Wilds of Alaska & the Northwest Passage - a land & cruise journey

Begin your journey in Anchorage, where a world of spectacular natural landscapes and intriguing culture awaits. Settle in for a one-night stay. This evening you will join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.

Your adventure starts today with a visit to Anchorage’s Alaska Native Heritage Centre, a gathering place that celebrates, perpetuates, and shares Alaska Native Culture, language, heritage, and tradition. Sit back and watch Native artisans as they work on their crafts and enjoy live traditional dance performances before a private visit with an Alaskan native storyteller, who will bring you into their culture as they share the stories about their history and people. Drive through the scenic Matanuska-Susitna Valley, considered one of the most important agricultural regions in Alaska. The valley is rimmed by three major mountain ranges: The Alaska Range, and the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains. Indulge in expansive views of alpine peaks and valleys, rivers and streams, and vast spruce and birch forests before arriving at your lodge for the next two-nights. This evening you will have a unique opportunity to meet a local Alaskan, Howard Carbone. Revel in his stories of climbing Denali, nature in the area, and living in Alaska through photographs, videos, and stories.

Freechoice: Enjoy a jet boat ride down the Susitna river with an onboard naturalist and visit a Dena’ina Indian Encampment. Alternatively, set out to explore Talkeetna’s best hiking trails with a naturalist guide on a hike through old-growth forest, alive with songbirds, wildflowers, berries, and mushrooms. Watch for loons and kingfishers on the lakes, moose and bears in the woods and enjoy the view of Denali on the horizon.

Enrich
A classic Alaskan experience awaits. Fly into the heart of Denali National Park, soaring over glaciers and icebergs, keeping an eye out for moose, black bears, Dall sheep and mountain goats. Land on a snow field high on a glacier and take a walk in this remote environment before returning back to your lodge.

Travel aboard luxury dome rail cars from Talkeetna to Denali National Park. Large, panoramic windows allow for mostly unrestricted views of the scenery around you and provide an excellent vantage point for photos. As you approach Denali National Park, journey along the snaking Indian River and enjoy expansive sights of Hurricane Gulch, and make sure to look to your left to view the highest mountain in North America, Denali, and the stunning Alaska Range. On arrival visit the Denali Education Centre and enjoy a talk from a local resident about what it takes to live life in Alaska, before checking into your hotel for a two-night stay.

Freechoice: Discover the spectacular wildlife that call Denali National Park home as you travel 62 miles towards the Stony Hill Overlook. Board a comfortable national park’s tour bus and immerse yourself in a scenic journey of natural wonders, a narrated history of Park Road, and some of the best opportunities to view the park’s inhabitants. Alternatively, spend up to 4 hours exploring Denali National Park on a hiking adventure with your guide. The Triple Lakes Trail inside Denali National Park provides visitors with one of the best opportunities for a serene immersion into the boreal forest of Interior Alaska. Hike, identify the flora and fauna, capture photos and simply enjoy having a professional, local guide take you on a sightseeing adventure.

Today we journey back through scenic mountain scenery to Anchorage. Stop in the small community of Willow for a visit to an authentic sled dog kennel. Meet with a veteran Iditarod musher before an exhilarating and adorable dog sled ride through the property, while safely in an ATV. After your dogsled run, meet the canine athletes that pulled your ATV and interact with the puppies. Following lunch with Vern Halter the owner of the kennel and an Iditrarod champion, continue to Anchorage and your hotel, the Anchorage Marriott Downtown Hotel for a one-night stay. Tonight, relive your experiences at your farewell dinner.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel, fly from Anchorage to Nome, where Scenic Eclipse waits just off the coast. You’ll be transferred to your ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht by boat where you will see Nome’s colourful buildings from the sea. Set at the tip of the Seward Peninsula and overlooking the Bering Sea, Nome is a tranquil city today, but was bustling with people from all over the world in the Gold Rush during the early 1900s. 

After a short trip, be welcomed aboard by Scenic Eclipse’s world-class crew and cheer to the start of your wonderful journey into one of the world’s remotest destinations with a glass of champagne. Join fellow guests on the Observation Deck as Scenic Eclipse sails off into the Bering Sea.

Tonight, you will meet some of the experts who will bring the places you visit to life. Comprised of leading experts in their fields – from historians and geologists to archaeologists and photographers – the specialist Discovery Team will provide enduring insights and safely guide you every step of the way. Whether during an on board lecture in our state-of-the-art theatre, a guided kayak excursion or a nature walk, they will share with you their passion for, and knowledge of the places you’ll soon see.

This morning, familiarise yourself with your ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht and make the most of the services and activities on board. Feel the excitement building up as the Discovery Team explains how your zodiac and optional helicopter^, Scenic Freechoice experiences and other Discovery Excursions will work in the coming days. Get familiar with the provided clothing you will need for kayak and Zodiac excursions.

As you voyage along the Bering Strait, you might choose to join the Captain in the bridge to enjoy the best vantage point while sailing this narrow waterway – linking the Arctic and Pacific oceans, it’s only 82 kilometres at its widest point. Standing here, Alaska and the USA are on your starboard side; and the Chukotka region in Russia port side, with the closest point between the two countries at less than seven kilometres.

Sailing through Port Clarence Bay Scenic Eclipse’s GPS Dynamic Positioning will enable her to maintain location without dropping anchors onto sensitive seabeds; you are in a fragile ecosystem, after all. The World’s First Discovery Yachts also features an Azipod propulsion system that delivers the lowest noise and vibration levels to ensure minimal disturbance to marine life, which you’re about to see first-hand.
 

Discovery:
Pull on your waterproof clothes and set to explore Port Clarence Bay on Zodiac. The population of this charming town is small, with less than 30 people calling this far-flung part of Alaska home. It’s a fascinating introduction to life in these northern extremes, with its windswept shoreline and dramatic geography.

Wake up reinvigorated after a good night’s sleep on your signature Scenic Slumber Bed, having made the most of the pillow menu at your disposal the previous night. Begin your day stretching limbs in a Pilates class with your Wellness Coach, then indulge in a barista coffee brought to your suite by your butler, followed by breakfast in the Yacht Club.

Today you may decide to venture back to the Yacht Club for lunch, or opt for Azure Bar & Café, where you can graze throughout the day.
Be sure to visit the Observation Lounge post-meal. You’ll be starting your voyage into the Northwest Passage and will want to relive this thrilling moment at dinner with your new friends.
 

Discovery:
This tiny island is far from anywhere. And that’s part of its untouched appeal. Arriving by Zodiac, join your expert Discovery Team guide to learn about the local history and small Inuit community that calls it home. Conditions pending, you may have the opportunity to explore by kayak, or soar above the landscape on board of Scenic Eclipse’s helicopters^.

Spend the day at leisure exploring the various spaces of your luxurious Discovery Yacht. You may also wish to rejuvenate with the extensive wellness offerings at Senses Spa.

Feel anew with a yoga or Pilates class at the dedicated studio or choose to indulge in a range of treatments^ and wellness experiences at the Senses Spa, including massages and facials, body wraps and scrubs, manicures, and pedicures^. There’s also a strong focus on alternative therapies, such as reflexology, shiatsu, and Tibetan bowl sound therapy. Alternatively, take time out on one of the thermal lounges.

End your evening with a nightcap in the state-of-the-art theatre, where your Cruise Directors host live entertainment ranging from pop and opera to musical theatre.

Indulge a little more in your Discovery Yacht’s facilities. Begin the day with a yoga class, followed by a soak in the heated vitality pool, the endless horizon your backdrop. Your active start to the day means you can reward yourself by calling on your butler to bring breakfast to your room. You could enjoy lunch here as well. Or make a date with your new friends this evening to try the finest French cuisine at Lumière, replete with a champagne bar.

During the afternoon, choose your favourite bar or lounge, making the most of the truly all-inclusive beverage menu*, including premium wines and spirits. Retire to the Scenic Bar & Lounge, order a cocktail or flute of French champagne, and let your cares drift away.

Throughout the day, have fun at the lively trivia sessions in the Lounge and enjoy enrichment lectures in the theatre, the latter of which delve deep into topics ranging from wildlife and upcoming ports to the region’s Indigenous communities.

Prepare to be mesmerised by the stark beauty of Herschel Island, the Yukon’s only offshore island. Its wild landscapes and even wilder animal residents have drawn scientists and researchers for centuries, alongside adventure-seeking cruise explorers.

You may want to start your wildlife checklist today, as you’ll have many opportunities to spot some of the region’s most iconic animals on land, in the air and at sea – after all, this is a place where grizzly and polar bears exist side by side, along with muskoxen, caribou, Arctic foxes, seals, beluga whales and an enormous colony of black guillemots. Your camera will get a workout – and that’s before you’ve even glimpsed the Arctic wildflowers blanketing meadows cast aglow by the Midnight Sun.
 

Discovery:
Talk to your expert Discovery Team about exploring the island’s shoreline in a Zodiac or kayak – imagine the thrill of paddling alongside a curious seal cruising through the water. Take a walk through the island’s historic buildings, erected by whalers, fishermen and traders over the centuries. 

Returning to Scenic Eclipse, share the day’s experiences with your fellow travelling friends in one of the nine bars and lounges, making the most of the truly all-inclusive beverage menu, including premium wines and spirits.

Endless “pinch-me” moments lie ahead as you venture into the Northwest Passage, delicately navigating through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, this once impassable route is a place where few are lucky enough to have travelled. From John Cabot to James Cook and Sir John Franklin, many explorers set out to conquer this fabled route and failed. On a Scenic Eclipse expedition voyage you will go further than these intrepid explorers were ever able to – all while indulging in the ultra-luxury of your Discovery Yacht.

Due to the extraordinary nature of this remote and ravishing Arctic region, the exact route Scenic Eclipse takes is dependent on the ice and weather conditions – things can change here in the blink of an eye. While your Captain and Discovery Leader will have a plan in place, the expert team on board will alter the itinerary to ensure the best possible voyage. Not being 100% sure what might happen next is all part of the thrill, adding to the excitement for all guests and crew.
 

Discovery:
This is one of the most remote pockets of the planet – even more so than Antarctica – with only a few cruise operators bringing guests here. Which means that when it’s time to explore, you’ll likely have the vast landscapes all to yourself. Accompany your expert Discovery Team on Zodiac and kayak excursions, then venture on nature walks across ground where yours might be the only footprints. .

Today you’ll explore this incredible destination in the company of anthropological archaeologist Professor Mark Nuttal one of the world’s most renowned researchers and authors on the Inuit communities of the Arctic. He’s a font of knowledge and will regale you with fascinating stories about the people that live in these northern reaches – communities that are absent from other icy destinations like Antarctica. Be sure to join one of Professor Nuttal’s Enrichment Lectures in the Theatre or find him for a one-on-one chat to inspire your explorations in the coming days.

The presence of communities here for centuries leads to extraordinary experiences when on shore – many remains, and ruins are still being discovered to this day. There are also still thriving cultures, and as a Scenic Eclipse guest you’ll have the privilege of meeting some of the people who call the Northwest Passage home, and be welcomed to community centres to hear stories, watch folk dancing and – of course – eat local delicacies.
 

Discovery:
Conditions permitting, today you may have the chance to meet one of the communities such as Ulukhaktok, or Holman, a hamlet on the west coast of Victoria Island. Arrive via Zodiac, then wander pristine tundras where communities protect age-old traditions of hunting, fishing and (more recently) printmaking.

Wake up to a delicious coffee in your suite served by your butler and get ready for a day full of exciting discoveries. Feel the anticipation building up as Scenic Eclipse sails across the Northwest Passage - based on the many years of experience, our on board team have found that this point of your voyage gives you a better chance of spotting polar bears than you do in Svalbard, Norway. It’s a day where you may see these magnificent creatures – the search almost as thrilling as the actual moment.

Your Captain and Discovery Team are always on the lookout for fascinating wildlife sightings, and thanks to Scenic Eclipse's Open Bridge policy, you’re invited to join them with a pair of binoculars on hand (you’ll find a set in your suite or can use one of the ship’s Swarovski telescopes).

While nothing’s ever guaranteed when you’re visiting a place where nature is the ruler, your crew are incredibly eagle-eyed, know all the likely animal hangouts and can spot a beluga, bowhead whale, seal and rare narwhal splashing about a mile away. In the Arctic, it’s that constant search that builds the excitement and makes the moment you do finally spot something so much more thrilling.
 

Discovery:
Whether you’re exploring in a Zodiac, kayak or on foot, Edinburgh Island is a place dominated by the power of nature. Wander across a lush tundra, pausing to snap photos of caribou antlers and bear tracks. The expert Discovery Team will reveal the fascinating flora and fauna, including the cry of peregrine falcons that circle the island’s tall Precambrian granite cliffs. 

Little luxuries in big places – it’s quite remarkable to explore such a wild and wonderful part of the world in the ultra-luxury of Scenic Eclipse. There’s nothing quite as thrilling as sipping a glass of champagne when a whale glides by or be on your private balcony with a mug of coffee (delivered by your butler) and binoculars while spotting migrating sea birds – most of them unfazed by your presence, because so few people get to explore these realms.

You might also get lucky while relaxing in Scenic Eclipse’s outdoor Vitality Pools on Deck 10 and adjacent to Senses Spa. And what a haven the spa is – if the scenery outside didn’t whisk away your worries, then the spa therapists will do just that, with massages^, facials^ and alternative therapies in a Zen setting.
 

Discovery:
A potential landing today is Cambridge Bay, where you get the chance to learn about local life on Victoria Island. Enjoy guided Zodiac and kayak excursions, or today could be the day you explore from a new perspective by helicopter^ and submarine^.

For such a remote part of the world, the Northwest Passage brims with significant archaeological sites – in fact, the Discovery Team have found some for the very first time on past expeditions, revealing just how untouched this part of the world is.

In addition to offshore shipwrecks, the region’s islands and inlets are dotted with sites that retrace history. Throughout your expedition voyage, you might visit the wintering camps of explorers past, glimpse message cairns, and spot tools and supplies. It’s fascinating to be in touch with the region’s early exploration history in contrast to being able to explore it today in the 6-star ultra-luxury of your Discovery Yacht.
 

Discovery:
Enjoy lectures in the state-of-the-art theatre before setting off to explore the region – the Discovery Team’s expert knowledge of the region will make your experience even more remarkable. Cruise along the coast in Zodiac and kayak excursions, keeping your eyes always open for potential wildlife encounters.

While exploring the luxurious spaces on board Scenic Eclipse, you’ll meet some of the experts who will bring the places you visit to life. The Discovery Team will enrich your experience as they share with you their knowledge and passion for the destinations you’re visiting.

Between members of your Discovery Team and guest lecturers, you will have an encyclopaedic amount of knowledge at your fingertips on board Scenic Eclipse. Daily, they offer fascinating talks in the state-of-the-art theatre, on topics as diverse as the history of the region that you’re traversing to the wildlife you need to keep watch for and the Inuit communities you’ll meet. Of course, while on shore they’re also at your disposal to take a deeper dive, offering a 360-degree perspective of this wild wonderland that, well, often defies perspective.
 

Discovery:
As we arrive in Coningham Bay, on the southeast coast of Prince of Wales Island in Nunavut, you might spot beluga whales and polar bears, among other fascinating wildlife. Whether you’re watching them from Scenic Eclipse’s Observation Lounge or during kayak or Zodiac excursions.  your Discovery Team will always safely guide you through these multisensorial moments.  

Be sure to pack your swimmers. For many, the polar plunge is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and a rite of passage for people on an expedition to the Arctic. Once throughout your voyage, Scenic Eclipse will pause, and the team will set up the marina ready for the brave people who want to jump into the freezing Arctic waters.

Excitement will spread through the Discovery Yacht, and you will start hearing contagious nervous laughter bubble from deck. As you stand on the edge ready to jump, you will feel the adrenaline rush… your second thought might be “is this really a good idea?!”. When you jump, the moment before you hit the water will feel like it goes forever; then the freezing touch of the water will consume your body. This chilly dip will be invigorating, exciting, and surprisingly refreshing.

If you choose not to do the polar plunge, make sure you find a good viewing location with a cup of hot chocolate as you feel the chills of everyone coming out of the water.
 

Discovery:
Weather permitting, today you may experience more of the Northwest Passage’s archaeological richness. Set off to explore on Zodiac and kayak with the expert Discovery Team while taking in enduring insights into the region’s history.

On your Scenic Eclipse voyage, you will have the opportunity to explore both on, above, and below the water. Today might be the day you take to the skies on an optional helicopter^ excursion over the archipelago, mesmerised by the shapes of hamlets and bays carved by thousands of years of ice and wind.

If you prefer to stay on the water, talk to your Discovery Team about Zodiac and kayak journeys navigating the shoreline of uninhabited Somerset Island, pausing to step ashore at Fury Beach. This wind-buffed stretch is where Arctic exploration ship HMS Fury was abandoned after ice damage in 1825, with her stores unloaded onto the shore.

Avid bird watchers will have cameras poised for today’s destination: Prince Leopold Island. While no humans live here, a staggering 400,000 birds’ nest on the small island, twirling around limestone cliffs that soar up to 270 metres. This sanctuary is one of the most important multi-species seabird colonies in the Arctic, supporting large numbers of northern fulmar, black-legged kittiwake, and black guillemot.

Your next destination, Beechey Island, was the winter camp of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin Expedition. The final resting place of three of Sir John Franklin’s crew, it has served as the base camp for much of the exploration of the Northwest Passage and is peppered with notable archaeological sites that retrace history.
 

Discovery:
Walk in the footsteps of explorers (and your Discovery Team) when you cruise to Beechey Island in a Zodiac. Take in the significance of the archaeological ruins, including winter camps and message cairns, before pondering the moving memorials.  

Devon Island makes history as being the largest uninhabited island on the planet – no-one lives here today, but scattered across the tundra are the remnants of the Thule settlement that dates back to 1000 AD.

With land that remains frozen for almost the entire year, dominated by frost-shattered rocks and minimal plants and animals, it has an outlook that has been compared to the Moon: harsh, but in a starkly beautiful way. The island is also the location of the Haughton impact crater, formed when a meteorite about two kilometres in diameter crashed into the surface 39 million years ago. Flat top mountains, glacial valleys and a substantial ice cap, Devon Island has a unique and majestic beauty.
 

Discovery:
It’s time to pull on your Moon boots and discover Devon Island for yourself. When you’re not on shore at Dundas Sound – home to the eery remains of that Thule settlement – opt for jaw-dropping Zodiac and kayak excursions through Croker Bay’s wonderland of icebergs, cracking and heaving as you glide by. 

Baffin Island is one of those places that will set your heart aflutter. At the mouth of the Northwest Passage, this hulking mass – the largest in Canada – is a grand wild landscape, a place of steep fjords, kilometres-high mountains, and coastal islands. It’s the spectacular homeland of the Inuit and an accessible Arctic playground for the adventurous.
 

Discovery:
Bring your stamina for a day of exploring with your Discovery Team, including landings on the island and kayaking. Keep watch for whales and polar bears and feel the thrill of the Jurassic cliffs that soar all around.   

Today is the perfect day to make the most of your Scenic Eclipse's luxurious facilities and immersive experiences. Stretch your limbs in a Pilates class with your Discovery Yacht’s Wellness Coach, who will also host a Spa Lecture on pain management and mobility. Reward your healthy start to the day with a culinary masterclass at Epicure, hosted by the Executive Chef, or a wine tasting with the Head Sommelier.

In between, be sure to make the most of lively trivia sessions in the Lounge and Enrichment Lectures at the state-of-the-art theatre.

End your evening with a nightcap in the theatre, where your Discovery Yacht’s Cruise Directors host live vocals ranging from pop and opera to musical theatre.

Spectacular days await as you cruise into the fabulously named Disko Bay, all gem-like icebergs, and horizon-bending glaciers. Join your fellow guests on the Observation Terrace or your private verandah and listen for the remarkable sound of a calving glacier echoing across the fjord – this could be the soundtrack to your cruise.
 

Freechoice:
Kangia Ice Fjord Cruise: Board local boat and head for the mouth of the Ilulissat Kangia Fjord. Cruise among the huge icebergs that are stationary due to an underwater moraine. The only way for the icebergs to break loose is the pressure from behind or tide water, which results in multitude of huge icebergs just in front of Ilulissat. After cruising around the icebergs, the local captain will find a suitable place to stop the engine, so you can enjoy the silence of the Arctic.

A Visit to the Sled Dog Center: Visit the Sled Dog Center, the first and the only of its kind in Greenland. The center highlights the history of dogs as working animals and how they are used for sledding and ice fishing in the winter, as well giving you the opportunity to interact by trying the equipment and tasting Greenlandic food. While surrounded by approximately 30 dogs, you will learn how they are treated, trained and fed, among the history of how the Inuit was able to rely on them for more than hundreds of miles in the arctic landscape. Besides the enchanting stories, you will hear about the process and what is necessary to do with the dogs' wellbeing being a top priority.
 

Discovery:
Icebergs, World Heritage-listed sites, Inuit culture. Today’s experiences on land and in Zodiacs and kayaks reveal the immense beauty of this part of Greenland. You may also spot whales who are known to swim remarkably close to shore here - keep your eyes peeled.  

“Rough. Real. Remote.” This is the tag-cry of Sisimiut, which has the reputation of being the adventure hub of Greenland. From the town – a smattering of wooden houses painted in a rainbow of colours – thrill-seekers set off into wild countryside to discover landscapes that will prove a salve for your soul.
 

Freechoice:
Walking Tour of Sisimiut: Stretch your legs on a walking tour that takes you through decades of Sisimiut history. Wander through the old town with its beautiful colonial houses and past mirror-like lake Nalunnguarfik.
 

Discovery:
Mountain Discover Hike: There’s a lot to love about Greenland, and its endless landscapes have to be top of the list. The air feels cleaner here, the vistas wilder, the colours brighter, as you’ll discover on a hike that truly humbles. Travel by bus to the start of the Arctic Circle Trail; from here, traverse trails and cross bubbling brooks to discover delicate Arctic mountain flora and elusive Arctic fauna.

The Sisimiut Viewpoint Hike: Take advantage of the hilly terrain that Sisimiut is famous for and discover shortcuts to vertiginous viewpoints with a local guide. Take a deep breath and appreciate your unbroken outlook over the town, harbour and all the way to the Arctic Circle.   

Your visit to the eye-popping Greenland town of Kangerlussuaq may be short and sweet, but it’s a colourful end to your wondering journey through this vast and varied northern wilderness. It’s hard to say goodbye to your fellow travellers – they’re the only ones who can truly believe how life-changing this expedition really is. From here, fly on to Copenhagen, taking with you memories to last a lifetime.

Please book your flight to depart out of Copenhagen after 11:00 PM.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.