Greenland, Iceland and the Northwest Passage
Icebergs, Inuit towns and the legendary route across North America’s Arctic.
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West of Svalbard, the Arctic opens into the great ice sheet of Greenland, the volcanic island of Iceland and the maze of channels across northern Canada. Cruises here range from summer circuits of Iceland on comfortable ships to long expedition voyages through the Northwest Passage.
What links them is ice and people. Greenland’s glaciers send huge icebergs into the sea, Iceland sits just below the Arctic Circle, and the Canadian Arctic is home to Inuit communities that welcome visiting ships for a few weeks each summer.
Greenland
Most Greenland cruises focus on the west coast, where colorful towns perch on rocky shores and icebergs crowd the fjords. The highlight for many is the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the ice sheet meets the sea through one of the world’s fastest-moving glaciers. East Greenland is wilder and more remote, with vast fjord systems reached mainly on expedition ships.
Many Greenland expeditions begin or end with a flight from Iceland or Denmark, and voyages often combine Greenland with Iceland or the Canadian Arctic.
Iceland Circumnavigation
Reykjavik
The usual start and finish, with a compact center and easy day trips inland.
Ice and fire
Glaciers, lava fields and geothermal areas are within reach of several ports.
A voyage around Iceland typically calls at towns in the Westfjords, the north around Akureyri and the eastern fjords, and some itineraries add the island of Grímsey, which straddles the Arctic Circle. Whales, puffins in early summer and waterfalls are the classic highlights.
The Canadian Arctic and the Northwest Passage
Expedition voyages into Canada’s High Arctic visit Inuit communities, sites linked to the lost Franklin expedition and wildlife areas where polar bears, muskoxen and seabirds live. The full Northwest Passage, often sailed between Greenland and Alaska, is one of the longest and most remote voyages in expedition cruising, scheduled for late summer when ice is at its lowest.
- Community visits are arranged with each community, and AECO guidelines ask visitors to ask before photographing people.
- Plans change: ice and weather decide the route, so treat the published itinerary as a goal, not a promise.
- Time and budget: full transits take weeks and are among the costliest expedition voyages.
Greenland, Iceland and Passage Questions
What is the Northwest Passage?
The sea route across the top of North America through the islands of the Canadian Arctic, linking the Atlantic and the Pacific. Explorers searched for it for centuries; Roald Amundsen completed the first transit by ship between 1903 and 1906.
Is a Northwest Passage voyage guaranteed to go through?
No. Sea ice changes from year to year, so routes and even full transits depend on conditions. Expedition lines build flexibility into these long voyages.
Do I need a passport for Greenland?
Yes. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has its own entry arrangements. Check the rules for your nationality, and those for Iceland or Canada if your voyage includes them.
Cruise Greenland, Iceland or the Passage
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