Experience Earth’s wilder side on a Greenland cruise
When you join us on an Arctic cruise to Greenland, adventure is guaranteed. Not only will you encounter a world where Inuit and European culture meet, but also a ruggedly beautiful wilderness populated by a wide range of exotic Arctic animals.
A Greenland trip takes you to places like Scoresby Sund, Earth’s largest fjord system and a spectacular place to experience the magical northern lights. It takes you to places like Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest park in the world.
A trip to Greenland also takes you to places where you might encounter musk oxen, bowhead whales, Arctic hares, and various species of seabird and seal.
Our Greenland cruises do not merely observe the coastline from the decks of a vessel, they get you to shore as often as possible, immersing you in one of the Arctic’s most unforgettable and scenically stunning landscapes.
But even the sea time of a Greenland cruise is eventful, as the waters surrounding this unrivaled island are alive with belugas, blue whales, fins, minkes, narwhals, sperm whales – and of course, bowhead whales, one of the least-known cetaceans in the world.
If you’re interested in experiencing the ultimate Arctic wilderness, join us on one of our many dynamic Greenland cruises detailed below.
Cruises to Greenland
23 Days Extensive Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis
HDS10c25 A full circumnavigation of Spitsbergen combined with a voyage into northeast Greenland, this expansive expedition cruise explores some of the best spots in the high Arctic - including a visit to Scoresby Sund, Earth's largest fjord, along with exhilarating...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
14 Aug - 5 Sep, 2025
Berths start from:
10480 USD
23 Days Extended Around Spitsbergen & Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis
PLA10d24 When you join two outstanding Arctic cruises into one, you get powerhouse polar adventures like this. After edging the pack ice of the planet’s most stunning polar bear habitat, you head to scenically surreal northeast Greenland for views of the magical...
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
9 Aug - 31 Aug, 2024
Berths start from:
9920 USD
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes
Witness the Northern Lights at Scoresby Sund
PLA12-24 The East Greenland – Scoresby Sund cruise crosses the Arctic Circle into the home waters of multiple species of whale. The expedition will spot huge icebergs as it journeys into the largest and deepest fjord system in the world. Along the way the Northern...
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
31 Aug - 8 Sep, 2024
Berths start from:
3700 USD
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes and Free Kayaking
Witness the Northern Lights at Scoresby Sund
OTL12-24 The East Greenland – Scoresby Sund cruise crosses the Arctic Circle into the home waters of multiple species of whale. The expedition will spot huge icebergs as it journeys into the largest and deepest fjord system in the world. Along the way the Northern...
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
11 Sep - 19 Sep, 2024
Berths start from:
4600 USD
Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes
A classic three island voyage: Ice , Inuit and Remoteness
HDS12-24 The Spitsbergen and Northeast Greenland cruise sails waters filled with breath-taking scenery. The expedition passes through areas that are home to seals, seabirds, whales, and polar bears, topped off with nighttime viewing of the Northern Lights.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
25 Aug - 7 Sep, 2024
Berths start from:
6650 USD
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Hondius begins her Arctic season, with other ships to follow
Oceanwide’s Polar Class 6 vessel Hondius set sail from her homeport Vlissingen in the Netherlands on Sunday, delivering passengers to her first Arctic voyage of the season.
Greenland: Land of Superlatives
On September 16th, I flew to Iceland and spent an evening in Reykjavik, then crossed the island for the town of Akureyri the next day.
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Greenland
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FAQ's about Greenland cruises
Where is Greenland?
Greenland is the world’s biggest island stretching approximately 2800 kilometres (1750 miles) from north to south. 85% of Greenland is covered in ice and is therefore white on the map.
What is the temperature and weather like in Greenland?
The size of Greenland creates a diverse range of temperature and climate conditions. For example, the populated sections of Greenland are all found on the coast because this area is free of ice. Meanwhile, the central region of Greenland is covered by an ice sheet.
In Nuuk, the average winter temperature reaches as low as -8 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit), but this climbs up to 7 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. The area only rarely experiences any temperatures that go above this range, which makes the summer cool but renders the winter more tolerable than many regions that have a more variable climate.
What will I see along the coastline of Greenland?
The surface of Greenland is dramatic and spectacular. Heavily indented with numerous fjords, the coast is formed by spectacular high mountains, 2000 meters (6500 feet) high cliffs and innumerable glaciers. The large glaciers produce the huge cathedral-like icebergs that are abundant in the Greenlandic waters. Greenland and its surrounding waters are home to an impressive array of wildlife.
What wildlife can I expect in Greenland?
A Greenland cruise may enable you to see a large variety of birds. There are about 52 bird species on the island.
The number of land mammal species is relatively small, but it is still possible to see polar bears, Arctic hares, reindeer, musk oxen and Arctic foxes. Marine mammals such as Fin whale, Minke whale and Humpback whales are frequently seen. Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, and Pilot Whales are also seen occasionally.
Greenland is home to more terrestrial mammal species than Spitsbergen: The extremely rare Arctic Wolves, Arctic Foxes, Ermines, Collared Lemmings, Muskoxen, and Arctic Hares. The Polar Bear is rarely seen on the west coast, but is regularly seen on the northern and north-eastern coasts.
What does the surface of Greenland look like?
Huge outlet glaciers slowly slide down the mountains towards the sea where the ice breaks of and creates the huge cathedral like icebergs that are so abundant in the Greenlandic waters.
What is the time in Greenland?
Greenland uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), with a range of UTC +0 to -4. This means that if it is 18:00 UTC (6 p.m.) in Nuuk when you travel to Greenland, it would be 16:00 (4 p.m.) in New York City, USA, 21:00 (9 p.m.) in London, U.K. and 09:00 (9 a.m.) the next morning in the Antarctic South Pole.
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About Greenland cruises
What you’ll see on a cruise to Greenland
Fewer than 100,000 people call Greenland home, most of them Inuit – the indigenous people of the Arctic. Positioned northeast of Canada, Greenland is considered part of North America, though politically it has always been associated with Scandinavia.
What does this mean for your Greenland cruise? It means that, despite the mile-thick ice sheet that covers most of this incredible island, Greenland is home to fascinating cultures in addition to its exotic wildlife and scenery.
Numerous land mammals reside along the northern and eastern shores, where human populations are scarce. Your cruise to Greenland will take you into waters where you might see beluga whales, blue whales, fin whales, Greenland whales (bowheads), minkes, narwhals, and sperm whales.
Greenland’s ice sheet is the only one of its size in the Arctic. About a tenth of the Earth’s surface is covered in similar sheets, nearly all of which are concentrated in Greenland and Antarctica.
It almost goes without saying, then, that there are no roads connecting the coasts of Greenland. This is why your cruise to Greenland will be the ideal way to experience Earth’s largest island.
A few facts to prepare for your Greenland cruise
- Greenland is officially part of Denmark, though it retains a great degree of self-rule
- Almost 80% of Greenland is frozen in ice – only Antarctica has a larger ice sheet
- 20% of Greenland’s ice-free land is nearly the size of Sweden
- Greenland is the largest island (and least densely populated landmass) on Earth
- An estimated two million seals live in the waters around Greenland, and you’ll have a great chance of seeing many of them on your Greenland cruise
- Greenland’s ice sheet is estimated to be between 400,000 and 800,000 years old
- Words like “igloo” and “kayak” – and more than a few synonyms for snow – originated from the Inuit of Greenland
- The warmest temperatures don’t average much higher than 10°C (50°F) even during the summer, so dress warm on your cruise to Greenland
Cruise to Greenland and see Earth the way it once was
Join one of our Greenland cruises to encounter a land where European and Inuit cultures intersect to create a world wholly its own.
This is a severe but stunningly picturesque landscape of sprawling ice, towering rock, and limitless sky-blue sea, all of which you can enjoy on your cruise to Greenland.
From the midnight sun to the northern lights, the full range of this mythic environment’s awe-inspiring attractions are possible on our many Greenland cruises. Our ice-strengthened vessels will provide you a comfortable base from which to embark on daily expeditions, allowing you to dig deep into the Greenland experience.
And if traditional sailing is more your speed, join us aboard our three-masted schooner, Rembrandt van Rijn, for a more intimate and historic experience.
Our cruises to Greenland give you experiences that are truly once in a lifetime: hiking the same trails as the Vikings, watching numerous species of whale visit the Greenland coast, meeting the Inuit people and learning firsthand about the vibrant Thule ancestry―not to mention bird watching, polar diving, and kayaking.
