Day 1 - Friday - Aug 23, 2024
Explore the world's northernmost capital, Reykjavik. Reykjavik is delightful, well worth exploring, and situated amid amazing nature. Spend time discovering it before you begin your expedition cruise to the Northwest Passage. You'll be awed by the islands, mountains, seas, and parks that surround this surprisingly cosmopolitan city. MS Fram awaits you at Reykjavik Harbor. After collecting your complimentary expedition jacket and meeting your Expedition Team, take time to settle into your cabin. Your exciting adventure is just beginning.
Day 2 - Saturday - Aug 24, 2024
| Cruising the Denmark Strait |
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In the wake of the Vikings. We sail to Greenland across the Denmark Strait, the route taken by Erik the Red, supposedly the first European to have settled there. Take time to relax and explore the stylish onboard facilities of our hybrid electric-powered ship. Your Expedition Team will explain the protocols of respectfully visiting wildlife habitats and indigenous Arctic communities. In the Science Center, learn more about Greenland's geology, or join one of our Citizen Science projects. Then hit the gym, soak in one of our on-deck hot tubs, or enjoy a delicious meal in one of our three onboard restaurants.
Day 3 - Sunday - Aug 25, 2024
| Cruising the Denmark Strait |
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Day 4 - Monday - Aug 26, 2024
| Cruising Prince Christian Sound, Greenland |
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Breathtaking panoramas and abundant wildlife. We aim to explore the incredible waters of Prince Christian Sound, stretching 60 miles long. Sharp-peaked granite mountains provide a stunning contrast to the bright white glaciers. Look out for calving icebergs and colorful houses in the village of Aappilattoq. Nature is abundant here. Keep an eye out for ringed and bearded seals resting on the ice and glaucous gulls and black guillemots soaring above. You may even spot minke and humpback whales. If sea ice prevents us from entering the sound, we'll head to the jagged Cape Farewell, the southernmost point of Greenland.
Day 5 - Tuesday - Aug 27, 2024
| Kvanefjord, Greenland, Denmark, Denmark |
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Discover the glacial beauty of the west coast fjords. Experience the sublime fjords of Greenland's west coast as we reach Kvanefjord. Have your camera ready for glistening icebergs and semi-submerged glacial ice, which is pure white with undertones of crystalline blue. These sculpted ice blocks are some of Arctic nature's finest creations. Few people venture into this remote fjord, making it even more special to spend the day exploring here. The Expedition Team will select places to venture ashore, where you will enjoy beautiful scenery on a nature walk. You could also head out in boats to scout for wildlife.
Day 6 - Wednesday - Aug 28, 2024
Experience Greenlandic culture, old and new, in Nuuk. After several days exploring remote, idyllic icescapes, you'll cruise into Nuuk, Greenland's colorful capital. It has a population of 18,000 people and a striking mix of old and new buildings. Compare the old buildings like the Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral with the ultra-modern architecture of Greenland's parliament building. Visit the National Museum to gain fascinating insight into life here 500 years ago and see the six Qilakitsoq mummies. Or join a long nature walk through Paradise Valley and around Mt. Lille Malene.
Day 7 - Thursday - Aug 29, 2024
Explore ancient traditions in Arctic Greenland. We reach Sisimiut, Greenland's second city. It sits in a spectacular location just 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This area has a history spanning more than 4,500 years. 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. Why not explore the area by foot and stretch your legs on a hike?
Day 8 - Friday - Aug 30, 2024
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, gray, and blue. With the help of the ship's photographer, enthusiasts can capture the nuances of these sculptures of nature.
Day 9 - Saturday - Aug 31, 2024
| Cruising the Labrador Sea |
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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 the 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.
Day 10 - Sunday - Sep 1, 2024
| Cruising the Labrador Sea |
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Day 11 - Monday - Sep 2, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Navigate a historical sea corridor through Canada's Arctic archipelago. Like the pioneering explorers 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 this famed sea route. Stops might include Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbor, Fort Ross, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, and Smoking Hills. 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. We'll try to reach Pond Inlet and the Inuit community of Mittimatalik on Baffin Island. On Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth, we hope to visit Dundas Harbor and learn about its Thule heritage. We may stop at Beechey Island and pay our respects at the graves of three Franklin expedition team members. We will continue west to Fort Ross, a former Hudson's Bay Company trading post, before sailing 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.
Day 12 - Tuesday - Sep 3, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Day 13 - Wednesday - Sep 4, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Day 14 - Thursday - Sep 5, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Day 15 - Friday - Sep 6, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Day 16 - Saturday - Sep 7, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Day 17 - Sunday - Sep 8, 2024
| Cruising the Northwest Passage |
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Day 18 - Monday - Sep 9, 2024
Wildlife and conservation in this fish-rich bay. Our expedition cruise continues into wildlife-rich Cambridge Bay, where you will disembark. Here, you might see Arctic char, musk oxen, and caribou. You'll also find the Canadian High Arctic Research Station, an important center for climate change research. Home to only 2,000 residents, Cambridge Bay is popular with fly-fishers who are pining to net giant Arctic char or lake trout. Even its name, 'Iqaluktuuttiaq', means 'a good fishing place'. Walk around and explore before we take our evening flight to Montreal.
Day 19 - Tuesday - Sep 10, 2024
A blend of Canadian cultures in Quebec's premier city. Your adventure concludes in Montreal, the largest city in the beautiful province of Quebec. It's a hub of Canadian history and culture, with a cosmopolitan feel and a year-round calendar of events. There's plenty to see and do, from shopping, cuisine, and culture, to the Basilica of Notre Dame, found among the historic streets of Old Montreal. You'll find a kaleidoscope of color in the city's Plateau district, and a lively atmosphere in the downtown social hub of Crescent Street.
