The Iconic Northwest Passage – Across the Top of the World (2028)

Gateway to the Pacific and the Arctic Your adventure begins in Vancouver, the bustling Pacific seaport framed by steep mountains and lush forests. Wander the Victorian streets of Gastown, explore the seawall and towering cedar groves of Stanley Park, and, if you’re looking for somewhere to eat, some of the best food in North America is right here. The seafood and farm-to-table cooking is exceptional. You’ll spend the night here, before an early flight north to Alaska the following morning. This is the calm before the Arctic…

A frontier town at the edge of the Arctic Today you’ll take an early flight from Vancouver to Nome, Alaska, where your ship awaits for an adventure through the famed Northwest Passage and beyond. Nome is a small coastal town on the edge of the Bering Sea. Once a boomtown of the 1898 Gold Rush, it still carries traces of its frontier past in rusting dredges, old steam engines, and railway remnants. The town also drew big names, including Wyatt Earp, who opened a saloon here, and it later became the endpoint for three of Roald Amundsen’s polar expeditions. That legacy of ambition and exploration sets the stage for what’s to come… Once on board, collect your expedition jacket, settle into your cabin, meet the Expedition Team, and get ready for the adventure.

Crossing the Arctic thresholdThese early sea days are your introduction to the rhythms of the Arctic. Passing through the Bering Strait, the coastline drops away, and the Beaufort Sea reveals wide open vistas. Keep watch for seabirds tracking the route, and bowhead whales surfacing, particularly near Point Barrow, which is the northernmost point of the United States. If there’s sea ice, we may also spot Pacific walruses gathered on the floes. You’ll also have the chance to join onboard lectures and science sessions. These might delve into Arctic ecosystems, ice dynamics, and regional history. It’s a time to observe, learn, and adjust to the polar environment.

The High Arctic HighwayEntering Lancaster Sound, we reach one of the Arctic’s key marine corridors, between Baffin and Devon Islands. It’s a stunning region of towering cliffs and glacially carved coastlines, where you might even spot narwhals, seals, and seabirds. This area also played a major role in early searches for the Northwest Passage, when explorers attempted to navigate through the Arctic Archipelago. Today, it remains an active migration route for wildlife, as well as a historic exploration corridor.

Dundas Harbour is located in the southeast of Devon Island, Canada’s 6th largest island. It is a forlorn but starkly beautiful spot. The island was first sighted by Europeans in 1616 by the English explorers Robert Bylot and William Baffin. But it did not appear on maps until after explorer William Edward Parry’s exploration in the 1820’s. Parry named it after Devon, England. In the local Inuktitut language, the place is called Talluruti, which translates as “a woman’s chin with tattoos on it.” This refers to the deep crevasses and streaks on Devon Island, which from a distance resemble traditional facial tattoos. On land there are remains of a Thule settlement dating back to 1000 A.D., including tent rings, middens and a gravesite. There are also much more recent remains a Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost. The first post was established in 1924 to monitor and control illegal activities, such as foreign whaling, in the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. But conditions were so isolated and severe that the post was abandoned in 1933. It was reopened in 1945, but again closed, this time permanently, in 1951. Today, Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world.

Fjords and Inuit frontiersEastern Baffin Island reveals some of the most dramatic scenery of the voyage. Towering fjords cut deep into the coastline, while glaciers descend towards the sea in vast, sculptural forms. The sense of scale is truly immense. We explore this landscape by Zodiac, navigating through ice-fringed waters and along sheer cliff faces that rise straight from the sea, particularly in the waters of Sirmilik National Park. These journeys bring us into close contact with the region’s raw geography and shifting ice. We also call at Pond Inlet, a welcoming Inuit community at the gateway to the park. Here, you’ll gain insight into daily life in the High Arctic.

Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen ScienceLeaving Canada’s Nunavut region behind, we cross Baffin Bay towards Greenland. The adventure continues through science and storytelling, with onboard lectures and Citizen Science activities such as NASA cloud observation supporting global climate research. Our Cultural Ambassadors continue to share perspectives on Inuit life across the Arctic, linking communities separated by water but connected by history and culture. It’s a reflective passage: quiet, expansive, and atmospheric.

The trip concludes in colourful NuukYour trip ends in Nuuk, Greenland’s compact capital. Striking contrasts define this city: traditional wooden houses sit alongside contemporary architecture, including the Greenland Parliament Building. Explore Nuuk Cathedral and Hans Egede House, or walk the harbour where fishing vessels and modern maritime activity share the same waters. From here, you fly to Reykjavik, carrying memories of a journey shaped by ice, culture, and the vast scale of the Arctic world.