Vibrant Vancouver

Enjoy British Columbia’s largest city

Our expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage starts in the beautiful city of Vancouver at the foot of the Rockies. Visit Gastown, the city’s oldest neighborhood, and climb the Vancouver Lookout for views over Granville Street, the West End beaches, and the towering cedars of Stanley Park.

Vancouver has a flavor all of its own – including its global cuisine. Dine in Chinatown, Punjabi Market, or Little Italy as you soak up the city’s buzzing atmosphere.

Before you fly to Nome the next day, enjoy a relaxing night at a centrally located hotel in Vancouver, including breakfast.

While in Vancouver, consider joining our optional Pre-Program. Enjoy a multiple-day scenic journey into the Canadian wilderness aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train.

No place like Nome

Fascinating history of gold prospectors and explorers

You’ll start the day flying from Vancouver to Nome, in Alaska. 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, including an aircraft attempt to reach the North Pole in 1926. It’s a fitting place to board our expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen, and embark on your own epic adventure.

Discoveries at sea

Science and wildlife at sea

As our expedition cruise sails from Nome, prepare for your adventures ahead with lectures from our Expedition Team on topics such as tectonic activity, glaciology, wildlife protection, and meeting local communities.

As we sail through the Bering Strait, look out for over 30 species of seabirds, including black-legged kittiwakes, auklets, and murrelets. We’ll cross the international date line and Chukchi Sea before reaching the Beaufort Sea and Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the United States. Keep an eye out for bowhead and gray whales here.

The Northwest Passage.

Cross a historical sea corridor through Canada’s Arctic archipelago.

Like pioneering explorers who've come before you, we won't have an exact itinerary as we attempt to sail our state-of-the-art, ice-class ship from the Pacific to the Atlantic via the famed sea route: the Northwest Passage. Stops might include Smoking Hills, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Fort Ross, Dundas Harbour and Pond Inlet. 

As we explore, we’ll land at sites linked to early exploration history, visit Inuit communities, and look out for Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales, narwhals, seals, and seabirds.

You’ll go cruising on small boats (RIBs) between ice floes and go ashore to experience the pristine wilderness first hand. Your Expedition Team will adapt activities to ice and weather conditions, giving you the best experience possible.

Smoking Hills is where lignite, eroded shale mixed with pyrite, spontaneously ignites when exposed to air, creating a photogenic phenomenon of smoke billowing from the cliffs.

From here, we’ll sail through the Amundsen Gulf to Ulukhaktok, where you can pick up some prints, tapestries, and other crafts made by local artists. We’ll then continue onto wildlife-rich Cambridge Bay where you might catch sight of musk oxen and caribou.

We’ll travel onwards to Gjoa Haven, where Roald Amundsen learned polar survival tips from the Netsilik Inuit people. If we are able to land here, we’ll take a walking tour to learn more. We’ll continue east to Fort Ross, a former Hudson’s Bay Trading post.

We may stop at Beechey Island and pay our respects at the graves of three Franklin expedition team members. On Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth, we hope to visit Dundas Harbor and learn about its Thule heritage.

On the final stretch, we’ll try to reach Pond Inlet and the Inuit community of Mittimatalik on Baffin Island, rounding off an incredible 10 days of exhilarating exploration.

Crossing Baffin Bay

Relax at sea as we sail toward Greenland.

Leaving Canada behind, your Northwest Passage expedition cruise will cross Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait on its way to Greenland.

Join your Expedition Team for more insightful lectures on our historic route. Topics may include historic explorers and expeditions, Greenlandic culture, local wildlife, and geology.

Take time to enjoy all the onboard facilities. Lie back in the infinity pool, hot tub or sauna, or get your heart pumping in the indoor gym or on the running track. Then in the evening, head for the panoramic Explorer Lounge & Bar to share stories of your travels.

UNESCO-listed Ilulissat

The town where you can see and hear the ice flow

Our expedition cruise reaches Disko Bay, a haven for whales and seals. You’re in for a unique experience. Nestled in magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. An ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs slides by against a backdrop of colorful houses.

Marvel at giant icebergs floating past in the deep blue waters, as they take on different hues of white, grey, and blue. With the help of the ship’s photographer, even amateur photographers can capture the nuances of these sculptures of nature.

Spectacular Sisimiut

Discover ancient traditions in Arctic Greenland.

We reach spectacularly situated Sisimiut, just 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle, where you'll experience the Midnight Sun at the height of summer.

Old traditions are alive and well here, and you can learn more about the ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum. If you’re looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of a musk ox, said to be ten times warmer than sheep wool.

One of the best things you'll experience on your expedition cruise to Greenland with us is meeting the local communities in the places we explore – authentic interactions that make for fantastic memories.

Crossing the Labrador Sea

Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science.

Leaving Greenland behind, our expedition cruise continues to Canada across the Labrador Sea. We’ll enter the Davis Strait, named after English explorer John Davis, who led expeditions here in the 16th century. The Expedition Team will continue their onboard lectures on topics such as the wildlife of Northern Labrador, Inuit culture, and the history of Arctic exploration.

The strait is known for its abundance of seals, whales, and cod. Consider joining one of our Citizen Science projects by helping to photograph and track whales. Or contribute to the GLOBE Program by observing the clouds and helping scientists study our climate.

The history of Red Bay

Explore this extraordinary former whaling settlement.

As we approach Red Bay, look out for humpback or minke whales – the very creatures that drew whalers to this harbor in the 17th century.

The ice-cold waters around Red Bay hide a number of wrecked chalupas (small whaling boats) and galleons, making it one of the world’s most important underwater archeological sites.

Visit the local museum to see a 26-foot chalupa and look for whale bones in the protected Red Bay National Historic Site. Why not search for pirate Captain Kidd’s buried treasure around Tracey Hill? You may not find gold doubloons, but you will be rewarded with a fantastic view.

Classic Corner Brook

Step back in time in this charming city in Newfoundland.

We’ll follow in Captain James Cook’s footsteps as we sail into the Bay of Islands toward the traditional city of Corner Brook. Discover the area’s fascinating history and collection of artifacts at the Corner Brook Museum.

Take in great views from Crow Hill or take a guided hike along the Corner Brook Stream trail. You can also opt for a visit to Gros Morne National Park and the picturesque Lobster Cove Head lighthouse, which also features a scenic drive.

Before we depart, we’ll enjoy a performance by local folk music performers and storytellers.

Final day at sea

Reflecting on your expedition cruise

As your Northwest Passage expedition cruise draws to a close, take time to unwind aboard your comfortable ship and imagine the challenges the great explorers before you would have faced. Soak in the hot tub, work out in the gym, make use of the Science Center, or just relax in the Explorer Lounge & Bar.

Join the Expedition Team to recap the highlights of this incredible once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Spend time in the Science Center to wrap up your Citizen Science observations or pick out your favorite images with our onboard photographer.

Arriving in Halifax

Disembark in the cosmopolitan capital of Nova Scotia

Your expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage ends in Halifax. This historic port is a fitting end to such a wonderful adventure. As you find your land legs, discover its red-brick heritage buildings, landmark Citadel Hill National Historic Site, and epic 2.5-mile seafront boardwalk.

Take a leisurely stroll on Halifax Common, Canada’s oldest park, dating back to 1763. You can also visit one of the city’s many art galleries or museums, including the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Post-Program:

Want to stay longer? Book our Post-Program to visit the historic community of Peggy’s Cove and the Halifax Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the burial place of 121 passengers of the Titanic.