Voyage from Iceland to Greenland as the first Viking settlers did in this spectacular sea adventure. The first stop in Greenland is Anmassalik in East Greenland. You will travel from the beautiful and fertile south with its fascinating Viking history to the modern capital of Nuuk in a traditional Inuit society and to the town of Ilulissat with its floating icebergs and UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a truly great trip which will cover most of Greenland´s highlights.
Duration: 11 Nights
Price: from $3,995 per person for triple room
Included:
Accommodation
All meals, coffee, tea, water
All Zodiac tours (weather dependent)
English speaking guide
Presentations from cruise staff, guest speakers
Entertainment on board
Flight from Kangerlussuaq to Keflavík (or Keflavík to Kangerlussuaq if starting in Greenland)
Windproof jacket
Not Included:
Flights to and from Iceland
Travel Insurance
Information about the ship:
Thanks to two stabilizers that significantly reduce roll and an ice-strengthened hull, the OCEAN DIAMOND is the ideal ship for exploring the waters around Iceland and Greenland.
Due to its compact size, the OCEAN DIAMOND can enter fjords and bays too shallow for larger vessels. The ship features a range of modern onboard amenities and is staffed with outstanding officers and crew, as well as bilingual expedition leaders and guides.
The ship's Zodiacs are available for shore excursions. After a busy day of exploration, passengers can savor a health or beauty treatment in the onboard Spa, or enjoy views of the spectacular Arctic scenery from the Panorama Salon.
Included on board:
Exterior views
Facilities en suite
Flat-screen TVs and DVD players
Chef-prepared meals (all meals and daily snack included)
Bar staffed by a professional bartender
Presentations by local experts
Massage and wellness programs
Library with a large collection of books and DVDs
Internet access (limited)
Theater-style auditorium
For cruise departing August 18th 2021 the itinerary is in reverse order to the below information (i.e. starting in Kangerlussuaq and ending in Reykjavík)
Welcome to Iceland! The first day is free for you to spend at your leisure, with options including tours, shopping, or exploring some of the local restaurants. The ship departs from Reykjavík Harbour in the evening, just a couple of minutes walk from the stunning Harpa Concert Hall, and a few minutes away from the charming city center.
Today we sail across the Denmark Strait towards Greenland, following the same maritime route used by Norse settlers more than 900 years ago. En route you can attend fascinating presentations by our Expedition Team members to prepare for your visit to Greenland. Or of course, you can choose to just relax and watch whales, dolphins and seabirds from the deck or from your cabin.
The island is characterized by several glaciers, jagged peaks, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. There are vast green valleys and deep fjords with newly calved icebergs dropping off the ice cap into the sea. Tasiilaq, the largest town in East Greenland, is located on Ammassalik Island. With its population of approximately 2,000 people, the town is the gateway to explore East Greenland.
The Skjoldungen Fjord is bordered by towering mountains tipped with snow, ice-scraped valley sides with serpentine rivers of ice plunging into the sea. It is highly likely that the fjord was inhabited by Paleo-Eskimo (Inuit) nomadic people as early as 4,000 years ago. Surrounded by wild and pristine nature, it is quite common to see whales, bearded seals and various kinds of birds in the area.
When conditions are favorable, we travel along the 70 mile (112 km) long Prince Christian Sound which connects the Labrador and Irminger Seas. In this narrow, often ice choked channel, we come so close to icebergs you can almost reach out and touch one. The force of Greenland’s massive inland ice cap pushes glaciers towards the sea, where large chunks of ice break off and become floating icebergs.
With 3.000 inhabitants, Qaqortoq is the largest settlement in South Greenland. In this charming town you can find lots of strikingly beautiful colonial buildings, dating from the establishment of the town in 1775. The area has a rich history, as it has been inhabited continuously since prehistoric times. You can still see traces of Thule and Norse cultures throughout the region.
Welcome to the capital of Greenland! This city is the biggest in Greenland, with 16,000 inhabitants. Many residents of this city combine their traditional heritage with more modern ways of life, making the culture of this city very unique. The guides will take you on a walking tour of the city, ending with the famous Qilakitsoq mummies at the National Museum.
Following Nuuk, you explore Sisimiut, the second largest settlement in Greenland, with 5,600 inhabitants. This fishing town is home to another one of those unique twists of modern and traditional living. The town has a long history of whaling and fishing, as this ice-free harbor is what attracted the European settlers here in the early exploration years.
In the morning you will enter Disko Bay, where the village Ilulissat is situated next to the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The spectacular sight and sound of icebergs breaking off from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier will amaze you, as they crash into the icy fjord waters.
Considered one of the most beautiful towns in Greenland, Uummannaq is situated at the foot of a heart-shaped mountain of the same name. This small island is a beautiful example of the Greenlandic northern coast.
The small village of Qeqertarsuaq is found just south of Disko Island. The whaling history of this settlement began in 1773, and hunting and fishing are still important parts of the economy here on the island.
In the morning you will arrive at the 120 mile long fjord of Kangerlussuaq, where you will say goodbye to the Ocean Diamond. A flight will take you from the nearby airport to Keflavík.
Dates
08/07/2021 - 08/18/2021 - Iceland to Greenland Cruise
08/18/2021 - 08/29/2021 - Greenland to Iceland Cruise
Prices
Triple occupancy: from $3,995 per person
Double occupancy: from $5,990 per person
Contact us for cabin availability and deck plan
