8-day Glaciers & Icebergs of Greenland, Greenland Cruises

Departures: July 29, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, 2010

Welcome aboard the MS Fram for a unique Disko Bay cruise that is as unusual and magical as the places you are set to journey to. Disko Bay was first explored on the orders of an 18th century Danish king by Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, and is now a major tourist attraction. Set sail in Egede's wake, cruising coastal waters bursting with icebergs and glaciers, Arctic flora and fauna, and traces of Inuit settlements. On this roundtrip sailing from Kangerlussuaq to the Arctic Circle village of Itilleq and back, you'll encounter many of Greenland's legion cultural and geographical highlights. Your Greenland Cruise will keep you fully engaged with expert guides, lectures, and PolarCirkel boat landings. Unlike other cruise lines, our special expedition ships can take you places unseen by many travelers with innovative itineraries that fully immerse you in an adventure filled with mystery, majesty and sheer delight.

Your Disko Bay Cruise Itinerary:

Your Disko Bay cruise begins here, in Kangerlussuaq, the main gateway to Greenland. After landing at its commercial airport which sits in vast contrast to the quiet and intimacy of its 600 inhabitants, you will be greeted by Hurtigruten's Expedition Team members. They will transfer you to the docks for embarkation on PolarCirkel boats, your ship's "expedition shuttles" to the MS Fram.

Sisimiut, with a population of about 5,200, is the second-largest town in Greenland. The main industry is fishing, and the town boasts a large fleet of trawlers, a shipyard, and a fish factory. Sisimiut is the southernmost town on the western coast of Greenland where sleigh dogs abound. It is set in rolling countryside and the town center lies at the foot of a steep hill. Participation in excursions from Sisimiut, apart from the boat trip, requires reasonably good physical condition. The settlement visit on this portion of your Greenland cruise will focus largely on the old part of the town by the harbor, which is the local center of activity. Our Expedition Team will be at your disposal at different locations of the settlement. The MS Fram normally docks quayside in Sisimiut.

Qeqertarsuaq is the only large town located on the old volcanic island of Disko. The metropolitan population is around 1,100, about 60 of whom live in the neighboring settlement of Kangerluk. Qeqertarsuaq means "Big Island," and the most important industry in town is fishing and seal-hunting, although whaling once played a vital role. The town, set in wonderful surroundings at the foot of impressive Basalt Mountains, is home to Copenhagen University's Arctic Station, dedicated to the study of Greenland's flora and fauna. There will be PolarCirkel boat transfer from the ship to Qeqertarsuaq and your Expedition Team will be at your disposal at different locations of the walk. A small local café will be open for you during the stay.

Uummannaq
The town of Uummannaq lies in scenic surroundings at the foot of a 3,800-foot-high, heart-shaped mountain. The municipal borough of Uummannaq has a population of about 2,650. Approximately half of these inhabitants live in town with the remainder residing in seven nearby settlements. Hunting and fishing are the main trades and the town's halibut-processing factory is its major source of employment. You may tour Uummannaq, with its magnificent church and an old turf house that was lived in until 1989. There will be PolarCirkel boat transfer from the ship to Uummannaq.

Ukkusissat
This evening you will be calling at Ukkusissat. This settlement is nestled amid wonderful scenery between the magnificent mountains of Uummannaq. There are about 190 inhabitants in the settlement, all of whom earn their living from hunting and fishing. Ukkusissat (meaning "soapstone") was named after a nearby soapstone deposit that has been mined by Inuit craftsman for centuries. Locals used the much sought-after soft stone to produce oil lamps, pots, and pans. Ukkusissat was also a starting point of German scientist Alfred Wegener's early 20th century expedition with horses. "Life in a small village" is the topic for your Ukkusissat walk. Going ashore in Ukkusissat requires the use of the ship's unique PolarCirkel boats.

The glacier Eqip Sermia has a front edge about 3 miles long that calves icebergs into the open ocean. Today, you have an outstanding possibility to experience a glacier up close and sense the greatness of nature. The ship's tender boats will take you ashore in this beautiful area near the glacier. Passengers in relatively good physical condition will be able to hike in the area. All who want to go ashore are welcome to join us for a BBQ dinner with a terrific view over the glacier.

Icebergs are called "ilulissat" in Greenlandic, and it comes as no surprise to anyone who has been here that this is the town's name. Ilulissat is the third-largest town in Greenland, with a population of about 5,000. It is set in marvelous surroundings on the Ilulissat Isfjord, which in 2004 was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. Here, enormous icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord, just outside of town. They originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the northern hemisphere. Ilulissat is the metropolitan center of the Disko Bay area and this aspect will be the theme of the settlement visit, together with the town's long history. The most important trades in Ilulissat are fishing and tourism. Weather conditions will determine whether the MS Fram will dock at quayside in Ilulissat or passengers will shuttle ashore via PolarCirkel boats. Your Expedition Team will be at your disposal to guide you through the various points of interest.

In the early afternoon, your Greenland cruise adventure takes you to this small settlement. Itilleq means "the hollow." The town was founded in 1847 on another island, but was later moved just over a half-mile east to its present location. The village is located about 31 miles south of Sisimiut in the head of the Itilleq Fjord. Around 130 people live here, mainly engaged in hunting and fishing. The island has no fresh water; thus Itilleq boasts a seawater desalinization facility. The church here has an interesting history: It was built in Thule (Umanak, in North Greenland) in 1930 and moved to Itilleq in 1963. As its name suggests, Itilleq is situated in a hollow, majestically surrounded by high mountains and glaciers. It could, in truth, be called the Arctic Circle Village, as the Arctic Circle indeed lies just 655 feet to the south.

Today your amazing Disko Bay cruise ends as you return to Kangerlussuaq, at the end of the Kangerlussuaq Fjord. The settlement/airport is located just north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places to observe native wildlife. In the early 1960s, Musk oxen were introduced to Kangerlussuaq from northeast Greenland; today, they number more than 5,000. You will leave the MS Fram (do you always italicize?) in the morning to discover Kangerlussuaq and participate on a bus tour to the nearby ice cap.

Single supplement 75%

*Cabin category H is equipped for physically challenged guests.

Single supplement 75%

*Cabin category H is equipped for physically challenged guests.

USD cruise only and air/sea rates valid for North American residents only. Early Booking Rates are cruise only or air/sea as noted, capacity controlled and subject to withdrawal without notice. Rates include round-trip one-way air between Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq. Cruise fuel surcharge is additional and will be advised at time of booking.

Hurtigruten explorations, including a Disko Bay, Greenland cruise await. Request a brochure or contact a travel agent. Embark on a journey of exploration, adventure and luxury with Hurtigruten, authentic voyages to pristine lands.