Discover Iceland's modern capital 

After your flight from Germany, your adventure begins with an overnight stay in Reykjavík. Packed full of art, culture and history, Iceland’s capital is a delight to explore. Visit Laugavegur, the main shopping street, and head towards the striking Hallgrímskirkja church. Or why not explore the many galleries and museums dotted around the city.  

If you have the time, we recommend booking a Pre-Programme with us and discovering some of Iceland’s natural highlights before your cruise begins.

Experience Greenlandic culture, old and new, in Nuuk

Your day begins with a flight from Reykjavík to Nuuk, Greenland’s colourful capital. It has a population of 18,000, and boasts a striking mix of old and new buildings.  

If time allows, we’ll explore this fascinating city, comparing the old buildings – such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral – with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland building.  

Your expedition ship awaits you in Nuuk harbour. After collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore the ship as we set sail on this epic expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage. 

Witness the eternal beauty of the spotless fjord

As we head north, you'll enjoy an exploration day in the magical and pristine Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq. We'll determine on the day what adventures we can take part in. 

The 'Fjord of Eternity' is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft deep waters. It's surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.   

Nature reigns here. The only settlements in this region are tiny fishing hamlets clinging to the shores. As ever, we'll be on the lookout for Arctic flora and wildlife, including whales and seabirds. 

Explore ancient traditions in Arctic Greenland

Sisimiut is Greenland’s second city, situated in a spectacular location just 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years, and old traditions are alive and well.  

Learn more about ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum or stretch your legs on a hike.  If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of the musk ox that’s said to be 10 times warmer than sheep’s wool.   

The town where you can see and hear the ice flow

Your expedition cruise reaches Disko Bay – a haven for whales and seals. Nestled in the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Here you’ll find an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs set against a backdrop of colourful houses.  

Marvel as they float by in the deep blue waters, taking on different hues of white, grey and blue.  

With the help of the ship’s photographer, even amateur photographers will be able to capture the nuances of these sculptures of nature. 

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 such as the wildlife of Northern Labrador, Inuit culture and the history of Arctic exploration.  

The strait is known for its abundance of seals, whales and cod. Why not take part in one of our Citizen Science Programme projects, helping photograph and track whales, or observe the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program. 

Crossing a historical sea corridor through Canada's Arctic archipelago

Like the 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 Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbour, Fort Ross, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Ulukhaktok and Smoking Hills. 

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 go small expedition boat cruising between ice floes, and go ashore to experience the pristine wilderness firsthand. Your Expedition Team will adapt activities to ice and weather conditions, giving you the best experience possible.  

We’ll try to reach Pond Inlet and the Inuit community of Mittimatalik on Baffin Island. On Devon Island – the largest uninhabited island on Earth – we'll visit Dundas Harbour and learn about its Thule heritage. We may even pay our respects at the graves of three Franklin expedition team members on Beechey Island.  

We'll continue west to Fort Ross, a former Hudson Bay Trading post, before sailing to Gjoa Haven, where Roald Amundsen learned polar survival tips from the Netsilik Inuit people. If we are able to land here, we'll take a walking tour to learn more.  

From here, we'll sail onward to wildlife-rich Cambridge Bay, where you might see Arctic char, musk oxen and caribou. Pick up some prints, tapestries, and other crafts made by local artists in Ulukhaktok before we arrive in the Amundsen Gulf.  

Here we hope to see the remarkable Smoking Hills, where lignite – eroded shale mixed with pyrite – spontaneously ignites when exposed to air, creating a photogenic phenomenon of smoke billowing from the cliffs. 

Science and wildlife watching at sea 

Having successfully traversed the Northwest Passage, our expedition cruise continues towards Nome. Join your Expedition Team for more insightful lectures. Topics might include subjects such as wildlife, tectonic activity, glaciology and local history. 

Wildlife lovers and birdwatchers are in for a treat. Keep an eye out for bowhead and grey whales as we cross the Beaufort Sea to Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the United States, before crossing the International Date Line – with 'tomorrow' on your right and 'today' on your left.  

As we sail through the Bering Strait, look out for over 30 species of seabirds, including Black-legged Kittiwakes, auklets and murrelets. 

Fascinating history of gold prospectors and explorers

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. 

You’ll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions, making it a fitting place to round off your own great adventure before flying to Seattle for a final overnight stay.

Your adventure ends in the city surrounded by mountains

The sunrise over 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 city.  

Head to Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. Or for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. And 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 salmon-throwing fishmongers to buskers and bars. 

From Seattle, you’ll take a flight back to Germany.