Iceland & Scoresbysund with Seabourn Cruises

ARRIVAL: REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
Steeped in history and bursting with contemporary flair, Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, was founded around 870 C.E, marking the birth of the first permanent settlement on this island nation. Today, it is home to approximately 200,000 inhabitants, making up nearly 60% of Iceland’s population. Reykjavík holds the title of the world’s northernmost national capital, and it takes pride in its reputation as one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities globally. Its commitment to sustainability and eco-consciousness is evident in every corner, from its energy-efficient buildings to its pollution-free skies.

Departs this eveing approx 5pm.

The charming small fishing village of Grundarfjörður is located in the middle of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and thus provides easy access to Stykkishólmur, Snæfellsbær and the Snæfellsnes National Park. Its best-known landmark is undoubtedly the peak of Mt. Kirkjufell. Translated as ‘church mountain,’ Kirkjufell is the most easily recognizable peak, and one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. During summer months a Viking Village is built in the center of town where Viking re-enactments occur quite regularly. During the Á góðri stund town festival in July, the town’s 900 residents decorate their houses in red, blue, yellow, and green, transforming the town into a spinning kaleidoscope of color.

The town first began trade in 1786, and around 1800, French merchants came to Iceland and settled in Grundarfjörður, where they constructed a church and a hospital. The town has prospered through the fishing industry for a long time. The surrounding sea is rich with birdlife & marine life throughout the year.

Included: Snaefellsnes National Park Experience.

In Scoresbysund everything is bigger. Mountains rise to 2,000 meters in dark basalt that loom over the ice-filled water of the fjord below. Huge icebergs drift with the currents and pile up in crowds choked white, in huge quantities and volume that will take your breath away. If you are lucky a polar bear might appear, like a small speck in this vast, remote, and wild area. Scoresbysund, or Scoresby Sound was named in honor of the English explorer William Scoresby who mapped the area in 1822.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

The small Greenlandic town of Ittoqqortoormiit sits at the entrance to Scoresby Sund, the longest fjord on Earth. Although founded in 1925, the original colonists to the area were Palaeo-Eskimo peoples 4,000 years ago.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

Included: Ittoqqortoormiit Settlement Exploration Experience.

On the King Frederick VI Coast of Greenland’s southeast quadrant, the semi-circular Umivik Bay is carved out just north of the Denmark Strait. Unlike the sheer cliffs and rugged terrain presented by much of the coastline, the shores inside the bay are smooth and the massive Greenland Ice Sheet comes right down to the shore in undulating slopes. This profile persuaded Fritjof Nansen to select the bay as the starting point of his successful 1888 expedition to cross Greenland over the ice sheet. There are several large islands in the bay, including Uppernattivik Island smack in the middle. There are calving glaciers to survey and a landing is possible here as well.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

The transit of the Prins Christian Sund is one of the highlights of cruising in Greenland. The approximately 60-mile sound cuts between the mainland and an archipelago of islands from east to west, under the southern edge of the massive Greenland Ice Sheet, which covers 80 percent of the island. The sound is narrow, sometimes as little as 1500 feet across, and numerous glaciers reach the sea on its shores, calving icebergs into the sound. High, barren and sharply defined peaks tower on both sides. The only indications of humanity to be seen are the Ikerassasuaq weather station (using the Greenlandic name for the sound) where the ship enters, and the small village of Appilattoq, housing approximately 100 people. Animal life is more abundant, with minke, fin and blue whales seen frequently, as well as ringed and bearded seals that haul out on the floating ice. It is a breathtaking display of natural splendor in the severe, rugged vernacular of rock, ice and sea that is unique to the arctic realm.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

Imagine waking up to the serene beauty of one of the most remote arms of Prins Christian Sund, where the first light reveals a breathtaking landscape. As you explore Kangikitsoq, guided by the experienced Seabourn Venture team, you’ll walk among a group of conical land formations with mysterious origins called molards. Along the way, your expedition team will point out unique landmarks, ancient Inuit burial sites, and more, as you explore the lush vegetation, stunning views, and a rich history.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

Qaqortoq is the largest city in Southern Greenland with 3,300 inhabitants. The town rises steeply above the natural small-boat harbor with its fish, shrimp and fur processing plants. It was founded in 1775 by the Dano-Norwegian trader Anders Olsen, working on behalf of the General Trading Company.

Qaqortoq is best known for its open-air art exhibition. The Stone & Man project, designed to transform the town into an outdoor gallery, had the participation of 18 Nordic artists from Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Greenland. Initially 24 stone sculptures were created using the existing rock faces and boulders in the town. Now there are over 40 sculptures celebrating Greenlandic culture.

Other points of interest include Mindebrønden, the oldest fountain in Greenland, the Qaqortoq Museum and The Saviors Lutheran Church. Eighteen kilometers northwest of town are the famous remains of the Viking church of Hvalsey. It represents the last written record of the Greenlandic Norse, who attended a wedding there in A.D. 1408. Hvalsey is the most prominent Norse site in Greenland.

Included: Qaqortoq On Foot Experience.

Optional Excursions – Available for purchase after booking. Ask us for more information!

Twelve miles by Zodiac up the Hvalseyjarfjord from Qaqortoq, the largest community in South Greenland, lies the most prominent Norse archaeological site in Greenland. The so-called Eastern Settlement lasted from the 10th until the mid-15th century. Your expedition team archaeologist can interpret for you the ruins of the great halls and church at Hvalsey that hint of a prospering medieval farmstead. The site evokes an era when the Norse were trading with the indigenous Thule people of the area for furs and ivory, which were a prized commodities in Europe. A wedding held in the church in 1408 comprises the last written record of the Norse adventure in Greenland. Within a few years, Hvalsey and the rest of other Norse communities of Greenland withered as immigrants returned to the more established communities in Iceland and Norway. The site’s meadows of wildflowers sloping up from the fjord give a sense of the peaceful community that existed here in that long-ago summer.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

Norse farmers settled in this area in the 10th century, the earliest type of farming to the Arctic. It was from the Brattahlið (Qassiarsuk) farmstead that Leif Eriksson (Eric’s the Red’s Son) set sail and discovered Vinland, reaching the North American continent at Newfoundland and Labrador. UNESCO has included Brattahlið and other nearby sites as part of a World Heritage Site.

Included: Eric the Red’s Viking Ruins Walking Tour Experience.

Greenland’s capital Nuuk, is a city of vitality and Greenlandic culture. It’s here that old traditions and modern influences combine to create a diverse population. Nuuk is the home of the University of Greenland with its 650 students and the Greenland National Museum with is its extensive historical archives and cultural displays. Also of interest are the Nuuk Art Museum and the Kayak Museum. The Art Museum holds a body of 300 paintings primarily featuring the work of traveling European artists, while the Kayak Museum houses a very impressive collection of sealskin kayaks and traditional hunting artifacts. The modest wooden frame of the Nuuk Cathedral, built in 1849, is a recognizable landmark on Nuuk’s skyline.

The site of Nuuk was occupied as far back as 2,200 B.C.E. by ancient pre-Inuit peoples from Canada. It was settled again in the 10th century by Viking explorers. The current city was founded in 1728 by Danish missionary Hans Egede. A statue of Egede stands adjacent to the cathedral.

Included: Hiking around Quasussuaq OR City Walk & National Museum Experience.

Optional Excursions – Available for purchase after booking. Ask us for more information!

Eternity Fjord, situated in the remote wilderness of Greenland, is a breathtaking natural wonder known for its awe-inspiring beauty and dramatic landscapes. Carved by ancient glaciers, the fjord is flanked by towering snow-capped peaks and sheer cliffs that plunge into crystal-clear Arctic waters, creating a majestic spectacle of contrasting colors and textures. The serenity of the fjord is punctuated by the occasional crack and groan of the icebergs as they calve and drift slowly towards the sea. This pristine and untouched environment offers a glimpse into the raw, untamed beauty of the Arctic, captivating visitors with its sense of timeless grandeur and an overwhelming feeling of being in the presence of an unspoiled, primordial masterpiece of nature.

Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, nature walks, or cultural experiences. Experiences in polar regions may encounter icy or cold conditions.

Located 24 miles (40 km) north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is “rough, real and remote.” These three words cut to the core of Sisimiut’s reputation as an outdoor adventure-travel hub. It’s the second-largest city in Greenland with 5,600 inhabitants and was founded in 1756 under the leadership of the Danish missionary, Hans Egede. The name is Greenlandic meaning ‘place of fox dens.’ The area has been inhabited for 4,500 years, first by the Inuit peoples of the Saqqaq culture, Dorset culture, and then the Thule people, whose descendants comprise the majority of the current population.

One of the most picturesque towns in Greenland, Sisimiut is set in a tranquil fjord perched on bare outcrops of rock. Mount Nasaasaaq, 2,572’ (784 m) tall, is the backdrop for the town, where colorful houses of bright red, yellow, green and blue stand out in stark contrast to a landscape of gray and white. The Sisimiut Museum hosts a traditional Greenlandic peat house and the remains of an 18th century kayak.

Included: Sisimiut on Foot & A Taste of Greenland Experience OR Arctic Circle Trail Hike Experience.

Optional Excursions – Available for purchase after booking. Ask us for more information!

Disembark for your transfer to the airport in time for your charter flight.

Kangerlussuaq Air Charter To Reykjavik.

Transfer Aiport To Hotel (Day 14).

Accommodation: Reykjavik Charter Hotel.

Steeped in history and bursting with contemporary flair, Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, was founded around 870 C.E, marking the birth of the first permanent settlement on this island nation. Today, it is home to approximately 200,000 inhabitants, making up nearly 60% of Iceland’s population. Reykjavík holds the title of the world’s northernmost national capital, and it takes pride in its reputation as one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities globally. Its commitment to sustainability and eco-consciousness is evident in every corner, from its energy-efficient buildings to its pollution-free skies.

Optional Excursions on days 14 & 15 – Available for purchase after booking. Ask us for more information!

Transfer Hotel To Aiport (Day 15).

Guests 264 / Length 557 Feet / Width 78 Feet

Our first luxury, purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Venture offers the same luxurious small ship experience that travelers have come to expect from Seabourn, while transporting guests to the most coveted, remote destinations in the world.

Launched in 2022, Seabourn Venture is designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and includes modern hardware and technology that will extend the ships’ global deployment and capabilities. She and her sister ship Seabourn Pursuit each carry 24 Zodiac® boats, kayaks, and a 19-person expert Expedition Team enabling guests to engage in up-close wildlife encounters, off-the-beaten-path excursions, and enriching cultural experiences. A fully-inclusive yacht-like experience, Seabourn Venture blends state-of-the-art capability with world-class service and luxury.

• A full-length window

• Glass door to private veranda

• Comfortable living area

• Queen-size bed or two twin beds

• Dining table for two

• Walk-in closet

• Interactive flat-screen television with music and movies

• Fully stocked bar and refrigerator

• Makeup vanity

• Spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

All Veranda Suites feature a full-length window and glass door to private veranda, comfortable living area, queen-size bed or two twin beds, dining table for two, walk-in closet, interactive flat-screen television with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower.

• Glass door to private veranda

• Comfortable living area

• Separate bedroom

• Queen-size bed or two twin beds

• Dining table for two to four

• Walk-in closet

• Two flat-screen TVs

• Fully stocked bar and refrigerator

• Makeup vanity

• Spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

All Penthouse Suites on board feature a comfortable living area, glass door to private veranda, queen-size-bed or two twin beds; walk-in closet with personal safe, two flat-screen TV with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, writing desk with personalized stationary, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower, plush robes, slippers hair dryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

• Glass door to private veranda

• Comfortable living area

• Separate bedroom

• Dining table for two to four

• Walk-in closet

• Two flat-screen TVs

• Fully stocked bar and refrigerator

• Makeup vanity

• Bathroom with whirlpool bathtub
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

All Penthouse Suites on board feature a comfortable living area, glass door to private veranda, queen-size-bed or two twin beds; walk-in closet with personal safe, two flat-screen TV with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, writing desk with personalized stationary, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower, plush robes, slippers hair dryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

• Expansive ocean views

• Forward-facing windows

• Comfortable living area

• Separate bedroom

• Queen-size bed or two twin beds

• Dining for four

• Walk-in closet

• Pantry with wet bar
Two flat-screen TVs

• Complimentary Internet/Wi-Fi service.

• Guest bath

• Makeup vanity

• Bathroom with whirlpool bathtub
*Wheelchair accessible suites are roll-in shower only.

Suites on board feature a comfortable living area, private veranda, queen-size-bed or two twin beds; walk-in closet with personal safe, interactive flat-screen TV with music and movies, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, writing desk with personalized stationary, makeup vanity, spacious bathroom with separate tub and shower, plush robes, slippers hair dryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

A more casual, indoor/outdoor alternative for breakfasts and lunch, and regionally-themed dinners with table service nightly.

The ColonnadeEarth and Ocean

Each evening, our skilled Earth & Ocean chefs create an imaginative array of fresh, inventive dishes—a sophisticated menu celebrating eclectic traditional flavors from around the world, served in a relaxed setting under the stars for a distinctive dining experience unlike any other on board.

Offering luncheon buffets, salads, soups and freshly baked pizza. Dinners feature a full menu in an al fresco setting.

Come when you like, with whom you please, and be seated as you wish. The cuisine is exquisite and the service is flawless.

A place to enjoy your newspaper or to socialize with your fellow passengers, Seabourn Square is what you’re looking for.

The Sky Bar on our expedition ships is a place to enjoy a refreshing tropical beverage during the day, or an evening cocktail under the stars. Two small whirlpool spas bracket the open terrace.

Offering light, modern Mediterranean cuisine bursting with color and character, prepared fresh and entirely from scratch.​

Solis will showcase a vibrant, chic atmosphere with feel-good background music and a menu reminiscent of our favorite travel memories.​ Solis was developed in collaboration with longtime Seabourn partners, Master Chef and Culinary Partner Chef Anton Egger, and Senior Corporate Chef Franck Salein.

Seabourn’s spas offer a wide spectrum of massages, facials, and beauty treatments, blending traditional practices from around the world with the most up-to-date techniques. Seabourn’s spas are suitable for guests wishing to maintain a personal fitness regime or discover a new one. A well-equipped ocean-view gym and Motion Studio is staffed by professional fitness trainers, and a full-service salon for men and women complement the spas.

Our Fitness Center features high performance Technogym equipment for cardio and strength training. We also offer a series of complimentary classes including yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. Or, if personal attention is preferred, our personal trainers will design a nutrition and exercise plan that will help you achieve results. Based on your body’s particular needs, this personalized session will expose you to the wellness program that works best with your body. Aboard Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest you may try the Kinesis System. Using a tri-dimensional pulley system, our personal trainers will guide you through a series of exercises designed to improve balance, flexibility and strength.