Greenland to Nova Scotia Exploring the Canadian Arctic
16 Days - SH Vega
Visit parts of the legendary ice-filled route that challenged great explorers on this epic Northern Canadian Discovery voyage. Sail from Greenland through the iceberg capital of the world, and gaze in awe at the straits and fjords crammed with huge icebergs. Watch out for caribou and polar bears on the northern Canadian coast, and you’ll get the chance to hear the stories of the indigenous Inuit people, and discover whaling sites in Newfoundland.
from AUD $6952pp
Home » 16 Day SH Vega: Greenland to Nova Scotia Exploring the Canadian Arctic
Itinerary Highlights
- Follow the path of 16th-century whalers and 19th-century explorers
- Marvel at the glistening bergs, growlers and glaciers in the iceberg capital of the world
- Immerse yourself in Inuit culture and traditions as you wander their ancestral homelands
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Kangerlussuaq
- Day 2: Day at Sea
- Day 3: Qeqertarsuaq
- Day 4: Ilulissat, Disko Bay
- Day 5: Sisimiut
- Day 6: Nuuk
- Day 7: Day at Sea
- Day 8: Iqaluit, NU
- Day 9: Lady Franklin Island, NU
- Day 10: Torngat Mountains National Park, NL
- Day 11: Hebron, NU
- Day 12: Day at Sea
- Day 13: L'anse Aux Meadows, NL
- Day 14-15: Day at Sea
- Day 16: Halifax, NS
Day 1: Kangerlussuaq
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen. Inland, Point 660 offers a chance to walk on the Greenland ice cap, and nearby, the 60-m tall Russell Glacier calving is a highlight.
Day 2: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 3: Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland's largest island, on its west coast, part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO-listed Site for its icebergs. The Lyngemark Glacier rises above the town. The area’s hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The area is fertile and home to species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move through floating icebergs and whales.
Day 4: Ilulissat, Disko Bay
Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.
Day 5: Sisimiut
The northernmost city in Greenland, just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport. Abandoned settlements lie between Sisimiut and the Thule district to the north. The area is home to humpback whales, walrus, and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.
Day 6: Nuuk
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk has a thriving arts scene. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), Nuuk has a busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral, colourful wooden houses and avant-garde architecture. It also serves as the gateway to Inuit experiences and natural adventures on the fjords among the icy seas and spectacular mountains.
Day 7: Day at Sea
Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.
Day 8: Iqaluit, NU
The native Inuit are an integral part of Iqaluit, a remote community at the head of Frobisher Bay. The bay provides insight into Inuit history and culture including dog-sledding on handmade qamutik sleds led by qimmiq - North America's oldest and rarest purebred canine. Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum displays Inuit artwork while Crystal II, an ancient Thule Inuit settlement, lies outside of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.
Day 9: Lady Franklin Island, NU
Most known for its huge vertical cliffs of Archean rocks, reputedly the oldest stones in Canada, Lady Franklin Island is an uninhabited isle off Hall Peninsula on Baffin Island. Black guillemots, ptarmigan and gulls all nest in this ice-filled area of the Davis Strait. Lumbering walrus haul out to the south at Monumental Island, a well-known denning site for polar bears. Nearby, the Cumberland Sound is home to its own species of beluga whale.
Day 10: Torngat Mountains National Park, NL
Staffed completely by Inuit, Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name from the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits. Here, Inuit share their stories of spirits and traditions in their homeland, where for centuries they have been fishing and hunting polar bears and caribou. This magical land made up of dramatically spectacular mountains and deep fjords nudging up to iceberg-filled waters is only accessible by boat.
Day 11: Hebron, NU
The remote Arctic outpost of Hebron, an Inuit community, provides insight into Inuit traditions and Arctic life. The Hebron National Historic Site showcases Arctic landscapes, including fjords, icebergs and wildlife, while shedding light on Inuit heritage through abandoned mission buildings. In 1959, during an Easter service, Moravian church officials abruptly closed the mission, relocating 58 families to other coastal Labrador towns.
Day 12: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 13: L'anse Aux Meadows, NL
The 1,000-year-old Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows (Meadows Cove), on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, is the first and only authenticated Viking site in the Americas, believed to have been occupied by Leif Erikson. He was the first European to explore Canada's east coast in around 1021. Some of the 800 original Norse artefacts and eight sod houses are on view during a tour of the recreated village, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 14-15: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 16: Halifax, NS
Founded as a naval base in 1749, Halifax’s seafaring history is well-grounded with the Canadian Museum of Immigration, where one million Europeans landed up until 1971, and the Noon Gun that has fired from the Citadel fortress since 1857. When the Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 pm, April 14, 1912, ships set sail from here. Many victims are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, while the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic displays rescued artefacts.
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
25 Sep 2024 - 10 Oct 2024 | AUD $6952pp | ||
Oceanview D4 | AUD $6952pp | Contact us | |
Oceanview M4 | AUD $6952pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D5 | AUD $11602pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D6 | AUD $11602pp | Contact us | |
Balcony M5 | AUD $11602pp | Contact us | |
Suite | AUD $25335pp | Contact us | |
Premium Suite | AUD $27885pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Oceanview D4
19 m2
Located on Deck 4 at the centre of the ship. Light, bright and crafted from natural materials Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Oceanview M4
19 m2
Located on Deck 4 at the bow. Light, bright and crafted from natural materials Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds or a double bed, a bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony D5
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 5 at the bow and aft, staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 balcony.
Balcony M5
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 5 at the centre of the ship, staterooms features 2 single beds or a double bed, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 balcony.
Balcony D6
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 6, staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 panoramic balcony.
Suite
44 m2
Located on Deck 5 and 6 at the centre of the ship, our spacious Suites with a 12 sq.m. private balconies are a favorite with discerning guests, and those that prefer a little more space and comfort.
Premium Suite
49 m2
Located on Deck 6 at the aft, our Premium Suites with a 12 sq.m. private balconies are the most luxurious accommodation on board. A favorite for those who want nothing but the best.
SH Vega Deckplan
Specifications
CREW: 120
GUESTS: 152
DECKS: 9
LENGTH: 337 ft (115 m)
DRAFT: 18 ft (5.5 m)
BREADTH: 75 ft (23 m)
REGISTERED: Panama
CRUISING SPEED: 15.5 knots in open water
LIFEBOATS: 2 fully enclosed
PROPULSION DIESEL-ELECTRIC ENGINES: 4x Medium speed, Polar code Cat A
Whats included?
- All meals onboard
- Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day.
- Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers.
- Selected expedition activities led by our expedition team (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
- Branded expedition parka, waterproof backpack & thermal bottle for pax to keep.
- Use of rubber boots
- Standard WiFi
- Onboard gratuities & port taxes
- Group transfer Airport to Hotel in KEF on 24th Sep
- Pre night Accommodation in Reykjavik on 24th Sep
- Group transfer hotel to airport on 25th Sep
- Flight KEF-SFJ on 25th Sep
- Group transfer Airport (SFJ) to Port on 25th Sep
- Group transfer port to Airport (YHZ) on 10th Oct
What’s not included?
- Kayaking in polar regions
- Optional shore excursions in non polar regions
- Massage/treatments in spa
- Premium alcoholic drinks