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Embark on a captivating Northern Lights cruise from Greenland to Canada, tracing the historic ice-filled Northwest Passage. This luxurious round trip begins and ends in the vibrant capital of Nuuk, Greenland, and journeys through breathtaking locations like Sisimiut, Disko Bay, and Pond Inlet, eventually taking you to the dramatic Arctic waters of Canada's Nunavut. The cruise offers incredible encounters with varied landscapes and wildlife. Explore Nunavut's Arctic coast, home to polar bears and narwhals, experience Greenland's iconic icebergs, and visit remote Inuit communities with colorful homes. Uncover the heritage of the Ilulissat Icefjord in Disko Bay and delve into the intriguing exploration history in places like Radstock Bay. Take part in a multitude of activities designed for an unforgettable luxury cruise experience. Engage in kayaking with the expedition team, enjoy expert lectures, and sharpen your photography skills. Spend leisurely sea days mingling with fellow travelers, or savor panoramic ocean views from the ship’s observation decks, all while soaking in the rich exploration history of this mesmerizing region.
Marvel at glistening icebergs as they crack and calve dramatically into the meltwater.
Learn about the rich history of the Inuit, Dorset and Thule peoples from onboard experts.
Gaze up at the towering cliffs of Prince Leopold Island, alive with nesting birdlife.
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk has a thriving cultural scene including the Greenland National Museum, home to the world-renowned Qilakitsoq mummies. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), Nuuk's bustling harbour features Nuuk Cathedral and colourful wooden houses, alongside modern architecture. Nuuk also serves as a gateway to Inuit experiences and adventures in the surrounding fjords and mountains.
The northernmost city in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.
Known for its Inuit culture, whales and icebergs, Disko Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Western Greenland. The bay is also home to the Ilulissat Icefjord, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. First visited by Europeans in 1596, in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia, it has been an Inuit home for millennia. The village of Qeqertarsuaq embodies thriving Inuit traditions, preserving the cultural legacy.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
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 - toothed whales with a distinct large tusk. The traditional Inuit community living in the hamlet of Mittimatalik are renowned for their craft skills from printmaking and stone carving.
Gracing the eastern high Arctic, Croker Bay, a mesmerising Arctic waterway, carves its way into Devon Island within the vibrant Qikiqtaaluk Region. This deep inlet, an extension of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, unveils a landscape of captivating beauty. The Devon ice cap feeds the huge South Croker Bay Glacier that calves into the bay.
This area is closely associated with the exploration of Canada’s High Arctic and the Northwest Passage. Much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was mapped while searching for the missing crew of British explorer Sir John Franklin’s fateful 1845-46 Northwest Passage Expedition. Radstock Bay sits below the mighty Caswall Tower mountain and hides many secrets, with evidence of sledge tracks, camps and food tins that may help reveal what happened.
Beechey Island Sites, five historical locations in Canada’s High Arctic, mark where Sir John Franklin wintered in 1845–46 during his ill-fated Northwest Passage expedition. The search for his crew led to much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago being mapped. Nearly six decades later, in 1903, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage.
Port Leopold is a place of raw, rugged natural beauty and landscapes that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. The pristine wilderness and untouched terrain create a feeling of remoteness and isolation, while the Arctic wildlife that calls this place home adds a touch of wildness and unpredictability. The area's history as a former Hudson's Bay Company trading post also lends a sense of nostalgia and intrigue.
As the ship crosses Lancaster Sound to Elwin Bay, it passes by Prince Leopold Island, which, in season, hosts over 500,000 nesting pairs of thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern fulmars, and black-legged kittiwakes. Thousands of beluga bones scattered across the beaches serve as a poignant reminder of the area's whaling history. The region was explored in the 1850s during the search for Franklin's lost expedition.
The Bellot Strait, named in honour of the French explorer Joseph-René Bellot, is a narrow, 2.3-km-wide, and 25-km-long waterway. It separates Somerset Island to the north from the Boothia Peninsula to the south. This strait played a historical role during an expedition to locate Sir John Franklin's lost expedition, tragically marked by Bellot's death in the area in 1853.
The ship sails past Fort Ross, on Somerset Island, the northernmost fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Near the Bellot Strait, it was eventually abandoned due to harsh ice conditions. The strait separates Somerset Island from Boothia Peninsula, home to Point Zenith, the northernmost continental point of the Americas. It's also where Sir James Clark Ross located the Magnetic North Pole during Sir John Ross's 1829 Arctic expedition.
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 thwarted several 19th-century explorers - Sir John Franklin in 1846, Francis Leopold McClintock in 1858 and Allen Young in 1875. Today, Peel Sound still remains a challenging waterway, but is also home to abundant wildlife, including polar bears, seals and whales.
Coningham Bay, on Prince of Wales Island in the heart of the Northwest Passage, holds historical and cultural significance and serves as a haven for Arctic wildlife. The nutrient-rich waters attract beluga whales, sustaining the well-fed local polar bear population. The bay's rich history is intertwined with Arctic exploration, as Captain James Cook charted it in 1778 during his final voyage through the Northwest Passage.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Buchan Gulf, a remote Arctic fjord on Baffin Island's northeastern coast, is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for northern fulmars, who roost on the towering cliffs and rocks. 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. Pods of narwhals are at home in the deep waters of this glacial fjord system on eastern Baffin Island.
Qikiqtarjuaq is a remote, beautiful Baffin Island community surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers. The rugged landscape and pristine wilderness offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, from kayaking to wildlife watching. The town's Inuit culture and traditions are still alive. But what sets Qikiqtarjuaq apart is the warmth and hospitality of its people, who welcome visitors and share their rich history and traditions with pride.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk has a thriving cultural scene including the Greenland National Museum, home to the world-renowned Qilakitsoq mummies. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), Nuuk's bustling harbour features Nuuk Cathedral and colourful wooden houses, alongside modern architecture. Nuuk also serves as a gateway to Inuit experiences and adventures in the surrounding fjords and mountains.
SH Vega was named after the first ship to cross the Arctic Northeast Passage. She sails the seven seas, including the polar regions, in style and comfort. This 5-star expedition ship incorporates elegant Scandi-design with the latest in cruising technology. She has a PC5 ice-strengthened hull and extra-large stabilizers to make your journey as smooth as possible.
Charter flights to the port of embarkation/ disembarkation (Longyearbyen, Ushuaia, Kangerlussuaq, Nuuk)
Group return transfers from airport to cruise port and to the hotel (where included)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel (Cruise Plus package only, exemptions apply)
Your selected stateroom
All meals onboard
Complimentary hot & cold beverages, beer, wine & spirits any time throughout your cruise
24-hour room service
Lecture programs by expedition team and guest speakers
One selected shore excursion per port of call
All expedition landings
Entry level WI-FI (upgraded packages available)
Gym, sauna, pool
24/7 self service laundry
Waterproof backpack and refillable water bottle, yours to keep
In polar regions: branded parka, yours to keep and use of rubber boot
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
Bespoke pre & post land programmes
Additional hotel nights pre or post cruise
Premium and private shore excursions
Kayak and private Zodiac tours
Premium spirits & reserve wine list
Spa & beauty treatments
Laundry services
Retail shop
Smart HDTV
Minibar with soft drinks & beer
Illy Espresso coffee machine with pods
Kettle and Kusmi tea bags
Towels for cabin, pool and gym
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Bathrobes and bedroom slippers
Toiletries
Personal Safe
Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars
from
$250
per person
Kayaking in the polar regions will be mainly focused on experiencing the polar regions from water level with all your senses and without any interference from artificial sounds.
Having the unique opportunity to kayak in the world’s last great wildernesses , is often described as a spiritual experience slowing down to the rhythm of the paddles, you are able to observe and soak in the natural wonders of the polar regions like very few have experienced before you. Observe scenery, coastlines, ice formations and polar wildlife from the comfort and silence of your kayak.
Conditions permitting, your Expedition Leader and Kayak guide will make sure you will be kayaking in a safe environment .
Whilst some kayak excursions are designed to allow guests to disembark on shore and discover the area, most of the kayak excursions will be mainly focusing on experiencing the polar regions, from water level, with all your senses as there is no interference with artificial sounds.
The kayaking experience ideally starts after guests have been shuttled by Zodiac to a starting point, then transfer from the zodiac to the kayak by their own means and at the end of the Kayak excursion transfer back to the shuttle Zodiac to be brought back on board.
Besides your kayak guide who briefs the kayaking group before the excursion and afterwards leads the group there is also a Zodiac driver on a safety boat following the kayak group to offer assistance if required.
IMPORTANT
In the interest of allowing all guests the opportunity to experience a kayak tour, guests may pre-book one kayak excursions per cruise.
For those wishing to join more than one kayak excursion, we will collect names for our waiting list whilst on board and do our best to accomodate these requests.
Please note that our kayaks accomodate two guests - if you would lile to share with a friend or family member; please make sure that you specify this with the on board team.
If you are travelling alone, we will find another guest for you to share with.
The Northwest Passage is a legendary Arctic sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Canada’s remote Arctic archipelago.
Historically, explorers like Sir John Franklin and Roald Amundsen attempted to navigate this route in search of a shorter trade passage. Today, a Northwest Passage cruise offers a rare chance to witness stunning Arctic landscapes, remote Indigenous communities, and incredible wildlife, all while following in the footsteps of history.
The cruise season runs from August to early September, when Arctic ice conditions allow ships to safely navigate the route.
August: Peak wildlife viewing, including polar bears, whales, and seabirds.
September: Increased chances of seeing the Northern Lights and experiencing the Arctic in its autumn colors.
The weather remains cold and unpredictable, but this is the only time of year the route is accessible by ship.
The Northwest Passage is home to some of the most iconic Arctic wildlife, including:
Polar Bears – Often spotted on ice floes or coastal areas.
Walruses – Found resting on ice or shorelines in large herds.
Whales – Beluga, Narwhal, Bowhead, and Orca Whales.
Seals – Ringed, Bearded, and Harp Seals.
Arctic Foxes & Musk Oxen – Found roaming the tundra.
Seabirds – Puffins, Arctic Terns, and Snowy Owls.
Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but your expert guides will help maximize spotting opportunities.
The Northwest Passage passes through Canada and Greenland, so visa requirements depend on your nationality.
Canada: Travelers may need a Canadian visa or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if transiting through a Canadian airport.
Greenland: Requires a valid passport, and Schengen residents must use a passport (not an ID card).
The Arctic climate is cold and unpredictable, even during the cruise season. Expect:
August - Early September: -5°C to 10°C (23°F to 50°F)
Cold Winds: Wind chill can make temperatures feel even lower.
Sudden Weather Changes: Snow, fog, and strong winds are common.
lothing & Footwear
Layering is essential – choose wool, silk, or synthetic fabrics over cotton for better insulation.
Waterproof & windproof outerwear – a warm insulated jacket and pants for protection against the Arctic elements.
Thermal base layers – long-sleeved tops and leggings made of wool or synthetic materials.
Warm mid-layers – wool jumpers and fleece jackets for added insulation.
Gloves & mittens – a combination of fleece and wool gloves to keep hands warm.
Warm hat or headband – essential for protection against Arctic winds.
Scarf or fleece tube – extra warmth for your neck and face.
Warm socks – wool socks to keep feet insulated and dry.
Regular indoor shoes – comfortable footwear for use onboard.
Sturdy hiking shoes – durable, insulated hiking shoes for shore excursions and tundra walks.
Sunglasses with UV protection – Arctic sunlight reflects off ice and water, making this a must-have.
Sleeping mask – helpful for blocking out the Midnight Sun during summer travel.
Expedition Gear & Accessories
Small waterproof backpack – useful for carrying essentials on Zodiac excursions and landings.
A good pair of binoculars – ideal for spotting polar bears, whales, and distant icebergs (ask the Cruise Norway team if they are included in your cabin).
Camera & extra memory cards – Greenland’s icebergs, fjords, and wildlife provide stunning photography opportunities.
Extra batteries & power banks – cold temperatures reduce battery life quickly.
Chargers, electrical adapters & converters – check your travel documents for ship-specific power requirements.
Sea sickness medication – the Arctic waters can be unpredictable, especially in open seas like the Beaufort Sea and Baffin Bay.
Personal Care & Essentials
Your passport & a copy of it
Cash in the applicable currency – check your travel documents for onboard payment details.
Sun protection – high-SPF sunscreen and UV lip balm to protect against intense Arctic sun exposure.
Moisturizer – cold, dry Arctic air can dry out your skin quickly.
Enough medication & essentials – bring extra in case of unexpected delays.
Some areas, like Baffin Bay or the Beaufort Sea, can experience rougher waters.
Swan Hellenic’s ships are stabilized expedition vessels, but travelers prone to motion sickness may want to bring seasickness medication just in case.
DISCLAIMER: Rates are per person, subject to availability and can change at any time
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Cruise Norway International
Tallinn, Estonia
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