26-night Canada & the Northwest Passage Cruise

Nuuk was founded by the unfailingly optimistic Hans Egede - the Danish missionary with soul-conversions on his mind - who promptly named the settlement Good Hope. Today Nuuk is small by modern standards, with a total population of only 14,000. Despite a wealth of land and a paucity of people, Nuuk has insisted on housing the population in immense apartment blocks with imaginative names like Blok P - a kind of Gulag on ice - and the urban sprawl is now spreading out along the road to the airport. Kolonihavnen is a pleasant exception to the rest of Nuuk's Lego-city look: it's a picturesque 18th-century fishing village in the heart of Nuuk and gives some idea of what the town looked like before the industrial harbour was built. Nuuk's real attraction lies in its proximity to any number of excellent day hikes into the hinterland and the fabulous views from the tops of the nearby mountains. Organised tours, boat trips and the rental of equipment is easier from the capital.

Nuuk was founded by the unfailingly optimistic Hans Egede - the Danish missionary with soul-conversions on his mind - who promptly named the settlement Good Hope. Today Nuuk is small by modern standards, with a total population of only 14,000. Despite a wealth of land and a paucity of people, Nuuk has insisted on housing the population in immense apartment blocks with imaginative names like Blok P - a kind of Gulag on ice - and the urban sprawl is now spreading out along the road to the airport. Kolonihavnen is a pleasant exception to the rest of Nuuk's Lego-city look: it's a picturesque 18th-century fishing village in the heart of Nuuk and gives some idea of what the town looked like before the industrial harbour was built. Nuuk's real attraction lies in its proximity to any number of excellent day hikes into the hinterland and the fabulous views from the tops of the nearby mountains. Organised tours, boat trips and the rental of equipment is easier from the capital.

Called the Arctic Circle Village due to its proximity to this northern line, Itilleq contains a population of a little more than a hundred. Alpine mountains and glaciers surround the village, and a facility in town generates fresh water from sea water due to the absence of fresh water on the island.

Ilulissat means icebergs in Greenlandic, and the town has a beautiful location at the mouth of an ice fjord that is filled with enormous icebergs, and is the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. North of Ilulissat lies the settlement of Oqaatsut/Rodebay, where some of the old buildings from colonial times are today restaurants or huts available for rent. Ilulissat is a modern town but is also know as the dogsled town for all its sleds and snow dogs, and visitors can share in the sledding fun.

Uummannaq Island is located 590 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in northwestern Greenland. Uummannaq has been host to unique events such as the Ice Golf Championship, Greenland Shark Challenge and the National Championship in Kayaking. Attractions of Uummannaq include archaeological and historical sites such as the Qilakitsoq mummies - an ancient Eskimo burial site where 500 year old mummies were discovered or settlements of the hunter/trapper culture. Also of interest are dog sled trips, whales, bird cliffs, glaciers, a museum and, of course, May to July this is the land of the midnight sun.

Sisimiut is a growing town located in western Greenland. It is one of the main village destinations in Greenland, and an administrative center for the Qeqqata Municipality. The population of Sisimiut was recorded of 5,598 inhabitants living in the town in 2013. One of the main attractions is the multicolor Northern Lights of the Aurora Borealis that take place during the months of September to April. Aside from this amazing phenomenon, many visitors come to Sisimiut to enjoy activities such as fishing, hiking, and dog sledding. 

Nuuk was founded by the unfailingly optimistic Hans Egede - the Danish missionary with soul-conversions on his mind - who promptly named the settlement Good Hope. Today Nuuk is small by modern standards, with a total population of only 14,000. Despite a wealth of land and a paucity of people, Nuuk has insisted on housing the population in immense apartment blocks with imaginative names like Blok P - a kind of Gulag on ice - and the urban sprawl is now spreading out along the road to the airport. Kolonihavnen is a pleasant exception to the rest of Nuuk's Lego-city look: it's a picturesque 18th-century fishing village in the heart of Nuuk and gives some idea of what the town looked like before the industrial harbour was built. Nuuk's real attraction lies in its proximity to any number of excellent day hikes into the hinterland and the fabulous views from the tops of the nearby mountains. Organised tours, boat trips and the rental of equipment is easier from the capital.

Built along the base of the Kuannersooq Fjord, the maritime town of Paamiut is highlighted by scenic architecture and old shops, stables and the old church. White tailed eagles flock to Paamiut en masse, and in the surrounding sea, you may catch sight of whales - orcas and humpback among many others. 
 

Battle Harbour is a 19th century summer fishing station, formerly a permanent settlement, located in the province of Newfoundland in Canada. Battle Harbour has been restored to its former glory and is a living commemoration to the life and society created there by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, this area is rich with natural beauty and offers travellers stunning views of icebergs, whales, and vivid sunsets.

Gros Morne National Park is one of the most beautiful UNESCO world heritage sites in Canada. Visitors can hike through wild, uninhabited mountains and camp by the sea. Boat tours bring visitors under the towering cliffs of a fjord carved out by glaciers. Waterfalls, marine inlets, sea stacks, sandy beaches, and colorful nearby fishing villages complete the phenomenal natural and cultural surroundings of this National Park.

Destination Guide

The picturesque scenery of Havre-Saint-Pierre's chain of islands is an excellent get away for outdoor and nature lovers. If water is your game of choice there is sailing, rafting, kayaking, and boat tours to enjoy. Anglers will also have an excellent time pursuing world-class trout and salmon in the clear water rivers and lakes.

Tadoussac/Tatoushak, a small village surrounded by hills conjures up wooded, rocky coasts. The charming beauty of the Bay of Tadoussac enabled it to become a member of the Select Club of the World's Thirty Most Beautiful Bays in l998, becoming North America's first official member. For more than l50 years, the village has been able to inspire local people as well as visitors and welcome, year after year, some 600,000 visitors fascinated by the beauty of this natural site and the wealth of its heritage. For an extended journey or a short stay, whether a nature lover, whale watcher, music fan, history buff or fine gourmet, visitors will spend some memorable moments in Tadoussac.

Because Quebec City is Canada’s most historic city and the only walled city in North America, it was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Treasure by. Visitors are greeted by an authentic, profoundly French city. The city features winding, cobbled streets with 17th- and 18th-century stone houses and churches, graceful parks and squares, and many monuments. Great emphasis has been placed on Québec nationalism, and the city has become a symbol of glorious French heritage. Visit the oldest church in Québec, Our Lady of Victory, dating from 1688. See the cellars of Maison des Vins, where Québec Société des Alcools sells more than 1,000 kinds of rare vintage wines in a warehouse dating from 1689. See the exhibits at Civilization Museum. The most striking building is celebrated landmark Château Frontenac. Looming high above St. Lawrence, the turreted building with its slanting, copper roof is an impressive sight. Built to accommodate colonial governors, it is now a hostelry.

Destination Guide

Trois Rivieres, Quebec, a small city overlooking the St. Lawrence, is between Quebec City and Montreal, some 75 mi/120 km southwest of Quebec City.

Although Trois Rivieres is more than 350 years old, it has a modern feel because many of the old buildings were destroyed in a fire early in the 1900s. It is now a paper-mill city, with the typical paper-mill odor, but it has some interesting historical attractions.

Perhaps most important is the Lieu Historique National du Canada des Forges du St. Maurice (Forges of St. Maurice National Historical Site of Canada). This site depicts life in the region 1729-1883 and has actual iron forges.

The old part of Trois Rivieres, Vieux Trois Rivieres, has cafes and restaurants, a Westminster-style cathedral and several 18th-century manors and houses. The Musee des Ursulines, located in the Ursulines' Monastery, contains artwork and artifacts that were collected by the nuns. Some of them date to the 1600s.

West of town is the spectacular Parc des Chutes de Ste. Ursule, famous for its falls that unfurl in seven cascades. To the north is Parc National du Canada de la Mauricie, which offers some great scenic views and excellent fishing.

Destination Guide

The Saint Lawrence Seaway is a system of canals, locks and dams located from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The length of the Seaway is measured to be 2340 miles long and ends in the Atlantic. The Saint Lawrence Seaway was known to be one of the greatest engineering achievements back when it was first opened in the late 1950’s.

It’s been called “a city that works.” As the capital of Ontario and Canada’s largest city, Toronto has become a dynamic cosmopolitan hub known for entertainment, culture, sports, high fashion and big business. The city boasts more than 20,000 retail stores and restaurants. Yet for such a large city (current population is 4.4 million) it is miraculously clean, safe and friendly. Tourists are drawn to the charm of the Lake Ontario waterfront district, the high-rise splendor of the popular Yonge Street, and the trendy shops and quaint cafés along College Street and Queen Street. With a flourishing music and performing arts scene, Toronto is very popular with young people.

Destination Guide

It’s been called “a city that works.” As the capital of Ontario and Canada’s largest city, Toronto has become a dynamic cosmopolitan hub known for entertainment, culture, sports, high fashion and big business. The city boasts more than 20,000 retail stores and restaurants. Yet for such a large city (current population is 4.4 million) it is miraculously clean, safe and friendly. Tourists are drawn to the charm of the Lake Ontario waterfront district, the high-rise splendor of the popular Yonge Street, and the trendy shops and quaint cafés along College Street and Queen Street. With a flourishing music and performing arts scene, Toronto is very popular with young people.

Destination Guide