Pole-to-Pole 96 day Adventure

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken on a city tour to see the main highlights of fabulous Vancouver.

The excursion will end at the pier where MS Roald Amundsen awaits you. Settle in, take your time to get to know the ship, and enjoy a tasty welcome dinner.

Embark on a captivating journey through the Inside Passage coastal route, offering an unparalleled view of North American Pacific Fjordland. Explore Misty Fjords, home to wildlife and scenic wonders, then delve into the rich history of Wrangell and its ancient rock carvings. Discover the cultural blend in Sitka, navigate Icy Bay’s glaciers, and witness wildlife in the Gulf of Alaska.

Kodiak Island unveils its ‘Emerald Isle’ charm, and Katmai National Park provides a rare encounter with protected brown bears. Traverse Chignik’s rivers teeming with salmon, explore the deserted Unga Village, and visit Dutch Harbor’s vibrant surroundings. St. Paul showcases Aleut heritage and diverse bird species, while St. Matthew Island offers a remote, wild experience. Then visit Nome, a Gold Rush town with a fascinating history tied to Roald Amundsen’s polar expeditions.

As our Grand Expedition Cruise sails from the Pacific Ocean through the Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea, enrich your journey with Expedition Team lectures on topics like tectonic activity, glaciology, wildlife protection, and engaging with local communities.

Look for over 30 seabird species, including Black-legged Kittiwakes, auklets, and murrelets, as we cross the international date line and navigate the Chukchi Sea to reach Point Barrow, the northernmost U.S. point. Keep watch for bowhead and grey whales in this remarkable leg of the voyage.

Navigate the Northwest Passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic, Ice and weather conditions will shape the itinerary. 

Experience the pristine wilderness firsthand as you go ashore with the expedition team to explore sites linked to early exploration history, visit Inuit communities, and look for Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales, narwhals, seals and seabirds.

Potential stops include Smoking Hills, Ulukhaktok, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Fort Ross, Beechey Island, Devon Island, and Pond Inlet.

Leaving Canada behind, you will cross Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait on the way to Greenland. 

Choose to join your Expedition Team for insightful lectures on topics like historic explorers, Greenlandic culture, wildlife, and geology. Alternatively, enjoy onboard facilities or pick up photography tips for capturing the stunning scenery.

Weather and sea ice permitting, your time in Greenland will include the following destinations: Illulissat, Sisimiut, Labrador Sea, Red Bay, and Corner Brook.

This stage of your journey begins in Halifax, a historic port in Nova Scotia, where you can explore red-brick heritage buildings, Citadel Hill National Historic Site, and the seafront boardwalk.

Journeying south, you’ll encounter highlights of New England, such as the Eastern Scotian Shelf with its rich marine life and the possibility of exploring Sable Island. Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a glimpse into its unchanged 1700s British colonial settlement.

Crossing into the United States, visit Eastport with its rich Indigenous history and explore Rockland and Castine in Maine. Experience the wonders of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, and follow in the footsteps of artists in Provincetown, Cape Cod. Finally, explore the historic sites of Boston, including the Tea Party site, Freedom Trail, and iconic “Cheers” bar.

Enjoy the east coast sights as you cruise towards Miami. 
Take advantage of the onboard facilities, indulge in the wellness area, or visit a lecture given by the expedition team.

Enjoy multicultural Miami before exploring the Caribbean and Central America. Highlights include Belize City’s colonial charm and Altun Ha ruins, diving in the Belize Barrier Reef, tranquil Útila in Honduras, historic Trujillo, the secluded Cayos Miskitos in Nicaragua, beautiful Isla de Providencia in Colombia, laid-back Big Corn Island, idyllic Bocas del Toro archipelago in Panama, and bustling cosmopolitan Colón at the entrance to the Panama Canal.

Navigate the intricate locks of the Panama Canal, surrounded by lush rainforests and diverse wildlife. Continue to Manta, Ecuador, where you can participate in a traditional Equator-crossing ceremony and explore the charming town of Montecristi.

Discover Puerto Bolívar’s coastal charm, indulge in fresh seafood, and explore the markets and museums of Machala. In Salaverry, Peru, uncover the historical richness of Trujillo, with its Baroque cathedral and ancient ruins. Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers Spanish-era architecture and culinary delights, while Paracas presents wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands and the enigmatic Nazca Lines.

Explore Arica’s desert climate and cultural sites, visit the saltpetre mining towns in Iquique, and discover the historic charm of La Serena. Then visit Valparaíso, Chile, a UNESCO-listed city known for its vibrant colours and bustling markets.

Begin your Patagonian adventure with two days at sea, featuring engaging lectures by the Expedition Team. Immerse yourself in the Science Centre’s hands-on presentations and enjoy onboard amenities.

Traverse Chilean fjords, starting with the vibrant city of Castro on Chiloé Island, boasting colorful stilt houses and rich birdlife. Explore the secluded settlement of Puerto Edén, meeting the Indigenous Kawésqar people. Puerto Natales serves as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, where diverse landscapes and wildlife await. Cruise through the stunning Chilean fjords, encountering Magellanic Penguins, elephant seals, and waterfalls. Sail past Cape Horn and enter the Drake Passage, with the Expedition Team providing insights into Antarctica’s fauna, history, and climate change impacts. Weather permitting, a landing at Cape Horn adds a thrilling touch to this extraordinary journey.

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins court while Adélie Penguins nest. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.
You’ll spend an exciting four days busily exploring several potential landing sites, on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Each day will offer something different and thrilling. 

You will sail back across the Drake Passage towards warmer weather in Argentina, giving you two final days to enjoy life on board.

Your Grand Expedition Cruise from pole-to-pole ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight to Buenos Aires.  

But this doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure. Why not join one of the optional Post-Programmes before heading home.