Cruise Itinerary

The city that launched the Beatles, Liverpool is still a hardworking docks town, offering a lively pub scene and a branch of London's Tate Gallery. Sample shore excursions: The Beatles; The Roman City of Chester.

The patron saints of Reykjavik are fire and ice. Iceland is a land of volcanoes and glaciers, lava fields and green pastures, boiling thermal springs and ice-cold rivers teeming with salmon. This unspoiled demi-paradise is also home to a very old and sophisticated culture. The northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavik was founded in 874 when Ingolfur Arnarson threw wood pillars into the sea, vowing to settle where the pillars washed ashore. Today, Iceland is an international center of commerce and home to one of the most technologically sophisticated societies in the world. Reykjavik is the gateway to Iceland's natural wonders, which range from ice fields to thermal pools. The island is in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology.

Prins Christian Sund is a dramatically picturesque fjord in the south of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Marvel at gorgeous glaciers, steep mountains reaching over 2,200 metres, crystal-clear waterfalls and untouched wildlife. Jump onboard a Greenland cruise and enjoy watching whales swim along the iceberg-dotted shores. In summer, you can spot bright blue and purple flowers – and during winter nights the magical northern lights appear. Walk around the only settlement here, Aappilattoq, a small village of colourful Nordic-style houses that's home to only around 100 people.

Meaning the Great Plain this city enjoys unimpeded views of endless green fields and verdant slopes and explains why Erik the Red chose the name Greenland when he settled here in 985. To this day the ruins of the Norse era are clearly visible, as are the reconstructions of Erik's farmstead and Thjodhildur's Church. In the village of Igaliku lie the ruins of the Viking's Cathedral and the Episcopal Bishop's Farm.

If you're a seasoned traveler with a taste for destinations untrammeled by modern tourism, Qaqortoq is the ultimate port of call. Qaqortoq means "White Palace" in Greenlandic, and this small town of about 3,400 is the cultural and commercial center of Southern Greenland. Inuit and then Europeans were drawn to the site over 200 years ago, they were lured by the wealth of marine mammals that thrive in the offshore waters during summer. The climate is, at best, highly unpredictable. Summer temperatures normally compare to summer temperatures in Northern Europe, but weather is variable even in summer. In winter, Qaqortoq is frequently isolated by winter sea ice and accessible only by airplane or helicopter. The harsh landscape and harsher climate have helped preserve traditional Greenlandic culture - the centuries-old Inuit skills of hunting, kayaking, and fishing are still revered in this unique place. Organized shore excursions for Qaqortoq may not available on select voyages, but the town is easy to explore on your own. The ship's launches drop you off at the pier, providing you with the opportunity to stroll the streets, visit the small local museum, talk to the local residents, buy a souvenir stamp at the Post Office and perhaps purchase an Inuit handicraft as a remembrance of your visit to one of the unique communities on the planet. Note: Your ship anchors at Qaqortoq and passengers are transferred to shore via ship's launches, weather conditions permitting.

Nanortalik means "place of bears" in Greenlandic. Summer visitors to this extraordinary - and extraordinarily isolated - port may spot polar bears on the offshore flow ice. Those offshore waters also teem with seals and Minke, humpback and fin whales. Ashore, brightly painted wooden houses cluster to a rocky peninsula in the harbor. Dramatic boulders dot the landscape, and mountains surround the port. (Nanortalik is well known to the world's elite rock climbers.) Ruined Viking farmsteads and ancient Inuit sites dot the surrounding countryside. The port was founded 1797 as a Danish whaling station. Today, Nanortalik is a fishing port, and many people are traditional seal hunters.

Prins Christian Sund is a dramatically picturesque fjord in the south of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Marvel at gorgeous glaciers, steep mountains reaching over 2,200 metres, crystal-clear waterfalls and untouched wildlife. Jump onboard a Greenland cruise and enjoy watching whales swim along the iceberg-dotted shores. In summer, you can spot bright blue and purple flowers – and during winter nights the magical northern lights appear. Walk around the only settlement here, Aappilattoq, a small village of colourful Nordic-style houses that's home to only around 100 people.

Often described as the capital of north Iceland, the country's second-largest city is both vibrant and pretty, and serves as an ideal hub for exploring the incredible landscape that surrounds it. Located at the head of a 60-kilometer fjord—the country’s longest—and surrounded by snow-streaked mountains, Akureyri was originally settled in the 9th century and was first officially mentioned as a city in the 16th century. Today it boasts a population of around 17,000, a scenic harbor and an array of interesting shops, buzzy cafés and upscale restaurants. Its main sights include the Akureyri Church, a wonderful botanical garden (founded in 1912) and the fascinating Akureyri Museum. From here it’s possible to explore some of the country’s most memorable landscapes, starting with Akureyri’s own fjord, Eyjafjörður, where you'll find several museums (including the Icelandic Folk and Outsider Art Museum), fishing villages like Grenivík and plenty of dramatic mountain scenery. Farther afield are the island of Grímsey, the volcanic wonderland of Lake Mývatn and a whole host of waterfalls, gorges, churches and saga sites.

The city that launched the Beatles, Liverpool is still a hardworking docks town, offering a lively pub scene and a branch of London's Tate Gallery. Sample shore excursions: The Beatles; The Roman City of Chester.