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Aurora borealis, Norway

The Northwest Passage - In the Wake of the Great Explorers

Reykjavik - Vancouver - Example 27 Day Cruise aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen
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Depart Reykjavik and sail along the Denmark Strait to Prince Christian Sound, the Inuit homeland of Nunavut on Baffin Island. This voyage takes you across the Davis Strait and into the Northwest Passage. Explore the islands that dot this famously difficult nautical passage. Discover potential sites amidst stunning scenery, wildlife, and Inuit villages. Keep an eye out for polar bears, narwhals, and bowhead whales eating off the shore of Baffin Island as the ship approaches the Northwest Passage. Depending on the sea and weather, excursion trips amid ice floes are planned. From the Arctic Ocean, the Northwest Passage continues west through the Amundsen Gulf, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Bering Strait. This expedition cruise encompasses the Arctic's many features, from magnificent landscapes to unique species and civilizations.
Upernavik GreenlandWalruses coming ashore in the arcticAn Arctic fox scouts the terrainExploring GreenlandPolar bears in the ArcticQeqertarsuaq GreenlandGreenland IcebergGreenland WhaleGreenland PeopleNorway landscapeGreenland waterfallAurora borealis, Norway
Highlights
  • Explore the city of Reykjavik, Iceland’s famous capital.
  • Visit the capital of Greenland, Nuuk. A place where old and new traditions meet and the picturesque colorful settlement.
  • Travel to Greenland, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories in one sailing.
  • Observe unique wildlife including Arctic foxes, belugas, and polar bears.
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Reykjavík, Iceland | Embark

the adventure starts in Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world. Reykjavik is simultaneously quaint and cosmopolitan. This small city is the perfect size for a walking tour, packed full of art, culture, and history.   Take a stroll along Laugavegur, the main shopping street, with its boutiques and outdoor shops. You might like to pick up some Icelandic knitwear, famous for its quality, style, and warmth. You can also head towards the architecturally striking Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral. Art lovers can visit the Reykjavik Art Museum, National Gallery, and the many smaller galleries and museums dotting the city.  

In the afternoon, embark on the MS Fridtjof Nansen for your exciting cruise along the Northwest Passage.

Day 2-3: Denmark Strait

Ease into your adventure as you spend today at sea on the way to the Northwest Passage. The Denmark Strait is the site of the Worlds largest waterfall underwater! The mixture of warm and cold currents plus the strong winds means that the waters are sometimes a bit choppy. Aboard the ship, have time to relax, get to know your fellow travelers, and check out the onboard facilities. In the Science Center, the Expedition Team will hold lecture programs on the wildlife and ecosystems of the Arctic, preparing you for the adventure ahead. The crew will talk through important guidelines from AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. Learn how to protect wildlife habitats, keep a safe distance from animals, and visit Arctic communities in a dignified and respectful way. If you feel like getting active, you can hit the gym and get your pulse up. You’ll also have access to a sauna, an infinity pool, and two outdoor hot tubs. Drinks can be enjoyed in the panoramic Explorer Lounge & Bar too. While settling into a sofa and watching the rhythmic ocean waves roll by outside. 

Day 4: Prince Christian Sound

Get ready to marvel at some of the most stunning views on the planet in the Prince Christian Sound region. This southern Greenland sound connects the Labrador Sea and the Irminger Sea, separating the mainland from the Cape Farewell Archipelago. The 60-mile waterway is surrounded by granite mountains with sharp peaks with some that can reach up to 7,200 ft. The maze of geological patterns in the rock face, from deep cracks and crevasses to lines of black lichen that seem to seep from the stone-like paint. The muted greys and rusted greens of the mountains stand in contrast to the bright white of the many glaciers you’ll see. These slow-moving masses of ice grind their way from the enormous Greenlandic Ice Sheet and flow straight into the sound, calving white-blue icebergs of all sizes, shades, and shapes. Understand why 15th-century Italian explorer John Cabot famously described Prince Christian Sound as ‘a river of melted ice. Get your camera ready and join the Expedition Team on the observation deck. 

Day 5: Ivittuut, Greenland

Ivittuut is a mining outpost of long-forgotten specters, some old and some even older. This was once a busy cryolite mining station nowadays, the only inhabitants you might see are wandering muskoxen grazing the overgrown grass around the abandoned buildings. Amazing at it sounds, Ivittuut once played a key role in history, arguably allowing the Allies to win the Second World War. This mining outpost was the largest cryolite mine in the world, where cryolite is a naturally occurring rare mineral used in the production of aluminum alloys. 

Day 6: Nuuk, Greenland

Nuuk was settled in 1728, which makes it the oldest settlement in the nation. And although Greenland’s capital is classed as a city, fewer than 17,000 people call it home. The name Nuuk means peninsula, and it’s located at the mouth of a system of spectacular fjords and mountains.  The first thing you’ll notice about this low-rise settlement is how colorful the houses are, with red, green, blue, and yellow buildings standing out against the icy black and white backdrop of the mountains. 

Today Nuuk is a place where old and new traditions meet, from the picturesque old buildings dotting the edge of the fjord to the ultra-modern architecture of the Greenlandic Parliament and the wave-shaped Katuaq Cultural Centre inspired by the Northern Lights. Visit the oldest building in Greenland at Hans Egede’s House, constructed in 1721, by the Norwegian missionary who is credited as founding the city. Elsewhere in the city, you can look for a statue and a church named after him.  

Day 7-8: Labrador Sea

Named for English explorer John Davis, who led expeditions here searching for a route through the Northwest Passage between 1585 and 1587. Davis was the first to draw attention to seal hunting and whaling possibilities in the area, and to show that the Newfoundland cod fisheries extended this far north. While sailing across the Labrador Sea, continue to enjoy informative presentations by the Expedition Team. Some of their topics could include wildlife you might see in Northern Labrador, Inuit culture, expedition photography, and historic explorers of the Canadian Arctic.   

Day 9-21: Northwest Passage

It’s now time for us to attempt to make a complete transit of the Northwest Passage. Since the 15th century, there have been fewer than a hundred successful attempts at sailing through the Passage. James Cook famously attempted it in 1776 and many are familiar with the ill-fated Franklin expedition of 1845. The first to conquer the Northwest Passage by ship was Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on an expedition that lasted from 1903 to 1906. Now, in the modern era aboard our state-of-the-art expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen, we’ll enter the Northwest Passage on our own adventure, aiming to sail through to Alaska.

Day 22-25: At Sea

These final days at sea give you all the time you need to unwind and reflect on your adventure through the Northwest Passage. While away a few hours by the infinity pool, soaking in a hot tub, or relaxing in the sauna. There’s also the indoor gym and outdoor running track where you can keep fit and active. The Expedition Team will continue their informative lecture program in the Science Center. Topics, ranging from wildlife, tectonic activity, glaciology, or local history and culture, are designed to help you appreciate the areas you’re sailing through and inform about your upcoming landings. 

Day 26: Nome, Alaska | Disembark | Flight to Vancouver, Canada

Situated on the Seward Peninsula, Nome’s name went down in Alaskan history the day the ‘Three Lucky Swedes’ discovered gold at Anvil Creek in 1898. Prospectors soon flocked in from the Yukon and San Francisco in steamers. The town also marked the end point of three of Roald Amundsen’s great expeditions: the Northwest Passage in 1906, the Northeast Passage in 1921, and an aircraft attempt to the North Pole in 1926. It seems only fitting that our expedition through the Northwest Passage will also come to an end here. 

After disembarking, fly from Nome to Vancouver and spend the night in a centrally-located hotel.

Day 27: Vancouver, Canada

Your adventure ends in Vancouver. Set amidst beautiful mountain scenery and the waters of English Bay, Vancouver is both bustling seaport and cosmopolitan city.  
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Seattle.

Ship/Hotel

MS Fridtjof Nansen

Antarctica Wilhelmina Bay Photo by Espen Mills
Reception

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Northwest Passage Arctic Cruises & Tours.
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Outside cabin on lower/middle deck(RS)
183 sq ft, Cabins on middle decks with queen bed
MS Fridtjof Nansen outside cabin
Outside Cabin on Lower/Middle Decks (RR)
205–248 sq ft, Larger cabins on middle decks with flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed. Most are 215 sq ft.
Outside cabin on upper deck
High deck cabins with balcony. Spacious cabins, different sizes, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofabed, TV, kettle, tea and coffee. Please note: This cabin is automatically made with a double bed. To order twin beds, please notify us at time of booking.
MS Fridtjof Nansen outside cabin
Outside Cabin on Lower/Middle Decks (TY)(TT)
258–291 sq ft, Large cabins without balcony. On middle decks, with flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee.
Outside Cabin with Balcony (XT)(XTD)(XY)
161–205 sq ft, Spacious high-deck cabins with a balcony, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee
MS Fridtjof Nansen corner suite
Corner Suite (MF)
237 sq ft, Corner suite with large windows, without a balcony, with flexible sleeping arrangements, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
MS Fridtjof Nansen suite w/ balcony
Suite with Balcony (ME)
215–301 sq ft, Suites with a private balcony on high decks, with flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker
MS Fridtjof Nansen large suite w/ balcony
Large Suite with Balcony (MD)
377 sq ft, Large corner suite with a private balcony, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, espresso maker. Accessible to guests with limited mobility.
MS Fridtjof Nansen corner suite w/ balcony
Corner Suite with Balcony (MC)
215–323 sq ft, Aft corner suites with a private balcony and hot tub, large windows, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
MS Fridtjof Nansen XL suite w/o balcony
XL Suite (MB)
474 sq ft, Extra-large corner suites without a balcony. Aft corner suites with sofa bed, flexible sleeping arrangements, large windows, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
MS Fridtjof Nansen XL suite w/ balcony
XL Suite with Balcony (MA)
495–517 sq ft, Extra-large corner suites with a private balcony. The ship’s most spacious cabins, with large windows, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
Included
  • 25 Breakfasts, 24 Lunches, 25 Dinners
  • 26 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Gratuities
  • Complimentary Reusable Water Bottle 
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with very limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
  • Loan of Boots, Trekking Poles, & All Equipment for Activities
  • Use of the Ship’s Science Center which has an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes
  • À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
  • In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
  • Citizen Science Program where you can assist with ongoing scientific research
  • Professional onboard photographer gives tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
  • Escorted landings with small expedition boats
  • Economy flight from Nome to Vancouver
  • Overnight in Vancouver after the expedition cruise including breakfast
  • English-speaking expedition team
  • Complimentary tea and coffee
  • Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket
  • Use of ship's hot tubs, infinity pool, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor gyms, and running track
  • Transfer from the ship to the airport in Nome
  • Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Vancouver
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Luggage Handling 
  • Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
  • Optional shore excursions with local partners
  • Optional small-group activities with the Expedition Team
  • Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area

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