Visit Greenland
  • Things to Do
  • Destinations
    • All destinations
    • North Greenland
    • Destination Arctic Circle
    • Capital Region
    • South Greenland
    • East Greenland
    • The National Park
  • Plan Your Trip
  • About Greenland
  • Articles
  • Practical Questions
  • Package tours & providers
  • Your Local Travel Agency
  • Contact
  • → Cruise.visitgreenland.com
  • Select Language
    • English
    • Danish
    • German
  • Search

Cruises in Greenland

The sea and seafaring has always been vital to us, and for you as a guest it makes for an optimal way to tour large parts of the country.

In premodern times, and especially during the latest wave of immigration from Canada to Greenland, the kayak and the larger umiaq were the most common and efficient means of transportation compared to arduous treks across the rugged Greenlandic mountain terrain.

Explorers, cartographers and adventurers looking to cross the ice cap or conquer the North Pole all came to Greenland from across the sea, and they met the locals and exchanged goods and experiences, while some even settled down and started a new life on the island.

“We saw a show on television from Compagnie du Ponant. We saw the ice and the nature, and we said that we have to do that!”

Package Tours

Quark Expeditions: Cruise East Greenland’s Fjords

Quark Expeditions

Cruise East Greenland's Fjords

On this expedition cruise, you'll explore the world’s largest fjord system and enjoy the stunning vistas of East Greenland.

FROM $6,895
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 DKK500
Discover The World: Hiking in East Greenland

Discover The World

Hiking in East Greenland

Join our popular guided hiking holiday. Enjoy well-paced day walks, helicopter rides and an iceberg boat cruise.

FROM £2,667
Discover The World: Greenland Cruises and Voyages

Discover The World

Greenland Cruises and Voyages

Explore Greenland's spectacular coastline on a variety of adventure voyages. Discover immense fjords, glaciers, icebergs and Inuit culture.

FROM £2,973
Greenland Travel: The great roundtrip! Greenland from South to North

Greenland Travel

The great roundtrip! Greenland from South to North

The Dream trip of a lifetime! Experience the amazing contrasts from north to south. See icebergs, go on whale safari and walk on the ice cap

From €6,370
Quark Expeditions: Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin

Quark Expeditions

Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin

Explore waters few have sailed; experience intimate wildlife encounters and dramatic fjords.

From $9,695
Quark Expeditions: Arctic Express

Quark Expeditions

Arctic Express

This Fly/Cruise voyage takes you straight to the adventure. Explore fjords by kayak, visit Thule ruins and, witness the Northern Lights.

From $6,895
Show More

PIONEERS AT SEA

Cruise guests in today’s Greenland might not plant the same explorer flag in their various destinations throughout Greenland, but the sense of being a pioneer in the wake of great adventurers who sailed these shores long ago still prevails. A cruise in Greenland is first and foremost a nature based experience, but on top of that it is an intimate meeting with our culture, society, and history which adds a dimension not often seen in other Polar cruises.

With the exception of the northernmost parts of Greenland, which are still hard to access because of sea ice, just about any inhabited place in Greenland can be reached in the peak season from June till October.

A VARIETY OF CRUISES FOR ALL TASTES

For a great all round experience of Greenland begin or end your cruise in Kangerlussuaq, at the bottom of a long, narrow fjord close to the Ice Cap which is an essential place to visit from Kangerlussuaq.

When you embark in Kangerlussuaq your cruise will almost certainly involve a trip north to the Disko Bay area, typically arriving in Ilulissat and cruising along the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Ilulissat Icefjord, before heading wither heading south to Kangerlussuaq or across the Davis Strait to Canada or back towards Iceland with further Greenlandic destinations on the itinerary.

You might also be arriving on a larger cruise on your way across the Atlantic and in that case you normally only have one or two stops in Greenland unless you’re traveling aboard a dedicated expedition cruise ship or a schooner, both of which usually travel through fjords and explore nature and wildlife off the beaten path on fairly open itineraries.

Regardless of the ship type and irrespectively of your choice of season, be it early in summer when whales are abundant or on the edge of autumn when the northern lights come out, a cruise in Greenland is the perfect way to experience the country.

  • Most cruise ships visit Greenland from mid-July to mid-August

  • Greenland’s coastline is more than 44,000 kilometers or longer than the 40,000 kilometers around the Equator

  • Most expedition cruises go to East Greenland while a number of actual Greenland cruises begin near the international airport in Kangerlussuaq on the west coast

  • Nanortalik and Qaqortoq in South Greenland, and at times also the capital Nuuk, are frequented by larger ships on transatlantic crossings

  • Many Greenlandic stores, hotels, and restaurants accept VISA and MasterCard but it is advisable to always carry cash, as some places might not accept your preferred credit card, including Amex, UnionPay, and other less common forms of payment in Greenland.

The Greenlandic settlement of Illorsuit with MS Fram in the background. Photo by Mads Pihl.jpg
A kayaker from Sisimiut in Greenland rolling his traditional kayak
Two fin whales going along the coastline near Qeqertarsuaq in Greenland

Package Tours

Discover The World: South Greenland Explorer

Discover The World

South Greenland Adventure

Experience one of the world's last great wildernesses and discover its vibrant culture and Viking heritage.

FROM £2,034
Disko Line: Disko Bay from South to North

Disko Line

Disko Bay from South to North

A trip to Greenland where nature goes hand in hand with culture under the midnight sun.

FROM €1,466
Arctic Exposure: East Greenland Photo Expedition

Arctic Exposure

East Greenland Photo Tour

A Photo Tour in Greenland for photographers of all skill levels. Our focus is helping you improve your photography in unforgettable location.

FROM $5,400
Arctic Exposure: Scoresby Sound Expedition – Photo Tour

Arctic Exposure

Scoresby Sound Expedition - Photo Tour

Scoresby Sound is a large fjord system of the Greenland Sea and located on the eastern coast of Greenland.

From $6,790
Quark Expeditions: Greenland Explorer: Valleys and Fjords

Quark Expeditions

Greenland Explorer

Witness the Ilulissat icefjord, explore historic places and visit communities, encountering an ancient culture surviving in a modern world.

From $6,995
Quark Expeditions: West Greenland: Disko Bay

Quark Expeditions

West Greenland: Disko Bay

Explore the wonders of Northwest Greenland, from the Ilulissat Icefjord to the mountains of Uummannaq.

From $4,395
Quark Expeditions: Epic High Arctic

Quark Expeditions

Epic High Arctic

This expedition through the Northwest Passage visits Greenlandic & Canadian communities, plus UNESCO World Heritage Site Ilulissat Icefjord.

From $9,695
Show More

FROM MIDNIGHT SUN TO NORTHERN LIGHTS

North of the Arctic Circle you can experience the midnight sun, roughly until the end of July in Ilulissat, while you will find nights with no darkness even after the sun dips below the horizon south of the Arctic Circle. Walk around the upper deck of the ship and breathe in the fresh Arctic air in the magical soft midnight light while you cruise through calm waters sheltered by bays and fjords. This is like a balm for the soul.

On journeys with daily arrivals in towns and settlements you will often have the option of going on local tours both in town and with smaller boats in the area. Or you might find that someone local has set up a kayak performance, a show with dancers in the national costume, or a talk with greenlanders who recall life in a land from when the kayak and the umiaq were essential and everyday means of transportion.

HAVE A TASTE OF GREENLAND AND BRING HOME THE MEMORIES

Even with every meal included in your cruise it would be a shame to miss out on a taste Greenland. Larger towns all have restaurants or hotels with lunch menus, and often with a commanding view of the sea. And if you are in the presence of a guide with local knowledge you should consider buying fresh fish or meat from “Brættet”, the local Arctic fresh foods market, to bring back for the onboard chef to prepare.

Having your crew fishing little pieces of ice out of the sea before crushing them down to ice cubes for whiskey or other drinks is usually popular among seafarers looking for that bit of an extra feel good experience. Free floating pieces from ice cap are often more than 4,000 years old and it goes well with Martini and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Local providers

Greenland Expeditions By Land And Sea

Nuuk, PO Box 1253
3900,
Phone: +299 54 44 27More information
Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions

Seattle, 3131 Elliot Avenue, Suite 250, Seattle, WA USA
98121,
Phone: Toll Free 1 888 332 0008 Direct (+1) 203 803 2888More information
Greenland Cruises - MS Fram from Hurtigruten docked alongside in Sisimiut, Greenland

Greenland Cruises

Sisimiut, P.O. Box 342
3911,
Phone: (+299) 549 748More information

Disko Line

Ilulissat, Kussangajaannguaq 13,
3952,
Phone: (+299) 945 301More information

Explore related articles, offers and tour providers:

  • Aasiaat
  • Cruises
  • Ittoqqortoormiit
  • Kangerlussuaq
  • Nanortalik
  • Narsaq
  • Narsarsuaq
  • Nuuk
  • Paamiut
  • Qaqortoq
  • Qasigiannguit
  • Qeqertarsuaq
  • Sisimiut
  • Tasiilaq
  • Upernavik
  • Uummannaq

By Visit Greenland

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

https://visitgreenland.com

Editors' pick

Passenger ferry Sarfaq Ittuk in the Disko Bay under dramatic clouds in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

5 Underrated Places to Visit in Greenland

Greenland is by no means swarming with tourists, wherever you go in the country, but there are particular places where tourists congregate, and there’s a ‘beaten track’ to get off, if that’s your thing.

  • #Aasiaat
  • #Culture
  • #Maniitsoq
  • #Nanortalik
  • #Qeqertarsuaq
Sarfaq Ittuk. Photo by Mads Pihl

Family Fun in Nuuk: Take 5

Nuuk is one of the smallest capitals in the world, but it’s filled with unique experiences for families. Within the city itself there are vibrant colours, history and local foods to discover, while the surrounding immense nature offers limitless opportunities for little ones. Check out these five family-friendly activities to add to your Nuuk Bucket List.

  • #Culture
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Nuuk
  • #Things to do & About
Kalaaliaraq Food. Photo by Aningaaq Rosing Carlsen.

Foodie revolution in Nuuk

“Local food, local food, local food” is the mantra of Inunnguaq Hegelund, the master chef of Kalaaliaraq. Hegelund is here to transform the restaurant scene in Greenland.

  • #Capital Region
  • #Culture
  • #Greenlandic Gastronomy
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Meeting Greenlanders
  • #Nuuk
  • #Restaurant
Kiki Bosch taking a breath between dives next to a giant iceberg of the Ilulissat Icefjord.

Diving into Ilulissat icefjord

Stefan Andrews retells how freediver Kiki Bosch defies the ice in her swimsuit.

  • #Diving
  • #Ilulissat
  • #Kangerlussuaq
  • #Nature
  • #North Greenland
  • #Providers
  • #Regions
  • #Sisimiut
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
More related articles

Keep Exploring

Things to Do

Browse culture and nature (outdoor, hunting, fishing, cruises) related activities, as well as combination of both types.

Plan your trip

Read about practical information on how to get to Greenland, how to get around, when to travel or where to stay.

Destinations

Explore the regions and towns around Greenland and dig deeper into the experiences in each destination.

About Greenland

All about art, music, history, as well as animals, climate change and other interesting information about Greenland.

Visit Greenland

About Visit Greenland

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.

The VisitGreenland.com website is created by Visit Greenland and Kathart Interactive.

The Privacy Policy for Visit Greenland

Frequently Visited Pages

  • Things to Do
  • Destinations
  • Nature & Climate
  • When to go
  • Greenlandic Culture
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Other Websites By Visit Greenland:

  • corporate.greenland.com
  • cruise.visitgreenland.com
  • media.gl
  • A Taste Of Greenland

Newsletter

Receive inspiring stories, travel deals and news from Greenland via email.

SIGN UP HERE

GREENLAND – contact us:

Mon. - Fri: 8 am - 4 pm

Visit Greenland
Hans Egedesvej 29
P.O. Box 1615
3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Direct phone Greenland:
(+299) 34 28 20

info@visitgreenland.com

DENMARK – Contact us:

Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4 pm

Visit Greenland
Strandgade 91
1401 Copenhagen
Denmark

Direct phone Denmark:
(+45) 32 83 38 80

info@visitgreenland.com
Copyright Visit Greenland 2017 © Produced by Kathart Interactive A/S
Scroll to top