Northwest Passage – Across the Top of the World (2027)

Enjoy the city before your expedition cruise begins

The adventure begins in the Emerald City of Seattle, on the Pacific coast of the United States.

If you can, why not arrive early and see what the Emerald City has to offer. 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!

You’ll spend the night here in Seattle before your connecting flight to Alaska tomorrow.

Setting off on your adventure

Today you’ll take an early flight from Seattle to Nome, Alaska, where your state-of-the art expedition ship awaits to take you on a journey through the famed Northwest Passage and beyond.

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.

Upon boarding the ship and after collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore your new home-from-home. Your adventure has truly begun!

Science and wildlife watching at sea!

As we navigate the Beaufort Sea towards Amundsen Gulf, which is the gateway to the Northwest Passage, these days at sea provide the perfect opportunity to prepare for the adventures ahead.

Immerse yourself in the onboard Science and Education programme and learn about topics such as wildlife, glaciology, and local history with your Expedition Team. You’ll also gain authentic insight into Inuit culture and heritage with our onboard Cultural Ambassadors. Their stories reveal the Inuit people’s profound connection to the land, shaped by generations of tradition and resilience.

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. If sea ice is present, we may also see congregations of pacific walrus on the ice floes.

 The highlights of this transit include:

• The Bering Strait

• International Date Line

• Sailing Across the Beaufort Sea

• Wildlife Watching

Spend eight days exploring the Western section of the fabled Northwest Passage!

Our excursions begin on day seven as we enter the Western Canadian Arctic. Over the next eight days in this section of our voyage we’ll transit through three distinct regions - Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon – and two traditional Inuit Territories – Inuvialuit and Nunavut.

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

• Sachs Harbour

• Smoking Hills

• Ulukhaktok

• Coronation Gulf

• Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq)

• Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk)

Navigate the dividing line between West and East!

The ‘Rubicon’ of the Canadian Arctic that divides West from East 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. Our ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

Explore the Eastern stretch of the Passage!

On the eastern shores of Somerset Island, we find ourselves in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gates to the Northwest Passage.

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

Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to share with you include:

• Fort Ross

• Prince Leopold Island (Appait)

• Beechey Island (Iluvilik)

• Croker Bay

• Dundas Harbour

• Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik)

Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science!

Leaving Nunavut behind, our expedition cruise continues to Greenland across Baffin Bay.

While at sea, your Expedition Team continues to lead lectures on topics such as Arctic wildlife and the history of exploration in the region, and you can still take part in Citizen Science, such as the GLOBE Program, observing clouds to help scientists study our climate. You’ll also continue to learn about the cultures and traditions of the communities in Greenland with our onboard Cultural Ambassadors.

Or if you prefer, 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.

Discover the magical beauty of Greenland

The final chapter of our journey encompasses the majestic coast of West Greenland.

We will begin by sailing into Disko Bay – a haven for whales and seals. Over the next three days you’ll experience some of the most iconic sites in all of Greenland. Our objectives include:

 Ilulissat

Nestled at the edge of 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. In town you can visit a multitude of shops selling local crafts, and on the outskirts walking trails take you along the epic icefjord.

 Sisimiut

Sisimiut is Greenland’s second city, situated in a spectacular location just above 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.

Evighedsfjord

As we head north, we plan to offer 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.

Today we arrive in Nuuk, Greenland’s colourful capital. It has a population of 18,000, and boasts a striking mix of old and new buildings.

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.

From here, you'll catch a flight back to Reykjavík for the end of your expedition, taking with you a wealth of fantastic memories that will no doubt stay with you forever.