At that time of the year much of the white splendour has melted, revealing vast grey and brown stone beaches and the dirt roads between the settlements. Natural wonders on a small scaleĬrystal Serenity travels during the summer months – the only season when the Arctic seas are accessible for ships.

where nature is truly wild and landscapes are absolutely breath taking”. Adventurous itineraries are popular, so why not try one that has been so treacherous to seafarers before the recent changes in climate? Especially since the nature there is spectacular and unspoilt… But is it really? Crystal Cruises rave in their commercials about the “majestic waterways” that “lines spectacular glaciers and towering fjords. With more than 300 cruise ships crowded into less than 2% of the oceans, cruise companies are desperately looking for new destinations to satisfy the hunger of the growing cruise community.

The 1004ft tanker “SS Manhattan” was the biggest ship in 1969 and more than 40 successful passages by passenger ships have been noted, starting more than 30 years before the Crystal Serenity first made the journey.Ĭrystal Cruises were however the first to attempt to establish mass tourism in this remote area, using a less adapted ship for Arctic regions. As proudly announced by the cruise company, it was the first time that one their ships was on a seaway that was considered impassable due to massive ice only 120 years ago.Īn epic trip? Not really…The 820ft “Crystal Serenity” is neither the biggest nor the first cruise ship on this challenging route. In the summer months of 2016 the 1,000 passenger cruise ship “Crystal Serenity” undertook the voyage for the first time. Travelling on the tracks of famous explorers such as Roald Amundsen and Sir John Franklin has been on the bucket list for many of those passengers who have already seen too many Mediterranean or Caribbean routes.

Polar bears roaming free, serene white scenery and idyllic Inuit villages - the Northwest Passage is the legendary seaway between North America and the North Pole and sounds like a great and adventurous cruise destination.

Crystal serenity arctic