Pyxie Posted June 21 #1 Share Posted June 21 So, for Carnival at least, they are 1 for 3 on actually being able to port in Greenland since they started cruising there last year. The other 2 sailings dealt with hurricanes (not as common in that area, but can happen) and ice. Is it a known thing that being able to port here is iffy or has Carnival just had some bad luck so far? I'm on their August 18 cruise and really hoping we make it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted June 22 #2 Share Posted June 22 Was in Iceland and Greenland in July 2022. Iceland was no problem. We made our ports in Greenland, but there were MANY large icebergs. Part of the beauty of the area. This was on HAL's N. Statendam. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinburgher Posted June 22 #3 Share Posted June 22 (edited) 19 hours ago, Pyxie said: Is it a known thing that being able to port here is iffy As you didn't name all your Greenlandic ports and one or two may be more "iffy" than others, as a general rule, there could be a number of reasons why you would not be able to tender or dock on a given day, but I think the two most likely would be fog or icebergs. We cruised Greenland twice and made all our ports each time, (five in total although one was twice) and even managed to cruise the extremely scenic Prince Christian Sound (possibly the iffiest of all) which can only be passed through if both ends are clear of icebergs as it is too narrow for most cruise ships to turn around. I hope your itinerary includes this passage as it is a highlight. We were to have two chances to pass through, one in each direction, and Captain told us we could miss both if conditions were not perfect, or we could be lucky and get one, but which he would not know until the day. We got through on our first chance as conditions were perfect and as it was open both ends the captain took the opportunity. That was on the now gone HAL Prinsendam. Both our Iceland/Greenland trips were with HAL and very good they were too.. However two weeks before our second one, a cousin and his wife missed either one or two of their Greenlandic ports as the entrances were blocked by icebergs, and although the area can be foggy, we mostly got that sailing between Iceland and Greenland, also the reverse, and it didn't cause us to miss a port. As an aside, "proper" icebergs are stunningly beautiful and you will probably fall in love with them just as we did. Their beauty was one of the reasons we booked a second trip a couple of years later. Nature is nature and you can neither plan for it it nor fight it. Embrace the opportunities this itinerary will offer and make the most of it even should things not quite go to plan.😀 Edited June 22 by edinburgher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisehiker Posted June 25 #4 Share Posted June 25 Been tracking number of Greenland cruises on various forums over last couple of years. A high proportion have missed one or more stops. Current HAL Zuiderdam missed all three Greenland ports due to sea ice (not icing of ports themselves but packs of ice on approach) and then Stornoway too due to bad weather. It is not ice hardened and I think same true of many others on this route. Contrast to Antarctic where I believe only hardened ships allowed to visit. Also, contrary to green/media extremism, sea ice is rebuilding in many parts of Arctic. So always a high risk of missing a Greenland port, especially early in season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted June 25 #5 Share Posted June 25 11 hours ago, Cruisehiker said: Been tracking number of Greenland cruises on various forums over last couple of years. A high proportion have missed one or more stops. Current HAL Zuiderdam missed all three Greenland ports due to sea ice (not icing of ports themselves but packs of ice on approach) and then Stornoway too due to bad weather. It is not ice hardened and I think same true of many others on this route. Contrast to Antarctic where I believe only hardened ships allowed to visit. Also, contrary to green/media extremism, sea ice is rebuilding in many parts of Arctic. So always a high risk of missing a Greenland port, especially early in season. Sea ice is rebuilding because the ice is calving off of the glaciers, and it has to go somewhere, so it follows the currents. Glacier coverage is smaller now than it has been in recorded memory. All BECAUSE of Climate Change 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisehiker Posted June 29 #6 Share Posted June 29 (edited) NCL Star also just cancelled their planned early July Greenland stops because of offshore sea ice. At this time of year the levels are as much or more due to winter sea ice that has not yet melted than melting glaciers. Check the figures - Arctic sea ice is persisting longer this year than last, and the heavy declines of a decade ago have moderated. Just as they did in the previous warm period of the 1930s, which was followed by Greenland terrestrial ice mass and sea ice growth in the colder decades of the 60s and 70s. Climate is a centuries/millennia process, not just a few years. Fact is customers are being conned by being sold early season Greenland cruises that have a significant chance of port cancellation, and also involve some level of risk. Edited June 29 by Cruisehiker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted June 29 #7 Share Posted June 29 HAL's N. Statendam just canceled their visits next week... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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