greenland cruises from usa

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Explore Greenland, the world’s biggest island, on a Holland America Line cruise. Halfway between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, Greenland has been inhabited for more than 4,500 years by Arctic peoples who migrated from Canada, and later by Norsemen. Cruise the scenic Prince William Sound. Take a guided walking tour of Nanortalik (“the Place with Polar Bears”). Delve into Pasmiut’s whaling and fur-trading past. Discover the ruins of Qaqortoq’s 14th-century Hvalsey Church and visit Uunartoq Hot Springs—Greenland’s only heated outdoor spa.

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16 Night Iceland & Greenland Cruise

Your ship jewel of the seas.

DECKED OUT FOR ADVENTURE

Rock Climbing Wall

Adventure Ocean ®

DIG INTO DARING

Chops Grille℠

Giovanni's Table

Chef's Table

Not the same old song & dance.

City of Dreams

Schooner Bar

Tango Buenos Aires

Solarium Bar

Day 1: amsterdam, netherlands.

CRUISING FOR A PERUSING

GOGH FOR THE ART

JOURNAL TO THE PAST

LOCAL CUISINE

Day 2 - 3: Cruising

Sports Court

Spa & Fitness Center

Day 4: akureyri, iceland.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Local Cuisine

popular Shore Excursions

Amazing experiences coming soon., day 5: isafjordur, iceland.

High-Flown Hikes

Storied Streets

Village Life

Day 6: Reykjavik, Iceland

Reach for the Sky

Worldwide Wonder

Day 7: Cruising

Main Dining Room

Café Latte-tudes

Room Service

Day 8: prins christian sund, greenland.

Where Animals Rule

Colorful Nordic Homes

Adventurous Views

Day 9: qaqortoq, greenland.

Take Your Bath Outside

Norse Knowledge

Art, On The Rocks

Day 10: Cruising

West End to Broadway

Outdoor Movie Nights

Day 11: Nuuk, Greenland

Step Back in Time

Aging Architecture

Day 12 - 13: Cruising

Day 14: charlottetown, prince edward island.

Watchtowers and Wine

Drink in the History

Take a Trot

Day 15: Sydney, Nova Scotia

Answer the Call

Dance Like It's 1744

Celtic Sojourn

Day 16: Cruising

Day 17: boston, massachusetts.

Time Travel

Two If By Sea

Steeped In History

Cruises to Greenland: What to Know Before You Go

Have you ever considered a cruise to Greenland? The world's largest island has become more of a draw in recent years.

That's partially because the expedition cruise ship market has exploded. These small ships, many with polar class ratings that can handle sailing through ice, excel in polar regions. Since not every ship can go to Arctic Norway's Svalbard, which is protected, Greenland is a natural alternative.

More luxury and mainstream ships are also going to Greenland. These ships, from lines ranging from Viking to Carnival, are building routes that stop in Greenland on the way to Iceland or as part of a northern Europe transatlantic.

Greenland is a destination, though, that comes with some caveats and some advance planning. The weather here is more fickle than most destinations, and the season is very short.

That's not to dissuade you; we love Greenland cruises. But based on our experiences here at Cruise Critic, we wouldn't recommend anyone plan a trip to Greenland going before August, unless you're on a true ice-breaker ship such as Le Commandant Charcot.

The Two Sides of Greenland Have Different Appeals

As you plan a trip to Greenland, look closely at the itinerary. Will you be stopping on the western side of Greenland, which is more inhabited and has the island's larger towns such as Nuuk and Ilulissat ? Or is your ship going to the eastern side of Greenland, which is largely uninhabited?

The two sides have vastly different feels; it's almost like two cruises in one. A cruise to western Greenland will have regular port stops, where you either can dock or (more likely) take a tender into town. Here you will have shore excursions, both on land, such as a museum or Inuit home visit, or at sea, such as whale watching or viewing icebergs in Disko Bay.

An eastern Greenland cruise is far more rugged and adventurous. If you land -- and more on that later -- you will be doing it by Zodiac with armed patrols watching to make sure no polar bears are in the area. A trip on this side of the island is all about seeing as much nature as you can, and it's best left to small expedition ships with good polar ratings.

While some cruises do go more north past Disko Bay, these tend to be on expedition vessels that are doing a Northwest Passage itinerary encompassing part of Arctic Canada. On these sailings, expect a mix of scenic Zodiac cruising and settlement visits.

Greenland's Ice Lasts a Long Time -- Even Well Into Summer

Greenland has some of the most dramatic changes because of climate change; you can see where glaciers have receded and the crew onboard usually offer sobering facts about how fast that has occurred. But there is still a lot of ice, and it can radically affect your cruise.

On our Greenland cruise on Scenic Eclipse II at the beginning of August, we were able to get to all of our planned stops on the eastern side of the island. But the same cruise, just a few weeks earlier, wasn't able to stop at all because there was too much ice. We've heard of many disappointed passengers who weren't able to touch land or make any stops at all on the Greenland part of the cruise.

The ice doesn't just affect your landings. It also impacts what kind of other activities you can do, such as kayaking. Generally, most ships will be able to offer scenic Zodiac cruising, where you can get a little closer to glaciers and icebergs. But even this can be limited if the conditions are dangerous for the vessel or passengers.

On a Greenland cruise, you really want to hope for the best and expect the worst -- and be OK with your experience even if you never touch land.

Be Aware of Your Ship's Polar Rating for a Greenland Cruise

The polar classification ratings that expedition ships have is probably new information for most cruisers. But this number, which ranges from PC1 to PC7, can affect your Greenland sailing in a big way.

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.

Expedition ships do have a polar class rating. Ponant' s Le Commandant Charcot is rated as a P2, meaning it can cut through a significant amount of ice. It can, and does, make trips to all regions of Greenland, as well as the North Pole, breaking up ice as it goes.

A handful of expedition ships, such as those from Lindblad and also Swan Hellenic , are rated PC5. This means they can generally make Greenland trips a bit earlier in the summer, although one of our editors was unable to make a landing on National Geographic Resolution on her July trip because there was too much ice.

If you're on a PC6 expedition ship, such as those from Seabourn , Silversea , Scenic or Viking's expedition vessels, it's best to book your Greenland trip in August or early September to increase your chances of having a good experience. While these ships can traverse mild ice, they cannot, for example, carve a path from an ice-choked fjord without the assistance of an icebreaker.

Greenland's Scenery is Incredible -- If You Can See It

Greenland is absolutely stunning. Think endless glaciers that fold into iceberg-strewn bays, craggy mountains, dazzling fjords. Small towns with brightly-colored buildings and tin-roof structures. It's like Norway on steroids.

But when the fog rolls in -- and it often does -- you will see nothing. No birds, no peaks, nothing on shore. Just pea soup thick gray in front of you, behind you and beside you.

Even on our Greenland trip, where the expedition guides rejoiced in how much we were able to see and do, we had at least one day where we couldn’t see anything. Pack your patience (and maybe some books to read) and you'll be OK.

Wildlife in Greenland is Scarce, But You'll Likely See Whales and Birds

Many people who book a Greenland cruise have already tackled other bucket list expeditions that are full of wildlife, such as Antarctica, the Galapagos and Svalbard. If you're expecting your Greenland trip to be as memorable, in terms of the wildlife, you will be disappointed.

Unless you go far north in Greenland, you are unlikely to spot a polar bear, for example. They live on the ice and so unless your ship is polar rated to the point where you can break through, you are unlikely to get close. Ditto walruses and reindeer. Stalwart of Svalbard, these animals are not found in Greenland (and you already know that penguins are not native to the Arctic, right?)

What you will see, most likely: Whales. Lots and lots of whales. On our August Greenland trip, we were lucky enough to have our ship surrounded by humpback, fin and sei whales, in a large feeding ground. Blow spouts went off all around us; there must have 1,000 whales in the area. It was eerie and powerful.

You'll also see birds - perhaps not as rare as those in the Galapagos , but interesting nonetheless. An occasional seal spotting also took place on our Greenland cruise. Because the sightings can happen fast, you'll want to carry a pair of binoculars with you, even to dinner.

Greenlandic Inuit Culture Requires Sensitivity and Understanding

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.

Hunting -- and eating -- seals, whales, polar bear, narwhal and musk ox is legal in Greenland and part of Greenlandic Inuit culture. You'll see lots of souvenirs made with seal fur in the local shops, even though such items are not allowed to be brought back into the U.S. While surveying the beauty of the Ilulissat Icefjord, an UNESCO World Heritage site, we heard gunshots coming off the ice from local hunting boats.

You might find yourself, as we did, on an excursion to a local café or home where you are served these traditional foods. We erred on the side of being polite, and did sample what was served to us; to do otherwise would have been considered rude to our Inuit host. But be aware that the cruise lines often don't label their excursions as serving native dishes. We wished that we would have asked a lot more questions before we booked to avoid being put in an uncomfortable situation.

These traditions are part of Greenlandic Inuit culture. 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.

Going into cultural exchanges with an open mind is always a good idea -- and doing so can positively enrich your Greenland cruise experience.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

Cruises from New York to Greenland & Iceland

There are cruises from New York to Greenland and Iceland. The one-way and round-trip voyages depart in the summer and are available on 3 cruise lines.

Greenland ports include Nuuk, Paamiut, Qaqortoq and Nanortalik. In summer icebergs float in fjords, water flows over waterfalls, flowers bloom and there are whales to watch.

Iceland ports include Reykjavik and Akureyri. Iceland is known for geothermal pools, hiking, kayaking and whale watching.

June 2, 2024: 18-night cruise to Greenland & Iceland on Regent Seven Seas . One-way from New York to Reykjavik (Iceland). Visit Martha's Vineyard (Massachusetts), Boston (Massachusetts), Portland (Maine), Bar Harbor (Maine), St John (New Brunswick), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Sydney (Nova Scotia), Corner Brook (Newfoundland), Nuuk (Greenland), Paamiut (Greenland), Qaqortoq (Greenland) and Isafjordur (Iceland).

July 12, 2024: 14-night cruise to Greenland & Iceland on Oceania . One-way from New York to Reykjavik (Iceland). Visit Boston (Massachusetts), Bar Harbor (Maine), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Sydney (Nova Scotia), Corner Brook (Newfoundland), Nuuk (Greenland), Paamiut (Greenland) and Qaqortoq (Greenland).

August 4, 2024: 12-night cruise to Greenland & Iceland on Celebrity Cruises . One-way from Cape Liberty (New Jersey) to Reykjavik (Iceland). Visit Halifax (Nova Scotia), St John's (Newfoundland), Qaqortoq (Greenland), Prins Christian Sund (cruising), Akureyri (Iceland) and Isafjordur (Iceland).

August 6, 2025: 38-night cruise to Greenland & Iceland on Oceania . Round-trip from New York to Newport (Rhode Island), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Sydney (Nova Scotia), St John's (Newfoundland), Maniitsoq (Greenland), Nuuk (Greenland), Paamiut (Greenland), Isafjordur (Iceland), Akureyri (Iceland), Seydisfjordur (Iceland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Djupivogur (Iceland), Husavik (Iceland), Qaqortoq (Greenland), Frederikshab (Greenland), St Anthony (Newfoundland), Corner Brook (Newfoundland), St John (New Brunswick), Bar Harbor (Maine), Boston (Massachusetts) and Martha's Vineyard (Massachusetts).

July 10, 2025: 18-night cruise to Greenland & Iceland on Regent Seven Seas . One-way from New York to Reykjavik (Iceland). Visit Newport (Rhode Island), Boston (Massachusetts), Portland (Maine), Rockland (Maine), St John (New Brunswick), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Sydney (Nova Scotia), Corner Brook (Newfoundland), Nuuk (Greenland), Paamiut (Greenland), Narsaq (Greenland) and Isafjordur (Iceland).

Greenland Cruises

ALL ABOUT GREENLAND

Poseidon Expeditions - your polar cruise operator

We’re fascinated by the wonders of Greenland and want to share our passion with real expeditioners from around the globe! Join us on an epic Greenland cruise. Discover the mesmerizing wilderness and iconic wildlife of the world’s largest island, with prime opportunities to see reindeer, musk oxen, polar bears, arctic foxes, arctic hares and whales. Explore as part of a real expedition and get a feel for the unique scenery and local culture.

Join our Greenland Cruises for Impressions That Last a Lifetime

It’s the biggest island on the planet, has huge icebergs, is home to many iconic wild animals and offers prime opportunities to see the northern lights – Greenland is a must on your travel bucket list! With over 2 million square kilometers (770,000 square miles) and only 56,000 inhabitants, it’s an untouched paradise for wildlife and nature, with most of the island located above the Arctic Circle.

Many of Greenland’s gems are inaccessible to everyday travelers and only a small expedition ship will get you there. Board one of our Zodiac tours or join the kayak club and paddle at your own speed. Whether you are a photographer, wildlife lover, adventurer or simply a connoisseur of remote nature, Greenland will create lasting memories!

What You Can See in Greenland

Greenland is not just ice and snow. 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. Colossal fjords in West and South Greenland, pristine glaciers, Northeast Greenland National park with its mesmerizing landscapes and wildlife, charming Inuit villages, contemporary cities and spectacular northern light sightings will give you bragging rights as a real polar explorer.

Why travel with Poseidon Expeditions?

M/V Sea Spirit – Tiny but Mighty

With a maximum capacity of just 114 passengers, we usually operate with 100 guests off the ship. It maximizes our travelers' time ashore because there is no need for splitting passengers into groups for landing rotations as required on larger ships.

A real polar expedition

Experience active exploration of the polar regions through a variety of activities. Weather permitting, we schedule up to 3 excursions per day and offer optional kayaking and, in Antarctica, camping. Enrich your polar knowledge in an engaging and interactive way through Poseidon’s edutainment program.

25 years of polar cruising

Polar cruising is our passion and expertise and over the past 24 years, we’ve gained tremendous experience building a strong team of enthusiastic polar professionals who are all experts in their field. Each cruise is a thoughtfully crafted expedition voyage.

Greenland’s capital with its 15,000 inhabitants is the cultural and economic center of the island. Visit the national museum with its beautiful collection of artifacts, which tell 4,500 years of Greenland’s history. The art museum features local art and paintings, as well as work by Andy Warhol.

Visit Hans Egede’s House, the oldest building in Greenland, dating back to 1728 when it was a Dano-Norwegian missionary. Nowadays it functions as a governmental building.

Northeast Greenland National Park

The world’s largest national park is home to approximately 15,000 musk oxen, polar bears, walruses and many other iconic animals. Marine fauna include the ringed seal, narwhal and beluga whale. With a little bit of luck you can see them during our expedition cruises.

The park is part of the UNESCO heritage and one of the most spectacular places to see remote Arctic wilderness..

Ilulissat Icefjord

It’s a UNESCO world heritage site you can step on! The glacier is actively calving and moves around 19 meters a day. On our Greenland cruises you can admire this solid cold beauty and get a close-up view. We’ve seen the emotions of our expeditioners – nobody keeps cool around this amazing natural wonder. It’s a bucket-list item for many of our travelers with a guaranteed wow moment!

US$ 7 796

US$ 8 581

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Greenland is a paradise for wildlife lovers! 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. During the polar day, you will have a maximum amount of daylight to explore and view wildlife.

Get the best photo ops from the deck of our small expedition ship and during Zodiac cruises, hikes ashore and while kayaking. Our professional photographers will help you get that perfect shot so you can bring home the best pictures to remember the adventure.

Birders will be excited to spot great northern divers, barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, common eiders, king eiders, gyrfalcons, snowy owls, sanderlings, ptarmigan and ravens. Ask our expedition team and onboard specialists everything you ever wanted to know about your favorite animals and learn about their unique life in the Arctic.

About Greenland

Breathtaking wilderness, charming towns and contemporary Inuit culture – Greenland is a unique place with its very own charm. It’s the prime destination for any Arctic explorer. History buffs will love the Viking heritage of the region, nature lovers will appreciate the untouched and rough beauty of the island and wildlife lovers will appreciate its rich fauna. Did you know that Greenland is the best place to see the Aurora Borealis? On our late summer cruises, we hit the best spots around the coast to see this majestic spectacle.

Short History

The first inhabitants of Greenland were the Inuit, who settled from around 2500 BC until about 900 BC on the island. After a period during which Greenland was abandoned, the Dorset people arrived around 500 BC, and from the 10th century AD the Thule people came and settled. It’s believed that Viking Erik the Red gave Greenland its contradictory name to attract more Viking settlers, thinking that it would make this northern land sound more fertile, attractive (and greener) for newcomers.

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.

Since 1721, Denmark held colonies in Greenland and in 1953 the island became part of Denmark. Since 2009, Greenland has been an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. The official language is Greenlandic, but people also speak Danish and English.

The world’s lowest temperature record (in the northern hemisphere) of -69.6 °C (-93.3 °F) was recorded in Greenland in 1991. The average temperature in the capital Nuuk varies from around -5 C to +10 °C (23 to 50 °F). During the summer months, it can warm up to +21°C (70 °F), but only in the coastal regions. In the center of Greenland, the temperature hardly ever exceeds 0°C (32 °F).

The eastern part of Greenland is considered colder due to fierce winds. During the winter months, the weather can be harsh. That’s why expedition cruises are usually scheduled during the warmer and more moderate summer months. The south and west coastal regions are generally warmer.

The precipitation quantity in the south is around 1,080 mm (43 inches) per year. In north Greenland, it may be as little as 100-200 mm (4-8 inches).

With a total area of 2,166,086 km2 (836,000 square miles), Greenland is the biggest island in the world. Only 410,449 km2 (158, 475 square miles) of it are not covered in ice. The highest point in Greenland is Gunnbjørn Fjeld at 3,700m (12,119 ft), situated in the Watkins Range in the east. Most of the mountains are covered by Greenland’s ice sheet. Coastlines are predominantly rocky with numerous fjords.

How People Live in Greenland

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.

Plan Your Greenland Tour

Great expeditions need proper planning. Consider what your Arctic adventure should look like. Do you want to see incredible fjords and the biggest icebergs? Then consider a cruise to Northeastern Greenland. Northern lights are on your bucket list? Then a cruise to East Greenland in late summer is perfect for you. And if you are looking for the perfect Arctic odyssey, then choose a combined expedition covering Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard.

How to Get to Greenland

Book a flight to one of the departure ports ahead of time. Depending on which cruise you choose, you may embark/disembark in Longyearbyen (Svalbard) or Reykjavik (Iceland). After you board our expedition, you’ll cruise in comfort and style on the Sea Spirit toward Greenland. Contact us for assistance with booking and choosing the right cruise for your adventurous spirit!

Greenland Ships

Most of the remote and tucked-away gems of Greenland are only reachable via small expedition ship. Aboard the Sea Spirit, perfectly suited for small expedition cruising with a maximum of only 114 passengers, we take you on the adventure of a lifetime. You can choose from various cabin categories to make your expedition comfortable and memorable. The ship also features a gourmet restaurant, large open deck, bistro, bar, lecture hall, gym and lounge with a 24/7 coffee and tea station. Feel like a real explorer, but with all the modern comforts!

When to Visit Greenland

The best time to visit Greenland on an expedition cruise are the summer months. June to September are warmer and the midnight sun gives you a maximum amount of daylight to explore, spot wildlife and see the beautiful landscape. Average temperatures in summer are around 0 °C (32 °F), with occasional highs around +10°C (50 °F). Be prepared for all contingencies and bring warm clothes. There are cases of snow even in the summer months!

If you’re after prime opportunities to view the northern lights, be sure to book a cruise in late summer/early fall. At the beginning of September, the chances of seeing them are very high and we have a special cruise scheduled right around this time (one of our travelers’ all-time favorite)!

Facts About Greenland

Ready to visit Greenland? Need a few more facts to be prepared for your expedition? Check out our top 5 favorite facts about this region:

A whopping 81% of the island is covered by Greenland’s ice sheet!

Golfing amid icebergs and snowfields? Every March golfers flock to the Ice Gold World Championships in Uummannaq.

Krone is king – Greenland’s currency is the Danish Krone.

Greenland was actually green, about 2.5 million years ago.

You’re speaking some Greenlandic already! Kayak and igloo are in fact Greenlandic words that have been adopted by other languages.

How can I fight seasickness?

If you’re lucky, you may not get seasick at all. Many avid expeditioners swear it all depends on attitude. While the open sea may be rough, the coastal waters are much calmer. Many people are unnecessarily worried ahead of their cruise. Consult your physician before your trip and pack motion sickness medication, just in case. There are many remedies that can ease seasickness and it’s better to come prepared. We also have an onboard physician who can assist you if needed.

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel health insurance is a must on expeditions cruises to the remote Arctic. We also recommend travel cancellation and luggage insurance. Contact us and we’ll be glad to consult you in detail on this subject.

Is there internet, email, or a telephone on board?

Yes, Wi-Fi aboard the Sea Spirit is available free of charge.

What’s not included in the tour?

Airfare to and from the departure ports is generally not covered by your cruise package, as well as additional nights ashore before and after the designated cruise duration. Also excluded are passport and visa fees, drinks (apart from welcome and farewell cocktails), additional telecommunication charges, insurance and gratuities.

What time is it in Greenland?

The regular time zone is UTC-3. Ittoqqortoormiit in East Greenland is on UTC-1. Danmarkshavn (a weather station in Northeastern Greenland is on UTC+0 and the Thule Air Base at Pituffik in Western Greenland is at UTC-4. (Source: visitgreenland.com)

What Money Do I Take and How Much?

This depends on you. While accommodation, meals and the 24/7 hour coffee and tea station are included in the cruise package, you may want to purchase additional drinks or souvenirs. We also accept credit cards. And for landings ashore: Greenland’s currency is the Danish Krone.

What clothes should you take with you?

Weather can be unpredictable. We recommend dressing in layers. Warm base layers, pullovers, trousers and water and windproof top layers. Don’t forget a hat, gloves, scarf and warm socks, as well as comfortable footwear for onboard activities. Opt for synthetics, polar fleece and wool (no cotton fabrics). You’ll get rental boots for the duration of the cruise for landings, and our warm and versatile signature expedition parka for you to keep as a souvenir.

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Greenland Cruises & Luxury Expeditions

Explore the infinite wilderness of the largest island on earth on a greenland cruise. encounter colossal icebergs, sail through mountainous landscapes, and visit remote inuit settlements., introduction.

Greenland cruises invite you to explore seldom-seen, hard-to-reach places only accessible by ship on an expedition cruise. From Disko Bay with its staggering Icebergs and calving glaciers to the tranquil fjords and mountainous scenery of Southern Greenland and the remote, seldom-explored fjords of the East Coast, Greenland is an epic destination for any explorer.   

Greenland offers a diverse selection of expedition cruises at different times of the year. In the Springtime, Icebreaker cruises explore Greenland's sea ice when it is off limits to regular ships and visit settlements locked in by the sea ice. During the summer, it is possible to embark on expedition cruises exploring Greenland's coast and longer-length itineraries, including Svalbard and the Northwest Passage.

Our in-house experts carefully select our Greenland cruises to help you find the perfect experience. We offer the best selection of Greenland cruises on leading ships, allowing you to explore this spectacular part of the world in comfort and peace of mind.

Cruises To Greenland

Inuit Spring of Ammassalik

Reykjavík, iceland - reykjavík.

Price from per person

Northeast Greenland's unexplored sea ice

Highlights of a greenland cruise, explore the most epic scenery on the planet.

Greenland is one of the largest untouched wildernesses on Earth, from mountainous landscapes that rival Patagonia to vast unexplored fjords.

Witness Colossal Icebergs and Glaciers

Glaciers calve where the Greenland ice cap meets the coast, creating some of the most gigantic icebergs on the planet. Icebergs are seen throughout Greenland.

Meet Greenlandic People and Experience Greenlandic Culture

A massive highlight of exploring Greenland is meeting the people who live there and getting an insight into their way of life and culture.

Hike in Pristine Wilderness

Greenland offers fantastic chances for exhilarating hikes along remote beaches and deserted hillsides, all with amazing views.

Join Exhilarating Outdoor Activities

Greenland cruises offer the perfect chance to experience kayaking amongst the ice, dog sledging, ice fishing and polar trekking. 

Small Ship Expedition Cruise Experience

Join a small group of fellow explorers and experience Greenland in comfort and luxury on a purpose-built, ice-strengthened expedition ship.

What To See

Due to the Greenland Icecap, which frequently calves ice into the waters around the coast, Greenland is an iceberg spotter's dream. 

Colourful Remote Settlements

Greenland, known for its remote villages with colourful houses, is home to some of the most remote settlements on Earth.

Greenland offers a great chance to encounter Arctic Animals, including Polar Bears (East Coast), Whales (Disko Bay), Musk Ox, Arctic foxes and hares.

Northern Lights

From September onwards, the Aurora Borealis lights up the skies across Greenland. Experiencing this phenomenon in such a natural setting is a sight to behold.

Getting to Your Greenland Cruise

Due to Greenland’s isolated nature, very little infrastructure links towns and settlements, making an expedition cruise with shore landings by Zodiac the perfect way to encounter all Greenland offers. 

With Greenland, there are two main options for joining cruises: 1) to fly to Greenland and join a cruise that departs from there, or 2) join an expedition cruise that sails to Greenland from other destinations in the Arctic, such as Svalbard, Greenland or Iceland. The choice is down to which itinerary best suits your preferences. 

For cruises commencing in Greenland, a charter flight to Greenland is often included as part of the itinerary from Iceland or Copenhagen, Denmark, to ensure a seamless journey. 

If cruising to Greenland from another destination, you must reach the departure port first. Many cruises to Greenland depart from Reykjavik, Iceland, which has excellent international connections to the rest of the world. 

Depending on your itinerary, a flight to and from the departure port may also be included. If not, our Travel Experience Team can help you with this. 

For more information, please see our guide below for all the different ways to get to Greenland.

When To Go On A Greenland Cruise

Greenland cruises typically occur during the summer between June and September when the temperature is at its mildest, and the seas around Greenland have less sea ice, making navigation possible. However, new icebreaker cruises now make visiting East Greenland much earlier in the season, during April and May, than possible on a conventional ship due to its unique icebreaking capabilities. 

The best time to explore Greenland on an expedition cruise depends on what you want to see. April to June offer the best chance to undertake a genuine polar expedition deep into the sea ice of East Greenland on an icebreaker cruise. 

June and July offer great months to explore the tranquil fjords of the West Coast of Greenland and the stunning ice formations of Disko Bay, with 24 hours of sunlight above the Arctic Circle and often mild weather. 

August is the best month for expeditions to East Greenland on regular cruise ships and for exploring further afield, from Greenland to the Northwest Passage, as the sea ice extent is at its lowest. 

September offers the best chances to see the Northern lights on your cruise as the darkness returns, and it is an excellent month for photographers with gorgeous hues in the sky. 

Please see our detailed guide below to learn what a Greenland cruise offers each month.

Choose Your Year

Greenland Cruises 2024

Greenland Cruises 2025

Greenland cruises 2026, types of greenland cruises.

Greenland Luxury Cruises

Greenland Icebreaker Cruises

Greenland and the Northwest Passage and Cruises

Iceland and Greenland Cruises

Places to explore on a greenland cruise.

Disko Bay & Ilulissat Icefjord

Scoresby Sund

Prins Christian Sound

Recommended Greenland Cruise Ships

Le Commandant Charcot

Plan your greenland cruise.

Book Well in Advance: Greenland cruises often sell out in advance. We recommend booking your voyage well to secure your preferred itinerary and cabin.

Choose Your Itinerary: There are a variety of small expedition cruise ships, voyages, and activities to choose from. Choose a cruise that aligns with your interests, whether visiting remote communities or specific activities such as dog sledging. Our Travel Experience Team will advise and recommend different options based on your preferences.

Reserve Your Cabin With North Pole Cruises: We will ensure you receive the best price from the operator when booking. Our knowledgeable Travel Experience Team will help you choose your Greenland cruise and answer any questions. We will provide lots of helpful information, including packing lists, before the voyage and support you during your journey if you have any issues. With every booking, we offer peace of mind with our 100% financial protection. 

Travel Insurance: When booking, purchase comprehensive travel insurance for your Greenland cruise that covers trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and evacuation from remote locations. Ensure that your policy explicitly covers polar travel.

Visiting Greenland on an expedition cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are here to help you plan and prepare for your extraordinary voyage to explore one of the world's most hidden destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The price of a Greenland cruise varies depending on several factors, including the ship size, the level of luxury, the itinerary, the number of guests, the time of year, and the length of your chosen itinerary. As a rule of thumb, prices per person start from £1,000 ($1274, €1152) per person per night for an expedition cruise. Due to their specialist nature, icebreaker cruises to Greenland command a higher price per person.

Yes, we offer no single supplement on selected Greenland cruises. Our Travel Experience Team has access to the best offers for solo travellers. 

We recommend you contact us with your requirements, and we can help you find the best no-single supplement Greenland cruise for you.

Seeing polar bears on a cruise in East Greenland is possible, although the chances are less so than in Svalbard. However, please note you are highly unlikely to see them in Southern Greenland or the Disko Bay area, as they are concentrated in areas of sea ice, and these areas are ice-free during the summer. 

For the best chances of seeing polar bears, we recommend a Greenland cruise that also visits Svalbard.

The weather on a Greenland cruise can vary depending on the time of year you plan to visit. Greenland has an Arctic climate, so it generally experiences cooler temperatures, although it is surprisingly mild during the summer months. 

Summer (June to August)

These are the best months for cruising in Greenland. Daytime temperatures above the Arctic Circle range from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius (32 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Areas to the south experience milder temperatures, especially during July. Longer daylight hours, with places above the Arctic Circle experiencing the midnight sun. During the summer, the Arctic has predominately high-pressure weather systems, which create calm conditions. Disko Bay is often affectionately called Disko Lake locally due to its calm summertime conditions. 

Spring (April to May) 

Spring temperatures on icebreaker cruises are colder than summer, ranging from -10 to 5 degrees Celsius (14 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit). However, lower temperatures can be encountered in the sea ice in East Greenland, and snowfall is possible during this time. 

Fall (September to October)

Late-season cruises encounter lower temperatures than summer cruises, with daily temperatures ranging from -10 to 5 degrees Celsius (14 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit). The first snowfall also returns during this period. These months offer the best opportunities to see the Northern Lights. 

Conditions can vary depending on your chosen time to visit. Additionally, weather conditions in Greenland can change rapidly, so it’s wise to pack layers, including warm clothing, waterproof gear, and sturdy footwear. 

During the reservation process, we will provide you with a complete packing list to prepare you for the weather conditions on your Greenland cruise.

Each Greenland cruise includes accommodation in well-appointed cabins, meals, expert guides, guest lecturers outlined in the itinerary, Zodiac cruises and excursions, and specified charter flights.

Please check the tour page of your chosen itinerary to see a complete list of inclusions.

Financial security is paramount for our clients, so all bookings made through North Pole Cruises include 100% financial protection. We also include supplier failure insurance free of charge for extra peace of mind. This ensures you have the very best protection on your booking. 

When reserving your chosen itinerary, the payment options will be quoted.

Typical payment terms are a 25% deposit when booking to reserve your cabin and the final balance payable 90 days before departure. 

We accept payment via credit card or bank transfer.

Each expedition ship and voyage offers different activities in Greenland. Zodiac excursions and shore landings with a team of expert guides are standard for all Greenland expedition cruises.

Optional kayaking, dog sledding, ice trekking, camping, and ice fishing are available on selected departures. 

During the reservation process, please specify which activities you are interested in, and we will assist you in finding a cruise that fits your preferences. Depending on the ship, some activities are included in the cost, and others are extra.

Due to its vast area, wildlife in Greenland is seen less frequently than in Svalbard, where the wildlife is more concentrated. Cruises to East Greenland offer the best chances to see polar bears, although this cannot be guaranteed. Disko Bay offers excellent whale-watching opportunities. 

If wildlife is a primary interest, we recommend a cruise that combines Svalbard and Greenland, as this will offer more opportunities for wildlife sightings. 

If you need help deciding which Greenland cruise best fits your interests, please contact our Travel Experience Team.

Greenland cruises vary between 10 days for an icebreaker cruise to explore East Greenland during the spring and 28 days for an all-encompassing cruise to explore Greenland and the Northwest Passage. We have a variety of Greenland cruises available and can help you find one that matches your ideal length.

We recommend reserving your Greenland cruise a year in advance to ensure you get your preferred choice of ship and cabin. We usually have last-minute availability on select departures for late bookers.

Please get in touch with our Travel Experience Team to find out about last-minute availability.

The first step to reserving your Greenland cruise is to contact our Travel Experience Team, who will be happy to help you with your itinerary and provide details about availability and pricing for your selected voyage.

Do you need help planning your expedition?

Our friendly and knowledgeable Travel Experience Team is ready to assist you.

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Your Guide To Exploring The Polar Regions

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Stretching approximately 2,800 kilometres (1,750 miles) from north to south and approximately 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) from east to west, Greenland is the world’s biggest island. Some do claim that Australia is a bigger island, but according to international definitions, Australia is regarded as a continent. East Greenland is just a short flight from Iceland, but its culture and landscapes are a world away. In a land dominated by the Ice Cap and impossibly steep mountain ranges, 3,500 people have made it their home. Their culture is born from myths and legends, often expressed in bone and rock carvings, but at the same time it is a globally connected culture with strong hunting roots and an everyday spirit of adventure. Discover Scoresbysund where you can paddle and Zodiac cruise along one of the world’s longest, largest and deepest fjord systems. At Ittoqqortoormiit, visit Greenland’s most remote settlement, home to approximately 450 mostly Inuit, people.South Greenland lives up to its name as it is truly a ‘green land’. It is a land of jagged mountains and green pastures where sheep farms directly border ice fjords, and Norse settlement history intertwines with modern fishing and hunting communities. Natural hot springs on a remote island, big wall climbing, and fjord kayaking abound in South Greenland.

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, located in West Greenland is an arctic metropolis with a small-town feel, shaped by nature and known for its cultural diversity. While Nuuk is the colourful heart of this nation, the smaller communities of Paamiut south of the capital and Kapisillit in the Nuuk Fjord, are places to kick back and spend time in the outdoors. From the Disko Bay area in central West Greenland to the polar extremes of the far north, the scale of North Greenland is hard to fathom. Along a coastline stretching thousands of miles lie small communities based on hunting and fishing, in a land ruled by the Polar Night in winter and the summer’s Midnight Sun. From the strange volcanic rocks along the hiking trails on Qeqertarsuaq, the constant flow of massive icebergs from one of the world’s fastest flowing glaciers in Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site, the diverse landscapes and superb whale and bird-watching opportunities in Disko Bay, makes West Greenland an ideal place to experience an expedition cruise.

At Aurora Expeditions, we have many Greenland cruises for you to explore Greenland in-depth, including West Greenland Explorer as voted by you! Explore the real world.

Greenland Cruises & Expeditions

Home > Destinations > Greenland Cruises & Expeditions

Greenland Cruises

Embark on a cruise adventure to the remote coastal regions of Greenland, where you will experience a pristine natural environment that is uniquely Arctic . Situated between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and a part of the Arctic Circle, Greenland is an exciting destination for adventurous travellers.

Aurora Expeditions’ cruises are made for rugged explorers who are excited to experience the magic of the Greenland wilderness. Our Expedition Team provides Greenland tours for those with a keen sense of adventure and a desire to immerse themselves in the natural environment.

• Expeditions

Destination Highlights

Wild Landscapes of West Greenland

USD $ 19,436.00

Southern Greenland: On the Trail of the Vikings

USD $ 14,956.00

Traversing the Northwest Passage

USD $ 35,005.50

Northern Lights Explorer

USD $ 17,815.50

Northwest Passage

USD $ 19,970.75

Greenland Odyssey

USD $ 16,716.00

Jewels of the Arctic

USD $ 14,190.75

Arctic Complete – Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland

USD $ 24,390.75

Why Join a Greenland Expedition Cruise?

As one of the best known Arctic islands, Greenland is a remarkable destination that leaves its imprint in ways not entirely explainable. Whether you’re exploring the East, West or South, our Greenland Expeditions reveal the beauty of the world’s largest island.

Many people still have misconceptions about this alluring Arctic nation. For one, despite being almost completely covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet, there is more to Greenland than glaciers and ice. It is a nation with layers of culture and history that will unfold before you. Greenland has one of the world’s smallest populations, with approximately 56,500 inhabitants. Today, 88% of Greenland’s population is Inuit (predominantly Kalaallit) or a mix of Danish and Inuit. The remaining 12% are of European descent, mainly Danish.

A trip to Greenland takes you to one of the planet’s last great wildernesses, a remote land of ice and snow. Offering remarkable landscapes, exceptional wildlife, iceberg-filled fjords, majestic peaks, vast tundra, Viking history and contemporary Inuit culture, Greenland is truly unlike anywhere else in the world. The fjords and mountains of Greenland are where life is concentrated. Summer is the best time to visit Greenland – when wildflowers are in full bloom, birds start breeding and wildlife sightings are most common. If you’re lucky you can observe bands of caribou, musk oxen, Arctic foxes and polar bears. Seals, walruses and many species of whales including humpbacks, orcas and white belugas also gather near its shores.

In Greenland, tiny, isolated communities are scattered among the fjords, accessible only by small plane (or helicopter when there is no room for a runway), boat, kayak, afoot or by dogsled in winter. Discover this fascinating country’s hidden secrets as you traverse its waters and embark on unforgettable adventures.

Greenland Wildlife Encounters

Greenland is a biodiversity hotspot, and wildlife encounters are expected throughout the cruise. The rugged terrain and sea ice you’ll enjoy panoramic views of throughout our Greenland Arctic expedition provide a unique habitat for the wildlife that lives here. Our Expedition Team includes onboard naturalists that will educate and guide you through your wildlife encounters both on land and at sea.

A largely remote wilderness, Greenland’s unique natural habitats provide a home for a plethora of captivating wildlife. Some highlights for lucky travellers include polar bears, Arctic foxes, reindeer, Arctic hares, humpback whales, blue whales, fin whales, narwhals, ringed seals, countless Arctic bird species and one of the largest populations of muskoxen.

Visit Greenland on an Aurora Expeditions cruise for whale watching, opportunities to see the majestic polar bear and much more.

Unique Greenland Experiences

Being polar expeditions, our Greenland tours include truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences. A cruise in the Arctic Circle around Greenland provides a rare opportunity to take a polar plunge, embark on Zodiac cruises through the ice sheet, and observe unique geological formations and breathtaking scenery on trips ashore.

Our Greenland expedition experts can also take you on optional excursions via our comprehensive activity program . You might want to try an unforgettable journey on our sea kayaks, rock climbing the rugged cliffs of one of the national parks or scuba diving in the polar regions of the Arctic. If you would like to learn more about the included or optional activities, please contact us , we’re here to help!

Greenland Tour Regions

East Greenland

East Greenland is one of the most isolated areas in Greenland and offers fantastic possibilities for big adventures. In East Greenland jagged mountains rise from the sea and giant white and blue icebergs float in deep fjords. Only 120 years ago, there was no connection between West and East Greenland. 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.

South Greenland

South Greenland travel also provides opportunities for adventure. Temperatures in southern Greenland are higher than in the rest of the country, sometimes even reaching up to 20° Celsius during summer. The landscapes are greener and the ground more fertile, with many farms along its coast. The area is full of contrasts between the green shades of the landscape and the myriad of blues that paint the ice. The region is popular for those keen on an adventure. Experience hiking tours or go kayaking to see whales and other wildlife. It is easy to take individual trips because the settlements are close to each other with great boat connections. See for yourself when you cruise Prince Christian Sound (Prins Christian Sund), flanked by imposing mountains, where the Viking ruins of Erik the Red still stand from the Middle Ages.

West Greenland

West Greenland is the most populated region of the country, containing the nation’s capital, Nuuk, the starting point for most travellers’ on their Greenland adventures. Here, you can visit the largest ice cap in the northern hemisphere, Ilulissat Icefjord. This UNESCO-listed 55km-long natural sculpture park boasts countless jaw-dropping icebergs. Explore untamed nature on foot or from water level in a kayak or Zodiac. Stop at remote villages along the West Greenland coastline to learn about the traditional lifestyle. Historically West Greenland was known for its fishing and hunting industries, which are still an integral part of the local way of life.

West Greenland is also home to Disko Bay, a large and significant bay on the west coast, steeped in history. Its nutrient-rich waters have made it the perfect home for a wide range of species. Disko Bay is a great place for whale watching and kayaking, with a number of different species of whales visiting the bay during the springtime. Disko Bay also attracts migratory seals that use the teaming waters of the bay to feed.

North Greenland

North Greenland is home to the harsh realities of the Arctic Islands. It’s the land of the polar nights in the winter and of the midnight sun in the summer. The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon in the Arctic Circle where the sun remains visible throughout the night and day. During the winter months however, North Greenland is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights because of the long nights, with the dark skies making the perfect backdrop to showcase the lights in all their colours. The area is also known for its dog sledding which is common amongst the locals and a fun experience for tourists.

Greenland Expedition Cruise Activities

Visit Greenland with Aurora Expeditions and our Expedition Team will take you on excursions unique to the High Arctic, fully included in the cost of your expedition. For those interested in a little extra excitement, there are optional activities* designed to get you closer to the action.  Our Greenland expeditions provide a mix of comfort and adventure; for those willing to explore this incredible Arctic destination the memories will last a lifetime.

Bird Watching

Photography

Polar plunge

Trips ashore

Whale and mammal spotting

Zodiac cruises

Lecture on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations

Add-on Activities

Sea Kayaking

Sea Kayaking is one of the most exhilarating ways to experience Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond. Sea kayaking holidays in the humbling…

*Optional add-on activities are available on select voyages. They are listed on each itinerary page and additional fees apply. 

Greenland Cruises FAQs

The cost of a cruise to Greenland with Aurora Expeditions varies based on factors such as the duration of the expedition, the type of cabin chosen and the specific itinerary. Prices generally start from US $17,595 per person – please check our expeditions listed above for more pricing information. Each expedition includes various inclusions like meals, excursions and expert guides, adding value to the overall experience. Plan and explore our expeditions to find a cruise that suits your preferences and budget.

The duration of a cruise to Greenland with Aurora Expeditions varies depending on the specific itinerary chosen. Expeditions to Greenland typically range from 13 to 17 days, allowing travellers to immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife of the region. Our itineraries are carefully crafted to include highlights such as fjords, glaciers and cultural sites, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of this enchanting Arctic destination. For precise information on the duration of a specific cruise, we recommend that you refer to our detailed itineraries on our official website or contact our friendly team directly.

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. 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.

A Greenland cruise with Aurora Expeditions features Arctic landscapes, colossal glaciers and vibrant wildlife that offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. These expeditions provide opportunities for close encounters with polar bears, whales and other unique species. Aurora Expeditions ensures expert guides, immersive cultural experiences and comfortable accommodations on ice-strengthened vessels. The carefully crafted itineraries showcase Greenland’s awe-inspiring beauty, including fjords and historical sites. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or cultural explorer, a Greenland cruise promises an unforgettable journey, making it a truly worthwhile and enriching expedition into one of the world’s most pristine and captivating destinations.

Depending on your chosen voyage, there are several starting points for our Greenland expeditions, including Norway, Iceland and Canada. Be sure to check each specific expedition for more information.

The optimal time for a Greenland cruise or expedition is during the Arctic summer, generally from June to August. This period offers milder temperatures, wildlife activity and optimal conditions for exploring Greenland’s stunning landscapes. The midnight sun ensures extended daylight hours, enhancing the overall experience. While each month has its unique charm, early summer may provide access to more ice-covered areas, while late summer showcases vibrant flora. Aurora Expeditions carefully plans its itineraries to align with the best seasonal conditions, offering an unforgettable adventure during the warmer months when Greenland’s beauty is in full bloom.

Travellers visiting Greenland should consider several health factors . Consult with a healthcare professional before the expedition to ensure vaccinations are up-to-date. Cold temperatures and potential exposure require appropriate clothing and gear. Travel insurance covering medical evacuation is advisable. Aurora Expeditions prioritises passenger safety and their experienced team guides health and safety measures. It’s crucial to disclose any medical conditions to the expedition staff for proper assistance. Ultimately, thorough preparation and adherence to recommended health guidelines contribute to a safe and enjoyable journey to Greenland.

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Greenland Cruises & Tours 2024

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• Easy Active
• Most Popular
• Wildlife & Safari Exploration
• Adventure Options
• Archaeological Site Visits
• Fly Cruises
• Helicopter Tours
• Horseback Riding
• Land & Sea Exploration
• Northern Lights
• Photography Seminars
• Scuba Diving
• Small Ship Cruises
• Small Ship Sailing
• Urban Exploration
• Village Visits
• Whale Watching
• Wildlife Viewing
• Greg Mortimer
• Le Commandant Charcot
• MS Fridtjof Nansen
• MS Seaventure
• MV Plancius
• MV Vikingfjord
• National Geographic Endurance
• National Geographic Explorer
• National Geographic Resolution
• Ocean Adventurer
• Ocean Albatros
• Ocean Endeavour
• Scenic Eclipse
• Seabourn Venture
• Silver Endeavour
• Silver Wind
• Sylvia Earle
• Ultramarine
• World Navigator
• World Voyager

Out of the Northwest Passage

• Travel the NW Passage Route
• Enjoy Inuit hospitality
• Visit Franklin Expedition graves
• View Arctic wildlife

Into the Northwest Passage

• Visit ancient sites and villages
• Meet the stunning Arctic wildlife
• Experience Inuit culture first hand
• Explore the Ilulissat Icefjord

High Arctic Explorer

• Visit Beechey Island
• Hike on Devon Island
• Enjoy a cultural welcome at Pond
• Watch Greenland’s glaciers
• Marvel at the tundra

Greenland Explorer - Tour 2

• Discover Reykjavik
• Experience Denmark Strait
• Explore Ammassalik Island
• Learn about the town of Qaqortoq

East Greenland Explorer

• Sail along the Volquart Boons Coast
• Explore the ancient Inuit settlemen
• Navigate through towering icebergs
• Visit the awe-inspiring Ø Fjord

Greenland Explorer - Tour 1

Greenland explorer: sail and soar the alpine arctic.

• Exclusive Heli Landing
• Admire the Northern Lights
• Greenland Ice Sheet
• Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage

Natural Wonders of Greenland - Tour 1

• Get close to Prince Christian Sound
• Visit Qaqortoq

Ilulissat to Narsarsuaq – Inuit History and Magnificent Fjords

• Admire Ilulissat's natural beauty
• Great chance of seeing whales
• Enjoy and learn remote culture
• Stunning views of peaks and iceberg

Disko Bay to Uummannaq - Icebergs, Whales and Inuit culture

• Explore the magnificent Disko Bay
• Admire numerous gigantic icebergs
• Enjoy the magical midnight sun

Gems of West Greenland: Fjords, Icebergs and Culture

• Explore Toronto
• Discover Uummanaq Fjord
• Explore Disko Bay
• Venture into Qeqqata

Greenland Odyssey

• Skaergaard at Kangerlussuaq Fjord
• Sail through Prince Christian Sound
• Zodiac cruise
• Admire Ilulissat Icefjord
• Visit the National Museum

Four Arctic Islands: Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Greenland and Iceland

• Explore the four Arctic Islands
• Immerse in icy realm of the Arctic
• Search for iconic arctic wildlife
• Visit a remote Inuit community

Inuit Spring of Ammassalik

• Meet the Inuit people
• Join the dog sled activity
• Sail to eastern coast of Greenland
• Explore Ammassalik

Adventure West Greenland

• Explore Attu
• Discover Ilimanaq
• Experience Uummannaq
• Witness Karrat Fjord

Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes

• View the Northern Lights
• Visit Ittoqqortoormiit settlement
• Watch whale and seabird migration
• Observe cathedral-like icebergs

The Heart of Greenland with Disko Bay

• Discover Disko Bay
• Admire the stunning Arctic scenery
• Learn more about local culture
• Visit Ilulissat Icefjord

Greenland - Kangerlussuaq to Pond Inlet, Nunavut

• Visit arctic seascape of Cape York
• Watch Arctic wildlife
• Walk in the town of Ilulissat
• Visit Nuuk museum

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• Greenland horseback riding (3)

Why Travel With Adventure Life

Recognized by.

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• Reykjavík to New York City, New York
• New York City, New York to Reykjavík

Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada

• From $7,999
• 9 Guided Tours
• 4 Countries
• Dates & Pricing
• 2024 2025 2026
• Reykjavík to New York City, New York New York City, New York to Reykjavík

Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada Map

Scenic Shores & Coastal Treasures

Immerse yourself in striking natural beauty on a voyage that spans Iceland, Greenland and the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Admire the volcanic landscape of the Westman Islands, enjoy the relaxed pace of life in Djúpivogur, and stroll the charming streets of Seydisfjördur and Akureyri. Discover the history of Viking exploration in the New World in Qaqortoq and L’Anse aux Meadows, and revel in the maritime heritage of lively Halifax.

SPRING SALE

Viking Inclusive Value

Pricing that covers everything guests need—and nothing they do not.

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Complimentary access to The Nordic Spa & Fitness Center.

Self-service launderettes

Alternative restaurant dining at no extra charge

24-hour room service

Your Stateroom Includes:

King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linen

42" flat-screen LCD TV with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies On Demand

Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer

Premium Freyja® toiletries

Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service

Security safe

110/220 volt outlets

Ample USB ports

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

Pre: Reykjavík

From $999 | 2 Nights

Pre: Greenland: Arctic Landscapes & Seascapes

From $4,999 | 3 Nights

Post: New York

From $1,199 | 2 Nights

On this itinerary, your Viking Resident Historian is delivering the following iconic lectures:

• - Iceland - Land of Fire & Ice
• - The Vikings
• - Vikings on the Move
• - The Bayeux Tapestry
• - Canadian Exploration
• - The American Revolution

Viking Resident Historian

As part of our onboard cultural enrichment program and commitment to destination-focused learning, our Viking Resident Historian faculty provides guests with lectures and roundtable discussions on the arts, architecture, music and culture of upcoming ports and various aspects of world history.

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Greenland & Iceland Cruises

The land of fire & ice and greenland’s hinterlands inspire unforgettable arctic circle adventures.

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Majestic Landscapes

Our Greenland & Iceland cruises bring you to the edge of the Arctic Circle and fill your days with magnificent fjords, dramatic natural wonders and outdoor adventures on these remote North Atlantic island countries. Cruise Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, to experience the famed Blue Lagoon, the popular Golden Circle route, Reykjavik’s Viking Settlement Exhibition, stark lava fields, volcanoes, glaciers and much more. Meanwhile, the shores of Greenland give way to sparsely populated hinterlands, impressive fjord systems, the colonial harbor of Nuuk and Paamiut’s rich Inuit culture.

Greenland & Iceland Special Offers

From insider tours of this region’s boundless natural wonders and immersions in local communities to fascinating historical explorations, our Greenland & Iceland shore excursions bring you the best of the local attractions, culture and history. More extended evening stays across the region give you the chance to immerse yourself in Greenland & Iceland with in-depth explorations, adventures ashore and leisurely, meaningful touring.

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Baltic & Scandinavia Ports

Extend your stay before or after your Greenland & Iceland cruise at one of these luxurious hotels, carefully selected for their superb location, ambiance, world-class standards of service, cuisine and amenities. Our hotel packages include free air date changes up to 3 days before or after your cruise; free transfers between the airport, hotel and ship; and porterage. You’ll also enjoy the services of our exclusive Oceania Cruises hospitality desk at each hotel.

Featured Greenland & Iceland Hotels

Grand Hotel Reykjavik

Reykjavik, iceland.

Grand Hotel Reykjavik is a first-class hotel for travelers who demand excellent service and facilities. As the largest hotel in Iceland, Grand Hotel Reykjavik features more than 300 rooms and is situated in an ideal location in the city – a quiet area and yet close to services, restaurants and recreation. All of the hotel rooms are very spacious and equipped with desirable amenities. The hotel restaurant, Brasserie Grand, offers a varied menu to suit every need. The chefs create both international delights and mouth-watering, fresh Icelandic seafood specialties. The wine list includes a wide range of internationally recognized choices.

LOTTE NEW YORK PALACE

New york, united states.

With a nod to its illustrious past, Lotte New York Palace has taken an ambitious leap into the future by combining old-world elegance with present-day luxury. Lotte New York Palace turned an iconic New York City property from a historic Madison Avenue gem to Midtown’s premier modern hotel. This Midtown Manhattan hotel features 909 rooms and suites – including 176 spacious Towers accommodations – which provide the perfect setting for relaxation and inspired stays in New York City. Unique dining venues, such as the newly opened VILLARD Restaurant and Pomme Palais, offer everything from imaginative breakfast dishes to signature pastries and sandwiches. The hotel’s famed Villard Mansion built in 1882 is recognized as a New York City landmark and gracefully blends with a contemporary 55-story tower. The Madison Avenue Courtyard provides a dramatic entryway to the hotel’s grand lobby.

Our Iceland Pre- and Post-Cruise Land Programs invite you to immerse yourself in the culture and spectacular natural beauty of this region. These multi-day, in-depth Land Programs include exclusive tours, premium hotel stays, airport transfers when arriving and departing the day your program begins and ends, and often times locally inspired meals and porterage too.

Greenland & Iceland Land Programs

Super Jeep Adventure: The South Shore

Set off on a thrill-seeking exploration of the Icelandic wilds in a 4x4 Super Jeep and a snowmobile. This four-day adventure is punctuated with visits to hot springs, ancient glaciers, lagoons, roaring waterfalls and mountain lakes in Thingvellir National Park, Langjökull, Hafnarfjörður and several other unique locations in the Icelandic highlands.

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If it is a magical experience, it's definitely a cruise to Greenland . Majestic icebergs, glaciers and iconic fjords, exceptional fauna, visits to traditional villages and meeting Inuits all will contribute to the complete relaxation and enchantment of the trip. 

All about cruises Greenland

Inuit spring of Ammassalik

Inuit spring at the edge of Scoresby Sound

Northeast Greenland's unexplored sea ice

Greenland of Great Explorers

In the ice of the Arctic, from Greenland to Svalbard

Baffin Bay Secrets

Expedition to the Thule Region

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The Geographic North Pole & Scoresby Sound

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Highlights - Greenland

This is a land where time seems to hold no sway. It's a land that seems forgotten, an inaccessible corner of the world. For centuries, however, it has been the land of the Inuits and refuge for rich wildlife. Immense landscapes where the icebergs cut through the waters with their changing colours and spectacular fjords complete these wonderful scenes. Here are the experiences not to be missed during a cruise in Greenland . .

Essential - Greenland

What essential information do you need when visiting Greenland ? Here is a practical guide to help your exploration of this vast region and familiarise you with the customs of the inhabitants.

Explore Greenland

Introducing the Inuit

Polar sea kayaking

The History of the Polar Practice of Dog Sledding

This is a land where time seems to hold no sway. It's a land that seems forgotten, an inaccessible corner of the world. For centuries, however, it has been the land of the Inuits and refuge for rich wildlife. Immense landscapes where the icebergs cut through the waters with their changing colours and spectacular fjords complete these wonderful scenes. Here are the experiences not to be missed during a cruise in Greenland .

Meet Inuits

A stop at the museum of the history of the Inuit people in the charming village of Sisimiut takes the visitor back 4,000 years in time. Archaeological digs, crafts and collections of tools and objects from daily life take you back through history. An essential glimpse before meeting these people with their age-old culture . Skilled artisans and outstanding hunters, they continue their traditional way of life in the heart of these extreme lands.

Watch whales

The mirror surface of the water trembles. A fin appears. Then a jet of water. The humpback whales are here. In Disko Bay where they come to eat, they slalom between the icebergs and other ice blocks, offering a graceful spectacle. The strength of this aquatic ballet is emphasised by the unique landscape, where the spectacular Qeqertarsuaq cliffs rise to 1,000m above sea level.

Visit Qaanaaq

Small blocks of ice collapse on the coast. Low houses in blue, yellow or red, stand out from the hillside. The sled dogs await the next trip onto the ice floe. In Qaanaaq , Greenland's northernmost town, time seems to be on pause. Hunting is the main source of subsistence for the some 600 inhabitants, who have lived here since the 1950s. For centuries, they lived 100km further south in the village of Umanaq. But the American established an air base here during the Cold War, forcing the communities to leave their ancestral lands.

Admire the biggest icebergs in the world

It is a sea of ice, where sky blue melts into sparkling white on the horizon. Where the silence is only broken by the cracking of the icebergs . Because it is the icebergs that reign here. With UNESCO world heritage status since 2004, Ilulissat Icefjord includes the largest icebergs in the world, including in the Antarctic. A record made possible by the position of the fjord, at the sea mouth of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. This drains 6.5% of the Greenland ice sheet.

Explore immense landscapes

Although Ilulissat icefjord is one of the most outstanding examples of the iconic Greenland landscapes, other glaciers and ice formations have also made this a legendary polar region . Eqi glacier, the immense volcanic rocks of Kuannit, Lyngmark glacier, Evighedsfjorden (the fjord of Eternity) and Upernavik fjord: the crystal ice that stretches on for kilometres, the cliffs that rise steeply up to dizzying heights towards the sky, the serrated profiles… Some are also home to various bird species.

Helpful tips

Don't be surprised to witness a whale or seal hunt. Greenland is one of the regions in the world where hunting by natives is allowed, according to quotas. It allows the local populations to continue their centuries-old tradition and to eat protein without depending on imports. Being offered seal meat during a meal is a real honour.

Every year, between March and April, the Uummannaq ice golf world championship competition is held. For two days, at 600 kilometres north of the Arctic circle, competitors gather on a course carved into the ice in the middle of the ice floe.

Essential phrases

Hello / Good evening: Kutaa Goodbye: Inuulluarit Please: Ikinngutinnersumik Thank you: ujan Yes / no: Aap / naamik You're welcome, with pleasure: Illillu How are you?: Qanoq ippisi ? Very well thank you and you?: Ajunngilanga, qujanaq, ippit ? My name is...: ...imik ateqarpunga

Seal is cooked in various ways. It is included in suassat , the national dish. This is a soup in which the seal meat is garnished with onions, potatoes and rice. Another authentic dish, Kiviak consists of seal stuffed with gutted Little Auk (small birds living in the Arctic). It is hung to mature for several months.

Myths and legends

Tupilaks are statuettes carved into animal bones. They represent polymorphic figures, sometimes taking a human form, sometimes animal (walrus, bear, seal...). The sculptures created today by craftspeople are for the tourist market but, according to legend, these sinister statues were made to bring death. The shaman who sculpted them breathed the name of the victim into them and threw them into the water so that they could accomplish their mission.

In the spotlight

With the Greenlandia expedition planned for 2022, the French photographer and explorer Vincent Hilaire wants to collect the testimony of communities, as well as observing and studying the impact of climate change on the native peoples and, more widely, on humankind.

Book. In 1955, Jean Malaurie published The Last Kings of Thule , an account of his scientific mission to the north of Greenland in 1950-51. Aged 28, the young geologist went alone to winter with the 34 inhabitants of the village of Siorapaluk, whose way of life he adopted. It is this daily life, along with the origins and culture of the “Polar Eskimos”, that Jean Malaurie recounts in his book. Accessible data, colourful characters and dense information have made this book an international reference in ethnology.

Music. The composer of electronic music Romain Delahaye, aka Molécule, goes to extreme places to record sounds and create “a sensory soundtrack ” , as he calls it. In 2018, Molécule spent 36 days with his recording equipment in the village of Tiniteqilaaq, in the south-east of Greenland. The result was his latest work -22,7°C (the lowest temperature he experienced there), a poetic symphony full of nostalgia, hope and magic.

Film. Released in 2016, Journey to Greenland by Sébastien Betbeder traces the adventure of Thomas and Thomas, two thirty-somethings whose problems in Paris brought them to... Kullorsuaq, a village with fewer than 450 inhabitants, one of the most isolated in Greenland. This is where Nathan, the father of one of them chose to come to live twenty years earlier. A real journey of intiation for the two young men who discover the Inuit world among immense landscapes.

Facts and figures

20 billion tonnes : this is the weight of the icebergs produced by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, in the Ilulissat fjord, with UNESCO world heritage status since 2004. This matches the quantity of freshwater used in France in one year!

• Aappilattoq (Augpilatok) (Greenland)
• Akpatok Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Akulleq (Greenland)
• Alkefjellet Cliff, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Ammassalik Region (Greenland)
• At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
• At sea along Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Baffin Bay exploration
• Banks Island (Canada)
• Battle Harbour (Canada)
• Beechey Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Bellot Strait (Canada)
• Blosseville Coast (Greenland)
• Boltodden, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Cap-aux-Meules, Magdalen Islands (Canada)
• Cape Farvel Passage (Greenland)
• Cape York (Greenland)
• Coningham Bay, Nunavut (Canada)
• Corner Brook (Canada)
• Crossing Belle Isle Strait (Canada)
• Crossing the Bering Strait
• Devon Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Disko Bay (Greenland)
• Edinburgh Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Evighedsfjorden (Greenland)
• Exploration of Ammassalik Region (Greenland)
• Exploration of Ittoqqortoormiit Region (Greenland)
• Exploration of North-East Greenland (Greenland)
• Exploring sea ice in Beaufort Sea
• Exploring sea ice of Northwest Passage
• Exploring the Blosseville Coast (Greenland)
• Fury Beach, Nunavut (Canada)
• Gaspé (Canada)
• Geographic North Pole
• Gjoa Haven, Nunavut (Canada)
• Gnalodden, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Grinnell Glacier, Nunavut (Canada)
• Holman (Ulukhaktok)  (Canada)
• Hornsund (Norway)
• Hvalso (Greenland)
• Icy Arm Fjord (Canada)
• Igaliku (Greenland)
• Ikka Fjord (Greenland)
• Isabella Bay, Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area (Canada)
• Isafjördur (Iceland)
• Itilleq (Greenland)
• Ittoqqortoormiit Region (Greenland)
• Ivigtut (Greenland)
• Jan Mayen Island, Svalbard (Norway)
• Jesse Harbour (Canada)
• Kangerlussuaq (Greenland)
• King Frederick VI Coast (Greenland)
• King Island, Alaska (United States)
• King Point, Yukon (Canada)
• Kuannit Coast (Greenland)
• Kujalleq Glacier (Greenland)
• Kullorsuaq (Greenland)
• L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada)
• Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Melville Bay (Greenland)
• Miquelon Island, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)
• Montreal (Canada)
• Nachvak Fjord, Torngat Mountains National Park (Canada)
• Nain (Canada)
• Nanortalik (Greenland)
• Narsalik (Greenland)
• Narsaq (Greenland)
• Narsaq Fjord (Greenland)
• Navigating through the sea ice
• Newfoundland (Canada)
• Nome, Alaska (United States)
• Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norway)
• North Arm fjord, Nunavut (Canada)
• Nuuk (Greenland)
• Orpit (Greenland)
• Paul-Émile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier (Greenland)
• Percé (Canada)
• Pond Inlet, Nunavut (Canada)
• Prins Christian Sund (Greenland)
• Qaqortoq (Greenland)
• Qeqertarsuaq (Greenland)
• Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut (Canada)
• Québec (Canada)
• Reykjavík (Iceland)
• Rigolet (Canada)
• Sailing River Saint Lawrence and going through its locks (Canada)
• Sailing Saint Lawrence Gulf (Canada)
• Sailing in Beaufort Sea
• Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait (Norway)
• Sailing in the Lancaster Sound (Canada)
• Sailing through the Denmark Strait
• Saint Pierre Island, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)
• Saint-John's, Newfoundland (Canada)
• Sam Ford Fjord, Nunavut (Canada)
• Savissivik (Greenland)
• Scoresby Sound (Greenland)
• Sermilik Fjord (Greenland)
• Sisimiut (Greenland)
• Skjoldungen (Greenland)
• Smoking Hills (Canada)
• Soraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norway)
• Storoya, Svalbard (Svalbard)
• Tadoussac (Canada)
• Tasermiut Fjord (Greenland)
• Tasiilaq (Greenland)
• Thule Region (Greenland)
• Toronto (Canada)
• Uummannaq (Greenland)
• Wahlbergoya (Norway)

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Cruises to Iceland and Greenland

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Discover Arctic vistas and marvel at dramatic scenery on one of our cruises to Greenland and Iceland, where you’ll be surrounded by natural wonders and quaint colonial towns at every turn. These twelve-night journeys are a once-in-a-lifetime experience that sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Combine quiet days at sea with exciting stops in breathtaking ports of call like Akureyri in Iceland and Greenland’s Qaqortoq, where you’ll experience adventure, beauty, and relaxation like never before.

Itineraries

Departure ports for greenland & iceland cruises.

Begin or end your cruise in Iceland’s capital of Reykjavik, a fascinating city that is at the top of the bucket list for adventurous travelers. Depending on your itinerary you’ll either depart or disembark in this stunning port, where you should make sure to spend an extra day or two exploring its endless natural wonders, including the towering Gullfoss Waterfall, the Vatnajokull Ice Caves, and Reykjavik’s famous Blue Lagoon.

Cape Liberty

On cruises to Greenland and Iceland, you can depart from the port of Cape Liberty, New Jersey, which is located near Newark airport and less than an hour’s drive away from Manhattan. Plan on getting there a few days early and discover everything the Big Apple has to offer, including its world-class restaurant scene, Broadway shows, and top-notch shopping. Then set sail from this convenient port and soak in unrivaled views of the New York City skyline and the iconic Statue of Liberty before heading out on your vacation across the Atlantic. 

Ports of Call

Mother Nature’s beauty is on full display in Isafjordur, a small, scenic town in the Westfjords that serves as a gateway to Iceland’s unspoiled terrain. Take a walk around its picturesque old town, where you’ll find cute shops and local restaurants. Visit the Dynjandi Waterfalls, known as “the jewel of the Westfjords.” Or go on a hike up Kaldbakur, the tallest mountain in the Westfjords, where you’ll enjoy majestic landscapes. 

You’ll get even more of a taste of Iceland’s stunning nature in Akureyri, a small town with impressive mountainscapes that is known for being one of the best places to catch the Northern Lights. Head to the lava fields of Dimmuborgir and take photos amongst the unusual formations. Travel to Godafoss, a towering cascade that is also known as the “waterfall of the gods.” Or relax and soak in the healing properties of the mud baths at Lake Myvatn or the hot springs of Hverir.  

Explore the tiny town of Qaqortoq during one of our cruises to Greenland and Iceland, where you’ll get a sense of the Arctic climate and wilderness. Admire the serene beauty of Lake Tasersuaq, where you’ll see unbeatable views of Qaqortoq and the mountains beyond. Learn about Nordic history at Hvalsey Church, ancient ruins that span back thousands of years. Or go on a reinvigorating nature walk through Qaqortoq’s hillsides, where you’ll marvel at scenic fjord views and charming colonial homes in bright colors. 

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• Ports of Call

If you think back to school, remember that Greenland is the one with all the ice, right? And while it’s true that Greenland is both huge and mostly icy, there are actually places on the southernmost tip that are just perfect for cruising. When you show up in the summer, remember that it’s always jacket weather here — we are still in the Arctic Circle, barely! — but small port towns welcome visitors warmly to experience all the history and culture of their native people. And while you’re in the neighborhood, you’ll also have a chance to check out some of eastern Canada’s most scenic seaside towns in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia — yep, visit two cool countries on one cruise!

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Northwest Passage—Across the Top of the World

Alaska to greenland.

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Northwest passage cruise | northwest passage—across the top of the world (alaska to greenland).

Witness incredible beauty and experience the thrill of exploration as we sail through the fabled Northwest Passage from Nome, Alaska to Nuuk, Greenland. 

Discover UNESCO-listed sites, spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and Inuit settlements, all while guided by your expert Expedition Team. 

Sail down the west coast of Greenland, with its stunning coastal panoramas and pretty settlements of colorful houses.

Sail along the top of the world through the Northwest Passage

Sailing through the Northwest Passage on a state-of-the-art ice-class expedition ship is a captivating journey that blends natural wonders, culture and history. The passage, once an elusive route for explorers, now offers intrepid travelers a chance to witness breathtaking Arctic landscapes and learn about indigenous communities through first-hand experiences. On this adventure, we’ll attempt to traverse the entire route and beyond, going from Nome, Alaska to Nuuk, Greenland.  

The breathtaking beauty of the High Arctic and Greenland

Our 26-day voyage takes us “above” the North American continent to the frozen far north. As we head up from Alaska through the famed Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait, we pass into Western Arctic Canada, where we’ll explore the western section of the Northwest Passage. From here on in, it’s pure expedition as we transit to Eastern Arctic Canada, where you’ll experience a pristine and remote wilderness featuring surreal vistas of frozen sea ice. We then emerge into Baffin Bay and sail to West Greenland, where you’ll encounter natural beauty like nowhere else.

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The safety of our guests, our employees, and the communities we visit is our top priority.  This is why we have partnered with leading experts in health and safety to design and implement protocols/procedures across our expedition fleet.

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Setting Out from Scenic Seattle

Enjoy the city before your expedition cruise begins

The adventure begins in the Emerald City of Seattle, on the Pacific coast of the United States.  

Why not arrive early and head to the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus? Or, for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. And for a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers! 

You’ll spend the night here in Seattle before your connecting flight to Alaska the next day.

There's no place like Nome

Setting off on your adventure

Today you’ll take an early flight from Seattle to Nome, Alaska, where your state-of-the art expedition ship awaits to take you on a journey through the famed Northwest Passage and beyond. 

Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You'll see evidence of the Gold Rush era all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique and intriguing atmosphere. 

You’ll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions. 

Upon boarding the ship and after collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore your new home-away-from-home. Your adventure has truly begun!

Along the Alaskan Coast

Science and wildlife watching at sea

Join your Expedition Team for insightful lectures as we journey through the Beaufort Sea towards Amundsen Gulf, the gates to the Northwest Passage, on this eastbound transit. Topics might include subjects such as wildlife, tectonic activity, glaciology and local history, which will prepare you for the adventures ahead. 

 The highlights of this transit include: 

The Bering Strait  

The International Date Line  

Sailing across the Beaufort Sea  

Wildlife watching  

For more detailed information about each of these, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Travel Guide.

Exploration and Adventure

Spend eight days exploring the Western section of the fabled Northwest Passage

Our excursions begin on Day 7 as we enter the Western Canadian Arctic. Over the next eight days, in this section of our voyage we’ll transit through three distinct regions—Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon—and two traditional Inuit Territories—Inuvialuit and Nunavut. 

During our time here, we anticipate up to five days of shore excursions and four transit days. Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to be able to visit include: 

Herschel Island  

Smoking Hills  

Ulukhaktok  

Coronation Gulf  

Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq)  

Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk)  

For more detailed information about each of these places, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Travel Guide .

Into Bellot Strait

Navigate the dividing line between west and east

The “Rubicon” of the Canadian Arctic that divides west from east is the infamous Bellot Strait. This narrow body of water separates the northernmost part of mainland North America from Somerset Island, one of the largest islands in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.  

Bellot Strait is approximately 15 nautical miles long and just over half a mile wide at its narrowest point. Our ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

The Eastern Canadian Arctic

Explore the eastern stretch of the Passage

On the eastern shores of Somerset Island, we find ourselves in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gates to the Northwest Passage. 

This chapter of our exploration is likely to be action-packed, with excursions planned on each of the five days we hope to spend in and around this area. Remember: all our excursion plans depend on the weather and ice but, conditions permitting, our days will be filled with excitement and discovery.  

Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to share with you include:  

Fort Ross  

Prince Leopold Island (Appait)  

Beechey Island (Iluvilik)  

Croker Bay  

Dundas Harbour  

Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik)   

For more detailed information about each of these places, along with our explorer’s guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Travel Guide .

Crossing Baffin Bay

Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science

Leaving Nunavut behind, our expedition cruise continues to Greenland across Baffin Bay. The Expedition Team will continue their on-board lectures on topics such as the wildlife of the Arctic, Inuit culture and the history of exploration in this region.  

Why not take part in one of our Citizen Science projects? You can help photograph and track whales, or observe the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.

The Wonders of West Greenland

Discover the magical beauty of Greenland

The final chapter of our journey encompasses the majestic coast of West Greenland.  

We will begin by sailing into Disko Bay—a haven for whales and seals. Over the next three days, you’ll experience some of the most iconic sites in all of Greenland. Our objectives include: 

  Ilulissat  

Nestled at the edge of the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Here you’ll find an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs set against a backdrop of colorful houses. In town you can visit a multitude of shops selling local crafts, and on the outskirts walking trails take you along the epic icefjord.  

  Sisimiut  

Sisimiut is Greenland’s second city and is situated in a spectacular location just above the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years, and old traditions are alive and well.  

Learn more about ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum, or stretch your legs on a hike.  If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut , the inner wool of the musk ox that’s said to be 10 times warmer than sheep’s wool.   

Evighedsfjord  

As we head north, we plan to offer an exploration day in the magical and pristine Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq. Each day, we’ll determine which adventures we can take part in. 

 The “Fjord of Eternity” is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft-deep waters. It's surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.

Old and New in Nuuk

End your voyage in colorful Nuuk

Today we arrive in Nuuk, Greenland’s colorful capital. It has a population of 18,000 and boasts a striking mix of old and new buildings.  

We’ll explore this fascinating city, comparing the old buildings—such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral—with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland.  

Your voyage ends with a flight from Nuuk to Reykjavík and an overnight stay.

Cosmopolitan Reykjavík 

Discover Iceland's modern capital

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and discover the city before connecting to your onwards flight home.  

Packed full of art, culture and history, Iceland’s capital is a delight to explore. Visit Laugavegur, the main shopping street, and head towards the striking Hallgrímskirkja church. Or why not explore the many galleries and museums dotted around the city? 

If you have the time, we recommend booking a Post-Program with us and discovering some of Iceland’s natural highlights.

- - - Attempted route, ice conditions dependent

Our Attempts are voyages where we challenge the elements in true expedition style. As we explore these remote and captivating areas in a safe way, our adventure will ultimately be guided by nature. If weather, sea or ice conditions do not allow our planned navigation, our experienced crew will deliver an adapted itinerary. Flexibility and our deep knowledge of the area combine to give you an amazing exploration experience.

What's included

• Overnight in Seattle before the expedition cruise, including breakfast
• Overnight in Reykjavík after the expedition cruise, including breakfast
• Economy class flight from Seattle to Nome before the expedition cruise
• Economy class flight from Nuuk to Reykjavik after the expedition cruise
• Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Seattle
• Transfer from the airport to the ship in Nome
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Reykjavík after the expedition cruise

Expedition Cruise

• A stay in a cabin of your choice
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Wine, beer and spirits available at meals and throughout the day and evening (subject to licensing laws, excludes premium drinks)
• All day coffee, tea and soft drinks
• Meals and take-away available throughout the day during Fredheim restaurant opening hours
• Fine dining in restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
• A complimentary water bottle to refill on board and take home
• A polar expedition jacket, a backpack, or another piece of HX kit
• Professional photos from your trip taken by our onboard photographer
• Complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note, streaming is not supported
• Use of sauna, hot tubs, pool, fitness room, lounges and more
• Gratuities included. Fantastic service is standard at HX – though if you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated
• Range of included activities 

Onboard Activities

• In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
• Full access to the ship’s Science Center
• Citizen Science Programme allows guests to assist with ongoing scientific research
• Professional onboard photographer gives tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
• Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings

Landing Activities

• Escorted landings with small expedition boats
• Loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities
• Expedition photographers on hand to assist you
• All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
• Excursions and activities are subject to change
• Please make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements 
• Depending on your flight times, an additional overnight might be needed (not included)

What's not included

International flights 

Additional overnight stay(s) may be required due to the timing of international flights  

Travel insurance 

Luggage handling 

Optional shore excursions with our local partners 

Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team 

Optional treatments in the on-board wellness and spa area

Special offers

Expedition exclusive cost savings and rare opportunities.

* Certain offers may not be combinable, up to two savings opportunities except where noted otherwise

Book now and save up to 40% on 2025-2026 cruises

Get a jump start on an all-inclusive adventure with the comfort of our Price Promise*

79 days left to take advantage of our best price guarantee

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Review: Greenland on 'Scenic Eclipse II' Expedition Cruise

W e came bursting out of our cabin doors, pulling cameras from their bags faster than an Arctic gyrfalcon diving for prey. Only moments earlier, Captain Erwan Le Rouzic had come onto the ship's loudspeaker and said, "You all must come to the outside decks. There's not 10, not 20, not 50, not 100, but probably several hundred whales here. They're all around us." We had to see it.

He wasn't exaggerating. From our perch on the Observation Deck, it looked like the Fountains at the Bellagio had been stretched across the horizon, thanks to the blowhole sprays of several hundred fin and humpback whales.

"This is so rare, even for Greenland," an expedition guide told us, adding that whales don't typically travel in pods anywhere near this large and that they'd likely been enticed into this bay by an abundance of food. "It makes you feel like a real explorer."

"That's exactly why we've come," I think. In a world that's been explored to the point of overtourism, Greenland stands out. Though it's the planet's largest island (roughly three times the size of Texas), the mostly Indigenous population is made up of just 57,000 residents, and prepandemic, only about 68,000 people visited annually. (For context, Times Square sees nearly twice as many total visitors on an average day.)

Granted, visitation will likely increase in the coming years-advancements in polar sailing, such as a growing number of ships with ice-breaking abilities, are making exploration of this region more accessible. In recent years, a slew of cruise companies have launched their first trips to Greenland.

What it's like sailing on the "Scenic Eclipse II"

In fact, this was the first time the ship we were aboard, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse II , the latest discovery yacht in Scenic Luxury Cruises ' portfolio, which launched in April 2023, had sailed to the ice-covered isle.

The new 10-deck ship has no shortage of comforts. All cabins (which range from the two-person 344-square-foot entry-level suite to the four-person 2,745-square-foot penthouse suite) boast private balconies, mini-bars that are restocked daily, a flat-screen TV, beds with remotes that allow you to adjust pressure and position, and butler service.

Then there are the eight dining options, which include two reservation-only tasting-menu restaurants (the French-themed Lumiere, where caviar, escargot, and champagne are givens, and the Night Market, which features different Asian cuisines each night), and the invite-only Chef's Table (which boasts a 14-course gastronomic experience, complete with wine pairings). Then there's the main bar, on the lobby level, that features a wall of more than 100 complimentary whiskeys and bourbons. (If you tell your butler which you prefer, they'll arrange for a decanter of it to be left in your room.)

Other amenities include a library, a gym, a spa complex (with massages, facials, and nail and hair treatments and gendered sauna, steam, and salt therapy rooms, which are always available to guests), a laundry room (free for guests to use), and a heated plunge pool. We spent much of our time in the theater, where expedition staff give daily lectures on everything from Arctic animals to how climate change is reshaping Greenland.

As amazing as the onboard areas and offerings are, the real appeal of the ship is its ability to access wilder areas.

Because the ship doesn't need to be anchored (it holds position with stabilizers), it can tuck into areas that other, larger ships can't. And onboard toys, like kayaks and Zodiacs (eight-person inflatable, motorized boats), get passengers even closer to nature. (Although it wasn't available on our sailing, all future cruises will also have access to a custom-built submersible called the Scenic Neptune II, which can dive 650 feet.)

One day, in an Edenic bay off the coast of the Nansen Fridtjof peninsula, we loaded into a Zodiac to zoom between bits of glacial ice. Roughly 80 percent of Greenland is covered in ice. During the summer, when it's warmer, large chunks break off and float along the shore. The pieces come in all sizes, ranging from massive tabular icebergs, as big as aircraft carriers, to smaller, baseball-sized bergy bits that float like corks in the choppy water. They also come in all kinds of surrealistic shapes, like a child's winsome doodle come to life.

Another ship amenity, a pair of Airbus H130-T2 helicopters, helped us take in the landscape from on high. With Scenic Eclipse II parked before the lolling tongue of a massive tidewater glacier in the Skjoldungen Fjord, three other passengers and I were swept into the sky. From 1,000 feet, we followed the river of ice, marred with veins of crevasses hundreds of feet deep and sprinkled with pools of water so otherworldly blue that they looked like a portal into another realm through the mountain pass. Soon, we found ourselves flying over the Greenland Ice Sheet, a pure white mass that's more than 1,200 miles long and 500 miles wide, so the horizon goes on endlessly. It's a landscape that feels both lunar in its starkness and more dazzling than the brightest sunset.

We were lucky to have that window to fly. Later in the trip there were few opportunities for airborne pursuits; the cloud ceiling was too low.

The unpredictability of cruising in Greenland

On the first day, following a lecture on being responsible visitors (including avoiding trampling plant life, not petting wild dogs, and being respectful of local communities), expedition leader Xavier Garcia told all the passengers that flexibility would be key to having a memorable and enjoyable trip. Sure, we'd be stopping in a few towns (Narsaq, Nuuk, and Ilulissat), where activities like visiting with a local family over a meal of smoked Arctic char or touring museums to get a better idea of how locals have lived in such a harsh environment were planned. But our excursions outside of port towns would be determined somewhat on a day-to-day basis.

While that's true of all expedition sailings, which are characterized by visiting remote regions where the weather often scrambles plans, it's especially true on sailings to Greenland.

Unlike other expedition destinations, such as the Galápagos islands, Svalbard, and Antarctica, which have been regular offerings from cruise companies for decades, Greenland is somewhat of a newcomer to the scene. Companies are still learning where along the 27,000 miles of coastline they can stop for activities like hikes, Zodiac rides, and polar plunges. (We did a polar plunge near the spindly finger of a tidewater glacier, where the water was just above 40 degrees-most jumpers came up shivering and swearing.)

For Garcia, who'd only been to Greenland once before our sailing, that meant reading about the history of the land and ice we'd pass, looking at navigational charts, and scouting out areas with the helicopter ahead of time. They're still learning, but those itineraries will only get better as time progresses. In 2024, this itinerary will be called the Greenland Explorer- it will start in Reykjavík before sailing to Fjallfoss in Iceland's Westfjords and then onward to Greenland for 11 days. (Three days are in towns, while the rest could be spent anywhere along Greenland's coast between the Fridtjof Nansen peninsula in the southeast and Upernavik in the west.) Afterward, guests will be flown to Copenhagen, where the journey will conclude.

"We're not planning only for this voyage, we're also researching for all the years to come," Garcia told me, before adding that regardless of when guests come or where they stop, his hope for them is that what they leave with isn't just a check on their bucket list, but a relationship with this vast and rugged wilderness. That they become better stewards of this fragile environment, where climate change and the effect it has on nature and wildlife is front and center. That they become modern explorers, not in the sense that they conquered, like the sailors of old, but instead, connected.

Bailey Berg is the associate travel news editor at AFAR, where she covers breaking news, trends, tips, sustainability, the outdoors, and more. When not interviewing sources or writing articles, she can be found exploring art galleries, visiting craft breweries, hiking with her dogs, and planning her next adventure (at present, she's been to 75+ countries and hopes to spend time in every one someday).

Already planning to see the next solar eclipse in 2026? What travelers need to know.

Umbraphiles feeling the post-eclipse blues should start checking the expiration date on their passports.

The next total solar eclipse is set to happen on Aug. 12, 2026, over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small part of Portugal, according to NASA . 

In North America, only a partial eclipse will be visible, so if April’s event made you an eclipse chaser and you want to see totality, you’ll need to head overseas.

Here’s what you’ll need to know before packing your bags:

Do you need a passport or visa for the best destination?

The path of totality for the 2026 eclipse mostly goes through places Americans can travel visa-free with their passport, so long as they’re planning to stay for less than 90 days.

Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Greenland all allow visa-free tourist travel for U.S. passport holders.

Spain, Portugal and Iceland are also members of the Schengen Area, which allows for visa-free travel in much of Europe, meaning if you decide to make a multi-country trip out of your eclipse adventure, you won’t need to clear customs if you’re coming from much of the rest of Europe, either.

One major change for travelers to Europe from the U.S., however, is that electronic preauthorization will become a requirement beginning in mid-2025. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) requirement will apply to all four open countries in the path of totality. 

Depending on the state of the Ukraine war, travel to Russia may or may not be an option for most Americans by 2026, so it’s unclear what the paperwork requirements will be by then.

Is it better to see it from the beach?

Beaches can be a great place to see the eclipse because there are few natural obstacles blocking observers’ views of the sky. The 2026 path of totality passes over beaches on Spain’s northern and southeastern coasts, as well as over islands in the Mediterranean Sea including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The eclipse will also pass over coastal areas in Greenland and Iceland, according to the National Solar Observatory . 

Cruising Altitude: What it was like to see the eclipse from a plane

Will there be eclipse cruises or flights?

Almost certainly, although most operators have not announced specific plans yet. 

Cruise lines will also offer more viewing opportunities. Princess Cruises “has created a bespoke itinerary aboard Sky Princess to position the ship near Spain on that date,” according to a spokesperson for the line. The cruise will open for bookings on Princess’s website on May 23.

Cunard Line has sailings on its Queen Mary 2 , Queen Victoria and Queen Anne vessels that will put passengers in prime spots to watch .

'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Holland America Line is also planning multiple sailings around the event, though details are still to be announced. “Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse,” Paul Grigsby, the line's vice president of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, previously told USA TODAY in an email.

Eclipse 2026: The next total solar eclipse will be Europe's 1st in 27 years

The next total solar eclipse will occur on Aug. 12, 2026.

• Why so special?

Path of totality

• Where and when will it be visible?
• Partial solar eclipse viewing locations
• Upcoming total solar eclipses

Additional resources

It's been 25 years since a total solar eclipse passed through Europe, but on Aug. 12, 2026, totality will come to the extreme northwest and southwest of the continent. 

Visible in Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, the 2026 total solar eclipse will bring a maximum of 2 minutes, 18 seconds of totality the day before the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower . 

However, this solar eclipse will be about weather and sight lines, as it will occur over potentially cloudy regions and will be relatively low in the sky. At its highest point, the eclipsed sun will be just 26 degrees above the horizon. 

Related: What's the difference between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse?

What's special about the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse?

In Iceland — in the auroral zone — the sun won't set until midnight, but the sky will get dark enough in the middle of the night for any faint auroras to become visible. In rural Spain, the skies will get much darker, making it the perfect destination to enjoy the peak night of the Perseid meteor shower, the strongest meteor shower of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the night after the eclipse. 

The 182-mile-wide (293 kilometers) moon's shadow will take around 96 minutes to cross the planet. Touching down in Russia, it will pass across Greenland, touch western Iceland, cross the Atlantic Ocean and cover northern Spain, departing just east of the Balearic Islands. 

Cruise ships will either visit Scoresby Sund in Greenland or catch the longest possible totality just west of Iceland during a circumnavigation of the island nation. The country's capital and largest city, Reykjavik, will be a hive of activity for this eclipse, though it will pay to be mobile, with the Reykjanes Peninsula and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula both potential viewing regions. 

Spain is a risky viewing location for different reasons. The eclipse will arrive on the country's northwest coast very close to sunset, so it will be important to be somewhere with a clear view low to the western horizon. 

"Some parts of Spain have high mountains that can prevent us from seeing the sun during totality, so it is very important to select the location carefully," Oscar Martín Mesonero, an eclipse chaser and astronomer at Startrails in Salamanca, Spain, told Space.com. "On the east coast, the sun will be only 4 degrees high, so any building or small mountain could ruin the view — and traffic there will be very bad."

From Mallorca, the eclipse will occur almost on the horizon, and sight lines will be tricky. 

"Mallorca is a touristy place, and prices will be very high," Mesonero said. "There are few roads and lots of mountains, so you will have to choose the site very carefully — any small obstacle could cause you to miss the eclipse — but if you succeed, you will have a spectacular view of the eclipsed sun over the sea with a golden corona!" 

Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca may be easier and more affordable options, but totality there will be much shorter.

Where and when can I see the August 2026 total solar eclipse?

Here are some of the places eclipse chasers will gather for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026:  

What will the weather be like for the Aug. 12, 2026, eclipse?

This is an eclipse with a dilemma. "In a way, Iceland is better because the sun will be higher in the sky," Graham Jones, an astrophysicist and science communicator at Time and Date , told Space.com. "By the time it reaches Spain, it's very low, which can be problematic." However, Iceland has a much higher chance of clouds. "It's a question of higher altitude and more clouds versus lower altitude and less clouds," Jones said. 

The coasts of Greenland and Iceland and the north coast of Spain are the most likely to have clouds. There are some potential bright spots — Scoresby Sund in Greenland, according to Eclipsophile — while the cooling of the land during the partial phases could cause convective clouds to dissipate across the path. 

To maximize the chance of clear skies, head for north-central Spain; the Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León regions are least likely to have clouds (but the most likely to have crowds). "It is possible that due to the day's heat, clouds form that affect the afternoon at the time of the eclipse," Mesonero said. "Having a vehicle to move around will be very important."

However, many eclipse chasers don't mind taking risks. "For people who have seen a lot of eclipses but never seen Iceland, a 40% chance of seeing it is a reasonable risk," said Victoria Sahami, owner and founder of Sirius Travel . "It was a no-brainer to put together an eclipse tour to Iceland — it's also where the longest totality is — but the best chance of clear skies will be in the Mediterranean off Mallorca." 

Where to see the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026

A partial solar eclipse will be seen across Europe and some other Northern Hemisphere locations. Here's what will be seen from major cities and destinations in the partial eclipse zone:  

After August 2026, when is the next total solar eclipse?

After the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, these are the dates and locations for the next total solar eclipses: 

• Aug. 2, 2027 : Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia, British Indian Ocean Territory
• July 22, 2028 : Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Australia, New Zealand 
• Nov. 25, 2030 : Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Australia 
• Nov. 14, 2031 : Pacific Ocean (totality), Panama (annularity) 
• March 30, 2033 : Russia, U.S. (Alaska) 
• March 20, 2034 : Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China 
• Sept. 2, 2035 : China, North Korea, Japan 

Want to look further ahead? You can find a concise summary of solar eclipses out to 2030 on NASA's eclipse website . Read more about solar and lunar eclipses on EclipseWise.com , a website dedicated to predictions of eclipses, and find beautiful maps on eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's GreatAmericanEclipse.com and interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website. You can find climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on eclipsophile.com . 

Bibliography

Anderson, J. (February 2024). Total Solar Eclipse

2026 August 12. Retrieved March 4, 2024 from https://eclipsophile.com/tse2026/

Bakich, M. and Zeiler, M. (2022). Atlas Of Solar Eclipses 2020-2045. 

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/books/atlas-of-solar-eclipses-2020-to-2045

Espenak, F. Solar Eclipse Prime Page: Total Solar Eclipse of 2026 August 12. Retrieved March 4, 2024 from: https://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2026Aug12Tprime.html

Jubier, X. (n.d.). Solar eclipses: Interactive Google Maps. Retrieved March 4, 2024 from http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleMaps.html

Time and Date. (n.d.). August 12 2026 Total Solar Eclipse. Retrieved March 5, 2024 from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2026-august-12

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Jamie is an experienced science, technology and travel journalist and stargazer who writes about exploring the night sky, solar and lunar eclipses, moon-gazing, astro-travel, astronomy and space exploration. He is the editor of  WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com  and author of  A Stargazing Program For Beginners , and is a senior contributor at Forbes. His special skill is turning tech-babble into plain English.

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Fjords, Pharaohs or Koalas? Time to Plan for Your Next Eclipse.

If you can’t get enough of totality, or missed out this time, you’ll have three more chances in the next four years in destinations like Iceland, Spain, Egypt and Australia.

• Share full article

By Danielle Dowling

Are you still a little giddy from the magical moments of totality during Monday’s solar eclipse? Or did clouds swoop in to block your view? Maybe you just couldn’t make it to the path of totality this time. No matter what, the question now is “ Where and when will it happen again?”

“People who have never seen it before, the first words out of their mouth after the totality ends is ‘I’ve got to see another one, this is incredible, this is unbelievable.’ That is when you become addicted to these things and end up traveling no matter where the next one is,” said Joseph Rao, an eclipse chaser and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium.

So, if like Mr. Rao, you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun. The first, on Aug. 12, 2026, will start above Greenland, then strafe the west coast of Iceland and move along the Atlantic Ocean and over Spain. Almost a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another will skirt the Mediterranean coast of North Africa then cross Egypt and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The third, on July 22, 2028, will cut across Australia and the southern tip of New Zealand.

Future Eclipses

Eclipse chasers will have several more chances this decade to view a total solar eclipse .

Last week, as Victoria Sahami , the owner of Sirius Travel , was preparing to guide a group of tourists in Mazatlán, Mexico, for Monday’s big event, she was also planning for these other upcoming eclipses. Ms. Sahami joined the ranks of the eclipse-obsessed when she witnessed one in Venezuela in the 1990s. “Like many people, I was hooked. There was no going back,” she said.

Total solar eclipses happen fairly regularly — about every one to two years — in locations scattered around the world. “That’s the great thing about them: You wind up in places that you don’t normally go,” Ms. Sahami said.

A major spoiler is weather, which will be a big variable in the 2026 eclipse — one Greenland, Iceland and Spain will see.

“Iceland normally has a lot of cloud during that time of year,” said Paul Maley , who runs Ring of Fire Expeditions . “The data shows Spain to have the higher good-weather prospects of all three. However, the sun is low in the sky and the eclipse ends as the sun hits the horizon at sunset.”

Because of Iceland’s mercurial meteorology, Ring of Fire Expeditions is going all in on Spain, with a 10-day excursion on the mainland. Sirius Travel is offering not only a five-day trip to Majorca but also an eight-day tour around Iceland. It will be based in Reykjavik, and the itinerary will remain flexible on the day of the eclipse so the tour can easily pivot toward the location with the least cloud cover. Ms. Sahami recommends the trip for those who already have a few eclipses under their belt and would be happy just to take in the sights of Iceland if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The 2027 eclipse, on the other hand, promises to be truly stellar: Luxor, Egypt — the site of numerous ancient temples as well as the Valleys of the Kings and Queens — sits right in the middle of the path of totality and will be bathed in darkness for a full 6 minutes 23 seconds. Weather-wise, it is what Ms. Sahami called “a slam dunk.” “You know you’re going to see it. You know that you’re not going to get any clouds,” she said.

But for all its potential, those considering Egypt should be aware that the State Department has a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warning for the country because of the risk of terrorism.

The 2028 eclipse will darken the skies over Sydney, Australia, for 3 minutes 49 seconds. It will be the first time the city has experienced a total solar eclipse since 1857. Ms. Sahami has her eyes on a trip based out of there, while Mr. Maley has chartered a cruise ship off the northwest coast of Australia. It will be winter there, he said, but that isn’t likely to mean bad eclipse-viewing weather.

If you want to see any (or all) of these eclipses, you should get started on planning and booking now, particularly if you want to sign up for a trip organized by a tour company. One of Sirius Travel’s excursions to Luxor is already full.

Scrutinize refund policies and look into insuring your trip. Several companies will fully refund your deposit if you cancel a year in advance. A lot can happen, Ms. Sahami said, “but if you think you’re going to go, why not?”

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