Route of the Vikings: Greenland to Newfoundland

By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

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After breakfast in your hotel, board your flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, where your 6-star Discovery Yacht awaits.  The Captain and crew of Scenic Eclipse will welcome you on board with a glass of Champagne as you familiarise yourself with your new home. With only up to 228 guests on board, you’ll experience an immersive, engaging cruise through this fascinating part of the world.Meet Scenic Eclipse's world-class crew, including the Discovery Team comprised of expert naturalists, marine biologists, and historians, who will enrich your voyage with their passion and knowledge. Settle into your luxurious suite, then join your fellow guests on the Sky Deck to toast the start of an unforgettable voyage.

The name Kangerlussuaq means “Big Fjord” in the local Kalaallisut language. The settlement of about 500 people is located in western Greenland on flat land at the head of a fjord with the same name. Kangerlussuaq is the site of Greenland’s largest commercial airport and most of the economy here is dependent on the air transportation hub and tourism. The rugged lands around the settlement support terrestrial Arctic fauna including muskoxen, caribou, and Gyrfalcons.

Located just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is the northernmost town in Greenland where the port remains free of ice in the winter. Yet it is also the southernmost town where there is enough snow and ice to drive a dogsled in winter and spring. In Sisimiut, travelling by sled has been the primary means of winter transportation for centuries. In fact, the area has been inhabited for approximately 4,500 years. Modern Sisimiut is the largest business center in the north of Greenland, and is one of the fastest growing Greenlandic cities. Commercial fishing is the lead economy in the town‘s thriving industrial base.

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Sitting around 40 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland. With colourful houses sprinkled around a picturesque bay, the town is bathed in perpetual sunlight during the summer months. Explore Sisimiut’s rich history, dating back some 4,500 years, at the local museum, which has a collection of ancient Saqqaq artifacts. You'll have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs crafted from qiviut, the inner wool of a muskox, such as scarves, hats, or mittens. Immerse yourself in authentic interactions with local communities, adding depth and authenticity to your Arctic experience.

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Enjoy a slow day cruising through Evighed Fjord, or ‘Eternity Fjord’, considered one of the most beautiful in Greenland. Stretching for more than 75 kilometres, you’ll be awed by the endless fields of ice glittering under the sun. Tall, jagged peaks threaded with glaciers rise straight up out of the calm blue waters. Many of the glaciers are very active and you will likely hear chunks of ice calving away and collapsing loudly into the ocean. In Evighed Fjord, you’ll feel the beauty and power of nature all around you.

Around the year 1000, Vikings from Greenland and Iceland founded the first European settlement in North America, near the northern tip of Newfoundland. They arrived in the New World 500 years before Columbus but stayed only a few years and were forgotten for centuries. Since the settlement’s rediscovery in the last century, the archaeological site has brought tourism to the area. Viking themes abound but so do views, whales, icebergs, fun dining experiences, and outdoor activities. L’Anse Aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland is a remote community of just 40 people, with St Anthony, 40 minutes away, having a population of only 3,500. The region is locally famous for springtime polar bears, nesting eider ducks, the northern extreme of the Appalachians at nearby Belle Isle, numerous spring and summer icebergs, and a rich ocean fishery. L’Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site is the UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of Leif Erickson and the first Europeans in the new world. This site is often the keystone attraction for cruises themed around the Vikings. Discovered in 1960, it is the site of a Norse village, the only known one in North America outside of Greenland. The site remains the only widely-accepted instance of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact, and is notable for possible connections with the attempted colony of Vinland established by Leif Ericson around 1003, or more broadly with Norse exploration of the Americas. The root of the name “L’Anse aux Meadows” is believed to have originated with French fishermen in the area during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, who named the site L’Anse aux Meduses, meaning ‘Jellyfish Bay’.

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Sitting at the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland, L'Anse aux Meadows is the site of the first recorded European contact with North America. It’s a true milestone in the history of human migration and discovery. Now a World Heritage Site, it marks the sole Viking-established settlement on the continent, dating back to the 11th century. The archaeological remnants, including remnants of wood-framed peat-turf buildings, mirror those found in Norse Greenland Iceland. Exploring the site, you’ll embark on a fascinating journey tracing the footsteps of Vikings who arrived in North America centuries before Columbus.

Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, is a thriving seaport located on the eastern tip of Cape Breton Island. French settlers first arrived in Louisbourg in 1713, using the island as a base for their lucrative cod fishery. Soon, the town became one of the busiest harbours in North America and an important trading outpost and military hub. They named it Louisbourg, in honour of King Louis XIV. The fortress was built to defend against the threat of a British invasion. After two major attacks, the fortress was destroyed in the 1760’s. In 1961 the Canadian Government commenced a $25 million reconstruction project to restore portions of the fortress to its pre-siege glory of the 1740’s. It was the largest reconstruction project in North America. The lighthouse was Canada’s first, constructed in 1734, but was severely damaged during the last siege and was abandoned in 1758. The existing lighthouse was built in 1923.

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Step into a piece of living history when you go ashore at Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. This well-preserved 18th century fortress will immerse you in French colonial life amidst charming cobblestone streets and historic buildings. It’s the largest historical reconstruction in North America and authentic fortifications, kitchen gardens and homes sit alongside the original ruins. Uncover the secrets of this World Heritage-listed site as you wander through its picturesque streets and soak in the unique atmosphere.

Surrounded by natural treasures and glorious seascapes, Halifax is an attractive and vibrant hub with noteworthy historic and modern architecture, great dining and shopping, and a lively nightlife and festival scene. The old city manages to feel both hip and historic. Previous generations had the foresight to preserve the cultural and architectural integrity of the city, yet students from five local universities keep it lively and current. It’s a perfect starting point to any tour of the Atlantic provinces, but even if you don’t venture beyond its boundaries, you will get a real taste of the region.It was Halifax’s natural harbor—the second largest in the world after Sydney, Australia’s—that first drew the British here in 1749, and today most major sites are conveniently located either along it or on the Citadel-crowned hill overlooking it. That’s good news for visitors because this city actually covers quite a bit of ground.Since amalgamating with Dartmouth (directly across the harbor) and several suburbs in 1996, Halifax has been absorbed into the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the HRM, as it is known, has around 415,000 residents. That may not sound like a lot by U.S. standards, but it makes Nova Scotia’s capital the most significant Canadian urban center east of Montréal.There’s easy access to the water, and despite being the focal point of a busy commercial port, Halifax Harbour doubles as a playground, with one of the world’s longest downtown boardwalks. It’s a place where container ships, commuter ferries, cruise ships, and tour boats compete for space, and where workaday tugs and fishing vessels tie up beside glitzy yachts. Like Halifax as a whole, the harbor represents a blend of the traditional and the contemporary.

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Halifax, Nova Scotia's dynamic capital, has long been tied to the sea. It has one of the largest and deepest ice-free harbours in the world, and has been an important military and commercial port for more than 250 years. Today, you can learn about its rich cultural heritage through the city’s many museums and historical sites. Wander through bustling downtown streets and picturesque waterfronts, savouring maritime delights and charming cafes. A late departure gives you time to sample the city’s famed live music scene, which takes over historic pubs and cosy venues every night of the week.

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Lunenburg is one of Canada's most beautiful towns, a World Heritage-listed site where 70 per cent of the original buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries still stand. It is the best surviving example of a British colonial settlement in North America, set out along an orderly grid pattern. You’ll be charmed by its picturesque colourful houses and architectural wonders like the Lunenburg Academy, the pink Wedding Cake House, and St. John's Anglican Church. The historic waterfront is now home to a lively mix of restaurants, breweries, distilleries and boutiques, all of which embrace the town’s proud seafaring legacy.

Portland, Maine The largest city in Maine, Portland was founded in 1632 on the Casco Bay Peninsula. It quickly prospered through shipbuilding and the export of inland pines which made excellent masts. A long line of wooden wharves stretched along the seafront, with the merchants’ houses on the hillside above. From the earliest days it was a cosmopolitan city. When the railroads came, the Canada Trunk Line had its terminal right on Portland’s quayside, bringing the produce of Canada and the Great Plains one hundred miles closer to Europe than any other major U.S. port. Some of the wharves are now occupied by new condominium developments, with the exception of the Customs House Wharf, which remains much as it used to be. Grand Trunk Station was torn down in 1966 and a revitalization program of this historic section was spearheaded by a group of committed residents. The result was the revival of the Old Port Exchange District with its redbrick streets built in the 1860s following a disastrous fire. The area today features a wide variety of restaurants, specialty and antique shops, and makes for a pleasant place for a stroll. Congress Street and its many side streets are an engaging mixture of culture, commerce and history. Art is everywhere, from the Portland Museum of Art to the many statues and monuments throughout the city. Other points of interest include the Portland Observatory, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s childhood home, several colonial mansions and Fort Williams Park, with the adjacent Portland Head Light. Farther afield one can visit the charming yachting and fishing village of Kennebunkport, also noted as the locale of the home and summer White House of former President George Bush. Going Ashore in Portland Pier Information The ship is scheduled to dock at the Portland Ocean Terminal, a very easy walk to the Old Port District located about two blocks away. Taxis are available at the pier. Shopping A wide range of Maine-made clothing, crafts and imported items can be found in shops along the cobblestone streets of the quaint Old Port Exchange. Small boutiques and numerous art galleries feature everything from paintings, crafts and furniture to prints and photographs. Antique lovers will enjoy browsing through area shops. Bargain hunters may want to visit the designer factory outlet shops in Freeport. On Sundays, most shops are open from 12:00 noon to 5:00-6:00 p.m. The local currency is the dollar. Cuisine Portland has the most restaurants per capita, second only to San Francisco. Eating establishments are as diverse as the menus they offer. The fresh catch of the day can be found on most menus, but seafood is only one of many culinary delights. From specialty coffee houses and ethnic restaurants to chowder and lobster houses to elegant dining rooms, Portland makes it easy to please every palate. Other Sights Longfellow’s “City by the Sea” Portland is a walkable city, and a good place to start exploring is at the Old Port with its striking buildings comprising a bevy of architectural styles, ranging from Italianate to Mansard, Queen Anne to Greek Revival. The charming streets house an amazing collection of shops, galleries, bookstores and restaurants. Congress Street and the Arts District reflect the changes of 350 years of history, boasting an engaging mixture of culture and commerce. Portland Museum of Art The museum’s award-winning building is a blend of 1911 Beaux Arts and 1983 post-modernism. It houses one of New England’s finest art collections. Don’t miss the museum’s indoor Sculpture Garden. Portland Observatory Built in 1807, this is a rare example of a signal tower from which signal flags would be flown to identify incoming vessels. Factory Outlets of Freeport About a 25-minute drive north of Portland (approximately $35 one way for a taxi), this shopping mecca is crammed with serious shoppers who come from as far away as New York. Private arrangements for independent sightseeing may be requested through the Tour Office on board.

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Crossing into the United States, welcome to the land of lighthouses and lobsters. This bustling, modern city has a long maritime history and miles of pristine beaches. Discover Victorian architecture, craft breweries, a thriving arts scene and world-class cuisine, then explore the outdoor experiences that await just outside of the city. Explore the city highlights with a visit to historic Portland Head Light and the charming seaside town of Kennebunkport or discover the lighthouses of the South Portland Greenbelt Pathway by bicycle on a guided tour.

There’s history and culture around every bend in Boston—skyscrapers nestle next to historic hotels while modern marketplaces line the antique cobblestone streets. But to Bostonians, living in a city that blends yesterday and today is just another day in beloved Beantown.

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Your journey concludes this morning in Boston. The capital of the state of Massachusetts, Boston is one of the oldest cities in America and the cradle of the American Revolution.After a final delicious breakfast, farewell the crew and new friends who shared this incredible voyage with you. You'll be transferred to the airport for your onward journey or return flight home, taking with you memories that will last a lifetime.Please book your flight to depart out of Boston after 12:00 PM.+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. #Spa treatments at additional cost. ~Kayaking may not operate in all locations.Please note the itinerary is a guide and may be subject to changes for operational reasons. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.