Last year, we booked a cruise to this area but due to a problem with the ship, an alternative itinerary was put together. This year, 2025, we booked again but with a different company- HX which is the expedition arm of Hurtigruten, a Norwegian cruise company. The ship we went on, The Roald Amundsen, is a hybrid ship, ideal for Arctic and Antarctic waters. The expedition was successful and the trip thoroughly enjoyed, along with a group of delightful like minded people who we met onboard.

The excursions were organised and run by a team of experts in a wide variety of fields in the natural world – birds, mammals, rocks, whales and dolphins etc as well as the historical and cultural side of this area. The area is steeped in history, mainly connected to the search for the Northwest Passage and yes, people actually live here, having found a way to survive the very harsh winters when the sea freezes, the land is covered in icy snow and and the days become nights for 24 hours. Our visits to Inuit communities were so interesting and we found the people welcoming and friendly.

The weather was mainly sunny and the seas were calm, so we were lucky. Wildlife was sparse although there were some sightings but then most creatures had to be on their guard from those at the top of the food chain. Polar Bears rely on the sea ice to hunt seals, their favourite prey, as seals are slow moving on ice but fast swimmers. In summer, the seals spend most of their time in the water so the polar bears often go hungry and have to look for for an alternative source of food.

We visited Beechey Island where the ill fated expedition lead by John Franklin to find the Northwset passage, came to an end when his two ships The Terror and The Erebus, were crushed in the forming sea ice. The crew made their way ashore to the very deserted Beechey Island, however as they weren’t prepared for the harsh weather, they perished due to hyperthermia, scurvy, and starvation. On Beechey Island today are 4 grave stones, three marked with the names of 3 crew members. What happened to rest of the crew and John Franklin himself remains a mystery and investigative expeditions have failed to come up with any answers, only that there may have been cannibalism plus the same causes as the 3 men on Beechey Island.

Enjoy the photos below, some of which show the culture and beautiful scenery of the area.

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