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  • The cruise ship Rotterdam outside Nanortalik in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

Popular Cruise Ship Itineraries in Greenland

There are plenty of opportunities to get a unique cruise in Greenland.

NUMEROUS POSSIBILITIES

Cruise ship tourism in Greenland is still in its infancy, and there are lots of places in the country that cruise ship guests have not yet seen.

On the other hand, there are obviously also towns and locations that are particularly popular to visit because the range of onshore activities is great, the scenery is quite unique and the disembarkation facilities good.

In the following you can read about some of the typical routes and landing sites that during the last ten years have attracted an increasing number of cruise ship tourists to Greenland.

ATTRACTIONS BETWEEN SOUTH AND NORTH GREENLAND

The route between Ilulissat in North Greenland and Narsarsuaq in South Greenland has been a real hit among cruise guests in Greenland for many years.

With landing sites in the string of towns that lie between the two destinations, tourists are assured of getting a varied insight into several of the country’s most popular towns and settlements.

Wonderful sights and attractions can be experienced on a daily basis, but South Greenland’s nature and Viking ruins and North Greenland’s huge icebergs are without doubt absolute highlights on such a journey.

South Greenland's nature and Viking ruins and North Greenland's huge icebergs are without doubt absolute highlights on such a journey.

Continues further down the page...

Package Tours

Disko Line: Icefjord Cruise

Disko Line

Icefjord Cruise

Get closer to the impressive Greenlandic nature with Icefjord Cruise.

FROM €93
Arctic Umiaq Line: Discover Greenland from the sea

Arctic Umiaq Line

Discover Greenland from the sea

The coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk sails from southern Greenland up along Greenland’s west coast to Disko Bay.

FROM 500 DKK
Secret Atlas: Greenland Explorer – The Beautiful South

Secret Atlas

Greenland Explorer - The Beautiful South

Explore Southern Greenland's majestic beauty the local way on an authentic 15-day Micro Cruise. Greenlandic vessel and guides. 12 guests.

FROM €9,500
Secret Atlas: Greenland Explorer – The Pioneer

Secret Atlas

Greenland Explorer - The Pioneer

Explore the entire West Coast of Greenland the local way on an authentic 29-day Micro Cruise. Greenlandic vessel and guides. 12 guests.

FROM €17,010
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THE TOP OF THE WORLD AND THE NATIONAL PARK

Special expedition ships that can carry 50 to 250 passengers have become popular in Arctic waters.

These expedition cruises are characterised by choosing atypical routes and landing sites, including small settlements or rarely visited natural attractions.

In particular, trips to remote towns in Greenland, Qaanaaq in North Greenland’s hunting district as well as Ittoqqortoormiit and the National Park in Northeast Greenland are popular amongst globetrotters looking for experiences of nature of the highest order.

KANGERLUSSUAQ, DISKO BAY AND UUMMANNAQ

Several cruises depart from the main gateway to Greenland, the international airport at Kangerlussuaq, from where the route typically takes in the fantastic Evighedsfjord (Fjord of Eternity) and the dogsled town of Sisimiut just north of the Arctic Circle, as well as a number of fascinating landing sites in Disko Bay.

This applies to, for example, Ilulissat with the UNESCO-protected ice fjord, and also occasionally to Qeqertarsuaq on the formerly volcanic Disko Island, where dog sledding on Lyngmarksbræen is possible during the summer.

Some cruise ships sail further north to Uummannaq, which is the essence of a real Arctic hunting town.

GREENLAND FROM NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE

A handful of cruise ships that can carry a couple of thousand passengers call at Greenland on transatlantic voyages that typically start in North America and Europe.

These cruise ships usually try to sail through Greenland’s perhaps most beautiful fjord, Prince Christians Sound in South Greenland – if the mouth of the fjord is not blocked by large icebergs.

The ships typically have the cultural town of Qaqortoq in South Greenland as a port of call and sometimes also the country’s biggest town and one of the world’s smallest capitals, Nuuk.

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Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island

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Greenland’s modern path to independence

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Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island.
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