From the 16th century onward, the quest for the Northwest Passage was an unrelenting obsession for many adventurers and explorers. Since 1576, when Frobisher made the first attempt, ship after ship searched for the fabled northern route to the Orient. It was three hundred years later that Roald Amundsen triumphantly succeeded.

For thousands of years before Europeans set foot here, indigenous people survived and prospered under some of the harshest conditions on Earth. These cultures remain vital and resilient today, closely linked with the land and local wildlife. On this journey, you will have the opportunity to interact with these fascinating people, the original experts on Arctic survival.

Our voyage aboard the MS Hanseatic is something rather special. This is the only five-star expedition ship operating in the region, with most cruises on offer now aboard huge cruise vessels. The MS Hanseatic offers an extremely high level of service, confirmed by the satisfaction ratings from past passengers, as well as beautiful surroundings, spacious cabins and public areas. In keeping with the expeditionary nature of the cruise however, there is a convivial atmosphere onboard and the expedition team take care of the day to day events with a sense of fun and adventure.

We start in Alaska amidst impressive testimonies of the Inuit culture. We then make our way through the Canadian Arctic and thus the heart of the Northwest Passage. Follow 19th century explorers into a world of towering mountains, deep fjords and glaciers tumbling into the sea - and abundant wildlife on every shore. Making our way to Greenland, spectacular scenery continues as we are met by icebergs of all hues, shapes and sizes. With Zodiacs, we will cruise along vast glacial fronts looking for narwhals, walrus and seals. Finally, we cross the Denmark Strait and end our voyage in the land of fire and ice.