Newfoundland Circumnavigation

Board Ocean Albatros in the busy harbor of St. John’s. Walk past bright hillside houses, cafés, and seafood spots before departure. Complete required safety procedures, then move into your cabin. Head to the deck and raise a drink as the ship departs. Cruise toward the quiet waters of Notre Dame Bay and begin your coastal journey.

Arrive in Twillingate in the calm waters of Notre Dame Bay. Walk through a classic Newfoundland town with colorful homes set on rocky hills. Watch boats move in the harbor and along the shoreline. Visit local restaurants and try freshly prepared seafood. Put on hiking shoes and follow coastal trails with guidance from residents. Browse galleries and artisan shops across town. Look out for drifting icebergs from the Greenland Ice Sheet, often seen along the coast. Keep your camera ready while entering and leaving the harbor.

The Norse sagas tell of Leif, son of Erik, who left his home in Greenland and found new lands to the west – a story thought fanciful until 1961, when archaeologist Anne Ingstad began excavations on the northern tip of Newfoundland. What she found proved beyond doubt that the Norse had reached the Americas centuries before Columbus. The site of L’Anse aux Meadows is today protected as a National Historic Site of Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Come ashore by Zodiac at this most groundbreaking of historical sites and walk in the footsteps of legendary Norse explorers whose legacy echoes through history.

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador comprises the island of Newfoundland and Labrador – a vast span of coastline and fjords extending toward the Canadian Arctic. Though three times larger than Newfoundland, Labrador contains only a tenth of its population, a testament to its tough terrain and harsh climate. Here, life has long revolved around the ocean, as it once did for the Basque whalers who were among the first Europeans to settle this remote and beautiful land. Come ashore at the charming hamlet of Red Bay, explore the Labrador wilderness on foot, and learn from knowledgeable local guides about this fascinating period of Canada’s history.

The small village of Woody Point sits in an enviable location, occupying the calm waters of Bonne Bay, a deep fjord shrouded in lush forest. The town thrives on tourism and offers a warm Canadian welcome to all visitors. Woody Point is the gateway to the famous Gros Morne National Park, one of Newfoundland’s largest wilderness areas and a geological marvel. Here, a slab of Earth’s oceanic crust was thrust upward during continental collisions some 450 million years ago, creating a dramatic landscape home to stunted trees and unusual plant life. Join local guides on an excursion to learn about this remarkable wilderness.

Covering an area slightly smaller than Cuba, Newfoundland is a large island that remains home to fewer than half a million people, meaning much of the island is wild and untouched. Join your expedition team to explore a corner of this remote and beautiful wilderness and watch for seabirds, moose, or even the elusive Newfoundland black bear – keep your binoculars at the ready!

Bienvenue and welcome to St. Pierre! This small French overseas collectivity comprises the island of St. Pierre, home to the majority of the population, and the much larger island of Miquelon, home to only a few families. St. Pierre is the only French territory remaining in North America. While the landscape of stunted pines and rolling hills feels distinctly Canadian, metropolitan French is spoken in the streets, purchases are made in euros, and bottles of Bordeaux can be found in every restaurant. Join local guides to learn about life on this most unexpected of territories – a small slice of France just off the Newfoundland coast.

On the final day of your voyage, Ocean Albatros returns to the bustling harbor of St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland. After a hearty breakfast and a fond farewell to the crew, officers, and expedition team, step back onto dry land with memories of one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces to last a lifetime.