Itinerary

Boston, Portland, Sydney (Nova Scotia), Corner Brook, Red Bay, Paamiut, Nanortalik, Cruising Prince Christian Sound, Isafjordur, Scenic cruising Isafjordurdjur, Akureyri, Scenic cruising Eyjafjordur, Eidfjord, Scenic cruising Hardangerfjord, Rotterdam

Description

Pricing based on departure date 19 July 2025

A lifetime of adventure in one cruise from Boston that features Canada’s colorful cities, Greenland’s raw beauty and Iceland’s crystal fjords.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS:

Red Bay, a coastal community and National Historic Site in Canada, is a beautiful introduction to rural Labrador. Its history extends back to the 1500s, when thousands of Basque whalers hunted right whales and bowhead whales for blubber, which was rendered into oil and exported to light the lamps of Europe. The whaling station itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the remains of whale oil rendering ovens and a burial ground where 140 whalers and sailors were laid to rest can still be found on nearby Saddle Island.

Sydney is the largest city on Cape Breton Island, which is linked by causeway to the rest of Nova Scotia. Sydney’s attractions start at the harbor, where visitors can shop for locally made crafts and see the world’s largest fiddle, which towers beside the port’s cruise pavilion. Some of the city’s historic houses and churches date back to the 1700s and 1800s and are open for tours. Restaurants often provide live music (expect fiddles and sea chanteys) along with meals of seafood fresh-caught in nearby waters. Sydney’s galleries give visitors a chance to meet local artists and purchase their work. 

Paamiut means 'those who reside by the mouth (of the fiord)' and, indeed, people have lived here since around 1500 BC -- first the Native Kalaallisut people; then, Norse settlers. The modern community was founded on trading fur and whale products. It also became known for its soapstone artists. The town has one of the finest churches in Greenland, built in 1909 from wood in the Norwegian style.

Nanortalik, which means 'the place with polar bears,' is the southernmost town in Greenland, located on an island of the same name. Founded in 1797 as a trading depot at the mouth of Tasermiut Fjord, the town is currently home to approximately 1,000 people. Although the island is named for polar bears, the chance of seeing these furry giants is fairly slim. What you will find, however, is a place of majestic beauty and friendly, welcoming residents.

Navigating one of Greenland’s most scenic inland passages means threading the needle through the glaciers and narrow granite cliffs of Prins Christian Sund (or Prince Christian Sound in English, or Ikerasassuaq in Greenlandic). It was named after Christian VIII (before he became the king of Denmark), but explorer John Cabot’s description is more accurate and more evocative: a river of melted snow.

Although it is the largest town in and the capital of the Westfjords region of Iceland, Ísafjörður has a mere 2,600 inhabitants and is only connected to the mainland by a narrow nine-meter-wide (30-foot-wide) isthmus. Local lore has it that the isthmus, and the town itself, were formed by a group of trolls who wanted to live apart from humans. Despite its small population, Ísafjörður has earned a reputation as a cultured and urbane town thanks to its excellent choral and theatrical groups, a nationally known theater festival called Act Alone and the popular music festival Aldrei Fór Ég Suður (“I Never Went South”) held each Easter. Ísafjörður and its outlying regions stretch over 2,300 square kilometers (900 square miles) from the stunning waterfall of Dynjandi in the south to the vast Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the north where, on the cliff of Hornbjarg, visitors can see the largest colony of seabirds in the North Atlantic. Along Iceland's spectacular coastline, glacier-carved green mountains stand in contrast against the deep blue sea. Given its location, it’s no surprise that the fishing industry has long been central to life in Ísafjörður—you'll likely pass fishing boats headed out to sea. On dry land, chief among Ísafjörður’s attractions is the Westfjord Heritage Museum, situated at the tip of the spit on which the town makes its home, in a renovated 18th-century house. The museum focuses mainly on maritime history; you’ll find everything from fishhooks to antique ships here.

Your Ship: Zuiderdam

Classic nautical finishes, modern amenities and a spectacular art collection make Zuiderdam a continued favorite and the new home for our annual Grand World Voyage. Numerous enrichment and entertainment activities keep guests going from the moment they wake on this cruise ship. When it comes to dining, there are options for everyone, from steak at the Pinnacle Grill to burgers and fries at Dive-In to exquisite Italian cuisine at Canaletto. Hear your favorite tunes all evening long at music clubs, such as the Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.