Thule and Beyond

Arrive at the airport and head to your hotel. Relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, sits within a fjord system known for humpback whales, waterfalls and icebergs. The city combines mountain and backcountry landscapes with restaurants, museums and shops. Activities such as hiking, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking are available for active travelers. Visit Katuaq, Nuuk’s cultural center, known for its architecture inspired by the waves of the Aurora Borealis. You may also have the chance to fish for cod or redfish and have your catch prepared at Qooqqut Nuan.

Translating as the “Fjord of Eternity,” Evighedfjord lives up to its name with soaring peaks and blue glaciers spilling into a mirror-calm sea. Zodiac rides glide past sculpted icebergs, where seals lounge and seabirds skim the surface. The sheer scale of the scenery evokes Greenland’s epic spirit, while tranquil bays invite quiet moments to absorb this pristine landscape shaped by ice and time.

Few travel milestones are as memorable as crossing the fabled Arctic Circle. As your ship sails north, you join the ranks of explorers who have ventured into these high latitudes, where the sun lingers on the horizon and ice-choked seas define the landscape. Many mariners celebrate this passage with the lighthearted tradition of becoming a “Blue Nose,” a symbolic order marking your entry into the true High Arctic. Whether you mark it with a toast on deck or simply savor the view, this moment is a highlight of any polar journey.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Within the popular Disko Bay sits Ilulissat (Greenlandic for "icebergs") and its UNESCO-listed Icefjord. The image of pure white, monolithic icebergs surrounding the colorful houses of the town invites you to traverse these wondrous lands. You may find an opportunity to kayak amid the icebergs as the Midnight Sun sits on the horizon, appearing as an eternal sunset. Navigating Disko Bay, Greenland’s largest bay, you’re likely to catch sight of a beluga or bowhead whale, or perhaps even a narwhal. You can see them up close sitting just 30 feet above the waterline from Water’s Edge while keeping warm with heated seating.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Disko Bay is a wonderland of shifting light, breaching whales, and iceberg-laden waters. Wildlife thrives here — from fin whales and seabird colonies to occasional polar bear sightings on drifting ice. This region also tells a geological story, with lava flows and basalt formations shaping the dramatic coastline. With every bend in the bay, a new opportunity for awe emerges — underscoring the expedition’s spirit of discovery.

Kangerluk rests on a quiet inlet of Disko Island, where hot springs steam against a backdrop of craggy hills. This friendly settlement brims with Inuit heritage and offers a tranquil vantage over iceberg-studded waters. Walk the shoreline or hike inland for views of Disko Bay’s glaciers, and absorb the rhythms of daily life in one of Greenland’s loveliest corners.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Set beneath a heart-shaped mountain, Uummannaq is one of Greenland’s most photogenic villages. Its harbor bustles with fishing boats, while sled dogs rest beside colorful homes. Hot springs dot the nearby coast, and whales often surface in the bay. Wandering its narrow lanes or hiking above town reveals sweeping views of fjords and rugged peaks.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Sail through legendary Baffin Bay, where icebergs drift past rugged shores alive with seabirds and seals. Naturalists share stories of Arctic exploration and Inuit traditions that have shaped life here for millennia. Watch for minke and bowhead whales surfacing in the glassy waters, and keep an eye on the ice for polar bears roaming the floes. Every mile offers a new window into the wild beauty that bridges Greenland and Canada.

Savissivik is famed for its iceberg-strewn waters, where sculpted ice glows in shifting shades of blue and white. A small settlement clings to the coast, its residents living much as their ancestors did, closely tied to the rhythms of hunting and the sea. Polar bears are sometimes seen on the drifting floes, adding to the sense of untamed Arctic wilderness. This quiet harbor offers unparalleled views of towering bergs and an authentic sense of Arctic tradition.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

At Greenland’s far north, Qaanaaq—often called the “capital of the High Arctic”—rests amid glaciers and shimmering sea ice. Around 600 residents maintain traditions shaped by dogsledding, hunting, and an intimate bond with the land. Polar bears sometimes roam the surrounding pack ice, a reminder of nature’s dominance in this remote setting. From colorful houses, views stretch to towering bergs and ancient meteorite sites, creating an evocative portrait of resilience at Earth’s edge.

The northernmost permanently inhabited settlement in the world, Siorapaluk is home to just a few dozen residents. Bright houses dot a gravel shore framed by immense cliffs alive with seabirds. Polar bears occasionally patrol the sea ice nearby, underscoring the community’s resilience in a land where wildlife and people live in close connection. Visitors gain insight into resilient Inuit culture while marveling at fjords and glaciers stretching beyond, a vivid encounter with life at the edge of the inhabited world.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Cruising through the Thule Region is a journey into legendary Arctic landscapes. Watch for polar bears wandering ice floes, and admire steep bird cliffs alive with guillemots and kittiwakes. Occasional landings reveal quiet villages shaped by traditional hunting culture, framed by glaciers and gleaming sea ice.

Sail through legendary Baffin Bay, where icebergs drift past rugged shores alive with seabirds and seals. Naturalists share stories of Arctic exploration and Inuit traditions that have shaped life here for millennia. Watch for minke and bowhead whales surfacing in the glassy waters, and keep an eye on the ice for polar bears roaming the floes. Every mile offers a new window into the wild beauty that bridges Greenland and Canada.

Framed by snow-tipped peaks and drifting ice, Pond Inlet is one of the Canadian Arctic’s most picturesque communities. Visitors are welcomed with cultural performances, local handicrafts, and stories of life where narwhals and seals share the bay. Polar bears are occasionally sighted along the ice edge, adding a touch of wilderness drama to the scene. Its warm hospitality contrasts with the grandeur of glaciers and sea ice surrounding this gateway to the High Arctic.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Jagged peaks frame the glassy waters of Icy Arm Fjord, creating a natural amphitheater of Arctic grandeur. Landings here may include guided hikes or visits to a nearby hamlet, where residents share stories of life amid Canada’s Far North. Seals surface in the still water, and the chance to witness a cultural performance adds warmth and meaning to this striking wilderness.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Spend a leisurely day pampering yourself at the spa or enjoying some time on deck. Mingle with your fellow explorers and swap stories of your exploits, making plans for new ones together once you get to shore.

Linking Greenland and Canada, the Davis Strait is alive with movement: seabirds skim low over the swells, and whales often rise in these productive waters. Watch from deck as your ship follows a course once used by explorers and whalers, the air crisp with promise and the sea stretching endlessly ahead.

Located just off Baffin Island’s eastern coast, Qikiqtarjuaq offers an authentic window into Canadian Inuit life. This remote hamlet is known for its mountainous backdrop, iceberg-filled bays, and warm community spirit. The surrounding waters are rich with marine life such as bowhead whales and narwhals, and the region is home to a thriving population of polar bears. Meaning “Big Island” in Inuktitut, Qikiqtarjuaq invites you to discover how Arctic traditions, from hunting and fishing to carving and storytelling, are vital expressions of Inuit culture passed down through generations. Captain’s Choice Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs and ever-changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. You are encouraged to embrace a spirit of adventure, spontaneity, and flexibility as your Captain works with your expedition team to determine possible sites for shore landings and Zodiac safaris. While itineraries serve to guide your exploration, all routes are always subject to change in order to prioritize safety and create the optimal expedition experience for all guests.

The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, sits in the fjord system of the same name best known for humpback whales, waterfalls and icebergs. This unique city contains mountains and expansive backcountry on one side and a thriving metropolitan on the other, filled with culinary experiences, museums and fashion boutiques. Hiking, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking can be found most anywhere for more active explorers. Nuuk’s cultural center Katuaq displays architectural prowess with a building designed to mimic the waves of the Aurora Borealis. You may find an opportunity to fish for cod or redfish and have it cooked for you at the gourmet restaurant Qooqqut Nuan.