop of colorful houses is an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs. Marvel at these giants as they float past the town, taking on different hues of white, grey, and blue. You won't just see them, you'll hear them too. As they bump into one another, the cracks, creaks, and rumbles echo all around. Even amateur photographers will return to ship with the most enviable images.
Day 20 - Wednesday - Sep 6, 2023
Enjoy a warm welcome in Arctic Greenland. We reach Sisimiut, Greenland's second city. It sits in a spectacular location just 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years. Old traditions are alive and well here. You can learn more about the ancient Saqqaq artefacts in the local museum and Taseralik Culture Center. Pick up a special souvenir-a qiviut scarf, hat, or mittens-made from a local fabric said to be 10 times warmer than sheep wool. One of the best things you'll experience on your expedition cruise in Greenland is meeting the local communities-real interactions that make for fantastic memories.
Day 21 - Thursday - Sep 7, 2023
| Cruising the Labrador Sea |
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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 from the wildlife of Northern Labrador to Inuit culture and the history of Arctic exploration. The strait is known for its abundance of seals, whales, and cod. You can take part in one of the Citizen Science programmes, helping photograph and track whales or contributing to the GLOBE Observer project.
Day 22 - Friday - Sep 8, 2023
| Cruising the Labrador Sea |
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Day 23 - Saturday - Sep 9, 2023
Explore this extraordinary former whaling settlement. Look out for humpback or minke whales as we approach Red Bay-the very creatures that drew whalers to this harbor in the 17th century. The ice-cold waters around Red Bay hide a number of wrecked chalupas-or small whaling boats-and galleons, making it one of the world's most important underwater archaeological sites. Visit the local museum to see a 26-feet chalupa and look for whale bones in the protected National Historic Site. Search for pirate captain Kidd's buried treasure around Tracey Hill; you may not find gold doubloons, but you will be rewarded with a fantastic view.
Day 24 - Sunday - Sep 10, 2023
Step back in time in this charming Newfoundland city. We'll follow in Captain James Cook's footsteps as we sail into the Bay of Islands towards the traditional city of Corner Brook. Discover the area's fascinating history and collection of artefacts at Corner Brook Museum. Join an optional excursion for great views from Crow Hill, or take a guided hike along the Corner Brook Stream Trail. You can also opt for the thrill of zip-lining high over the scenic Humber Valley, admiring views of Marble Mountain and Steady Brook Falls. Before we depart, we'll enjoy a performance from a local folk and traditional trio as today's included activity.
Day 25 - Monday - Sep 11, 2023
Reflecting on your epic expedition. As your Northwest Passage expedition cruise draws to a close, take time to unwind onboard your comfortable ship and imagine the challenges the great explorers before you would have faced. Soak your limbs in the hot tub, work out in the gym, make use of the Science Center, take a swim, or just relax in the Explorer Lounge. Join the Expedition Team to recap the highlights of this incredible once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Spend time in the Science Center wrapping up your Citizen Science observations or pick out your favorite images with an onboard photographer.
Day 26 - Tuesday - Sep 12, 2023
Disembark in the cosmopolitan capital of Nova Scotia. Your expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage ends in Halifax. This historic port is a fitting end to such a wonderful adventure. As you find your land legs, why not discover its red-brick heritage buildings, landmark Citadel Hill National Historic Site and epic 2.5-mile seafront boardwalk. Take a leisurely stroll on Halifax Common-Canada's oldest park, dating back to 1763-and visit one of the city's many art galleries or museums, including the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Want to stay longer? Book a Post-Programme to visit the historic community of Peggys Cove and Halifax Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the burial place of 121 passengers of the Titanic.
