Discover Cold Horizons: The Last Moments of Winter

Day 1 - Saint Pierre

Saint Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon: By heading almost due east from Cap-aux-Meules in Canada, it is possible to reach France in about one day’s worth of steaming. With barely 6,000 inhabitants living on tiny St. Pierre, it is the smallest French Overseas Collective. The residents of St. Pierre are predominantly descendants of Normans, Basque, and Bretons, and the French spoken is closer to Metropolitan French than to Canadian French. Although Basque is not spoken any longer, the influence is still felt through sport and a Basque Festival. Interestingly, this small island has two museums partly dedicated to the Prohibition. The Musée Heritage is St. Pierre’s newest museum with a focus on medical artefacts from the 19th and 20th century. Another claim to fame is a guillotine, the only one ever used in North America. In this quirky village, it is easy to find the Post Office; just look for the clock tower shaped like a praying monk.

Day 3 - Cap-aux-Meules

Cap-aux-Meules, Magdalen Islands, Québec, Canada: Nestled within the picturesque Magdalen Islands, Cap-aux-Meules serves as a gateway to an archipelago renowned for its stunning red cliffs and serene beaches. Visitors can immerse themselves in the island’s unique Acadian culture, explore vibrant fishing villages, or simply take in the captivating landscapes that characterise this charming Canadian destination.

Day 4 - Gaspé

Gaspé, Québec, Canada: Situated on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, Gaspé is where the rugged beauty of untouched wilderness meets rich maritime history. This fascinating town invites exploration with its welcoming hospitality, opportunities for breathtaking whale watching, and the captivating Forillon National Park providing an ideal backdrop for nature enthusiasts.

Day 5 - Sea Day

At Sea: Spend the day relaxing and enjoying the onboard amenities. This is the perfect opportunity to unwind, participate in various activities available on board, or simply enjoy the view of the endless ocean horizon.

Day 6 - Corner Brook

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: Newfoundland's fourth-largest city, Corner Brook serves as the hub of the island's west coast. Nestled amidst hills that fringe three sides of the city, it offers dramatic views of the harbour and the Bay of Islands. The town is also home to a bustling paper mill and a branch of Memorial University. Captain James Cook, the British explorer, charted the coast in the 1760s, and a memorial to him overlooks the bay. The town enjoys more clearly defined seasons than most of the rest of the island, and in summer it boasts many pretty gardens. The nearby Humber River is the best-known salmon river in the province, and there are many kilometres of well-maintained walking trails for visitors to explore.

Day 7 - Sea Day

At Sea: Another day at sea offers the chance to engage in onboard activities, enjoy the cuisines and entertainment, or simply relax by the pool as the ship makes its way to the next destination.

Day 9 - Qaqortoq

Qaqortoq (Julianehaab), Greenland: The largest town in southern Greenland, Qaqortoq has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Upon arrival in this charming southern Greenland enclave, it's easy to see why. Qaqortoq rises quite steeply over the fjord system around the city, offering breathtaking panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains, deep, blue sea, Lake Tasersuag, icebergs in the bay, and pastoral backcountry. Although the earliest signs of ancient civilization in Qaqortoq date back 4,300 years, the town is known to have been inhabited by Norse and Inuit settlers in the 10th and 12th centuries. Since its founding in 1774, Qaqortoq has evolved into a seaport and trading hub for fish and shrimp processing, tanning, fur production, and ship maintenance and repair.

Day 10 - Narsaq

Narsaq, Greenland: Discover the picturesque town of Narsaq, which boasts colourful houses, lush meadows, and a thriving cultural scene. Known for its adventurous hiking trails and archaeological sites, Narsaq also offers opportunities for experiencing the traditional Greenlandic lifestyle, including tasting the local produce and observing artisans at work.

Day 11 - Uunartoq Qeqertaq

Uunartoq Qeqertaq, Greenland: Uunartoq is a small island in South Greenland, a short distance east of what was once considered the largest settlement in Greenland. The island is famous for its hot springs, renowned since the Norse days for their therapeutic effects. Three naturally heated streams have been channelled into a knee-deep, stone-lined pool. While unwinding by soaking in the steaming waters, one can watch icebergs that either clog the fjord to the north or float by peacefully.

Day 12 - Nanortalik

Nanortalik, Greenland: Nestled amidst steep mountainsides, Nanortalik is Greenland’s tenth-largest and most southerly town with less than 1500 inhabitants. The town’s name means the “place of polar bears”, referring to the polar bears that used to float offshore on summer’s ice floes. Nanortalik features an excellent open-air museum that gives a comprehensive picture of the region from Inuit times to today. Part of the exhibition is a summer hunting camp, where Inuit in traditional clothing describe aspects of their ancestors' customs and lifestyle.

Day 13 - Sea Day

At Sea: Relax on this day spent at sea. Enjoy onboard entertainment, dining, and recreational activities, or simply immerse yourself in the serenity of the ocean as the ship progresses towards its next destination.

Day 16 - Reykjavík

Reykjavík, Iceland: Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve centre and government seat, is home to half the island's population. Overlooked by proud Mt. Esja with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colourful sight, characterised by concrete houses painted in vibrant shades and topped with red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík features tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces. Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson arrived here in AD 874, seeing Iceland rising from the misty sea at a bay shrouded in steam from nearby hot springs. Today, most houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs, which avoids air pollution though brings a slight sulphur smell to bathrooms. Despite being on par with other European cities price-wise, a practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card for unlimited bus usage and free entry to various attractions. Valid for one to three days, these cards pay for themselves after several uses. Even without a City Card, paying admission to one city art museum offers same-day access to the others, enhancing your Reykjavík exploration.