Canadian Arctic & Northern Lights
17 Days - SH Vega
Visit parts of the legendary ice-filled route that challenged great explorers on this epic Northern Canadian Discovery voyage. Sail from Greenland through the iceberg capital of the world, and gaze in awe at the straits and fjords crammed with huge icebergs. Watch out for caribou and polar bears on the northern Canadian coast, and you’ll get the chance to hear the stories of the indigenous Inuit people, and discover whaling sites in Newfoundland.
from NZD $13592pp
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Home » 17 Day SH Vega: Canadian Arctic & Northern Lights
Itinerary Highlights
- 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
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Reykjavik
- Day 2: Fly to Kangerlussuaq and Embark
- Day 3: Day at Sea
- Day 4: Qeqertarsuaq
- Day 5: Ilulissat, Disko Bay
- Day 6: Sisimiut
- Day 7: Nuuk
- Day 8: Day at Sea
- Day 9: Iqaluit, NU
- Day 10: Lady Franklin Island, NU
- Day 11: Torngat Mountains National Park, NL
- Day 12: Hebron, NL
- Day 13: Day at Sea
- Day 14: L'anse Aux Meadows, NL
- Day 15: Bonne Bay, Woody Point, NL
- Day 16: Day at Sea
- Day 17: Halifax, NS
Day 1: Reykjavik
Arrive in Reykjavik and join the group shuttle from the airport to your hotel. Explore this vibrant city on your own and prepare for your cruise adventure tomorrow!
Day 2: Fly to Kangerlussuaq and Embark
After an early breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Kangerlussuaq. On arrival you will be transferred to the ship for embarkation.
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen. Inland, Point 660 offers a chance to walk on the Greenland ice cap, and nearby, the 60-m tall Russell Glacier calving is a highlight.
Day 3: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 4: Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland's largest island, on its west coast, part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO-listed Site for its icebergs. The Lyngemark Glacier rises above the town. The area’s hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The area is fertile and home to species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move through floating icebergs and whales.
Day 5: Ilulissat, Disko Bay
Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, 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 6: Sisimiut
The northernmost city in Greenland, just north of the Arctic Circle, 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. Abandoned settlements lie between Sisimiut and the Thule district to the north. The area is home to humpback whales, walrus, and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.
Day 7: Nuuk
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk has a thriving arts scene. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), Nuuk has a busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral, colourful wooden houses and avant-garde architecture. It also serves as the gateway to Inuit experiences and natural adventures on the fjords among the icy seas and spectacular mountains.
Day 8: Day 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 9: Iqaluit, NU
The native Inuit are an integral part of Iqaluit, a remote community at the head of Frobisher Bay. The bay provides insight into Inuit history and culture including dog-sledding on handmade qamutik sleds led by qimmiq - North America's oldest and rarest purebred canine. Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum displays Inuit artwork while Crystal II, an ancient Thule Inuit settlement, lies outside of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.
Day 10: Lady Franklin Island, NU
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, a well-known denning site for polar bears. Nearby, the Cumberland Sound is home to its own species of beluga whale.
Day 11: Torngat Mountains National Park, NL
Staffed completely by Inuit, Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name from the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits. Here, Inuit 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: Hebron, NL
The remote Arctic outpost of Hebron, an Inuit community, provides insight into Inuit traditions and Arctic life. The Hebron National Historic Site showcases Arctic landscapes, including fjords, icebergs and wildlife, while shedding light on Inuit heritage through abandoned mission buildings. In 1959, during an Easter service, Moravian church officials abruptly closed the mission, relocating 58 families to other coastal Labrador towns.
Day 13: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 14: L'anse Aux Meadows, NL
The 1,000-year-old Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows (Meadows Cove), on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, is the first and only authenticated Viking site in the Americas, believed to have been occupied by Leif Erikson. He was the first European to explore Canada's east coast in around 1021. Some of the 800 original Norse artefacts and eight sod houses are on view during a tour of the recreated village, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 15: Bonne Bay, Woody Point, NL
Bonne Bay, Newfoundland’s only true fjord, is part of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Waterfalls and rocky pinnacles dot the cliffs, while majestic whales breach the surface of the fjord and playful dolphins frolic in the waves. Woody Point is a small town on its south side, known for its heritage wooden buildings, with the John William Roberts House, a testament to the town's shipbuilding past.
Day 16: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 17: Halifax, NS
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, and the Noon Gun that has fired from the Citadel fortress since 1857. When the 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.
After breakfast you will disembark and transfer from the port to the airport.
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
14 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2025 | NZD $13592pp | ||
Triple Oceanview M4 | NZD $13592pp | Contact us | |
Oceanview D4 | NZD $15422pp | Contact us | |
Oceanview M4 | NZD $16311pp | Contact us | |
Triple Balcony M5 | NZD $17574pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D5 | NZD $20200pp | Contact us | |
Balcony M5 | NZD $21089pp | Contact us | |
Quadruple Suite | NZD $21150pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D6 | NZD $22200pp | Contact us | |
Suite | NZD $28200pp | Contact us | |
Premium Suite | NZD $31089pp | Contact us |
- Please note that cabins Balcony D6, Premium Suite and some Balcony D5 can also be converted into Triples. The Third person will pay only 50% off fare.
- Triple Cabins can also be converted into Quads for 2 children.
- Children under 18 years of age at time of travelling only pay 10% of fare when sharing a room with 2 full fare paying adults.
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Oceanview D4
20 m2
Oceanview Staterooms feature two single beds or a double bed, a bedroom with living room area, and a luxurious bathroom.
Oceanview M4
20 m2
Oceanview Staterooms feature two single beds or a double bed, a bedroom with living room area, and a luxurious bathroom.
Balcony D5
25 m2
Balcony Staterooms feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom, and a 5m2 (54ft2) private balcony.
Balcony M5
25 m2
Balcony Staterooms feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom, and a 5m2 (54ft2) private balcony.
Balcony D6
25 m2
Balcony Staterooms feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom, and a 5m2 (54ft2) private balcony.
Suite
40 m2
Suites feature a king size bed, and have a separate living room, with a flame-effect fireplace. There’s also a luxurious ensuite bathroom – with separate bath tub and walk-in shower – and a 10m2 (108ft2) private balcony.
Premium Suite
47 m2
Premium Suites have a king size bed, separate living room, and flame-effect fireplace. There’s also a luxurious ensuite bathroom – with separate bath tub and shower – walk-in wardrobe, and a 12m2 (129ft2) private balcony.
Triple Oceanview M4
19 m2
Located on Deck 4 at the bow. Light, bright and crafted from natural materials Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds or a double bed, a bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
To make it a Triple room, the third guest will sleep on a Single Sofa bed – Dimensions of the Sofa: 1860 X 1230 mm
Triple Balcony M5
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 5 at the centre of the ship, staterooms features 2 single beds or a double bed, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 balcony.
To make it a Triple room, the third guest will sleep on a Single Sofa bed – Dimensions of the Sofa: 1900 X 1380 mm
Quadruple Suite
44 m2
Located on Deck 5 and 6 at the centre of the ship, our spacious Suites with a 12 sq.m. private balconies are a favorite with discerning guests, and those that prefer a little more space and comfort.
To make it a Quad room, the third and fourth guests will sleep on a Double Sofa bed – Dimensions of the Sofa: 1900 X 1380 mm
SH Vega Deckplan
Specifications
CREW: 120
GUESTS: 152
DECKS: 9
LENGTH: 337 ft (115 m)
DRAFT: 18 ft (5.5 m)
BREADTH: 75 ft (23 m)
REGISTERED: Panama
CRUISING SPEED: 15.5 knots in open water
LIFEBOATS: 2 fully enclosed
PROPULSION DIESEL-ELECTRIC ENGINES: 4x Medium speed, Polar code Cat A
Whats included?
- Group return transfers (Airport to hotel, hotel to airport for charter flight, Airport to ship, ship to airport)
- One-night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard. Copenhagen hotel if cruise start in Longyearbyen and Reykjavik hotel if cruise start in Kangerlussuaq
- One way charter flight from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen or from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
- All meals onboard
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and selected alcoholic beverages available 24 hours per day
- Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- Standard WiFi
- Self-service laundry
- Onboard gratuities and port taxes
- One selected shore excursion per non-expedition port of call
- Up to 2 expedition activities per expedition port of call
- Stainless Steel water bottle and backpack
What’s not included?
- Flights not mentioned
- Any items not mentioned as included.
Notes
- Please note that cabins Balcony D6, Premium Suite and some Balcony D5 can also be converted into Triples. The Third person will pay only 50% off fare.
- Triple Cabins can also be converted into Quads for 2 children.
- Children under 18 years of age at time of travelling only pay 10% of fare when sharing a room with 2 full fare paying adults.