26-day expedition cruise through the Northwest Passage, attempting a rare breathtaking adventure from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Journey from Vancouver in Canada to Halifax in Nova Scotia, via beautiful Baffin Bay, navigating ice floes and islands along the way.
Discover UNESCO-listed sites like Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland, Inuit settlements and Arctic wildlife – including polar bears, whales and caribou.
Following in the footsteps of explorers before us, we'll attempt to navigate the ice floes and islands of the fabled Northwest Passage. Your Expedition Team will guide you on the best places to see staggering scenery and spot whales, seals and even polar bears.
Visit the famous gold rush town of Nome in Alaska, the modern settlement of Sisimiut, UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, with its colourful houses set against a backdrop of ever-changing icebergs, and the classic Canadian city of Corner Brook.
Flights
Hotel
Onboard activities
Landing activities
We'll help you plan where to go, when to visit and how long to stay
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 neighbourhood, and climb Vancouver Lookout for views overlooking Granville Street, West End beaches and the towering cedars of Stanley Park.
Vancouver has a flavour all its own – and so does its global cuisine. Dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy as you soak up the city's buzzing atmosphere.
While you're here, you might want to join our Post-Programme to the beautiful mountain resort of Whistler. What better way to end your adventure.
You'll start the day flying from Vancouver to Nome in Alaska. Prospectors first came here in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You'll see evidence of the gold rush all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique atmosphere.
Wyatt Earp opened a saloon here, and 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. A fitting place to board our expedition ship – MS Roald Amundsen – and embark on your own epic adventure.
As our expedition cruise sails from Nome, prepare for your adventures ahead with lectures from our Expedition Team on tectonic activity, glaciology, wildlife protection, and meeting local communities.
As we sail through the Bering Strait, look out for over 30 species of sea birds, 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 USA. You may spot bowhead and grey whales here.
From the Amundsen Gulf, we hope to reach Smoking Hills.
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 Atlantic to the Pacific 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 expedition boat cruising 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 see Arctic char, muskoxen, and caribou.
Then onwards to Gjoa Haven, where Roald Amundsen learned polar survival tips from the Netsilik Inuit. If we are able, we'll take a walking tour to learn more. We'll continue east to Fort Ross, a former Hudson 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 Harbour 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 what we hope will be an incredible 10 days of exhilarating exploration.
Leaving Canada behind, your Northwest Passage cruise will cross Baffin Bay and Davis Strait on its way to Greenland.
Join your Expedition Team for more insightful lectures on the renowned route we're sailing. Topics may include historic explorers and expeditions, Greenlandic culture, local wildlife and geology.
Take time to enjoy all the facilties on board too. Lie back in the infinity pool, the hot tub or the 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.
Our expedition cruise reaches Disko Bay – a haven for walruses, whales and seals. You’re in for a unique experience. Nestled in magnificent Ilulissat Icefjorden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Against a backdrop of colourful houses is an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs. Marvel at these giants as they float past the town, taking on different hues of white, grey and blue. You won’t just see them, you’ll hear them too. As they bump into one another, the cracks, creaks and rumbles echo all around. Even amateur photographers will return to ship with the most enviable images.
We reach Sisimiut, Greenland’s second city. It sits in a spectacular location just 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years.
Old traditions are alive and well here. You can learn more about the ancient Saqqaq artefacts in the local museum and Taseralik Cultural Centre. Pick up a special souvenir – a qiviut scarf, hat or mittens – made from a local fabric said to be 10 times warmer than sheep wool.
One of the best things you'll experience on your expedition cruise in Greenland with us is meeting the local communities – real interactions that make for fantastic memories.
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 from the wildlife of Northern Labrador to Inuit culture and the history of Arctic exploration.
The strait is known for its abundance of seals, whales and cod. You can take part in one of our Citizen Science programmes, helping photograph and track whales or contributing to the GLOBE Observer project.
Look out for humpback or minke whales as we approach Red Bay – the very creatures that drew whalers to this harbour in the 17th century.
The ice-cold waters around Red Bay hide a number of wrecked chalupas – or small whaling boats – and galleons, making it one of the world's most important underwater archaeological sites.
Visit the local museum to see a 26 ft. chalupa and look for whale bones in the protected National Historic Site. 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.
We'll follow in Captain James Cook's footsteps as we sail into the Bay of Islands towards the traditional city of Corner Brook. Discover the area's fascinating history and collection of artefacts at Corner Brook Museum.
Join an optional excursion for great views from Crow Hill, or take a guided hike along the Corner Brook Stream trail. You can also opt for the thrill of zip-lining high over the scenic Humber Valley, admiring views of Marble Mountain and Steady Brook Falls.
Before we depart, we'll enjoy a performance from a local folk and traditional trio as today's included activity.
As your Northwest Passage expedition cruise draws to a close, take time to unwind onboard your comfortable ship and imagine the challenges the great explorers before you would have faced.
Soak your limbs in the hot tub, work out in the gym, make use of the Science Center, take a swim or just relax in the Explorer Lounge.
Join the Expedition Team to recap the highlights of this incredible once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Spend time in the Science Center wrapping up your Citizen Science observations or pick out your favourite images with our onboard photographer.
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, why not 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 – and visit one of the city's many art galleries or museums, including the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
Want to stay longer? Book our Post-Programme to visit the historic community of Peggy's Cove and Halifax Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the burial place of 121 passengers of the Titanic.
Attempt
Our Northwest Passage Attempts are expeditions where we, in true expedition style, challenge the elements and the ice-edge of the Arctic Ocean, to circumnavigate this remote and icy waterways – in a safe way. Several alternative routes combined with our deep knowledge of the area and flexibility are key factors to giving you the most amazing experience. And if we really manage to circumnavigate Baffin Island or sail through the entire Northwest Passage, it will be one for the books.
Take a closer look at our ships typically used on this expedition
It's a mixture of adventure activities for individuals of all ages
Onboard Science Programme
Our Science Programme has one goal: to increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to.
Our Science Programme has one goal: to increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to.
Our expedition ships serve as the perfect platform for scientific research; with access to remote regions of the world and onboard experts, we can provide invaluable data to the scientific community - with help from our guests!
We invite our guests to participate in science activities, developing a greater understanding of the region in which they travel, becoming true ambassadors, and returning home to champion the protection of our planet's most fragile ecosystems.
Delivery of our own lecture programme.
Interacting with guests in our Science Centers to reinforce the lecture programme with practical hands-on guest experiences.
Citizen science programme involving guests in programmes for third-party organisations.
Carrying scientific equipment for sample collection on behalf of research institutes.
Hosting scientific personnel on board to conduct collaborative science programmes.
Seabird Distribution with the Antarctic Site Inventory — Surveys throughout the Antarctic Peninsula help scientists understand how seabirds are using different habitats and provide valuable information about their life cycles.
Cloud Observations with the Globe Program — By observing and recording cloud cover timed to NASA satellite fly-overs, guests can help scientists understand how surface and air temperature are affected by cloud cover, and how clouds will respond to a changing climate.
Happywhale — We assist in tracking individual whales throughout our world’s oceans by harnessing the power of whale watching enthusiasts - our guests - expanding our scientific knowledge of their behaviour and distribution.
Sea Leopard Project — A non-profit study aimed at a better understanding of the behaviour, ecology, and population dynamics of leopard seals on the Antarctic Peninsula to promote their conservation and safe human-seal interactions.
Fjord Phyto — Study phytoplankton to better understand how they respond to water temperature changes in the polar regions, providing a key to help mitigate future environmental impacts.
Join the Expedition Team here for a range of lectures, photography workshops, and Citizen Science Projects. The area also features scientific and educational equipment, such as microscopes and interactive maps.
In-depth talks on history, climate change, sustainability, wildlife, Earth science, culture, and other topics specific to the destination you are visiting are held here. Learning more about each subject is certain to enhance your expedition experience.
Our Science Programme has one goal: To increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to.
What the Science Programme is about
Learning from the experts on board
Facilities, equipment and activities
Citizen Science research projects- and how you can contribute
Speaker: Verena Meraldi
Young Explorers Programme
Welcome all young explorers
Young Explorer is a complimentary, year-round programme on selected Hurtigruten ships for curious and active youth aged 6-12 years of age.
The children will learn about other cultures, the importance of nature in our daily lives, and the impact humans have on our delicate and beautiful planet. The Young Explorers’ Programme makes it easier to meet other children on board, bond over common activities and form lasting friendships.
There will be daily onboard activities related to different Young Explorers’ topics. Through the Young Explorers’ Programme, children will get a deeper understanding of nature, climate and culture. Depending on seasons and destinations, they will also be introduced to topics like wildlife, local food, environmental protection and famous explorers. This will give the children a sense of what it is like to be a real explorer in beautiful, untouched surroundings.
All children aged 6 to 12 years are welcome to participate in the Young Explorers’ Programme. At the beginning of the voyage, you will receive more practical details of the programme. Parents/guardians do not participate in Young Explorers’ activities, but depending on the size and variation of the group some parents may be asked to join on an informal basis. The Young Explorer activities will only be offered in English.
It is free of charge to join the Young Explorer Programme. To reserve, please contact our booking office at [email protected] or call +441224980439.
Learn more about what you can experience when going with us
Practical information you need to know
Northwest Passage
In the Wake of the Great Explorers
