Polar Wilderness Quest

The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, sits in the fjord system of the same name best known for humpback whales, waterfalls and icebergs. This unique city contains mountains and expansive backcountry on one side and a thriving metropolitan on the other, filled with culinary experiences, museums and fashion boutiques. Hiking, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking can be found most anywhere for more active explorers. Nuuk’s cultural center Katuaq displays architectural prowess with a building designed to mimic the waves of the Aurora Borealis. You may find an opportunity to fish for cod or redfish and have it cooked for you at the gourmet restaurant Qooqqut Nuan.

Translating as the “Fjord of Eternity,” Evighedfjord lives up to its name with soaring peaks and blue glaciers spilling into a mirror-calm sea. Zodiac rides glide past sculpted icebergs, where seals lounge and seabirds skim the surface. The sheer scale of the scenery evokes Greenland’s epic spirit, while tranquil bays invite quiet moments to absorb this pristine landscape shaped by ice and time.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Few travel milestones are as memorable as crossing the fabled Arctic Circle. As your ship sails north, you join the ranks of explorers who have ventured into these high latitudes, where the sun lingers on the horizon and ice-choked seas define the landscape. Many mariners celebrate this passage with the lighthearted tradition of becoming a “Blue Nose,” a symbolic order marking your entry into the true High Arctic. Whether you mark it with a toast on deck or simply savor the view, this moment is a highlight of any polar journey.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Disko Bay is a wonderland of shifting light, breaching whales, and iceberg-laden waters. Wildlife thrives here — from fin whales and seabird colonies to occasional polar bear sightings on drifting ice. This region also tells a geological story, with lava flows and basalt formations shaping the dramatic coastline. With every bend in the bay, a new opportunity for awe emerges — underscoring the expedition’s spirit of discovery.

Disko Bay is a wonderland of shifting light, breaching whales, and iceberg-laden waters. Wildlife thrives here — from fin whales and seabird colonies to occasional polar bear sightings on drifting ice. This region also tells a geological story, with lava flows and basalt formations shaping the dramatic coastline. With every bend in the bay, a new opportunity for awe emerges — underscoring the expedition’s spirit of discovery.

Kangerluk rests on a quiet inlet of Disko Island, where hot springs steam against a backdrop of craggy hills. This friendly settlement brims with Inuit heritage and offers a tranquil vantage over iceberg-studded waters. Walk the shoreline or hike inland for views of Disko Bay’s glaciers, and absorb the rhythms of daily life in one of Greenland’s loveliest corners.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Located just off Baffin Island’s eastern coast, Qikiqtarjuaq offers an authentic window into Canadian Inuit life. This remote hamlet is known for its mountainous backdrop, iceberg-filled bays, and warm community spirit. The surrounding waters are rich with marine life such as bowhead whales and narwhals, and the region is home to a thriving population of polar bears. Meaning “Big Island” in Inuktitut, Qikiqtarjuaq invites you to discover how Arctic traditions, from hunting and fishing to carving and storytelling, are vital expressions of Inuit culture passed down through generations. Captain’s Choice Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and ever-changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. We encourage you to embrace a spirit of adventure, spontaneity, and flexibility as your Captain works with your expedition team to determine possible sites for shore landings and Zodiac safaris. While itineraries serve to guide your exploration, all routes are always subject to change in order to prioritize safety and create the optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Sail through legendary Baffin Bay, where icebergs drift past rugged shores alive with seabirds and seals. Naturalists share stories of Arctic exploration and Inuit traditions that have shaped life here for millennia. Watch for minke and bowhead whales surfacing in the glassy waters, and keep an eye on the ice for polar bears roaming the floes. Every mile offers a new window into the wild beauty that bridges Greenland and Canada.

Uninhabited and ecologically rich, Lady Franklin Island is a haven for Arctic wildlife. Zodiac cruising here may reveal polar bears roaming the shoreline, walrus hauled out on ice floes, and seabirds soaring above its rugged cliffs. Steeped in dramatic scenery and remote tranquility, this island on the Davis Strait exemplifies the untamed beauty of the Canadian High Arctic and offers exceptional opportunities for wildlife observation and nature photography. Captain’s Choice Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and ever-changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. We encourage you to embrace a spirit of adventure, spontaneity, and flexibility as your Captain works with your expedition team to determine possible sites for shore landings and Zodiac safaris. While itineraries serve to guide your exploration, all routes are always subject to change in order to prioritize safety and create the optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Named for its towering rock formations, Monumental Island is a key destination for spotting polar bears and walrus in the wild. These craggy outcrops rise from frigid waters, often serving as haul-out spots for Arctic wildlife. As you explore by Zodiac, listen for the bark of walrus or watch for the silent movement of polar bears navigating the shoreline. The island also supports thriving bird colonies, making it a photographer’s dream. Remote and untouched, Monumental Island is a quintessential Arctic encounter — raw, real, and exhilarating. Captain’s Choice Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and ever-changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. We encourage you to embrace a spirit of adventure, spontaneity, and flexibility as your Captain works with your expedition team to determine possible sites for shore landings and Zodiac safaris. While itineraries serve to guide your exploration, all routes are always subject to change in order to prioritize safety and create the optimal expedition experience for all guests.

A maze of low granite outcrops and narrow channels, the Lower Savage Islands are prime terrain for Arctic wildlife. Polar bears may patrol the shorelines, walruses crowd boulder beaches, and seabirds swirl overhead. Exploring these islets by Zodiac provides an unmatched view of a thriving ecosystem set amid glittering sea ice and tranquil fjords.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

"Remote and untamed, Akpatok Island rises sheer from the turquoise waters of Ungava Bay, its limestone cliffs alive with swirling seabirds. In summer, polar bears prowl the pebble beaches, while seals and walruses haul out on rocky shelves. From the ship or Zodiac, marvel at vast colonies of murres and kittiwakes and the raw beauty of an island few ever see. This wildlife sanctuary offers a powerful sense of nature at its most elemental.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

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Set along a stony coast lapped by sapphire water, Kimmirut is a welcoming hamlet renowned for its Inuit artistry and deep cultural roots. Visitors may browse intricate soapstone carvings, hear stories of life along the south Baffin coast, or join residents for a short walk into surrounding hills. Gentle wildlife and a strong community spirit make this a memorable, human-centered stop.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Glide through the Hudson Strait, gateway between the Atlantic and Canada’s Arctic archipelago. This cruising day offers excellent chances to spot seabirds and whales, while coastal cliffs and shifting ice hint at the rugged landscapes beyond. It’s a tranquil stretch that invites you to pause and savor the North’s elemental beauty.

The rugged Digges Islands host one of the Arctic’s highest polar bear concentrations, making every landing or Zodiac cruise an adventure. Dramatic cliffs rise from the sea, alive with thousands of nesting seabirds, their calls echoing across the water. As you explore, look for Arctic foxes or bears traversing the stony beaches below, and absorb the sense of isolation that defines this remote corner of Hudson Bay. Landings are always guided with care, and take place only when conditions allow a safe and memorable experience.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Coats Island is a wild sanctuary where polar bears spend their summers and walruses sprawl across rocky beaches. The island’s sweeping tundra and cliffs shelter more than 90 species of birds, from peregrine falcons to eider ducks. Cruising close to shore offers the chance to observe this remarkable ecosystem without disturbing its fragile balance, while the solitude of Hudson Bay stretches endlessly in every direction.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Marble Island combines stark tundra beauty with poignant history. Polar bears and belugas frequent its shores, while seals sprawl across glistening rocks. The ruins of Sadlermiut dwellings speak to an ancient Inuit culture once thriving here, giving depth to a cruise among gleaming boulders and wildlife-rich shallows.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Explored by Zodiac, the Walrus Islands offer a thrilling look at Hudson Bay’s untamed life. Massive walruses haul out on rocky ledges, their tusks gleaming in the sun, while polar bears sometimes patrol nearby shores. Seabirds wheel overhead and the soft light of the North enhances every photograph, creating a vivid memory of the Arctic’s abundance.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Glide across the tranquil sweep of Hudson Bay, a vast inland sea alive with seasonal wildlife. Beluga whales sometimes surface near the ship, their white forms gleaming against dark water, while seabirds ride the breeze overhead. The immensity of this waterway lends a sense of calm and perspective, framing the Canadian Arctic’s rugged coasts and tundra-strewn islands.

Known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” Churchill also charms with its rich cultural heritage and vibrant wildlife. Depending on the season, you may spot beluga whales gathering in the Churchill River or catch a glimpse of roaming bears along the tundra. Join engaging cultural programs to learn about local traditions, or take to the skies on a helicopter excursion, where sweeping views reveal the immense sweep of Hudson Bay and its pristine landscapes.

Known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” Churchill also charms with its rich cultural heritage and vibrant wildlife. Depending on the season, you may spot beluga whales gathering in the Churchill River or catch a glimpse of roaming bears along the tundra. Join engaging cultural programs to learn about local traditions, or take to the skies on a helicopter excursion, where sweeping views reveal the immense sweep of Hudson Bay and its pristine landscapes.