Arctic 2024 expedition info

[Wrigleydawg]

We are looking at doing the Northwest Passage in 2024 and most of what I read here is Antarctica. Has anyone done Northwest Passage trips and have suggestions. I have been told the eastern half is most interesting which would tell me we should disembark at Cambridge Bay rather then go all the way west to Nome.  Any thoughts would be appreciated

[Tony & Trevor]

We did the NW passage last Autumn and had a lovely cruise. However, compared to the expedition cruise we took in 2006 there was very little in the way of wild life. In 2006 we cruised Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq......14 days and saw many many polar bears, whales including Narwhals etc.

There were about 160 passengers on the ship with excellent lectures.

If you did the NW passage going all the way to Nome would be interesting.

Kind regards,

Tony

[kathynorth]

On 1/16/2023 at 3:33 AM, Tony & Trevor said:

We did the NW passage last Autumn and had a lovely cruise. However, compared to the expedition cruise we took in 2006 there was very little in the way of wild life. In 2006 we cruised Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq......14 days and saw many many polar bears, whales including Narwhals etc.

There were about 160 passengers on the ship with excellent lectures.

If you did the NW passage going all the way to Nome would be interesting.

Kind regards,

Tony

 

Tony, could you share more details about who you booked with for your 2006 expedition cruise? 

[CDNPolar]

15 hours ago, kathynorth said:

 

Tony, could you share more details about who you booked with for your 2006 expedition cruise? 

 

Not trying to answer for Tony, but we cannot share specific TA information on CC, if that is what you are looking for.  Not saying you are, but I am not sure how to interpret your question.

 

When we went to book our Antarctica cruise, we were a bit concerned because this was like no other cruise we had booked in the past.  We felt that we wanted help with this booking, because for a Europe cruise we book ourselves.

 

We found that most Cruise websites have links to travel services.

 

I don't think that this is in violation of CC policy, because I am not recommending any TA, but only guiding you to a part of the Hurtigruten site that is where Hurtigruten list "Certified" TA's with the Hurtigruten product.

We found and used an agent that Hurtigruten list on their site.  We felt more comfortable that the agents you can find here are actually more knowledgable about the itineraries and Hurtigruten in general.

 

https://www.hurtigruten.com/us/hurtigruten-agent-search/

 

 

[kathynorth]

CDNPolar, I appreciate your response. I was looking for information on the cruise line or other tour company that was used for the Northeast Arctic cruise. We are searching for a cruise that will take us to the Pond Inlet area without emptying our bank account. We know this will be expensive due to the remoteness of the location. thanks again.

[Wrigleydawg]

Kathynorth you might look at Aurora which is an expedition company doing both arctic and Antarctic. Be around for 30 years and get excellent reviews. We have booked directly with them, no TA and had great service. We are transiting the entire northwest passage with them in August 2024

[kathynorth]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Futureaarpmember]

My wife and I are in Vancouver BC right now 8/20/2024 at the Hyatt Regency muster point for the early morning bus to the Vancouver BC International airport to fly the Alaskan Airlines charter to Nome, AK (w a technical stop in Anchorage). Tomorrow upon our 12:30 pm ALDT arrival at Nome, we the ship open for boarding at 1:15 pm - 3:30 pm.

I will be attempting to provide our experience, good and bad, about the Northwest Passage to Greenland and terminating in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

For most part, up until now, we have found the Hurtigruten communications to be quite lacking, as they require all communications to be done through our travel agent who has told us Hurtigruten has not been providing much help in preparing us for the journey. This is in comparison to the much better communication Albatross provided for our Dec 2023 Antarctic Expedition on MS Ocean Victory. Today at the 11 am Hurtigruten hospitality desk, when we received our info and luggage tag packet, we also provided any special dietary restrictions for the early morning breakfast for our 8/21 early morning hotel to airport. Unfortunately, the morning staff seemed very confused on how to deal with my written dietary requirements info but told me they would take care of it. At the 5:30 pm breakfast pick up today, we found they lost my written instructions (which I had taken a pic) and had us waiting for 30+ min to create a sack breakfast suited to me dietary restrictions. Now I fear they may have not registered the dietary restrictions my wife and I provided to Hurtigruten through our travel agent. We shall see.

[Host Jazzbeau]

@Futureaarpmember has reposted the above in a new Live From thread here:

 

[AroundWithMAPTravels]

On 8/20/2024 at 11:37 PM, Futureaarpmember said:

My wife and I are in Vancouver BC right now 8/20/2024 at the Hyatt Regency muster point for the early morning bus to the Vancouver BC International airport to fly the Alaskan Airlines charter to Nome, AK (w a technical stop in Anchorage). Tomorrow upon our 12:30 pm ALDT arrival at Nome, we the ship open for boarding at 1:15 pm - 3:30 pm.

I will be attempting to provide our experience, good and bad, about the Northwest Passage to Greenland and terminating in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

For most part, up until now, we have found the Hurtigruten communications to be quite lacking, as they require all communications to be done through our travel agent who has told us Hurtigruten has not been providing much help in preparing us for the journey. This is in comparison to the much better communication Albatross provided for our Dec 2023 Antarctic Expedition on MS Ocean Victory. Today at the 11 am Hurtigruten hospitality desk, when we received our info and luggage tag packet, we also provided any special dietary restrictions for the early morning breakfast for our 8/21 early morning hotel to airport. Unfortunately, the morning staff seemed very confused on how to deal with my written dietary requirements info but told me they would take care of it. At the 5:30 pm breakfast pick up today, we found they lost my written instructions (which I had taken a pic) and had us waiting for 30+ min to create a sack breakfast suited to me dietary restrictions. Now I fear they may have not registered the dietary restrictions my wife and I provided to Hurtigruten through our travel agent. We shall see.

I am convinced that communication is NOT a strong point.

I had excruciatingly similar experience with communication, as did my TA.

just returned from a Greenland trip with HX.   Ship was stellar.  Communication was not - even onboard.   They did an awesome job attempting to provide all communication in English, German and French (English speakers were definitely in the minority).   However, many necessary details were left out of many communications, leaving people to wonder “Where are we supposed to go?”  Or “exactly what is the plan?”.

i too have dietary requirements… luckily the executive chef had a meeting just after boarding with anyone who had dietary needs… and he took notes and described exactly what to do.  This was very helpful and helped alleviate food fears.   (By the way, all food onboard was awesome!)

Unfortunately the communication lack still has both me and my TA scratching our heads.   I think it’s “just the way it is”.   Good product, except for that!
 

[WisRiver]

We booked our previous Hurtigruten trips, Antarctica, Iceland and two Coastal Voyages directly with Hurtigruten without using a travel agent.  We had no problems with communicating with Hurtigruten.  All our trips were before Hurtigruten split into two companies.  We are booked on the Northwest Passage in 2025, Seattle to Reykjavik.  We will follow @Futureaarpmember's postings.  Since we have two (red and blue) expedition jackets, it is good to know we can get a credit for declining a jacket.