Through the Arctic Labyrinth

You fly from New York to Nuuk, Greenland’s colorful and compact capital. With fewer than 20,000 residents, Nuuk features a mix of old and modern buildings. Explore the old part of town by the waterfront, where you can see Nuuk Cathedral, the statue of Hans Egede, and the Mother of the Sea statue in the water below. Your expedition ship awaits in the harbor. After you are welcomed aboard and collect your complimentary expedition jacket, settle into your cabin and enjoy your first dinner aboard.

Over the next three days, you explore the coast of West Greenland, visiting Evighedsfjord, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat. In Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq, you experience an exploration day, with the available activities determined each day. The fjord is surrounded by mountains and fed by an ice cap that calves icebergs into its deep waters. In Sisimiut, Greenland’s second city, you can visit the local museum to learn about Saqqaq artifacts or enjoy a hike. You can also shop for locally made qiviut scarves, hats, or mittens. In Ilulissat, you visit the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can see passing icebergs, explore local craft shops, and follow walking trails along the icefjord.

Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science 

Leaving Greenland behind, you spend two days at sea crossing Baffin Bay towards Nunavut.  

Gain authentic insight into Inuit culture and heritage with the onboard Cultural Ambassadors. Their stories reveal the Inuit people’s profound connection to the land, shaped by generations of tradition and resilience. 

Meanwhile, your Expedition Team leads lectures on topics such as Arctic wildlife and the history of exploration in the region. You can also take part in Citizen Science, such as the GLOBE Program, where you’ll observe clouds to help scientists study the climate. 

Entering into the Northwest Passage

Following your crossing of Baffin Bay, you find yourself in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gate to the Northwest Passage. 

This chapter of your exploration is likely to be action-packed, with excursions planned on each of the four days you hope to spend in and around this area. Remember: all your excursion plans depend on the weather and ice but conditions permitting, your days will be filled with excitement and discovery. 

Possible excursion stops and local highlights include: 

• Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) 
• Dundas Harbor 
• Croker Bay 
• Beechey Island (Iluvilik) 
• Prince Leopold Island (Appait) 
• Fort Ross 

The “Rubicon” of the Canadian Arctic, dividing east from west, is the infamous Bellot Strait. This narrow body of water separates the northernmost part of mainland North America from Somerset Island, one of the largest islands in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.  

Bellot Strait is approximately 15 nautical miles long and just over half a mile wide at its narrowest point. Your ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

Spend eight days exploring the western section of the fabled Northwest Passage

Over the next eight days, in this section of your voyage, you transit through three distinct regions—Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon—and two traditional Inuit Territories—Inuvialuit and Nunavut. 

During your time here, you anticipate up to five days of shore excursions and four transit days. Excursion stops and local highlights you hope to be able to visit include: 

• Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk) 
• Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq) 
• Coronation Gulf 
• Ulukhaktok 
• Smoking Hills 
• Herschel Island 

Science and wildlife watching at sea 

As you navigate the Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait, these days at sea provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on your journey and make the most of your ship’s facilities. 

Immerse yourself in the onboard Science and Education program and contribute to real-world research through Citizen Science. Or simply take time to relax – enjoy a drink with fellow explorers, watch the world drift by from the hot tub, or soothe your body and mind in the sauna.

Keep an eye out for bowhead and grey whales as you cross the Beaufort Sea to Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the United States. If sea ice is present, you may also see congregations of Pacific walrus on the ice floes.   

In the Beaufort Sea, seasonal sea ice can fluctuate. If the sea ice levels are greater than the seasonal average, it will likely affect the speed you can sail through. Expecting the unexpected is all part of the expedition experience.   

The highlights of this transit include:  

• The Beaufort Sea 
• The Bering Strait 
• The International Date Line 
• Wildlife watching 

Learn about Alaska’s “golden” past

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. 

Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions. 

From here, you’ll take a flight to Seattle for an overnight stay.

End your adventure in the Emerald City

Waking up in your hotel in Seattle marks the end of your adventure through the Arctic labyrinth. After breakfast, and if you have time before your onward journey, why not explore the Emerald City and see what it has to offer?  

Why not take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. For a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers.