{"id":100597,"date":"2026-11-04T14:05:49","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T14:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/?p=100597"},"modified":"2026-11-04T14:11:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T14:11:42","slug":"northwest-passage-voyage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/northwest-passage-voyage","title":{"rendered":"The Northwest Passage by Ship: Routes and Voyages (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"The Northwest Passage by Ship: Routes and Voyages (2026)\",\n            \"description\": \"Plan a Northwest Passage voyage in 2026: which expedition ships sail it, routes from Greenland to Alaska, season, length and indicative prices.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/northwest-passage-voyage\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"When can you sail the Northwest Passage?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Only from about mid-August to late September, when Arctic sea ice is at its annual minimum.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How long is a Northwest Passage voyage?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"2026 voyages run from 16 nights (Quark, Nuuk to Resolute Bay) to 25 nights (HX, Seattle to Reykjavik).\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much does a Northwest Passage cruise cost?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Indicatively from about &pound;17,600 per person for PONANT's 19-night 2026 voyage, plus port taxes. Other lines quote on request.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Which companies sail the Northwest Passage in 2026?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Quark Expeditions, HX Expeditions, PONANT and Adventure Canada, with Seabourn also announcing 2026 sailings.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can I cross the Northwest Passage on a cargo ship?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Not as a booked passenger. Sealift ships serve Nunavut, but we found none selling passenger berths for 2026.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Who first sailed the Northwest Passage?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Roald Amundsen, in the sloop Gj&oslash;a, between 1903 and 1906.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"What to Expect Sailing the Northwest Passage\",\n            \"description\": \"Lindblad Expeditions explains what a Northwest Passage voyage is like.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/mkiLZGZG3IM\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/mkiLZGZG3IM\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2023-06-01\"\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"The Northwest Passage on board a tourist expedition ship\",\n            \"description\": \"A traveller films a Northwest Passage expedition cruise.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/tLn_5du_rn4\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/tLn_5du_rn4\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2022-06-01\"\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Last updated: 4 November 2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yes, you can sail the Northwest Passage in 2026, but only on a small ice-class expedition ship in August or September.<\/strong> Quark, HX, PONANT and Adventure Canada all run voyages this season. Expect 16 to 25 nights and fares that start well above &pound;10,000 per person. No regular cargo or sealift ship sells passenger berths through the passage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-key\"><strong>Quick answer<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Season: mid-August to late September, when sea ice is at its minimum.<\/li>\n<li>Operators in 2026: Quark Expeditions, HX Expeditions, PONANT, Adventure Canada (Seabourn has also announced 2026 sailings).<\/li>\n<li>Length: 16 nights (Quark) to 25 nights (HX, Seattle to Reykjavik).<\/li>\n<li>Price: indicative from about &pound;17,600 per person (PONANT, 19 nights).<\/li>\n<li>Cargo option: Arctic sealift ships supply Nunavut but are not sold as passenger voyages.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<h2>What is the Northwest Passage?<\/h2>\n<p>The Northwest Passage is the sea route across the top of North America. It links Baffin Bay and the Atlantic with the Beaufort Sea and the Pacific. It threads through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. There is no single channel. Ships choose between straits such as Lancaster Sound, Bellot Strait and Peel Sound, depending on where the ice lies that year.<\/p>\n<p>For centuries the route was a European obsession. Sir John Franklin&rsquo;s 1845 expedition vanished here with both ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. Their wrecks were only found in 2014 and 2016. Roald Amundsen made the first complete transit in the small sloop Gj&oslash;a between 1903 and 1906, wintering at what is now Gjoa Haven.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lines-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Northwest Passage voyage operators and 2026 departures\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Northwest Passage voyage operators and 2026 departures\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Four lines sailing the Northwest Passage in 2026, with indicative dates and lengths.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Who sails the Northwest Passage in 2026?<\/h2>\n<p>Only a handful of expedition lines run full or partial transits. Each season has just a few departures, and they sell out early.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Operator<\/th><th>Barco<\/th><th>2026 departure<\/th><th>Ruta<\/th><th>Length<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Quark Expeditions<\/td><td>Ocean Explorer (138 guests)<\/td><td>17 Aug &ndash; 2 Sep<\/td><td>Nuuk to Resolute Bay (charters from Reykjavik, to Calgary)<\/td><td>16 nights<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>HX Expeditions<\/td><td>MS Roald Amundsen<\/td><td>10 Aug<\/td><td>Seattle, Nome, Bellot Strait, Ilulissat, Nuuk to Reykjavik<\/td><td>25 nights<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>HX Expeditions<\/td><td>MS Fridtjof Nansen<\/td><td>15 Aug<\/td><td>&ldquo;Through the Arctic Labyrinth&rdquo; cruise and land tour<\/td><td>24 nights<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>PONANT<\/td><td>L&rsquo;Austral<\/td><td>31 Aug &ndash; 19 Sep<\/td><td>Nuuk round trip via Pond Inlet, Bellot Strait, Beechey Island<\/td><td>19 nights<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Adventure Canada<\/td><td>Small ice-strengthened ship<\/td><td>26 Aug<\/td><td>Kangerlussuaq to Kugluktuk (east to west)<\/td><td>See operator<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Adventure Canada<\/td><td>Small ice-strengthened ship<\/td><td>11 Sep<\/td><td>Out of the Northwest Passage (west to east)<\/td><td>See operator<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p>Quark&rsquo;s voyage is a partial transit focused on the eastern High Arctic. HX&rsquo;s Roald Amundsen trip is the most complete, running from the Pacific side to Iceland. PONANT&rsquo;s L&rsquo;Austral loops from Greenland into the heart of the passage and back.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_341009459-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"Expedition ship among Arctic sea ice\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Expedition ship among Arctic sea ice\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Ice conditions decide the exact route each season.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: what to expect sailing the Northwest Passage<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/mkiLZGZG3IM\" title=\"What to Expect Sailing the Northwest Passage\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>How much does a Northwest Passage voyage cost?<\/h2>\n<p>This is one of the most expensive sea journeys you can book. PONANT&rsquo;s 2026 L&rsquo;Austral voyage is listed from &pound;17,635 per person in a Superior Stateroom, plus port taxes. Quark and HX quote fares on request for these departures. For comparison, Quark&rsquo;s 10-night Antarctic trips on Ocean Explorer start from about US$13,100, and Arctic passage voyages are longer and more remote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Cost item<\/th><th>What to expect (indicative)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Voyage fare<\/td><td>From about &pound;17,600 pp (PONANT); others on request<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Charter flights<\/td><td>Often included or sold as a package (e.g. Reykjavik&ndash;Nuuk, Resolute&ndash;Calgary)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Port taxes<\/td><td>Extra, usually charged in USD<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Seguros<\/td><td>Must cover medical evacuation from remote Arctic areas<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Kit<\/td><td>Waterproof layers, boots often loaned on board<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<h2>The route: Greenland, Nunavut and Alaska<\/h2>\n<p>Most east-to-west voyages start in West Greenland. Ships call at Nuuk, Sisimiut or Ilulissat, then cross Davis Strait or Baffin Bay to Baffin Island. Pond Inlet is a common first Canadian call and clearance port. The ship then enters Lancaster Sound, with stops at Dundas Harbour and Devon Island.<\/p>\n<p>Beechey Island is the emotional centre of most trips. Franklin&rsquo;s men wintered here in 1845&ndash;46, and three crew graves remain. Further on, Bellot Strait and Fort Ross mark the narrow link south. Western sections pass Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk before the Beaufort Sea and Nome in Alaska.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/route-steps-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Route stages of a Northwest Passage voyage from Greenland to Alaska\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Route stages of a Northwest Passage voyage from Greenland to Alaska\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">The classic east-to-west Northwest Passage route in six stages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_338152273-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Arctic coastline seen from an expedition ship\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Arctic coastline seen from an expedition ship\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Zodiac landings bring you ashore at remote Arctic sites.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: life on board a Northwest Passage expedition ship<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/tLn_5du_rn4\" title=\"The Northwest Passage on board a tourist expedition ship\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>Can you cross the Northwest Passage on a cargo ship?<\/h2>\n<p>Not as a booked passenger product. Arctic sealift carriers such as Desgagn&eacute;s and NEAS supply Nunavut communities each summer. In September 2010 the Camilla Desgagn&eacute;s became the first commercial cargo ship to make a resupply run through the passage, delivering to Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak. However, we found no sealift line selling passenger berths for 2026. For a real freighter experience in the Arctic, look at Greenland supply routes instead, then join an expedition ship for the passage itself.<\/p>\n<h2>When to go: ice and season<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Period<\/th><th>Conditions<\/th><th>Voyages?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Early August<\/td><td>Ice still breaking up in channels<\/td><td>First departures from Alaska or Greenland<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Late August<\/td><td>Near minimum sea ice, long daylight<\/td><td>Peak season, most departures<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>September<\/td><td>Ice minimum, colder, first snow, auroras possible<\/td><td>Final westbound and eastbound sailings<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>October&ndash;July<\/td><td>Channels frozen<\/td><td>No passenger voyages<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p>Ice varies every year. Captains change routes on the day, and some sites in the brochure will be skipped. Wildlife is the reward: polar bears, walrus, narwhal, belugas and musk oxen are all possible.<\/p>\n<h2>Consejos<\/h2><ol>\n<li>Book 12&ndash;18 months ahead. Departures are few and cabins limited.<\/li>\n<li>Choose direction: east to west starts in Greenland; west to east ends there.<\/li>\n<li>Buy insurance that covers Arctic medical evacuation and cancellation.<\/li>\n<li>Pack layers, a waterproof shell and seasickness tablets for Baffin Bay.<\/li>\n<li>Treat the itinerary as a wish list. Ice decides the real route.<\/li>\n<li>Respect Inuit communities: ask before photographing people.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Preguntas frecuentes<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>When can you sail the Northwest Passage?<\/h3><p>Only from about mid-August to late September, when Arctic sea ice is at its annual minimum.<\/p><h3>How long is a Northwest Passage voyage?<\/h3><p>2026 voyages run from 16 nights (Quark, Nuuk to Resolute Bay) to 25 nights (HX, Seattle to Reykjavik).<\/p><h3>How much does a Northwest Passage cruise cost?<\/h3><p>Indicatively from about &pound;17,600 per person for PONANT&rsquo;s 19-night 2026 voyage, plus port taxes. Other lines quote on request.<\/p><h3>Which companies sail the Northwest Passage in 2026?<\/h3><p>Quark Expeditions, HX Expeditions, PONANT and Adventure Canada, with Seabourn also announcing 2026 sailings.<\/p><h3>Can I cross the Northwest Passage on a cargo ship?<\/h3><p>Not as a booked passenger. Sealift ships serve Nunavut, but we found none selling passenger berths for 2026.<\/p><h3>Who first sailed the Northwest Passage?<\/h3><p>Roald Amundsen, in the sloop Gj&oslash;a, between 1903 and 1906.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-related\"><strong>Gu\u00edas relacionadas<\/strong><ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/svalbard-by-ship\/\">Svalbard by ship<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/greenland-freighter-travel-booking\/\">Greenland freighter travel<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/passenger-freighter-cruises\/\">Passenger freighter cruises<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/cargo-ship-travel-insurance\/\">Cargo ship travel insurance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>Planning an Arctic sea journey?<\/strong><p>Tell us your dates and we will help you combine freighter routes and expedition voyages.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/solicitar-un-crucero-de-carga\/\">Solicita un presupuesto para tu viaje \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"ch-sources\"><em>Sources: Quark Expeditions, HX Expeditions, PONANT and Adventure Canada 2026 itineraries via operator and agent listings; Cruise Industry News (Feb 2026); Radio Canada International on Camilla Desgagn&eacute;s (2010). Prices indicative. Checked November 2026.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-key{background:#fff7e8;border-left:5px solid #f5a623;border-radius:10px;padding:1em 1.3em;margin:1.4em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-key strong{color:#0b2545;font-size:1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-key ul{margin:.5em 0 0 1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-video{position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;border-radius:12px;margin:1em 0 1.8em;background:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-video iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-related{border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1.5em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-related strong{color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post .ch-sources{font-size:.85em}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who sails the Northwest Passage in 2026, the Greenland\u2013Nunavut\u2013Alaska route, season, length and indicative prices.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[356,357],"tags":[1973,1966,1974,1972,1975,1976],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100597"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100597"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100599,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100597\/revisions\/100599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100597"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}