HIGHLIGHTS
- Learn
about the history of the Inuit, Dorset and Thule people from our
experts on board
- Marvel
at the glistening icebergs that crack and calve spectacularly off
glaciers into the meltwater
- Get
your camera read for large pods of narwhal, playful seal, mighty
muskox, arctic foxes and gyrfalcons
- Dig
into the tumultuous history of the Vikings who made west Greenland
their home
- Stand
in wonder at more than 40 species of seabird at Sirmilik National Park
in Canada, then turn your attention to its hungry caribou and wolves
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 |
|---|
| Sep 09, 2022 | Sep 25, 2022 | 10,200 | 10,200 | 10,900 | 10,900 | 11,500 | 13,500 | 15,500 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Oceanview D4 | (Mid-range)
Balcony M5 | (High-end)
Premium Suite |
|---|
| Sep 09, 2022 | Sep 25, 2022 | 10,200 | 10,900 | 15,500 |
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.
Sisimiut Day 2
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.
Uummannaq Day 3
The
word Uummannaq means ‘heart-shaped’ in Greenlandic,
and refers to the twin-peaked granite mountain that is shaped like a
heart covering nearly the whole northern half of the island. Folklore
has it that on visiting, a piece of your heart remains on the island
forever, calling you back. Sheltered by glaciated mountains, this
charming fjord region is often referred to as the sunniest spot in
Greenland and has been a refuge for Innuit migrations for over 4,500
years.
At sea Day 4
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.
Pond Inlet Day 5
The
views of snow-capped mountains have given Pond Inlet in northern Baffin
Island the name of Canada’s ‘jewel of the
north’ and the area is a prime breeding ground for narwhals.
Bowhead whales, ringed and harp seals, and walrus also warrant a
vigilant eye. The Inuit community living in the hamlet of Mittimatalik
are renowned for their craft skills from printmaking and stone carving,
and nearby at Qulalukat the thousand-year-old Inuit sod houses merit a
visit.
Buchan Gulf Day 5-6
The
impressive towering cliffs and rocks lining Buchan Gulf provide one of
the world’s most important nesting sites for northern
fulmars. As we cruise into this glacial fjord system on eastern Baffin
Island, keep your eyes peeled for pods of narwhals who are at home in
these deep waters. Polar bears roam the shores of Icy Arm, a narrow
fjord with the relics of an ancient Thule semi-subterranean home
sitting on the edge of the boggy tundra.
Sirmilik National Park
Day 7
Bylot
Island, off the northwest of Baffin Island, is home to Sirmilik
National Park. Pronounced Siir-milick, in Inuktitut Inuit language
Inuktitut it means "place of glaciers" which aptly describes the
breathtaking iceberg-filled scenery surrounded by narwhals, beluga
whales and ringed seals. The national park’s bird reserve is
one of the most diverse seabird areas in the Arctic with more than 40
species breeding here, while hungry caribou, arctic foxes, arctic hares
and wolves lie in wait.
Cruise Peel Sound Day 8
Choked
up by ice in winter, Peel Sound is a 125-mile long channel separating
Prince of Wales Island to the west and Somerset Island to the east. The
icebound arctic waters prevented several 19th-century explorers from
achieving their goals - Sir John Franklin in 1846, Francis Leopold
McClintock in 1858 and Allen Young in 1875. Take time to learn more
about these early adventurers as you relax and spot polar bears on the
pack ice.
Beechey Island Day 9
Closely
associated with the exploration of Canada’s High Arctic,
Beechey Island Sites are five locations across Beechey Island
designated as important historic sites. These include where British
explorer Sir John Franklin wintered during his fateful 1845-46
Northwest Passage Expedition. Much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago
was mapped while searching for the missing crew. In 1903, Norwegian
explorer Roald Amundsen stopped to pay respect to Franklin at the
beginning of his successful sailing in search of the Northwest Passage.
Dundas Harbour Day 10
Dundas
Harbour is the eastern entrance of the Northwest Passage on the
southeast coast of the world’s largest uninhabited island,
Devon Island. Despite the harsh terrain, signs of life remain with the
relics of a 1000 A.D. Thule settlement and a 1920s outpost from where
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) controlled illegal whaling.
Nowadays NASA research scientists camp at the 14-mile wide Haughton
impact crater. Cape Liddon and Cape Vera are notable for arctic fulmars
and black guillemots.
Ellesmere Island Day 11
The
most rugged in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Ellesmere Island is the
largest of the Queen Elizabeth Islands with towering mountains, lakes,
fjords, ice caps and glaciers. Alert, the Canadian Forces Station, is
the world's northernmost settlement. Quttinirpaaq National Park
comprises a fifth of the island. Here, arctic willow and purple
saxifrage grow on the mossy tundra where arctic hare and muskoxen
wander. On nearby Skraeling Island, Viking chainmail was found
alongside 4,000-year-old Dorset and Thule artefacts.
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.
Upernavik Day 13
Colourful
homes dot the hillside of this harbour town. The history of the
townsfolk unfolds at the open-air Upernavik Museum with a church,
grocers and original colonial buildings. Whale hunting and sea kayaking
are also covered alongside cultural exhibits from the area’s
Viking and Norse history with the Kingittorsuaq Runestone. To the north
is the Upernavik Icefjord dotted with icebergs. The world’s
largest seabird cliffs are on nearby Apparsuit Island with thousands of
breeding black-legged kittiwakes.
Qeqertarsuaq Day 14
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 &
Ilulissat Day 15
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.
Kangerlussuaq Day 16-17
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.
SH Vega (Luxury Expedition, 152-guests)
Making her maiden voyage in April 2022, our 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offers you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage.
Our brand new ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.
(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 return flight from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
