Expedition to The Arctic with Seabourn

Sitting at the top of the world, high up in the Arctic Circle, Greenland remains something of an enigma to most people.

Ruled by Denmark, this vast landmass – famous as the world’s largest island stretching across 836,000 square miles – dwarfs its Scandinavian mother country and is around nine times the size of the UK.

Yet around 80 per cent of Greenland is uninhabitable, covered by the Arctic ice sheet, though with a population of just over 56,000, it lays claim to being the world’s least densely populated region.

Yet this frozen wonderland has become hot property in the cruising world thanks to a treasure chest of natural wonders overflowing with staggeringly beautiful scenery, iconic wildlife and the rich culture of its native Inuit people. 

My turn to experience this first-hand came on a two-week sailing from the Icelandic capital Reykjavik aboard the luxury expedition ship Seabourn Venture – one of two new Expedition Vessels launched in the last year by upscale line Seabourn. 

Adventure cruises are more popular than ever, with a succession of new Expedition Ships driven by demand from travellers with deep pockets wanting to explore the world’s extremities in comfort. 

They offer a complete contrast to regular cruises as these ships are smaller, often with only a handful of restaurants; entertainment is limited with no glitzy West End style shows; and there are no waterslides, ice-skating rinks or other glamorous attractions associated with mainstream cruise ships. 

Instead, the emphasis is on exploring remote landscapes and spotting wildlife with daily activities led by the ship’s team of expedition guides, and outings including hikes, kayaking trips or even helicopter rides. 

On this cruise, I got to ride in one of Seabourn Venture’s two submersibles that hold a maximum of six passengers and can dive to depths of up to 300 metres. 

I’d had a few doubts about doing this, but I felt reassured by Seabourn Venture’s submersible pilots and back-up team who stressed that safety was paramount and detailed the back-up systems designed to kick in if any problems arose.  

During our trip, we were also constantly monitored by a chase boat on the surface, but any worries I had disappeared in the mass of billowing bubbles that signalled our descent through aquamarine plankton-filled waters to the silted bottom of Hvalsey Fjord in southern Greenland. 

I gazed wide-eyed at this mysterious underwater world as lion’s mane jellyfish gently pulsed past us and Arctic cod skulked close by, while sea anemones and tree-like corals wafted delicately in the currents. 

All too soon our 45 minutes were up and we rose steadily back to the surface, but it proved to be a mesmerising experience – one of many on this voyage where nature truly called the shots. 

Our first taste of Greenland was along its relatively unexplored and remote east coast where Seabourn Venture sailed into the vast fjords of Scoresby Sound that stretch for thousands of miles and dwarf their more famous Norwegian rivals. 

It was among this network of towering cliffs, split by the icy tongues of glaciers and immense winding waterways, we faced the incredible sight of giant icebergs floating like a procession of modernist sculptures, whipped into jagged shapes by the elements, with some stretching up hundreds of feet. 

We explored on Zodiac trips that weaved between these ivory giants, paddled off on a kayaking expedition that took us towards the sheer impenetrable walls of a glacier, and hiked across the Arctic tundra to a waterfall where fresh meltwater gushed down in powerful torrents. 

Our final day in Scoresby Sound brought the thrill of a polar bear sighting when a young male was spotted on a nearby shore and when a Zodiac took us for a closer look, we sat in hushed silence watching through binoculars as he tucked into the carcass of a musk ox. 

As our sailing continued southwards and onwards to Greenland’s more populated west coast, it became more focused on the culture of the tiny settlements we visited where locals charmed us with choir recitals and hosted “kaffemilk” and homemade cakes in their community centres. 

But this Greenland Cruise was really about natural spectacles, the majesty of its dramatic landscapes and unforgettable wildlife encounters. 

Spotting orcas carving through the waves and giant fin whales surfacing close to the ship was an unexpected highlight, as was the appearance of the Northern Lights which danced in the skies above us late one memorable evening. 

Such a feast of natural treats ensured this cruise overflowed with bucket list moments. 

To find out more about luxury expedition cruising, speak to our expedition specialist concierge and start planning your once-in-a-lifetime journey on 0808 278 4192.