HIGHLIGHTS
- Cruise
throught the historic Northwest Passage aboard the comfortable Vavilov
- Opportunities
to see many of the Arctic's iconic species including polar bears, musk
oxen, walruses, belugas and many more
- Travel
above the Arctic Circle
- Expert
naturalist guides offer on-shore nature interpretation and lectures
throughout the voyage
- Shore
landings by Zodiac
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Main Deck Triple | Twin Private | Superior | Superior Plus | Shackleton Suite | One Ocean Suite |
|---|
Mandatory Transfer Package Details:Mandatory
Charter Flight: $1,995
In
the Canadian Arctic, charter flights are required to get to the start
and finish points of the voyage
All
bookings on voyages that operate domestically within Canada, are
subject to a compulsory 5% goods and services tax (GST)
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Main Deck Triple | (Mid-range)
Superior Plus | (High-end)
One Ocean Suite |
|---|
Mandatory Transfer Package Details:Mandatory
Charter Flight: $1,995
In
the Canadian Arctic, charter flights are required to get to the start
and finish points of the voyage
All
bookings on voyages that operate domestically within Canada, are
subject to a compulsory 5% goods and services tax (GST)
ITINERARY
Day
1: Ottawa to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
We
depart Ottawa this morning on our charter flight to Kangerlussuaq,
situated on the west coast of Greenland. Upon arrival into
Kangerlussuaq we enjoy a short tour before boarding the ship in the
afternoon. After settling in to our cabins and exploring the vessel, we
meet our expedition team and fellow passengers. Excitement is in the
air as we cast off and enjoy a welcome cocktail while cruising along
Sondre Stromfjord, bound for the fabled Northwest Passage.
Day
2: Sisimiut
We
will explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before going ashore
to explore this beautiful location in the afternoon. Characterised by
colorful local houses, the town features a towering granite peak as a
backdrop. We hope to meet a few of the traditional Greenlandic kayakers
and to see a demonstration of ‘Eskimo rolling’ by
one of the former Greenland kayak champions. A small museum is another
interesting diversion.
Day
3: Ilulissat, Greenland and the Jacobshavn Icefjord
For
many, today is a highlight of the voyage. Truly one of the wonders of
the world, the Jacobshavn Icefjord – a UNESCO World Heritage
site - spews gigantic tabular icebergs out into Disko Bay. The glacier
that creates these stunning monoliths advances at over 40 meters per
day, creating around 50 cubic kilometers of ice annually. Our approach
to Ilulissat is always dependent on the amount of ice in and around the
mouth of the fjord. Our Captain and Officers are skilled ice navigators
and our ship has one of the highest ice ratings of any vessel exploring
Arctic waters.
Day
4: At Sea – Baffin Bay
Leaving
the rugged coastline of Greenland, our crossing of Baffin Bay is highly
dependent on the extent of the so-called ‘middle
ice’. We probe northwards seeking out the edges of the middle
ice and plan to follow the line of ice until we reach the coast of
Baffin Island. Our time at sea will be determined by the extent of the
ice and amount of wildlife we encounter. As we transit Baffin Bay we
are always on the lookout for fin, sperm, sei and humpback whales as
well as the numerous species of Arctic seals and seabirds that inhabit
these waters. Our onboard experts deliver fascinating presentations on
board focusing on the wildlife, history, geology and culture of the
Arctic.
Day
5: Pond Inlet
Nearing
the far north of Baffin Island we enter a broad channel - home to the
remote Inuit community of Pond Inlet. A highlight is a visit to the
Natinnak Centre, where a fascinating cultural exhibit showcases aspects
of daily life, culture and history of the people of the north. Inuit
carvings, jewelry and other traditional crafts are on display and
purchasing such items from the local artisans is a great way to support
the community. We enjoy meeting the children of Pond Inlet and
marveling at their athletic abilities as they demonstrate the skills
and challenges of traditional Inuit games. Skills and physical agility
developed by such games were often those necessary for everyday
survival in the harsh Arctic environment.
Day
6: Lancaster Sound and Dundas Harbor
We
are now at almost 75° degrees north of latitude. Cruising the
coastline of Devon Island, we are now in the waters of Lancaster Sound
– a rich, bio-diverse region often referred to as the
wildlife ‘super highway’ of the Arctic. These
massive volumes of water from Baffin Bay to the east, Beaufort Sea to
the west, and from the archipelago of islands to the north, combine to
make a rich cocktail of nutrients supporting an abundance of Arctic
wildlife. We plan on visiting the old Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) outpost at Dundas Harbor, situated on the southern shores of
Devon Island.
Day
7: Maxwell Bay
A
large bay on the south coast of Devon Island, Maxwell Bay offers some
wonderful hiking opportunities ashore and great wildlife watching from
the water. Muskox and caribou can be found here as well as polar bears.
Harp seals, ringed seals, bearded seals and even walruses have been
spotted in the various coves and inlets of the bay.
Day
8: Beechey Island
Continuing
Beechey Island holds great historic importance on our journey through
the Northwest Passage. It is here that Sir John Franklin’s
ill-fated expedition spent its last ‘comfortable’
winter in 1845 before disappearing into the icy vastness, sparking an
incredible series of search expeditions that would span almost three
decades. The mystery of what happened to Franklin was partially solved
in September 2014, when a joint Parks Canada and Royal Canadian
Geographic Society expedition found the long lost Franklin shipwreck,
HMS Erebus, in the Victoria Strait. One Ocean Expeditions played a
vital role in the search by carrying underwater search equipment on our
ship as well as scientists, historians, researchers, dignitaries and
sponsors of this history-defining mission.
Day
9: Prince Leopold Island
Having
crossed Prince Regent Inlet overnight, we approach the towering bird
cliffs of Prince Leopold Island in the morning. The island is home to
thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern fulmars and
black-legged kittiwakes. Numbering in the order of several hundred
thousand birds, Prince Leopold Island is one of the most significant
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the whole of the Canadian Arctic and
makes for fantastic zodiac cruising. The sea ice around Prince Leopold
Island is a great place for spotting ringed seals and wherever we find
ringed seals - we usually find polar bear. Nearby Port Leopold is an
historic site where in 1848, English explorer James Clark Ross wintered
here during the search for the missing Franklin expedition. In addition
to Port Leopold’s historical attraction, the shallow gravel
beds along the shoreline are attractive to the beluga whales who tend
to molt in this part of the Arctic each summer.
Day
10: Fort Ross and Bellot Strait
Continuing
to navigate the ship south into Prince Regent Inlet, we approach the
eastern end of Bellot Strait. The historic site of Fort Ross, located
at the southern end of Somerset Island, is a former Hudson’s
Bay Company fur-trading outpost. Fascinating archaeological sites
nearby tell a story of more than a thousand years of habitation by the
Inuit and their predecessors. Having explored Fort Ross, we attempt a
transit through the narrows of Bellot Strait. The aim is to enter at
slack tide if possible, in order to avoid a current that roars through
the passage at more than seven knots during the peak flow. The mixing
of waters in this Strait provides an abundant food source for marine
mammals and we keep our eyes peeled for harp seals, bearded seals and
even polar bears. The skill of the Captain and Officers and
capabilities of the ship becomes apparent during this exciting day of
Arctic navigation.
Day
11: Coningham Bay
Having
emerged from Bellot Strait, we cross the Victoria Strait and arrive at
Coningham Bay on the shore of Prince of Wales Island. Here, in the
heart of the Northwest Passage, we hope to encounter one of the most
remarkable wildlife sites in the Arctic. This is a known hotspot for
polar bears. They come here to feast on beluga whales often caught in
the rocky shallows at the entrance to the bay. It is not unusual to
find the shoreline littered with whale skeletons – and very
healthy looking polar bears.
Day
12: Victory Point, King William Island
Heading
further into the Northwest Passage, the mystery of Sir John Franklin
and his ‘lost expedition’ is beginning to unravel.
Prior to the recent discovery of the HMS Erebus in September 2014, very
little was known of how the Franklin Expedition spent its last months
in the frozen Arctic. The vessels, abandoned in the ice of Victoria
Strait are just coming to life thanks to the ongoing efforts of Parks
Canada’s marine archeological team and the recent Victoria
Strait Expedition. On Victory Point a lifeboat left abandoned, bits and
pieces of copper and iron, cutlery and buttons and a skeleton here and
there all tell a story of a desperate race south in search of rescue
that never came. We hope to visit Victory Point and the Victoria
Strait, travelling very near the actual location of the wreck of HMS
Erebus, all the while learning about the quest for exploration that
eventually opened up the Arctic. On this, our last night of the
expedition, we enjoy a celebratory dinner, attended by the Captain of
the ship and reflect on our epic voyage.
Day
13: Cambridge Bay, Nunavut to Edmonton, Alberta
Our
journey is all but complete as we approach the community of Cambridge
Bay. This remote outpost is a center for hunting, trapping and fishing.
The Inuit have had summer camps in the vicinity for hundreds of years.
Amundsen spent two winters in this area, learning how to master
dog-sledding from the locals prior to his attempt on the South Pole. We
say farewell to our crew and make our way ashore by zodiac. A special
charter flight returns us to Edmonton
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Itinerary/pre-departure
information
- Extensive
program of relevant educational presentations
- Experienced
team of naturalists and a resident photographer
- All
Zodiac excursions
- On
board welcome reception & dinner
- Farewell
Dinner hosted by the ship's Captain
- All
meals during the voyage
- Tea
and fresh snacks each afternoon
- Coffee,
tea, hot chocolate throughout the day
- Onboard
medical officer
- Access
to our special programs on board (such as hiking, photography, etc)
- Use
of multimedia station
- Foul
weather gear set
- Transfers
from the designated hotel to the charter flight and from the charter
flight to the ship on day 1 of the cruise
- Transfers
from ship to the charter flight on the last day of the
