The Vanishing North

With the recent news that an ice shelf the size of Manhattan broke off in the Arctic Ocean last month, I thought it might be a good idea to suggest a cool way to visit the Arctic while it’s still there. To that end, I suggest that you don parkas and mittens and check out the new Northwest Passage itinerary of Canadian-based Cruise North expeditions (Another travel tip: You might have to remove the mittens first before approaching your keyboard).


Flying from Montreal to tiny Resolute Bay on Cornwallis Island, you embark on an eight-night journey that goes where the ice allows – to remote islands and bays where polar bears, narwhals and beluga whales still live. Travel is on the 122-passenger Lyubov Orlova ship, an ice-breaker that is safe and comfortable. For adventure travelers who want to see truly remote places, it doesn’t get much more adventurous or remote than this. You won’t find any t-shirt shops, variety shows or jewelry at these ports, only wildlife and rugged landscapes. Cruise North (not to be confused with Cruise West) is owned by one of Canada’s largest Inuit tribes, and their insight into the region goes back generations.

Departures for Arctic trips run from July through August, so keep it in mind for your travel plans next year. And hopefully there will be some ice left in the far north by then.