The Northwest Passage - A New Frontier
(42 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Ted Blank
Woodbury, MN
Tailor-Made Journeys
You understand that extraordinary vacations aren’t simply a function of dollars and cents, and you know that they certainly aren’t just pulled off the shelf.
Journeys of a lifetime are carefully designed with imagination, creativity, atten...
You understand that extraordinary vacations aren’t simply a function of dollars and cents, and you know that they certainly aren’t just pulled off the shelf.
Journeys of a lifetime are carefully designed with imagination, creativity, attention to detail, experience, and insider knowledge.
Are you looking for a travel adviser who possesses the expertise, education, intuition, insider knowledge, and connections to turn your vacation into the trip of a lifetime? I open new doors for discerning travelers like you looking to follow your own path to the world’s extraordinary destinations.
As a specialist in privately guided, tailor-made vacations and luxury cruises, you’ll enjoy highly personalized service and expert recommendations during the planning process. As you travel, you’ll come to appreciate being well looked after from wheels up on departure to wheels down on your return, giving you the freedom and confidence to be your best travel self wherever you go.
Through my extensive worldwide travel experience, an intuitive sense of possibilities, careful attention to detail, and a broad network of carefully vetted supplier partners, you can enjoy vacations that others only dream of to destinations in Europe, Asia, Australia and Oceania, South America, Africa, and beyond.
Please click on the links on this page to email me to schedule a complimentary introductory discovery session where we’ll get better acquainted, discuss your travel dreams, and begin to carefully craft the first of many explorations of this wonderful, fascinating world we share!
Can Be Reached At
1-651-964-8245
The Northwest Passage is a land of Ice.
If you’re the type of traveler who loves visiting new places on a cruise, taking a journey through the fabled Northwest Passage checks the boxes for a unique and adventure-filled experience.
Explorers spent centuries searching for a sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that would make trade with Asia more accessible. Norwegian Roald Amundsen accomplished the feat in 1906, traveling through the Canadian Arctic to reach Nome, Alaska, on the edge of the Bering Sea.
Today, voyages offered by luxury cruise lines like Seabourn, Silversea and Quark Expeditions will let you follow in the path charted by Amundsen as you travel through this rugged, ice-filled route that stretches for nearly 900 miles. Just remember that the cruise season is short — from July to September.
Ships that travel this route are specially designed for polar voyages, with the latest modern hardware and technology. They tend to be small, with room for about 200 passengers. But you’re not sacrificing comfort or amenities. You’ll find a variety of suites, multiple dining options, a fitness center, sauna, and spa, as well plenty of indoor and outdoor space where you can just sit back and enjoy the breathtaking view.
You’ll spend days at sea taking in the magnificent sights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, explore icebergs and glaciers, visit remote Native communities and go kayaking and hiking through the Arctic tundra. This is a paradise for nature lovers. You’ll have an opportunity to spot migratory birds, whales, seals and walruses, in addition to wildlife like caribou, musk ox and polar bears. You’ll be accompanied by an expedition team that will help you explore the history, geology and wildlife along the way, not only leading excursions but offering onboard lectures and workshops.
Northwest Passage cruises are known for getting passengers up close to this amazing landscape, so you’re not just experiencing it from the deck of a ship. On shore excursions, you’ll travel by small, inflatable Zodiac boats, helicopters and even custom-built submarines, all of which will give you a unique perspective. (Just keep in mind that all excursions depend on weather conditions at the time of your trip.)
Here are a few examples of cruises and itineraries.
Seabourn’s 23-day trip starts in Reykjavik, Iceland. You’ll have some time to explore the city, known for its rich culture and vibrant nightlife. From there, you’ll fly to Greenland. Stops include Ilulissat, a coastal town known for massive icebergs; and Sisimiut, one of Greenland’s most picturesque towns, where you can hike part of the Arctic Circle Trail. Then it’s on to Canada and your nine-day cruise through the glacier-carved Northwest Passage. When conditions permit, you can go kayaking along the shore or delve into the icy waters on one of the ship’s submarines. Highlights include Devon Island, nicknamed “Mars on Earth” for its barren, rocky terrain; the small Inuit community of Cambridge Bay, where you’ll learn about survival in this harsh, remote environment; and the narrow Bellot Strait, with its steep slopes, strong currents and thick sea ice. Your cruise ends in Nome, Alaska.
Silversea’s 24-day cruise covers much of the same territory, but it begins in Greenland. Canadian excursions include Pond Inlet, with its picturesque glaciers and mountain ranges. It’s also a center of Inuit art, especially printmaking and stone-carving. You’ll also stop at Smoking Hills, where you can go kayaking or take a Zodiac ride; and Herschel Island, an important area for Ice Age fossils that’s home to wildlife like caribou and polar bears. You’ll cruise the Beaufort Sea, where you’ll have a chance to spot marine mammals including beluga whales. Silversea’s cruise also ends in Nome, a gold rush town that has retained much of its 19th-century architecture.
Quark Expeditions has a 17-day cruise that starts in the Canadian city of Calgary, steeped in the culture of the Old West. From there, you’ll fly to the hamlet of Resolute to begin your voyage along the Northwest Passage to Greenland. Stops include Beechey Island, final resting place of members of the ill-fated Franklin expedition; Radstock Bay, a popular spot for observing polar bears; and Grise Fiord, Canada’s northernmost settlement. In Greenland, you’ll explore the magnificent glaciers and learn about Inuitculture. From there, you’ll fly to Toronto to end your trip. Quark’s ship has two helicopters aboard. Going in small groups, you can take an unforgettable aerial tour of the Arctic during a 10- to 15-minute flightseeing excursion. A Polar Plunge, scheduled once per expedition, gives you a chance to jump safely into the bracing Arctic waters.
I know many travelers are looking for unique experiences, and you’ll certainly get that on a cruise through the Northwest Passage. While these cruises have many ports in common, they each have features that make them stand apart. As an expedition cruise expert, I’ll work with you to pick the best one for you!