The fascination of the Arctic is almost impossible to convey through travel reports or films. It needs to be experienced first-hand – and the HANSEATIC inspiration makes this possible. Cruising through Baffin Bay will evoke the memory of its namesake William Baffin, who searched in vain for the legendary Northwest Passage.

The legendary explorer’s name is also immortalised by Baffin Island, where you will gain insights into Inuit traditions. Take a look behind the white curtain of the Canadian Arctic and unlock its intriguing secrets. On the flexible course, the HANSEATIC inspiration will take time to explore the deep fjords, high cliffs, lakes and glaciers that shape the scenery. Enjoy first-hand and active experiences with Zodiac rides and landings. On Beechey Island, your experts will tell fascinating tales of the fate of the Franklin expedition. Over 150 years ago, three members were laid to rest here. The largest uninhabited island on earth, Devon Island, is craggy, dry and red-soiled. In Dundas Harbor (Nunavut), an abandoned station of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police bears silent witness to the isolation. Keep a lookout for musk oxen and Arctic hares against the striking cliff backdrop. With a little luck, you might see some polar bears from the deck. Which Arctic species will make an appearance?

Ice permitting, you will set sail for Smith Sound between Greenland and Canada. How far can the ship go here? Barely any other ships sail the waters of Northwest Greenland, so it is a privilege to explore these places that are beyond the reach of most people. Are you excited by the idea of going to the North Pole? In the 20th century, you would have reached the geomagnetic pole in Etah. Today, it lies further west. However, this deserted place in the vast landscape will still draw your pioneering spirit like a magnet. Knud Rasmussen and Robert Edwin Peary had base camps here. Perhaps you might spot whales and seals as your route continues to Siorapaluk. Greenland’s most northerly settlement lies directly on the fjord, surrounded by mighty sandstone mountains in shades of light red and purple. In Qaanaaq, pick up the trail of the polar explorer Knud Rasmussen again, who started numerous expeditions in the region.

In Greenland, Uummannaq will greet you with colourful houses and the striking backdrop of a heart-shaped mountain shimmering red. The imposing mountainous landscape of Ilulissat also offers stunning views on a hike along the ice fjord. A breathtaking natural spectacle will draw everyone’s attention in Disko Bay: while cruising and riding in the Zodiacs, watch the mighty ice formations that drift through the bay.

Cast your gaze over the vast tundra in the Arsukfjord – with luck, musk oxen will grace the bizarre landscape you’ll explore on your hike. Prince Christian Sound glistens in beautiful turquoise: the many open deck areas, the deck tour at the bow and the glass balconies provide front-row seats to this backdrop of waterfalls and glaciers.

Greenland’s rarely visited east coast will captivate you with its remoteness, enormous mountains and an almost endless fjord world. In East Greenland, the warm scenic colours of Skjoldungen Sound provide a charming contrast to the icy blue. By the end of this expedition, the once blank pages of your personal logbook will be brimming with your new Arctic experiences.