HIGHLIGHTS
- Follow
the path of 16th-century whalers and 19th-century explorers
- Marvel
at the glistening bergs, growlers and glaciers in the iceberg capital
of the world
- Immerse
yourself in Inuit culture and traditions as you wander their ancestral
homelands
- Look
up at towering cliffs crammed with seabirds while below narwhal swim
gracefully
- Learn
about the history of Viking exploration, and Dorset and Thule people
from our experts on board
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Oceanview D4 | Oceanview M4 | Balcony D5 | Balcony M5 | Balcony D6 | Suite | Premium Suite |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Oceanview D4 | (Mid-range)
Balcony M5 | (High-end)
Premium Suite |
|---|
ITINERARY
Kangerlussuaq
Day 1
At
the head of one of the longest fjords in western Greenland,
Kangerlussuaq has a history as a World War II airbase. Visit the
60-metre tall face of the Russell Glacier on the edge of the Greenland
ice cap to hear and see it crack and break off into the meltwater.
Other popular activities include kayaking on the fjords and wildlife
tours of the glacial areas that attract muskoxen, reindeer, arctic
foxes and gyrfalcons.
Qeqertarsuaq Day 2
Qeqertarsuaq
is the largest town on Disko Island, the largest island in Greenland,
on the west coast and part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Lyngmark Glacier rises above the town and the area’s lush
hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic
origin. The area is very fertile and home to diverse species not found
elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move
through floating icebergs and whales.
Disko Bay Day 3
Qeqertarsuaq
is the largest town on Disko Island, the largest island in Greenland,
on the west coast and part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Lyngmark Glacier rises above the town and the area’s lush
hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic
origin. The area is very fertile and home to diverse species not found
elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move
through floating icebergs and whales.
Ilulissat Day 4
Sailing
through the iceberg capital of the world from Disko Bay - or
Qeqertarsuaq Tunua - to the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise
highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat
Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive
Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from
the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat, formerly
Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.
Sisimiut Day 5
Just
north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland,
Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports
hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then
Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport and we have a
chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern
side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the
Thule district in the north.
Nuuk (Godthab) Day 6
Home
to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk can easily
deceive you that you’re travelling through such a wild and
secluded country. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb
(Good Hope), you’ll see the busy old Colonial Harbour with
Nuuk Cathedral prominent, colourful wooden houses, avant-garde
architecture and a wonderful array of fjords with clear ice waters and
an unspoiled mountain backdrop. Look out for whales and on land arctic
foxes, arctic hares and reindeer.
At sea Day 7
Days
at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes
your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa,
trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or
simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance
to the green days spent exploring on land.
Iqaluit Day 8
The
native Inuit are an integral part of Iqaluit, a remote community at the
head of Frobisher Bay. Once-considered the possible entrance of a
Northwest Passage, the bay provides insight into Inuit history and
culture including dog-sledding on handmade qamutik sleds led by qimmiiq
- North America's oldest and rarest purebred canine. Inuit artworks are
showcased at Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum while Inuit history is
evident at Crystal II, an ancient Thule Inuit settlement outside of
Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.
Lady Franklin Island Day 9
Most
known for its huge vertical cliffs of Archean rocks, reputedly the
oldest stones in Canada, Lady Franklin Island is an uninhabited isle
off Hall Peninsula on Baffin Island. Black guillemots, ptarmigan and
gulls all nest in this ice-filled area of the Davis Strait. Lumbering
walrus haul out to the south at Monumental Island, which is also a
well-known denning site for polar bears. Nearby, the Cumberland Sound
is home to its own species of beluga whale.
Akpatok Island Day 10
With
the largest number of breeding thick-billed murres in Canada, Akpatok
Island - whose name in Inuktitut means thick-billed murre - is an
important birding area. More than half a million pairs make their home
on the ledges of the sheer limestone cliffs, while glaucous gulls keep
a beady eye out for unprotected chicks and eggs. Seals, walruses and
polar bears make up the scene. The brutish act of cannibalism was
practiced here as recently as 1900.
Torngat Mountains
National Park Day 11
Staffed
completely by Inuit, Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name
from the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits. We have a
rare chance to follow in the footsteps of Inuit as they share their
stories of spirits and traditions in their homeland, where for
centuries they have been fishing and hunting polar bears and caribou.
This magical land made up of dramatically spectacular mountains and
deep fjords nudging up to iceberg-filled waters is only accessible by
boat.
At sea Day 12
As
you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring
the ship’s facilities and learning about your
destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard
experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment
at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in
your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the
options are numerous.
Belle Isle Straits Day 13
Early
industrial whaling is in the spotlight at Red Bay and Saddle Island in
the Belle Isle Straits. Basque fishermen spotted right whales here in
the 16th century, when whale oil was prized as lamp oil and soaps. The
conservation site includes industrial buildings, whaling galleons, a
16th- century chalupa whaleboat and an interpretation centre. Belle
Isle Straits are the shortest shipping lane from the Great Lakes, and
the northern end of the Appalachian Trail lies on Belle Isle.
Corner Brook Day 14
At
the end of a picturesque fjord in the Bay of Islands, made more
beautiful by the Blomidon Mountains in full fall colours, Corner Brook
is a bustling port city on the west coast of Newfoundland. Above the
town, Captain James Cook’s monument surveys the land he once
charted. This is the gateway to adventure tours - ziplining, fishing,
spelunking - in scenic Humber Valley or further north among the sheer
cliffs and waterfalls of Gros Morne National Park.
At sea Day 15
As
you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring
the ship’s facilities and learning about your
destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard
experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment
at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in
your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the
options are numerous.
Halifax Day 16
Founded
as a naval base in 1749, Halifax’s seafaring history is
well-grounded with the Canadian Museum of Immigration where one million
Europeans landed up until 1971. Another reminder is the Noon Gun that
has fired from the looming Citadel fortress since 1857. When Titanic
struck the iceberg at 11:40 pm, April 14, 1912, ships set sail from
here. Many victims are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, while the
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic displays rescued artefacts.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- One
night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel
- Group
transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included
accommodation, where applicable) and vice-versa on the scheduled dates
- Onboard
accommodation
- All
meals onboard including room service 24 hours a day
- Coffee,
tea, soft drinks & select alcoholic beverages 24 hours a day
- Lecture
programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- Shore
excursion programme led by our expert expedition team
- Branded
Swan Hellenic expedition parka
- Use
of rubber boots for shore landings
- Standard
WIFI inclusion
- Onboard
gratuities & port taxes
- Itineraries
are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change
- Scheduled
or charter flight from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
