Grand Expedition: Pole To Pole Cruise

Day 1 - Reykjavik, Iceland

Arrive: Tue 17 August 2027

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 - Reykjavik, Iceland

Depart: Wed 18 August 2027

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 - Kangerlussuaq

Arrive: Wed 18 August 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 18 August 2027 at 20:00

In October, 1941 the United States Army Air Force constructed an airbase at the site of Kangerlussuaq. It served as a refuelling stop for single-engine military aircraft being flown to Britain during World War II. Form their last port of call, Goose Bay, Labrador, it was 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to Kangerlussuaq until they could refuel. Kangerlussuaq fjord (‘Big Fjord’), is 170 kilometers (105 miles) long and was often shrouded in fog, providing a serious navigation problem for those aircrews. Today, with the use of modern technology, navigation is no longer an issue. The landscape was ideal for the site of an airport. A large alluvial plain, deposited by the nearby glacial-outflow river, provided a perfectly flat environment for an airport. Kangerlussuaq is the largest commercial airport in Greenland and supports a population of 500. A little known fact, from 1971 to 1987, 33 missiles from various countries, were fired from Kangerlussuaq for upper atmospheric scientific research.

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Pond Inlet

Arrive: Sat 21 August 2027 at 06:00 / Depart: Sat 21 August 2027 at 13:00

Day 6 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 7 - The Seabourn Ellesmere Island Experience

Day 8 - The Seabourn Ellesmere Island Experience

Day 9 - The Seabourn Ellesmere Island Experience

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - The Seabourn Northwest Greenland Experience

Day 12 - The Seabourn Northwest Greenland Experience

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Kangerlussuaq

Arrive: Mon 30 August 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 30 August 2027 at 20:00

In October, 1941 the United States Army Air Force constructed an airbase at the site of Kangerlussuaq. It served as a refuelling stop for single-engine military aircraft being flown to Britain during World War II. Form their last port of call, Goose Bay, Labrador, it was 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to Kangerlussuaq until they could refuel. Kangerlussuaq fjord (‘Big Fjord’), is 170 kilometers (105 miles) long and was often shrouded in fog, providing a serious navigation problem for those aircrews. Today, with the use of modern technology, navigation is no longer an issue. The landscape was ideal for the site of an airport. A large alluvial plain, deposited by the nearby glacial-outflow river, provided a perfectly flat environment for an airport. Kangerlussuaq is the largest commercial airport in Greenland and supports a population of 500. A little known fact, from 1971 to 1987, 33 missiles from various countries, were fired from Kangerlussuaq for upper atmospheric scientific research.

Day 15 - Nuuk Godthaab

Arrive: Tue 31 August 2027 at 14:00 / Depart: Tue 31 August 2027 at 22:00

Greenland’s capital boasts some 16,000 inhabitants. Although the town does not offer us any shore excursions, there are several attractions which guests may wish to visit. One is the roofed town market, where the products of the nearby sea and wilderness are for sale, including the meat of whales, seals, birds and fish. The Katuaq Cultural Center offers changing exhibitions. Especially worth a visit is the National Museum, which besides many historic objects, contains the quite famous 500-year old mummies recovered from Qilakitsoq. The nearby Museum of Art has works by both Inuit and Nordic artists. There is also an artisan’s center where guests may purchase locally produced works, and a collection of traditional houses.

Day 16 - At Sea

Day 17 - Iqaluit

Arrive: Thu 02 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 02 September 2027 at 12:00

In 1576, English explorer Martin Frobisher sailed into Frobisher Bay in search of a route to China. What he “discovered” was a large inlet with numerous Inuit fishing and hunting camps along its shores. The name Iqaluit means ‘a place of many fish’ in Inuktitut. Although the Inuit people had been here for thousands of years prior, they hadn’t establish a permanent settlement. It wasn’t until 1942 that the first Inuit made Iqaluit home. They settled here to help service the U.S. Air Force base, which was used to ferry aircraft to Europe during World War II. Iqaluit, the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, has 7,700 inhabitants. Some 60% of its residents are Inuit. A highlight of a visit here is the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, with its beautiful displays of Inuit art, artifacts and dioramas of Arctic life. St. Jude's Cathedral, often referred to as the ‘Igloo Cathedral’ because of its unique architectural design, is likewise of interest to visitors.

Day 18 - Diana Island, Nunavut, Canada

Day 19 - Erik Cove, Nunavut, Canada

Day 20 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 21 - Fury and Hecla Strait, Canada

Day 22 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 23 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 24 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 25 - Cambridge Bay Village

Day 26 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 27 - The Seabourn Northwest Passage Experience

Day 28 - At Sea

Day 29 - At Sea

Day 30 - Sisimiut, Greenland

Arrive: Wed 15 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 15 September 2027 at 17:00

Sisimiut is Greenland’s second-largest town, and large by Greenland standards, housing some 6,000 people. It is located just north of the Arctic Circle, and is a popular base for visitors seeking adventurous pastimes in the surrounding country. Although there are no shore excursions planned for Sisimiut, guests may wish to investigate the local market, where the products of the country are sold, including meat from whales, reindeer, musk oxen and many kinds of fish. Watch for the stocky little Icelandic horses trotting along the highways, and keep an eye out for sea eagles often seen perched on the surrounding mountains. Whales are also often seen in the sea nearby. On the hill above the harbor, there is an artisan’s workshop where they create and sell Inuit crafts, and nearby is the town museum, which has examples of colonial period houses, peat houses and other early buildings.

Day 31 - Evighedsfjorden

Arrive: Thu 16 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 16 September 2027 at 17:00

Day 32 - Kangerlussuaq

Arrive: Fri 17 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 17 September 2027

In October, 1941 the United States Army Air Force constructed an airbase at the site of Kangerlussuaq. It served as a refuelling stop for single-engine military aircraft being flown to Britain during World War II. Form their last port of call, Goose Bay, Labrador, it was 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to Kangerlussuaq until they could refuel. Kangerlussuaq fjord (‘Big Fjord’), is 170 kilometers (105 miles) long and was often shrouded in fog, providing a serious navigation problem for those aircrews. Today, with the use of modern technology, navigation is no longer an issue. The landscape was ideal for the site of an airport. A large alluvial plain, deposited by the nearby glacial-outflow river, provided a perfectly flat environment for an airport. Kangerlussuaq is the largest commercial airport in Greenland and supports a population of 500. A little known fact, from 1971 to 1987, 33 missiles from various countries, were fired from Kangerlussuaq for upper atmospheric scientific research.

Day 33 - Nuuk Godthaab

Arrive: Sat 18 September 2027 at 11:00 / Depart: Sat 18 September 2027 at 18:00

Greenland’s capital boasts some 16,000 inhabitants. Although the town does not offer us any shore excursions, there are several attractions which guests may wish to visit. One is the roofed town market, where the products of the nearby sea and wilderness are for sale, including the meat of whales, seals, birds and fish. The Katuaq Cultural Center offers changing exhibitions. Especially worth a visit is the National Museum, which besides many historic objects, contains the quite famous 500-year old mummies recovered from Qilakitsoq. The nearby Museum of Art has works by both Inuit and Nordic artists. There is also an artisan’s center where guests may purchase locally produced works, and a collection of traditional houses.

Day 34 - At Sea

Day 35 - Pangnirtung

Arrive: Mon 20 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 20 September 2027 at 12:00

Day 35 - Kekerten Island

Arrive: Mon 20 September 2027 at 14:30 / Depart: Mon 20 September 2027 at 18:00

Day 36 - Nunavut Canada

Arrive: Tue 21 September 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 21 September 2027 at 12:00

Lady Franklin Island, is an uninhabited Baffin Island offshore island located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in the territory of Nunavut. The island lies in Davis Strait, 25 mi from Hall Peninsula. There are at least seven smaller, unnamed islands off its northwest shore.

Day 36 - Monumental Island

Arrive: Tue 21 September 2027 at 13:00 / Depart: Tue 21 September 2027 at 18:00

Montserrat is a mountainous Caribbean island, part of the Lesser Antilles chain and a British Overseas Territory. Its Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in the 1990s, causing significant damage to the south of the island and leading to the creation of an exclusion zone. The north of the island is largely unaffected, and has black-sand beaches, coral reefs, cliffs and shoreline caves.

Day 37 - Lower Savage Islands, Canada

Arrive: Wed 22 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 22 September 2027 at 12:00

Day 37 - Resolution Island, Nunavut, Canada

Day 38 - Nachvak Fjord

Arrive: Thu 23 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 23 September 2027 at 19:00

Day 39 - Ramah Bay, Torngat Mts, Canada

Day 39 - Rose Island, Torngat Mts, Canada

Day 40 - Hebron, NL, Canada

Arrive: Sat 25 September 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 25 September 2027 at 17:00

Day 41 - Nain, Canada

Arrive: Sun 26 September 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 26 September 2027 at 17:00

Day 42 - Indian Harbour, NL, Canada

Day 43 - Battle Harbour, Canada

Arrive: Tue 28 September 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 28 September 2027 at 11:30

Day 43 - L'Anse aux Meadows

Arrive: Tue 28 September 2027 at 14:30 / Depart: Tue 28 September 2027 at 19:00

Located at the most northerly tip of Newfoundland, L'Anse aux Meadows is nestled near the fishing village of St. Anthony. It is the site of the first European settlement in the New World, approximately 500 years before Columbus' arrival. Other Norse groups had relocated from their homelands to the New World. In 1961, explorer and writer Helge Instad discovered a group of large mounds in the countryside. These mounds were excavated revealing the remains of a Norse settlement. This site became L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Park in 1977 and is noted on the UNESCO World Heritage List of important cultural properties. The site at L'Anse aux Meadows has been completely excavated allowing visitors to see the remains of the homes, a smithy, and various worksheds. The park's interpretive center displays Norse artifacts from the excavation which include iron rivets, a flywheel and the floorboard of a boat. Researchers still debate as to whether the site at L'Anse aux Meadows is Leif Eriksson's 'Vinland,' a lush, beautiful area where he settled in for the winter around the year 1000. Parks Canada will greet you on disembarking the ship and you may explore at leisure this first settlement of the New World.

Day 44 - At Sea

Day 45 - At Sea

Day 46 - Halifax

Arrive: Fri 01 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 01 October 2027 at 17:00

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.

Day 47 - At Sea

Day 48 - At Sea

Day 49 - At Sea

Day 50 - At Sea

Day 51 - St. Kitts

Arrive: Wed 06 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 06 October 2027 at 18:00

A classic golden arc of sugary sand at South Friar’s Bay, Carambola is home to the island’s most luxurious beach clubs and restaurants. Umbrellas, loungers and optional water sports abound for those so inclined. Otherwise St. Kitts has other attractions, including a number of lovingly preserved plantation great houses, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brimstone Hill Fortress and a scenic narrow gauge sugarcane railway.

Day 52 - Little Bay, Montserrat

Arrive: Thu 07 October 2027 at 06:00 / Depart: Thu 07 October 2027 at 17:00

Day 53 - Rodney Bay, St. Lucia

Arrive: Fri 08 October 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 08 October 2027 at 18:00

This is the island’s yachting center, quieter and less crowded than the main port of Castries. You can visit the island’s “drive-in” volcano at Soufriere, view the iconic peaks of the Pitons or perhaps snorkel at Pigeon Island, one of Jacques Cousteau’s favorite dive spots.

Day 54 - Barbados

Arrive: Sat 09 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 09 October 2027 at 18:00

Barbados has retained many of the trappings of its British colonial heritage. Judges and barristers wear proper robes and wigs, police don helmets styled after London bobbies and cricket remains a national passion. Barbados also has all the sporting appeal of the rest of the Caribbean, with pristine beaches, powerful surf and crystal clear waters. Brightly colored homes and hibiscus flowers mingle with mahogany trees and English churches dating back to the 17th century.

Day 55 - Port of Spain

Arrive: Sun 10 October 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 10 October 2027 at 20:00

Day 56 - At Sea

Day 57 - At Sea

Day 58 - French Guiana

Arrive: Wed 13 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 13 October 2027 at 19:00

Before they were a notorious penal colony, the Iles de Salut (Islands of Salvation) provided French colonists with a welcome escape from the fever-ridden jungles of the Guiana mainland. Lying ten miles off the coastline, and swept by treacherous ocean currents, the trio of small islands provided a perfect isolated location for incarcerating criminals without danger or expense, since the shark-infested sea and the trackless jungles ashore precluded any possibility of escape. All three islands, popularly known as Devil's Island, were used as a prison from 1852 to 1953. Your day is free to explore the prison ruins or search for signs of the surprisingly abundant wildlife.

Day 59 - At Sea

Day 60 - At Sea

Day 61 - Crossing the Equator

Day 62 - Fortaleza

Arrive: Sun 17 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 17 October 2027 at 14:00

Fortaleza, in the northeastern state of Ceara, is one of Brazil's chief seaports. Among the wealth of exports passing through its harbor are cotton, beans, rice, sugar, fruit, and of course, coffee. Lovely beaches shaded by coconut palms and some of the finest handicrafts Brazil has to offer are among the city's appealing attractions. Explore the highlights of the region along with some of its traditional activities.

Day 63 - Natal

Arrive: Mon 18 October 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Mon 18 October 2027 at 17:00

Natal was built on the right bank of the River Potenji, right where the river meets the Atlantic; the soil is very sandy, with dunes and bays protected by reefs which appear all along the shore line. This "City of Dunes" invites you to ride in a dune buggy over huge sand dunes with sweeping views of the sea.

Day 64 - At Sea

Day 65 - Salvador

Arrive: Wed 20 October 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 20 October 2027 at 18:00

If Rio is the heart of Brazil and Sao Paulo is its brain, Salvador is its spirit. It was here in 1549 that the Portuguese founded the capital city and chief port of their new colony. Vast fortunes were made through the slave trade, and the introduction of a large African population had an important effect on the local culture. Salvador is built in two levels. The most appealing is in the upper city, the lovely colonial neighborhood of Pelourinho, which in the past few years has been completely restored to its former glory.

Day 66 - At Sea

Day 67 - At Sea

Day 68 - Buzios

Arrive: Sat 23 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 23 October 2027 at 14:00

Buzios is on everyone’s top ten most beautiful places list. With dozens of gorgeous beaches, warm, clear waters, lush tropical vegetation and a wealth of opportunities for active or relaxing play, it earns the spot easily. The place thrives on pleasing visitors, and you’ll be no exception. VIEW CRUISES

Day 69 - Parati

Arrive: Sun 24 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 24 October 2027 at 17:00

As one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the world, Parati, which means "white fish," is protected by UNESCO. The city exudes a magical and romantic ambience with its gas lights, well-preserved colonial houses, gardens and winding streets. Parati's history goes back to the early 1530s and is full of tales of pirates, gold, romance and mystery. As the second most important port in Brazil, Parati Harbor was built in the 17th and 18th centuries for the export of gold to Portugal, and as the center of southern Brazil's slave trade. The economy of Parati later turned to sugar cane with a multitude of mills that produced Brazil's high quality spirit known as "pinga" or cachaça.

Day 70 - Rio de Janeiro

Arrive: Mon 25 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 25 October 2027 at 17:00

Its stunning setting and joyous lust for life make Rio a cidade maravilhosa, "marvelous city." Ipanema, Copacabana, samba - the words alone conjure Brazilian paradise.

Day 71 - At Sea

Day 72 - Camboriu, Brazil

Arrive: Wed 27 October 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 27 October 2027 at 18:00

Day 73 - At Sea

Day 74 - At Sea

Day 75 - Montevideo

Arrive: Sat 30 October 2027 at 06:00 / Depart: Sat 30 October 2027 at 14:00

Tucked in between Brazil and Argentina, the republic of Uruguay has nevertheless maintained its own identity and traditions. As South America's second smallest country, it has been called a city surrounded by a big ranch. Montevideo has also been referred to as "The Switzerland of South America," for its same secretive bank system guaranteed by law. Uruguay is principally middle class and boasts the most highly educated citizens on the continent.

Day 76 - At Sea

Day 77 - At Sea

Day 78 - The Seabourn Falkland Island Experience

Day 79 - The Seabourn Falkland Island Experience

Day 80 - Falkland Islands

Arrive: Thu 04 November 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 04 November 2027 at 17:00

An archipelago of over 700 islands spread over 4,700 square miles lies about 300 miles east of the coast of Argentina. Its political affiliation is with the United Kingdom, and it is named the Falkland Islands, although this is disputed by Argentina, which calls the island group Islas Malvinas. The islands were the focus of a short, violent military confrontation between the two nations in 1982 which resulted in many lives lost. Most visitors come to the islands attracted by the severe beauty of the landscape and the unusual wildlife to be seen there, especially colonies of penguins. Port Stanley, the capital, is a plucky outpost supporting the hardy islanders who farm and fish and, lately, newcomers set on exploiting the recently discovered oil reserves offshore.

Day 81 - At Sea

Day 82 - At Sea

Day 83 - The Seabourn South Georgia Experience

Day 84 - The Seabourn South Georgia Experience

Day 85 - The Seabourn South Georgia Experience

Day 86 - At Sea

Day 87 - At Sea

Day 88 - The Seabourn Antarctic Experience

Day 89 - The Seabourn Antarctic Experience

Day 90 - The Seabourn Antarctic Experience

Day 91 - The Seabourn Antarctic Experience

Day 92 - The Seabourn Antarctic Experience

Day 93 - At Sea

Day 94 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Arrive: Thu 18 November 2027 at 19:00

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia is the capital of Argentine Tierra del Fuego and an important naval base boasting a strategic as well as a picturesque location on the shores of Ushuaia Bay and the Beagle Channel. This rustic coastal town is set among waterfalls, glaciers, snow-clad mountains and beech forests, and the nutrient-rich local waters abound with marine life. Though the houses here are painted warm, pastel colors, the weather is chilly year-round and winter sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing and skating are popular. Ushuaia's principal industries are raising sheep, logging, fishing and trapping. It became a boomtown with 30,000 residents in the late 1980's when the government sought to increase Argentina's presence near Antarctica by giving tax breaks to citizens who settled here.

Day 95 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Depart: Fri 19 November 2027

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia is the capital of Argentine Tierra del Fuego and an important naval base boasting a strategic as well as a picturesque location on the shores of Ushuaia Bay and the Beagle Channel. This rustic coastal town is set among waterfalls, glaciers, snow-clad mountains and beech forests, and the nutrient-rich local waters abound with marine life. Though the houses here are painted warm, pastel colors, the weather is chilly year-round and winter sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing and skating are popular. Ushuaia's principal industries are raising sheep, logging, fishing and trapping. It became a boomtown with 30,000 residents in the late 1980's when the government sought to increase Argentina's presence near Antarctica by giving tax breaks to citizens who settled here.