18-Day Sagas & Sea Cliffs: Greenland To Newfoundland Cruise

Day 1 - Reykjavik, Iceland

Arrive: Wed 06 September 2028 / Depart: Wed 06 September 2028 at 17:00

Warmed by the Gulf Stream as well as by highly active thermal hot springs and volcanoes, Iceland is somewhat misnamed. While it is a stark and barren country with three huge areas of glaciers, one theory is that early Norsemen sought to mislead other potential settlers by giving a pleasant name to fierce, inhospitable Greenland, and a forbidding name to the imminently habitable Iceland. Irish monks and hermits established themselves here in the 8th century, but left a century later when the pagan Norsemen arrived. Europe's first Parliament of General Assembly, the Althing, was established in the year 930 and still functions as the legislative body, although it was suspended by the Danes at the end of the 18th century and not reconvened until 1843. Reykjavik was the site picked by the island's first permanent resident, Ingolfur Arnarson in 874, and is home to more than half of the island's total population. The world's northernmost capital, Reykjavik is proud of its virtual lack of air pollution. Both electrical power and home heating are derived from the geothermal activity on the island. The city's large swimming pools are always warm, and in the countryside exotic fruits such as grapes and bananas are cultivated in greenhouses made cozy with the help of underground hot springs.

Day 2 - Exploring The Outer Islands of Heimaey

Day 2 - Heimaey

Arrive: Thu 07 September 2028 at 12:00 / Depart: Thu 07 September 2028 at 19:00

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - Prince Christian Sound

Arrive: Sat 09 September 2028 at 16:00

Day 5 - Prince Christian Sound

Depart: Sun 10 September 2028 at 12:00

Day 5 - Kangikitsok, Greenland

Day 6 - Qaqortoq, Greenland

Arrive: Mon 11 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 11 September 2028 at 14:00

The largest town in South Greenland with over 3,500 citizens, Qaqortoq was founded in 1775 and still reveals some examples of colonial-period architecture. There is not infrastructure to support shore excursions here, but guests can explore the town and its museum, or possibly arrange a visit to a nearby hot springs. Like other towns in Greenland, there are also possibilities to buy examples of traditional Inuit arts and crafts, including items crafted of bone, soapstone and wild-harvested furs.

Day 6 - Hvalsey, Iceland

Arrive: Mon 11 September 2028 at 15:00 / Depart: Mon 11 September 2028 at 20:00

Twelve miles by Zodiac up the Hvalseyjarfjord from Qaqortoq, the largest community in South Greenland, lies the most prominent Norse archaeological site in Greenland. The so-called Eastern Settlement lasted from the 10th until the mid-15th century. Your expedition team archaeologist can interpret for you the ruins of the great halls and church at Hvalsey that hint of a prospering medieval farmstead. The site evokes an era when the Norse were trading with the indigenous Thule people of the area for furs and ivory, which were a prized commodities in Europe. A wedding held in the church in 1408 comprises the last written record of the Norse adventure in Greenland. Within a few years, Hvalsey and the rest of other Norse communities of Greenland withered as immigrants returned to the more established communities in Iceland and Norway. The site’s meadows of wildflowers sloping up from the fjord give a sense of the peaceful community that existed here in that long-ago summer.

Day 7 - Qassiarsuq (Brattalihd)

Arrive: Tue 12 September 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 12 September 2028 at 12:00

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 9 - Nain, Canada

Arrive: Thu 14 September 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 14 September 2028 at 16:00

Day 10 - Nachvak Fjord

Arrive: Fri 15 September 2028 at 09:00 / Depart: Fri 15 September 2028 at 17:00

Day 11 - Eclipse Channel, Labrador, Canada

Day 12 - Saglek Fjord, Labrador, Canada

Day 13 - Hopedale, Labrador, Canada

Day 14 - Indian Harbour, NL, Canada

Day 15 - L Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada

Day 16 - Red Bay, Labrador

Arrive: Thu 21 September 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 21 September 2028 at 17:00

Red Bay is a National Historic Site of Canada, and has been nominated by Canada for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the reasons is the importance of the Basque whaling activity that thrived here in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Sunken Basque galleons and smaller boats from the period have been discovered just offshore. Although the whale population is much diminished today, it is still a popular activity to watch them, as well as the icebergs that float down from the seas further north.

Day 17 - Norris Point, Newfoundland, Canada

Day 18 - At Sea

Day 19 - Halifax

Arrive: Sun 24 September 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 24 September 2028

With its exceptionally delightful harbor side setting, early Europeans were first attracted to Halifax in 1749 with the establishment here of a military outpost by Colonel Cornwallis. The ports natural advantages of a well-protected harbor and close proximity to major fishing grounds resulted in its growth into a major military base and sea port. The peninsula has had several major immigrations during its history; English, French, German, Irish and Scottish have come in substantial numbers at various times. Travelers familiar with the South Pacific will find it interesting to know that Captain James Cook, whose explorations defined most of the Pacific Basin for Europeans, also spent four years in Halifax charting Nova Scotia and the waters of the St. Lawrence. A college town, Halifax has an exhilarating and youthful air about it, as evidenced by many bicyclists and skateboarders. The heart of Halifax offers wonderful restaurants and shopping, galleries, museums, and sites of historic interest including the Naval Dockyard, which dates from 1757, and St. Paul's Church. Heading out of town, the wonders of nature are to be found in the form of the sea, with the smell of salty air, cool ocean breezes, and the powerful force of waves crashing against the rugged shoreline.