FROM SEWARD TO KANGERLUSSUAQ

In 1906, Roald Amundsen achieved the first complete passage of the Northwest Passage. Now, you too can take on this pioneering endeavour with the HANSEATIC inspiration. The first chapters of your expedition weeks lie along the coast of the Alaskan Peninsula. Cruising by Kak Island, the bird rock ignites your anticipation for upcoming adventures. "Strong wind" is the meaning of Chignik in the Alutiiq language. Gain insights into life in this small fishing village with its roughly 80 inhabitants. The volcanic island chain of the Aleutians stretches in a wide arc into the Pacific. Here, on Popof Island, you will visit the home of bison. Bald eagles, however, reign supreme in the skies. Their distinctive call over Unalaska Island invariably draws your gaze upward.

A colony of northern fur seals may greet you during a hike with your experts on St. Paul Island – a tantalising preview of further intense encounters with the surprisingly diverse wildlife of this remote region.

As you journey through the Bering Sea, keep a keen eye out for whales, which can be easily observed from the expansive open deck areas.

What constitutes the rich experiences on this passage for you was gold to Alaska in the early 1900s. The town of Nome is still imbued with the spirit of the bygone gold rush era: abandoned steam locomotives, tracks, and gold dredges contribute to this atmosphere.

As you navigate through the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea, the excitement on board rises, for now lies before you the lifelong dream and magnet for countless adventurers and explorers…

The Northwest Passage Adventure: To this day, captivating legends surround this famous sea route. The journey commences with the rarely visited Herschel Island. Depending on local conditions, you'll explore the former whaling station. With a bit of luck, you might be greeted by rough-legged hawks, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the elusive Arctic fox. In Franklin Bay, alongside the history of the eponymous polar explorer, you will encounter the phenomenon of the Smoking Hills. These hills owe their name to pyrite-containing rock layers that have self-ignited. A Zodiac ride offers you unique perspectives on this mystical spectacle. On Victoria Island, named after the British Queen, you may be fortunate enough to observe imposing musk oxen, weighing up to 400 kg. Will you spot polar bears here as well? Look forward to astonishing insights into the lifestyle and history of the Inuit. For centuries, the area around Cambridge Bay was a summer meeting place for families of the “Copper Eskimos,” named after their copper tools. As a silent witness to the daring of Roald Amundsen, the wreck of his research ship “Maud” lay here in the ice for around 90 years before being returned to Norway in 2018. The echo of a great voice resonates on Jenny Lind Island: The island is named after a 19th-century Swedish opera singer lovingly called the “Nightingale.” Here, you may be surprised by northern residents like snow hares, Arctic foxes, and caribou. Cruising in the Victoria Strait, the dramatic landscape becomes a mirror of moving history. At the narrow entrance, the long-lost ships of the Franklin Expedition, which unsuccessfully sought the Northwest Passage in 1845, were once suspected to lie. One of these ships, the “Terror,” was located in Terror Bay in 2016, about 100 km further south than previously assumed. With your experts on board, you’ll delve into the fate and relentless courage of those who braved the elements back then. Whether your journey continues through Peel Sound will be decided by the ice – it sets the pace as the HANSEATIC inspiration safely navigates through the island labyrinth to the next destinations. Only a few ships are capable of this, requiring top-notch equipment and an experienced crew. Zodiac rides and landings in the habitats of whales, seals, and polar bears are always possible. Prince of Wales Island, for instance, invites you to a hike in pristine nature. Follow in the footsteps of former explorers on Beechey Island. A stroll to the graves of the Franklin Expedition members makes the historical significance palpable. On the largest uninhabited island on Earth, Devon Island, you are greeted by vast wilderness. An abandoned Royal Canadian Mounted Police station enhances the sense of quiet seclusion. Once the ship sets course for Greenland from Lancaster Sound, you’ve done it: You are among the few who can claim to have conquered the Northwest Passage.

The final act of your adventure unfolds along the west coast of Greenland. Small but exquisite, Uummannaq nestles at the base of a majestic, heart-shaped mountain. The awe-inspiring Sermeq Kujalleq glacier near Ilulissat is the "birthplace" of approximately 10% of Greenland's icebergs. Marvel at the glittering ice masses that gather here during a hike to the ice fjord. You will then witness a spectacular natural phenomenon: colossal icebergs drift majestically through the shimmering splendour of Disko Bay – and you, observing this event from the deck, will find yourself right in the midst of it all aboard a Zodiac. An atmospheric finale to your expedition awaits in Sisimiut, where houses are scattered over several hills. Nearly a whole month dotted with milestones of maritime history is now behind you – the ensuing wealth of life experiences and cherished memories will linger for a long time.