Greenland & Arctic Canada to New York

Upon arrival in Reykjavik you can check into your hotel for your included overnight stay, before embarking your ship the following day.

The capital of Iceland’s land of ice, fire and natural wonder, Reykjavik is a city like no other - blossoming among some of the world’s most vibrant and violent scenery. Home to two-thirds of Iceland’s population, Reykjavik is the island’s only real city, and a welcoming and walkable place - full of bicycles gliding along boulevards or battling the wind when it rears up. Fresh licks of paint brighten the streets, and an artistic and creative atmosphere embraces studios and galleries - as well as the kitchens where an exciting culinary scene is burgeoning. Plot your adventures in the city's hip bars and cosy cafes, or waste no time in venturing out to Iceland’s outdoor adventures. Reykjavik’s buildings stand together in a low huddle - below the whip of winter’s winds - but the magnificent Hallgrímskirkja church is a solid exception, with its bell tower rising resolutely over the city. Iceland’s largest church's design echoes the lava flows that have shaped this remote land and boasts a clean and elegant interior. The Harpa Concert Hall’s sheer glass facade helps it to assimilate into the landscape, mirroring back the city and harbour. Its LED lights shimmer in honour of Iceland’s greatest illuminated performance – the northern lights. Walk in the crusts between continents, feel the spray from bursts of geysers and witness the enduring power of Iceland’s massive waterfalls. Whether you want to sizzle away in the earth-heated geothermal pools, or hike to your heart’s content, you can do it all from Reykjavik - the colourful capital of this astonishing outdoor country.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Located on Greenland’s relatively rarely visited rugged east coast, Skoldungen Fjord has enchanting scenery with towering mountains tipped with snow, ice-scraped valley sides and sculptured icebergs in shades of white and blue. At the top of the fjord one can easily see the retreating state of the Thrym Glacier. The U-shaped fjord offers spectacular scenery and as an extra perk, it is not uncommon to see whales in the fjord.

Excursions available today include Zodiac cruising and kayaking.

The relatively unexplored east coast of Greenland has some of the most dramatic fjord scenery in the world, and the stunning Lindenow Fjord is one such example. Situated on the southeast coast and approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the southern tip of the country, the landscape lives up to the Greenlandic name for the fjord, Kangerlussuatsiaq, which means “the rather big fjord”. The fjord is named after Godske Lindenow - who in the 17th century was a Danish navy Admiral tasked with finding the lost Norse settlements in Greenland - and runs some 64 kilometres (40 miles) in from the outer coast. Towering peaks and steep mountainsides line the fjord and appear like ramparts of an impenetrable fortress. The fortress walls do show regular breaches however, with streams of ice cascading down from above, albeit at an imperceptibly slow speed. These small glaciers offer stark contrast to the dark rock, and seem like cold and wintry fingers clinging onto what is otherwise a very pleasant scene. Some are marbled with veins of charcoal coloured rock powder, ground and shattered from the mountains and enveloped by ice, while deeper cracks in the ice luminesce with a cold blue light. As you cruise through the fjord on your ship all sense of reality is erased by wave after wave of sublimity. The dark, still waters are studded with small broken pieces of ice so that looking down as you glide along, it seems as if you are travelling through space, channeled forward to explore the very heart of Greenland.

The transit through the Sound is one of this voyage’s highlights. Connecting the Labrador Sea with the Irminger Seat, Prince Christian Sound or “Prins Christian Sund” in Danish is named after Prince (later King) Christian VII (1749-1808). 100 km (60 miles ), long and at times just 500 m (1500 ft) wide, this majestic and spectacular fiord throws you back into a Viking era – flanked by soaring snow-topped mountains, rock-strewn cliffs and rolling hills, it is as if time has stood still and one easily forgets that this is the 21st century. As you marvel at the sheer size of the mountains that surround you, with the Arctic waters lapping deceptively at the hull, revel in the silence enveloping you. Icebergs float serenely by, carrying with them the ages of time. Be sure to wear warm clothing as this is one spectacle that you do not want to miss.

Cruise through Prince Christian Sound to the western end and you’ll find Aapilattoq, a (very) small Greenlandic village of just 100 inhabitants. The name of the village means “sea anemone” in the local Greenlandic language, and the fact that the village has retained its Inuit name is a good indication of what you can expect; traditional village life much as it has been for the past 100 years.Hunting and fishing are the main occupations here, and it is not unusual when taking a stroll through Aappilattoq, past the small school (where 22 pupils from ages 3-16 are enrolled) and church, to come across a polar bear skin drying in the wind behind a local dwelling. The village is hidden behind a prominent red rock and towering mountains, which make the village virtually inaccessible by land. Naturally, the Aapilattoq and its surrounding area are phenomenally rich in Arctic wildlife: Arctic fox and Arctic hare live in the countryside around the village while marine mammals include ringed seal, harbour seal, hooded seal, bearded seal, harp seal, humpback whale (typically in summer), minke whale, fin whale, narwhal, and beluga.

Excursions available today inlcude an Aappilattoq Hike, Village Walk and Church Choir Performance, and kayaking.

There is a wonderful legend that the Vikings named Greenland Green and Iceland Ice in order to confuse potential attackers. Because it is quite the opposite; if Iceland is full of emerald forest, then expect ice in Greenland. Lots and lots of ice. Thus one shouldn’t be too surprised to learn that the name Nanortalik means “place of polar bears”. Although, as Nanortalik is Greenland’s most southerly town, don’t be too disappointed if you don’t see any. In truth, Greenland’s polar bears typically live much further north. What you will see however is Mother Nature at her finest. Vertical cliff walls, sheets of floating sea ice and a plethora of Arctic wildlife that amount to an adventurer’s wonderland. As Nanortalik itself is located on a small island in the southern tip of Greenland, nature is never far away, wherever you find yourself.

In the local Kalaallisut language, Uunartoq means 'hot', and there is no mystery why. Several warm springs exist in Greenland, but Uunartoq Island is the only site where the waters form a pool warm enough to bathe in. Although not as well known as the famous springs of Iceland, nowhere can challenge Uunartoq for scenery. The picturesque series of steaming pools are backed by some of the best scenery Greenland has to offer. Icebergs larger than city blocks drift through the labyrinth of fjords which make up Southern Greenland, passing as they drift towards the ocean. Mountains pierce the clouds, and the tundra blooms in the long summer days; and there is no better way to appreciate the spectacular wilderness of South Greenland than from the perfectly warmed natural comfort of the Uunartoq hot spring. The ancient crystalline rock of Southern Greenland is nearly two billion years old. A fault in the rock allows water to sink down into the ground, where Earth's internal heat warms it, causing it to rise again. Uunartoq Island is the site where this water escapes, forming a sandy pool heated constantly from below. Basic changing facilities and a grass walkway to the stone-lined pool allow visitors comfort, while reconnecting with nature.

Excursions available today include an exploration of Nanortalik including a welcome by the village church choir and a visit to the museum, kayaking and a hike to the hot springs.

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 breath-taking 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, Qaqortoq is known to have been inhabited by Norse and Inuit settlers in the 10th and 12th centuries, and the present-day town was founded in 1774. In the years since, Qaqortoq has evolved into a seaport and trading hub for fish and shrimp processing, tanning, fur production, and ship maintenance and repair.

18 kilometers northeast of Qaqortoq, Hvalsey is part of Qaqortukulooq, one of the five sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Arctic farming complex Kujataa. Between Eriksfjord to the north and Einarsfjord to the south, the Hvalseyfjord branches off from Einarsfjord. Although Hvalsey is better known for the well-preserved ruins of one of the sixteen churches in the Norse’s Eastern Settlement, the church was in a farmstead known as Thjodhild’s Stead. This farmstead at the northeastern end of the fjord included a large building with living quarters, a hall and livestock pens, as well as other livestock pens, a storage building and a warehouse –the ruins of which can still be seen.

Excursions available today include a Qaqortoq Town Walk and a hike in Hvalsey to Greenland's largest, best preserved Norse ruins.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

At the northern tip of Newfoundland and with only 2,500 inhabitants, St. Anthony is the hub of the Great Northern Peninsula. Together with Ilulissat and Twillingate, St. Anthony claims to be the “Iceberg Capital of the World”. Most of the icebergs do come from Ilulissat’s Icefjord and large icebergs are mainly seen from late spring to mid-summer. Fishermen from St. Malo had used the St. Anthony Bight and adjacent bay as a shelter for their boats and the name goes back to 1534 and Jacques Cartier. French fishermen used the rich fishing grounds, area and bay until the 1800s. Renamed St. Anthony Haven, it was later shortened again to St. Anthony. Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, a medical missionary who first served as surgeon on a hospital ship, chose St. Anthony as the site for a hospital for northern Newfoundland in 1900 and from then on St. Anthony became an important center for mission work. The Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Historical Society has restored Grenfell’s home which now is a museum. St. Anthony also permits land access to the Norse site at L’Anse aux Meadows (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

L’Anse aux Meadows is a National Historic Site in Newfoundland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Found at the very northern end of the Great Northern Peninsula, the area shows archaeological evidence of eight timber-framed turf structures, a complete Norse settlement established more than 1,000 years ago similar to those found in Greenland and Iceland. It still is the only authenticated Norse site in North America and indicates the first European presence in the New World.

Excursions today include a fantastic Vikings Experience tour.

Acclaimed for its unearthly landscape, Woody Point is probably as close to Mars as you will ever get in this lifetime. Situated on the west coast of the island, the Tablelands behind Woody Point in the Gros Morne National Park are composed of peridotite — like much of the surface of Mars — and NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, plus others are studying this unique land form searching for insights into possible bacterial life on the red planet. The story of the Tablelands earned Gros Morne its World Heritage Site status from UNESCO in 2010, and the area remains a geological wonder, showcasing a time when the continents of Africa and North America collided. When the plates struck 485 million years ago, the peridotite was pushed to the surface, and remained above sea level. The rock lacks the nutrients to sustain plant life, thus giving the Tablelands a barren, isolated appearance. As the name suggests, the flat topped mountains dwarf the tiny village (population 281!), yet Woody Point has retained its character and the historic houses and buildings dating from 1870 have been beautifully maintained.

Excursions today include a "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" tour where you will discover the extraordinary, rocky Tablelands that gave Gros Morne National Park its UNESCO World Heritage status, and a hike to the "Lookout Hills".

Rising in the heart of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the archipelago of Iles-de-la-Madeleine offers diverse wildlife and sweeping coastal scenery. The somewhat precarious location of these 12 islands, in the middle of the world's most immense estuary, means they have historically been something of a ship graveyard. The craggy red rocks that emerge suddenly from the waves here have gashed the hulls of countless ships in times gone by. A gang of six pretty lighthouses share the task of warning of the islands' treacherous waters, while simultaneously providing a scenic twinkle amid the copper-coloured cliffs and coastal archways. Acadian French accents ring out on the shores and, despite their location, the Iles-de-la-Madeleine form part of Quebec's province. Historically cut off by thick ice, they have developed a distinct culture and character of their own. The 55 mile-long stretch of Route 199 provides the backbone of the island, tying the seven inhabited landforms together, along with a chain of undulating sand dunes. Each of the islands has its own character and profile to explore – offering everything from windswept beaches to sheltered lagoons and rolling emerald hills. Whales cruise through the deep waters offshore, and you can sail up close and personal to the marine mammals, as well as the seals who are occasionally spotted lounging around on floating chunks of ice. Port du Millerand's flotilla of fishing boats reap the rewards of the location, bringing home vast hauls so local restaurants can serve up the freshest lobster, mussels and crab. With bird watching, coastal golf courses, water-sports and diving opportunities among the many recreations on offer here - this clutch of estuary islands has something for everyone.

The excursion today will be a full-day cultural tour of Îles de la Madeleine to see its many historic and beautiful sites.

This crescent-shaped island is little more than a sandbar emerging from the shallows of the continental shelf. The island is 26 miles long, but only 0.93 miles across at the widest point. The name comes from the French word for "sand". There are no natural trees on the island, although the Canadian government planted over 80,000 trees in 1901 in an attempt to stabilize the soil – all but one have since died. The island’s human history spans more than four centuries. There was a failed attempt in the 16th century by the French to colonise the island using convicts. Sealers, shipwreck survivors, and salvagers have sporadically arrived on the island, leading Canada to establish its first life-saving station here in 1801. An additional two lighthouses were erected in 1872 (since decommissioned). There have been more than 350 shipwrecks offshore caused by rough seas, fog, and submerged sandbars, lending the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic”. In the early 1900’s, the Canadian government set up a weather station on the island. The most notable wildlife here are the feral Sable Island horses, but there is a lot of other wildlife, including the world’s largest breeding colony of 50,000 grey seals. Today the island is a National Park Reserve.

Excursions available today include a Sable Island Beach Walk, a Bald Dune Discovery Walk or Hike, Zodiac cruising and kayaking.

Yarmouth is a charming little town situated in southwestern Nova Scotia. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, you come here to find tranquility, away from the crowds of other more famous and busy areas of the province such as Cape Breton or Wolfville. If you are looking for cozy cafes, beaches where to breathe, deserted paths, in short if you are looking for a real holiday to disconnect, head to Yarmouth and the Acadian coast. The port town lives through fishing and tourism since a very long time. The French Acadians were the first ones to settle, explaining the coast’s name. That’s during the Seven Years’ War that Yarmouth got its name. New England Planters settled and called Yarmouth after their hometown in Massachusetts. Through the 19th century, the town used to be a major shipbuilding centre. Boats and ships that contributed to the expansion of tourism, notably with the Yarmouth Steamship Company linking the town to New York City and Boston.

For today's excursion you can attend a Yarmouth Lobster Boil.

This Cape Cod Canal Transit is a rare must for any travel savvy guest. With two fixed bridges over the canal, clearance is a problem for bigger ships but Silversea’s small size ships allow us to glide through as if we were a passenger yacht. For guests lucky enough to be travelling in the daylight, the surrounding scenic spectacle is something truly to behold. If you are travelling during migrating season, be on the lookout for temporary residents such as the Great Blue Heron and the Red-tailed hawk. As the cape is surrounded by a hybrid of temperate sub-tropical waters and polar ice floes, marine mammal spotters will rejoice as they vie to spot some of the huge variety of wildlife that lives in the canal including the endangered North American Right Whale. For guests traversing the canal at night, we assure you a smooth passage. With a maximum speed of just 8.5 knots authorised by the U.S. Marine authorities, you can be sure you’ll glide by the pretty New England shore side in plenty of Silversea comfort.

Your voyage concludes in New York, where after breakfast it will be time to disembark to make your way homewards or onwards.

So good they named it twice, New York is a cultural powerhouse like no other. Liberally scattered with familiar landmarks, world-leading museums, and with an atmosphere and infectious energy found nowhere else, any visit to this one-of-a-kind cinematic city is a frantic, fascinating feast for the senses. Where New York leads, others follow and this city is a proud trailblazer. On the cusp of trends, but with plenty of traditions, New York is a world to itself, and endless opportunities and experiences await between its audacious skyscrapers. Whether it's cycling through the leafy oasis of Central Park, rising to the iconic cityscape views atop the Empire State Building or walking to Brooklyn's hipster appeal across the Brooklyn Bridge's chained expanse, New York City feels at once familiar and fantastical. Leading museums and galleries like the MET, the Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art add cultural intrigue matched by few others, while the flashing lights of Broadway mark the pinnacle of careers and provide world-class entertainment. Also scarred by tragedy, New York City responded to its darkest day with thoughtful memorials of loss, and by boldly reaching higher - the glassy new One World Trade Center building is the northern hemisphere's tallest skyscraper. Drop in on Wall Street's excesses, before sailing out from the financial district's reaching towers to the waves below Lady Liberty's gaze. At night the city lights up with shows, and roof-top restaurants serve up innovative dishes above the glowing, buzzing streets below.