Arctic Eclipse Odyssey: Iceland, Greenland and Canada

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport to the city and spend the day exploring at your own pace. Check in with the hospitality desk this afternoon before embarking the ship.

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs. Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs. Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around. You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities. A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel. This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums. The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day. Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.

Explore Iceland’s western frontier, visiting Flatey Island, a trading post for many centuries turned sleepy summer islet. Walk around the charming little hamlet that has survived, and hike across trails that trace the cliffs past a seasonal seabird population.

Sail away from the Westfjords of Iceland and across the Denmark Strait. Connecting the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, the Strait is home to the world's largest waterfall, caused by powerful currents and glaciers. Listen to talks by experts, relax with a book in the lounge or the observation deck and keep an eye out for wildlife as the ship sails across the continental shelf.

A total solar eclipse will occur in the region on August 12, 2026. The ship will navigate to the best position within the path of totality to witness this rare, natural wonder (conditions permitting).

Sail into Prins Christian Sund, which cuts into the southern tip of Greenland, passing between soaring pinnacles and glaciers, allowing the ship to sail through the sheltered waters of this dramatic landscape. Glimpse hanging glaciers through the fjords that stretch back to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet and keep an eye out for marine and bird life in these sheltered waters.

The transit through the Sound is one of this voyage’s highlights. Connecting the Labrador Sea with the Irminger Seat, Prince Christian Sound or “Prins Christian Sund” in Danish is named after Prince (later King) Christian VII (1749-1808). 100 km (60 miles ), long and at times just 500 m (1500 ft) wide, this majestic and spectacular fiord throws you back into a Viking era – flanked by soaring snow-topped mountains, rock-strewn cliffs and rolling hills, it is as if time has stood still and one easily forgets that this is the 21st century. As you marvel at the sheer size of the mountains that surround you, with the Arctic waters lapping deceptively at the hull, revel in the silence enveloping you. Icebergs float serenely by, carrying with them the ages of time. Be sure to wear warm clothing as this is one spectacle that you do not want to miss.

Home to some of the best preserved ruins of the Viking era in Greenland, Qaqortoq and Qassiarsuk will provide you with two days of insight, culture and local interactions. Walk through the ruins of Bratthlid, Erik the Red's farm, visiting replicas of the church and the family's longhouse. Explore the same shores from which their son, Leif Eriksson, launched the first voyages to North America—500 years before Columbus.

Visit the unofficial capital of southern Greenland at Qaqortoq, with just over 3,200 residents. The colonial influence is visible throughout the town, with houses painted in primary colors and architecture dating back to the 1700's. Stroll through the town square and visit the museum, where Greenlandic kayaks, hunting equipment and local art and handicrafts are on display. Finally, walk through the walls of Hvalsey church, located in the fjords behind Qaqortoq, the best preserved Norse ruins in all of Greenland.

Spend time on the bow of the ship watching for whales, polar bears and other wildlife; enjoy the ship’s amenities; edit your photos alongside photography experts; and attend expert-led talks about the Arctic as the ship navigates the massive icebergs of Davis Strait on the way to Baffin Island.

Spend four days tracing the beautiful, wild coast of Labrador, exploring on foot and by kayak and Zodiac. As the ship weaves its way through the Lower Savage islands, you'll keep a watchful eye for the polar bears that call these islands home and use Zodiacs as safe havens to experience their environment firsthand. Watch for peregrine falcons and other birds soaring over the rocky shorelines of the spectacularly narrow Mugford Tickle and take in the impressive sight of the 4,000-foot-high Kaumajet Mountains. Continue to scenic Battle Harbour to discover the reconstructed 19th-century buildings and legacy of this historic fishing village.

Spend four days tracing the rugged, wild coast of Labrador, with expedition activities such as Zodiac cruising and kayaking along the islands, fjords and inlets that create this dynamic landscape. Keep a watchful eye on the Bridge as the ship navigates along the coast, which is dotted with icebergs flowing down from Greenland and the North Pole. Visit the fjords of Torngat National Park, and delve into the region’s Inuit history with your onboard archeologist. Stop at deserted outposts, watch for peregrine falcons and other birds soaring over the rocky shorelines of the spectacularly narrow Mugford Tickle, and take in the impressive Kaumajet Mountains. Head into the tiny fishing settlement of Indian Harbour to observe vast colonies of common murres along the sea cliffs before continuing on to scenic Battle Harbour to discover the legacy of this historic fishing village.

Spend four days tracing the rugged, wild coast of Labrador, with expedition activities such as Zodiac cruising and kayaking along the islands, fjords and inlets that create this dynamic landscape. Keep a watchful eye on the Bridge as the ship navigates along the coast, which is dotted with icebergs flowing down from Greenland and the North Pole. Visit the fjords of Torngat National Park, and delve into the region’s Inuit history with your onboard archeologist. Stop at deserted outposts, watch for peregrine falcons and other birds soaring over the rocky shorelines of the spectacularly narrow Mugford Tickle, and take in the impressive Kaumajet Mountains. Head into the tiny fishing settlement of Indian Harbour to observe vast colonies of common murres along the sea cliffs before continuing on to scenic Battle Harbour to discover the legacy of this historic fishing village.

Spend four days tracing the rugged, wild coast of Labrador, with expedition activities such as Zodiac cruising and kayaking along the islands, fjords and inlets that create this dynamic landscape. Keep a watchful eye on the Bridge as the ship navigates along the coast, which is dotted with icebergs flowing down from Greenland and the North Pole. Visit the fjords of Torngat National Park, and delve into the region’s Inuit history with your onboard archeologist. Stop at deserted outposts, watch for peregrine falcons and other birds soaring over the rocky shorelines of the spectacularly narrow Mugford Tickle, and take in the impressive Kaumajet Mountains. Head into the tiny fishing settlement of Indian Harbour to observe vast colonies of common murres along the sea cliffs before continuing on to scenic Battle Harbour to discover the legacy of this historic fishing village.

Spend four days tracing the rugged, wild coast of Labrador, with expedition activities such as Zodiac cruising and kayaking along the islands, fjords and inlets that create this dynamic landscape. Keep a watchful eye on the Bridge as the ship navigates along the coast, which is dotted with icebergs flowing down from Greenland and the North Pole. Visit the fjords of Torngat National Park, and delve into the region’s Inuit history with your onboard archeologist. Stop at deserted outposts, watch for peregrine falcons and other birds soaring over the rocky shorelines of the spectacularly narrow Mugford Tickle, and take in the impressive Kaumajet Mountains. Head into the tiny fishing settlement of Indian Harbour to observe vast colonies of common murres along the sea cliffs before continuing on to scenic Battle Harbour to discover the legacy of this historic fishing village.

In the 1960s, the remains of a Viking village established in the 11th century were excavated at L’Anse aux Meadows, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk among the Norse ruins and reconstructed sod huts and learn the saga of the Vikings in North America, who arrived here nearly 500 years before the explorations of Columbus.

Around the year 1000, Vikings from Greenland and Iceland founded the first European settlement in North America, near the northern tip of Newfoundland. They arrived in the New World 500 years before Columbus but stayed only a few years and were forgotten for centuries. Since the settlement's rediscovery in the last century, the archaeological site has brought tourism to the area. Viking themes abound but so do views, whales, icebergs, fun dining experiences, and outdoor activities. L'Anse Aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland is a remote community of just 40 people, with St Anthony, 40 minutes away, having a population of only 3,500. The region is locally famous for springtime polar bears, nesting eider ducks, the northern extreme of the Appalachians at nearby Belle Isle, numerous spring and summer icebergs, and a rich ocean fishery. L’Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site is the UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of Leif Erickson and the first Europeans in the new world. This site is often the keystone attraction for cruises themed around the Vikings. Discovered in 1960, it is the site of a Norse village, the only known one in North America outside of Greenland. The site remains the only widely-accepted instance of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact, and is notable for possible connections with the attempted colony of Vinland established by Leif Ericson around 1003, or more broadly with Norse exploration of the Americas. The root of the name "L'Anse aux Meadows" is believed to have originated with French fishermen in the area during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, who named the site L'Anse aux Meduses, meaning 'Jellyfish Bay'.

Cliffs, fjords and beaches grace the eastern coast of Newfoundland. Hike, kayak or explore by Zodiac with your experts amid this stunning scenery, and keep an eye out for migrating birds and whales.

Cliffs, fjords and beaches grace the northeastern tip of Newfoundland. Hike, kayak and Zodiac cruise along this stunning coastline while keeping a watchful eye for migrating birds and whales as the ship sails south.

Disembark in St. John’s and transfer to the airport for flights home.

Old meets new in the province's capital (metro-area population a little more than 200,000), with modern office buildings surrounded by heritage shops and colorful row houses. St. John's mixes English and Irish influences, Victorian architecture and modern convenience, and traditional music and rock and roll into a heady brew. The arts scene is lively, but overall the city moves at a relaxed pace.For centuries, Newfoundland was the largest supplier of salt cod in the world, and St. John's Harbour was the center of the trade. As early as 1627, the merchants of Water Street—then known as the Lower Path—were doing a thriving business buying fish, selling goods, and supplying alcohol to soldiers and sailors.