It’s one of the world's most remote regions, where you’ll
likely see more polar bears than people. But a new breed of high-tech, luxury
expedition ships has made the legendary Northwest Passage more accessible than
ever.
The Northwest Passage is the vast, often ice-choked
Arctic route from the Atlantic to the Pacific above North America. Spectacular seascapes
and exotic wildlife are among its attractions. Transits are long—travelers may
spend several weeks aboard ship—and the sailing window is tightly limited to
the summer months. They are also very expensive, sometimes costing upwards of
$35,000 per person.
Itineraries may be a complete crossing from Greenland
to Alaska or reverse. Some cruises may be partial transits sailing roundtrip
from Iceland and exploring the Canadian High Arctic. Passengers usually embark
(or debark) in Reykjavík (Iceland), Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) or Nome (Alaska),
with charter flights included to main air hubs. As these are actual expedition
cruises, the itinerary map may indicate the intended route; the ship's true
path will depend upon the present ice conditions.
Here are some of the transits coming up in 2024 and
2025 for one of cruising’s truly great adventures.
AURORA EXPEDITIONS
Australia-based Aurora Expeditions has two Northwest
Passage cruises scheduled for 2024: A 17-day “Northwest Passage” partial
transit departing Toronto on July 20 and arriving in Calgary on August 5,
followed by a 30-day “Traversing the Northwest Passage” full transit leaving
Toronto on August 17 and terminating in Anchorage on September 15. Both cruises
are aboard the 132-passenger Sylvia Earle, built in 2022, embarking in Kangerlussuaq.
As Aurora’s newest ship, the Sylvia Earle is billed as 100 percent climate
neutral and carries a fully equipped Citizen Science Center.
HX
Formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions, Norway’s HX
has the most extensive lineup of Northwest Passage cruises with no fewer than
seven departures scheduled in 2024 and 2025 aboard three ships: the 2019 built/530-passenger
Roald Amundsen (the cruise world’s first hybrid cruise ship), its sister the
2020-built Fridtjof Nansen and the 250-passenger Fram, built in 2007 and
refurbished in 2022. Choices include “In the Wake of the Great Explorers” full
eastbound or westbound transits of 26 or 27 days. Shorter partial transits like
“Reykjavík to Cambridge Bay” or “Cambridge Bay to Boston” run for 19 or 21
days. Embarkations are available in Nuuk (Greenland), Reykjavík, Seattle and
Vancouver.
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS
Lindblad Expeditions—one of the oldest names in
expedition cruising—has two partial transits of the Northwest Passage scheduled
for August 2024 and 2025 aboard the 138-passenger National Geographic Endurance.
Billed as the “Gateway to the Northwest Passage: Greenland and Canada,” these
cruises sail roundtrip from Kangerlussuaq with air transfers to and from Reykjavík.
The 2020-built National Geographic Endurance is Lindblad's first polar new
build in its 50-year history and is fully stabilized with an ice-class rating
and a distinctive X-bow design for a smooth and quiet ride in all sea
conditions.
PONANT
France-based PONANT also has two westbound Northwest
Passage cruises scheduled for 2024: A “Northwest Passage” full transit aboard
Le Commandant Charcot and a “Northwest Passage: In the Wake of Roald Amundsen” full
transit aboard Le Boreal. Le Commandant Charcot departs on August 12 from Reykjavík
bound for Nome, with a charter flight included to Anchorage. Passengers spend
24 nights aboard the hybrid LNG/battery-powered icebreaker, built in 2021 to
bring a maximum of 245 travelers to the top of the world in the lap of luxury
and sustainability. On August 28, Le Boreal departs from Kangerlussuaq for
Nome/Anchorage. Passengers spend 22 nights aboard the vessel, built in 2010
with a more yachtlike feel.
SEABOURN EXPEDITIONS
Seabourn Cruise Line—best known for its ultra-luxury
yachtlike vessels—sailed its first Northwest Passage transit in 2023. After a
one-year hiatus, the line will return to the region in 2025 with four itineraries
aboard the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture, a luxury expedition ship purpose-built
in 2021. Choices include the 23-day “Journey Across the Northwest Passage,” 34-day
"Iceland, Greenland & Northwest Passage," and 34-day “Northwest
Passage, Greenland & Canadian Arctic.” Departures are scheduled on July 26,
August 6, and August 27, sailing between Anchorage/Nome and Reykjavik, Kangerlussuaq
or St. John’s (Newfoundland).
Silver Wind. (Photo Credit: Silversea Cruises Media)
SILVERSEA CRUISES
Silversea Cruises, another ultra-luxury line, has one full
transit of the Northwest Passage as part of its Arctic and Greenland program
for 2024. This 24-day itinerary departs Kangerlussuaq on August 24 and arrives
in Nome on September 16. This voyage can be extended with an additional leg through
the Bering Sea and Inside Passage, ending in Vancouver on October 4 for a
42-day cruise, one of the longest Northwest Passage transits available. The
ship for this epic adventure is the 274-passenger Silver Wind, built in 1995
and refurbished in 2021.
VIKING
Viking Expeditions—the adventure arm of Viking ocean
and river cruises—has two partial transits of the Northwest Passage scheduled
for 2025. The 13-day "Into the Northwest Passage" has four departures
from July through September sailing roundtrip from Nuuk (Greenland). Another
new itinerary, the 27-day "Canada & the Northwest Passage," sails
on July 15 and September 3 one way between Nuuk and Toronto. Both itineraries
take place aboard the ice-class rated, 378-passenger Viking Octantis, purpose-built
for polar cruising in 2022.
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