This voyage takes us to fascinating cultures and remote polar waters to sail among glaciers while we scan for rich wildlife. Our cutting-edge hybrid ship explores islands and fjords, seeking out horned puffins, brown bears, shoreline beauty, amazing fossil forests and dramatic volcanoes. Sail with the pioneers of expedition cruising to stunning Alaska, and explore a true frontier with a rich sense of adventure. Experience vast wilderness, beautiful fjords, bays, glaciers, icebergs and mountain ranges. Stay active with hikes, kayaking and boat cruising while scouting for magnificent creatures like bears, whales and eagles. We call on remote small communities and historic towns to learn about the fascinating traditions and history of Alaska.
°SOL17 offers unique expedition cruises to some of the most remote and pristine waters of the world. As with all expeditions; nature prevails. Weather, and ice and sea conditions, sets the final framework for all operations. Safety and unparalleled guest experiences are at all times our top priorities. All our indicative itineraries are continuously evaluated for adaptions, whether this is due to constraints the elements unexpectedly presents – or exciting possibilities nature and wildlife offer.
Vibrant Vancouver boasts waterfront parks, nearby mountains with hiking trails in summer and skiing in winter, multitudes of cafes, shops, galleries, museums, and a diversity of cultural neighbourhoods to explore.
We sail north to Alaska through the narrow weaving channels and straits of Canada’s Inside Passage. Be on the lookout for dolphins, porpoise, orcas, and whales that frequent the protected inland waters. Join our Expedition Team for fascinating lectures, spend time relaxing on board or meeting your fellow travellers.
Known as the salmon capital of the world, Ketchikan is a true frontier town, surrounded by towering mountains. Colourful houses on stilts from the gold rush era line the river bank. The city is home to one of the largest collections of standing totem poles and has strong ties to Tlingit culture.
Sitka is set among snowcapped mountains with rich wildlife all around, and even a volcano in sight. A former capital of Russian Alaska, the town is full of history, with a Russian Cathedral and historical buildings standing next to a forest full of totem poles.
Land of Tlingit people, Icy Strait Point offers a glimpse into life in a native settlement. This welcoming community boasts houses adorned with intricate carvings, totem poles displaying stories of the clans, and colourful cafes, shops, and museum displays.
This waterway that hosts the Hubbard Glacier was named Disenchantment Bay by Spanish naval officer Alessandro Malaspina in 1792, when he was disappointed to discover it was not the Northwest Passage, as he had hoped. We trust that you will be enchanted, maybe even spellbound, by the beautiful icescape here.
A day at sea means you can join the lectures by the Expedition Team, spend time on deck or in the Panorama Lounge with fellow travellers as we sail towards Alaska’s Panhandle.
When visiting bustling Kodiak, take a walk to Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park to combine history with wildlife spotting. Stop for a while on the cliff edge of Miller Point and watch the sea for the chance to see whales.
Katmai National Park´s Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a dramatic volcanic landscape, with mountains rising to almost 915 meters (3,000 feet). Here we hope to find brown bears as they forage along the shore for clams, and lunch on berries or fish in the clear running waters of the mountain streams.
Enjoy a day at sea as we sail east along the south side of the Alaskan Peninsula. Our Expedition Team will present the plans for the upcoming days. .
Unga Village is an eerie ghost town with picturesque village ruins. Settled by Aleuts in 1833, subsistence fishing proved insufficient to support the community, which moved to Sand Point in 1969. Today, a collection of wooden buildings is all that remains, surrounded by a carpet of pink louseworts. Take opportunity to observe marine wildlife such as orca and whale here.
As we sail towards Dutch Harbor, you will see Mount Makushin, a steaming volcano almost 6,000 feet high. The popular TV show `Deadliest Catch´ is based here, featuring local fishing crews. Stroll around the town, stop in at the Museum of the Aleutians and take a look at the local Russian Orthodox Church.
MS Roald Amundsen continues north through the Bering Sea, from the Aleutian Islands and towards our next stop of St. Paul. The Expedition Team will prepare you for our upcoming destinations and continue their lecture series.
This area is a bird lovers’ paradise! Horned and Tufted puffins are found here, along with the rare Red-legged kittiwake. The 400 islanders descend from Aleut slaves forcibly moved to the island by Russian fur traders in 1780’s. Today, the seal population is thriving, around half the world’s northern fur seal population live in the waters around the island.
As we step ashore on the black sand and gravel beaches of St. Matthew Island, we will be the only humans on the isle. St. Matthew has been a nature reserve since 1909 and is home to countless nesting seabirds as well as the native St. Matthew island vole and the Arctic fox.
Enjoy a relaxing last day on board! Take time on deck to look out for whales. Onboard, the Expedition Team will recap your voyage and you can spend time chatting with new friends, or just relax and watch the world sail by!
In 1898, gold was discovered in Nome, at nearby Anvil Creek, and within a year, 10,000 men had arrived to seek their fortune. Our ship expedition ends in this colourful gold rush town. Transfer to the airport and flight to Vancouver for an overnight stay.
Enjoy the sights of this lively city or extend your stay with our Post-Programme before you fly home.
In 2019, Hurtigruten added a brand new ship to its fleet: the MS Roald Amundsen. The state of the art
vessel features new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology that will reduce fuel consumption and
show the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships is possible.
Named after the first man to
cross
Antarctica and reach the South Pole, MS Roald Amundsen leads the way towards an even more sustainable way of
travelling. The ship is specially constructed for voyages in polar waters. It serves as a comfortable
basecamp at sea – bringing adventurers from all over the world to the most spectacular destinations in the
most sustainable way.
Enjoy from a wide range of comfortable cabins. They vary in size and location, sometimes within the same grade, and as a general rule, outside accommodation on the higher decks has a picture window while the lower decks have portholes.
Choose from a wide selection of innovative dishes based on high quality, local produce that each have a story to tell. Enjoy everything from ultra-fresh seafood to sustainably cultivated root vegetables and free-range reindeer meat, along with excellent cheeses from selected small-scale producers. We recommend topping off your meal with tempting Scandinavian desserts, inspired by the two extremities of Arctic light - the Midnight Sun and Polar Night.
