Monday, April 1, 2024

Cruises To Greenland Greenland Expeditions

greenland cruise

With a little bit of luck you can see them during our expedition cruises. There are countless gems to explore, and our Greenland cruises are scheduled for the summer months, when the midnight sun will give you plenty of time to sightsee. Sailings on the eastern coast of Greenland don’t typically pull into port. Instead, passengers load into 10-person inflatable dinghies known as Zodiacs to putter around floating bits of iceberg or to head to land for a hike. On the eastern side, spotting wildlife, including foxes, Arctic hares, seals, and shore birds, is more common. Decide which type of itinerary speaks most to you and opt for a sailing that aims to meet it.

Greenlandic Inuit Culture Requires Sensitivity and Understanding

greenland cruise

The ‘farthest north’ has been a magnet for polar explorers ever since the North Pole became known to Arctic travelers. For decades, this abstract latitudinal concept became the measure of success for many northbound expeditions. High-latitude records were achieved elsewhere until Captain Nares sailed past Thule and opened the path to the pole itself. This is a huge bay bordering the icy coast of Lauge Koch, where the ice caps meet the sea.

Top Food & Drink Spots Near the Qaqortoq Cruise Port

The ice in and around Greenland is beautiful and humbling, and it can have a very real impact on itineraries. While primary and secondary schools cover the basic educational needs of locals, many choose to continue their studies abroad. While Nuuk has its own university featuring a few classes in the native Greenlandic language, most classes are taught in Danish and English. In 2021 there were less than 300 students registered at the local university. Greenland at that time was not quite as cold as it is now because the Earth’s climate cooled in the 14th century and the Vikings eventually disappeared from the island. At some point during the sailing, we will cross the Arctic Circle, entering the lands of the Midnight Sun at the height of summer.

What wildlife can I expect in Greenland?

The design of the large Katuaq Cultural Centre, the city's architectural highlight, was inspired by icebergs, the waving Northern Lights and the play of light on ice and snow. Head here to check out a Greenlandic art exhibition, to attend a concert or to meet the locals in the pleasant cafe during your cruise to Nuuk. Personalize your cruise experience once you’re on the ship with our free mobile-friendly tool. Plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more. This popular bar is at the top of the atrium and is the perfect locale for cocktails and dancing. Nami Sushi offers a tempting array of the sushi rolls he’s created.

greenland cruise

Greenland Tour Regions

Regular cruise ships -- those run by Carnival, Princess or Viking's ocean ships -- are not polar rated for ice. It's highly unlikely, unless all the weather gods are in your favor, that you'd be able to make a landing on Greenland's east coast on these ships. You might not even be able to dock in the western ports if it's too early in the season or the ice and weather conditions aren't right. Ilulissat (population 4,905) is the ideal destination for anyone wishing to learn about Greenlandic culture. Established in 1741, Ilulissat is the third-largest settlement (after the cities of Nuuk and Sisimiut) and is home to a handful of museums and art galleries, where travelers can do a deep-dive into Greenland’s history. But don’t miss the local shops where visitors can participate in a kaffernik, a traditional coffee gathering.

Ship

Cruise ship with 206 on board runs aground in Greenland - NBC News

Cruise ship with 206 on board runs aground in Greenland.

Posted: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Greenland’s traditional Inuit communities (descendants of the ancient Thule people) appeal to travelers with a passion for understanding older cultures. The lure for many visitors is, of course, the Aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, the phenomenal explosion of green, purple and red lights dancing across the night sky. For a Greenland cruise with Aurora Expeditions, packing essentials include layered clothing for varying temperatures, waterproof outerwear, sturdy and comfortable walking shoes, gloves and a hat.

Night Expedition Canadian Arctic And North Greenland: Wo...Details

Ocean Explorer: Luxury cruise ship freed after running aground in a Greenland fjord - CNN

Ocean Explorer: Luxury cruise ship freed after running aground in a Greenland fjord.

Posted: Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

At Aurora Expeditions, we have many Greenland cruises for you to explore Greenland in-depth, including West Greenland Explorer as voted by you! MS Spitsbergen preview is named after the crown jewel of Arctic Norway – the Svalbard archipelago and its biggest island, Spitsbergen. Hurtigruten has a long history of traveling to Spitsbergen, beginning in 1896 with the 'Sports Route'. The first inhabitants of Greenland were the Inuit, who settled from around 2500 BC until about 900 BC on the island.

Local Currency & Tipping Customs

Adventure-seekers can try their hands – and legs – at dogsledding, kayaking and hiking. The world-famous Ilulissat Icefjord runs west 40 km (25 miles) from the Greenland ice sheet to Disko Bay, just south of the town of Ilulissat on the west coast of Greenland. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, it’s one of the best places in the world to witness glacier calving—huge chunks of ice crashing into the icy Arctic waters. While the open sea may be rough, the coastal waters are much calmer.

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Meanwhile, the central region of Greenland is covered by an ice sheet. Greenland is the world’s biggest island stretching approximately 2800 kilometres (1750 miles) from north to south. 85% of Greenland is covered in ice and is therefore white on the map. Greenland cruises that visit the western and northern part of the island as part of a Northwest Passage cruise will stop in settlements primarily occupied by Greenland's indigenous peoples. Life in these villages has modern conveniences, but also traditions that might be difficult for some foreigners to understand.

Remember essentials like sunglasses, sunscreen and a camera for capturing the stunning Arctic landscapes. Packing formal wear for onboard events and considering bringing binoculars for wildlife observation is advisable. Check our guide here on what to pack for a trip to the polar regions. Aurora Expeditions also provides a detailed packing list for each specific voyage, so it’s recommended to check their guidelines. Additionally, packing adaptable clothing for the dynamic weather conditions ensures a comfortable and enjoyable experience while exploring Greenland’s unique and remote environments.

Visitors to Greenland have the best chance of viewing the multi-colored light show between late September and April. Greenland is a harsh environment where it’s too cold for most food to grow, so locals have long had to make do with what is available to them as a means of survival. You may find it helpful to remember that Greenlandic Inuit believe in wasting no part of the animals they harvest and taking only what is necessary. However, if you find this aspect of the experience disconcerting, this may not be the right cruise for you. We acknowledge the First Nations people of Australia as traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and travel, and we pay our respects to elders past and present.

Therefore, culture and traditions are different to the ones in the west and it is also why East Greenlanders speak a different language. Discover the fascinating geology of the Skaergaard Intrusion, enjoy Zodiac cruises among icebergs and hike through one-of-a-kind tundra. Expect to see iconic animals in their natural habitat such as reindeer, musk oxen, walruses, arctic foxes, arctic hares, humpback and bowhead whales, as well as majestic polar bears. While we always keep a safe distance from the animals, you’ll still get to see them up close.

By the 20th century, Greenland had established strong trade ties with North America and Denmark. The economy relies on natural resources, from whaling to fishing. It is a severe but stunningly picturesque landscape of sprawling ice, towering rock, and limitless sky-blue sea.

Greenland and its surrounding waters are home to an impressive array of wildlife. The size of Greenland creates a diverse range of temperature and climate conditions. For example, the populated sections of Greenland are all found on the coast because this area is free of ice.

Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, and Pilot Whales are also seen occasionally. Some cruise lines such as Lindblad do have an Inuit cultural guide on their expedition staff. This is a great model for expedition cruise lines sailing in this part of the world and it's worth asking about as you're making your Greenland or Northwest Passage cruise decision. Think endless glaciers that fold into iceberg-strewn bays, craggy mountains, dazzling fjords. Small towns with brightly-colored buildings and tin-roof structures.

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