Overview
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Ships
Trace a path along the Northwest Passage on our 16-day Northern Canadian Discovery cruise on our boutique expedition ship following part of the legendary ice-filled route that challenged great explorers. As we sail from Greenland through the iceberg capital of the world, gaze in awe at the ice-filled straits and fjords crammed with gargantuan icebergs. The northern Canada coast around Nunavut is a haven for caribou and polar bears, and in Newfoundland we get the chance to hear the stories of the indigenous Inuit people and discover ancient whaling sites. Combining adventure and culture, this epic voyage is something every traveller should experience in their lifetime.
- Follow the path of 16th-century whalers and 19th-century explorers
- Marvel at the glistening bergs, growlers and glaciers in the iceberg capital of the world
- Immerse yourself in Inuit culture and traditions as you wander their ancestral homelands
- Look up at towering cliffs crammed with seabirds while below narwhal swim gracefully
- Learn about the history of Viking exploration, and Dorset and Thule people from our experts on board
14 September, 2025 to 30 September, 2025 on Vega
Prices
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Balcony D5
£ 16309 GBP pp
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room, a luxurious ensuite bathroom and your own private 6 sq.m. balcony.
Premium Suite
£ 25081 GBP pp
49 m2 Sleeps 2
Our grandest suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, spacious walk in wardrobe and a 12 sq.m private balcony.
Suite
£ 22838 GBP pp
44 m2 Sleeps 2
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
Balcony M5
£ 17125 GBP pp
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located at the centre of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Oceanview M4
£ 13147 GBP pp
19 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Oceanview D4
£ 12535 GBP pp
19 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview cabins features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
show reverse itinerary
DAY 1, KANGERLUSSUAQ
At the head of one of the longest fjords in western Greenland, Kangerlussuaq has a history as a World War II airbase. Visit the 60-metre tall face of the Russell Glacier on the edge of the Greenland ice cap to hear and see it crack and break off into the meltwater. Other popular activities include kayaking on the fjords and wildlife tours of the glacial areas that attract muskoxen, reindeer, arctic foxes and gyrfalcons.
DAY 2, AT SEA
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.
DAY 3, QEQERTARSUAQ
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, the largest island in Greenland, on the west coast and part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Lyngmark Glacier rises above the town and the area’s lush hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The area is very fertile and home to diverse species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move through floating icebergs and whales.
DAY 4, ILULISSAT
Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world from Disko Bay - or Qeqertarsuaq Tunua - to the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.
DAY 5, SISIMIUT
Just north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport and we have a chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the Thule district in the north.
DAY 6, NUUK (GODTHAB)
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk can easily deceive you that you’re travelling through such a wild and secluded country. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), you’ll see the busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral prominent, colourful wooden houses, avant-garde architecture and a wonderful array of fjords with clear ice waters and an unspoiled mountain backdrop. Look out for whales and on land arctic foxes, arctic hares and reindeer.
DAY 7, AT SEA
Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.
DAY 8, IQALUIT, NUNAVUT
The native Inuit are an integral part of Iqaluit, a remote community at the head of Frobisher Bay. Once-considered the possible entrance of a Northwest Passage, the bay provides insight into Inuit history and culture including dog-sledding on handmade qamutik sleds led by qimmiiq - North America's oldest and rarest purebred canine. Inuit artworks are showcased at Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum while Inuit history is evident at Crystal II, an ancient Thule Inuit settlement outside of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.
DAY 9, LADY FRANKLIN ISLAND
Most known for its huge vertical cliffs of Archean rocks, reputedly the oldest stones in Canada, Lady Franklin Island is an uninhabited isle off Hall Peninsula on Baffin Island. Black guillemots, ptarmigan and gulls all nest in this ice-filled area of the Davis Strait. Lumbering walrus haul out to the south at Monumental Island, which is also a well-known denning site for polar bears. Nearby, the Cumberland Sound is home to its own species of beluga whale.
DAY 10, AKPATOK ISLAND, NUNAVUT
With the largest number of breeding thick-billed murres in Canada, Akpatok Island - whose name in Inuktitut means thick-billed murre - is an important birding area. More than half a million pairs make their home on the ledges of the sheer limestone cliffs, while glaucous gulls keep a beady eye out for unprotected chicks and eggs. Seals, walruses and polar bears make up the scene. The brutish act of cannibalism was practiced here as recently as 1900.
DAY 11, TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Staffed completely by Inuit, Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name from the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits. We have a rare chance to follow in the footsteps of Inuit as they share their stories of spirits and traditions in their homeland, where for centuries they have been fishing and hunting polar bears and caribou. This magical land made up of dramatically spectacular mountains and deep fjords nudging up to iceberg-filled waters is only accessible by boat.
DAY 12, AT SEA
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.
DAY 13, BELLE ISLE STRAITS
Early industrial whaling is in the spotlight at Red Bay and Saddle Island in the Belle Isle Straits. Basque fishermen spotted right whales here in the 16th century, when whale oil was prized as lamp oil and soaps. The conservation site includes industrial buildings, whaling galleons, a 16th- century chalupa whaleboat and an interpretation centre. Belle Isle Straits are the shortest shipping lane from the Great Lakes, and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail lies on Belle Isle.
DAY 14, CORNER BROOK
At the end of a picturesque fjord in the Bay of Islands, made more beautiful by the Blomidon Mountains in full fall colours, Corner Brook is a bustling port city on the west coast of Newfoundland. Above the town, Captain James Cook’s monument surveys the land he once charted. This is the gateway to adventure tours - ziplining, fishing, spelunking - in scenic Humber Valley or further north among the sheer cliffs and waterfalls of Gros Morne National Park.
DAY 15, AT SEA
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.
DAY 16, HALIFAX
Founded as a naval base in 1749, Halifax’s seafaring history is well-grounded with the Canadian Museum of Immigration where one million Europeans landed up until 1971. Another reminder is the Noon Gun that has fired from the looming Citadel fortress since 1857. When Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 pm, April 14, 1912, ships set sail from here. Many victims are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, while the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic displays rescued artefacts.
Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Vega
Launched in 2022, this state of the art ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-stren…
Vega
| Launched | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Maximum capacity | 152 |
Launched in 2022, this state of the art ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.
Sophisticated Elegance. We know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious, relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed views throughout the ship. The destination will always be in view.
Your Wellbeing. The safety & happiness of our guests is paramount to our 120-strong crew on board as well as our passionate expedition team who'll be serving up thrilling shore excursions and lasting memories.
Cabin Types. Our 76 cabins including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars. Our stylish cabins all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.
