Crystal Serenity which is a luxury cruise ship operated by Crystal Cruises has set off on its 32-day journey through the Northwest Passage.
Cruise Hive first posted about this much-anticipated voyage back in May, and now the 68,000 gross ton vessel has set off. The ship departed Seward in Alaska today with almost 1,000 guests onboard. The cruise line has been planning this historic itinerary for more than three years.
Crystal’s CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez said:
“Every aspect of this voyage is literally unparalleled in the luxury cruise industry, and nearly the entire travel industry as well.”
“It is a tremendous undertaking to embark on such a historic journey, but also an honor for us to be able to offer the world’s most discerning travelers the opportunity to experience a region of the world that so few others have or ever will.”
It will be a unique cruise with Crystal Cruises needing to cater for sailing in the far north. The cruise line will sail with additional crew along with extra training and equipment. Two veteran Ice Pilots will also be onboard to advise the Captain. The ship has been fitted out with some new gear so it can cope with the icy conditions.
From Seward, the Arctic itinerary includes port calls in Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, and Nome, Alaska; Ulukhaktok, NW Territories; Cambridge Bay and Pond Inlet, Nunavut; Ilulissat, Sisimiut, and Nuuk, Greenland; Bar Harbor, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island, and New York, New York. The ship will transit waterways including the North Pacific Ocean; Bering Sea & Bering Strait; Chukchi & Beaufort Seas; Amundsen Gulf; Dolphin & Union Strait; Coronation Gulf; Dease Strait; Queen Maud Gulf; Victoria Strait; Larsen Sound; Franklin & Bellot Straits; Peel Sound; Parry Channel; Barrow Strait; Prince Regent Inlet; Lancaster Sound; Croker Bay; Navy Board Inlet; Eclipse Sound; Baffin Bay; Davis Strait; Labrador Sea; North Atlantic Ocean.
Due to the high demand for the Northwest Passage cruise, Crystal Cruises has announced it will sail the route again in 2017. Bookings for the 2017 sailing are now open.
