Wonders of the High Arctic: Greenland & Iceland Solar Eclipse Cruise

Today youll arrive in the beautiful city of Oslo. The Norwegian capital is the smallest in Scandinavia but packs a punch when it comes to cultural and nature-based experiences. Half of Oslo is covered in forest and parks and its cityscape is a melange of historical buildings and cutting-edge architecture, as well as outdoor sculptures and street art. The city is home to three famous museums honouring the rich nautical heritage of the Norse race and its warrior ancestors. Enjoy an overnight stay at your hotel.

Fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen, high above the Arctic Circle. The capital of the Norwegian Svalbard Archipelago, Longyearbyen is on Svalbard’s main island and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. The untouched landscapes make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory. Today, you’ll meet the Captain and crew of your ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse. Be welcomed on board with a glass of Champagne as you explore your spacious suite. Meet your fellow guests for a drink in the Sky Bar as you toast the start of an unforgettable journey.

Welcome to the remote wilderness of the Svalbard Archipelago, a dramatic polar desert surrounded by rugged glaciers, frozen tundra and craggy mountain peaks. Open the blackout curtains of your ultra-luxury suite and step onto your private verandah to take in the inspiring views. Every day brings a new magical vista, from the striking contrast of tundra volcanic islands adorned with sparse greenery to the occasional snow-capped peaks that peek through the landscape.   Today, join an introductory presentation about your expedition by the Discovery Team in the state-of-the-art theatre. Feel the excitement building as they explain how your Zodiac and other Discovery excursions will work in the coming days. The theatre is where you can watch talks, lectures, movies and documentaries during the day. At night, enjoy world-class productions from musical theatre and cabaret to pop music, dance and fun interactive game shows.

As we continue cruising around Svalbard, there could be opportunities to see wildlife like whales, Arctic foxes, seals and seabirds, along with possible sightings of Svalbard reindeer, wolverines and Arctic rabbits. Be sure to keep the binoculars provided in your suite with you or use the Swarovski telescopes in the Observation Lounge for a closer look at the Arctic wildlife.   Discovery: You will partake in daily Discovery excursions by Zodiac, kayak and nature walks. Discover majestic Arctic scenery, tundra landscapes, and native wildlife and marine life, exploring pristine locations.

Continue cruising around the spectacular Svalbard Archipelago. When enjoying daily Discovery excursions, ask for the expert Discovery Team for photography tips and guidance on how to spot the wildlife around you. They will help you immortalise these incredible moments while cruising on the Zodiacs, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding around impressive ice formations. With up to 20 members including geologists, historians, ornithologists, marine biologists, and glaciologists, the Discovery Team is at the heart of your Expedition Voyage. Discovery: Partake in daily Discovery excursions by Zodiac, kayak and nature walks. Discover majestic Arctic scenery, tundra landscapes, and native wildlife and marine life, exploring pristine locations.

After a restorative night of rest in your ultra-luxury suite, wake on your own time. Today, Scenic Eclipse will cross the Denmark Strait, journeying through the open waters of the North Atlantic. Witness breathtaking Arctic scenery and experience the dynamic meeting point of the cold East Greenland Current and the warmer Irminger Current. Perhaps ask your butler to deliver a coffee to your suite and enjoy a quiet morning spent on your spacious verandah. Or join your fellow guests for a casual lunch in Azure Bar & Café as you cross this navigational passage between Iceland and Greenland.

Explore Greenland’s magnificent East Coast fjords, the world’s largest fjord system. Cruise among icebergs and active volcanoes and feel the spray of thundering waterfalls. You will experience Kong Oscar Fjord and Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, a remote and rarely visited fjord system that features some of the most spectacular tundras in the region.   Listen out for the loud crack of glaciers calving as you soak in the scenery from the Observation Deck. Alternatively, watch the impressive scenery from the private cabanas near the Sky Bar.

Experience an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking landscape of Scoresbysund, a fjord that reaches a staggering 350 kilometres in length and plunges down 600 metres. Scenic Eclipse will navigate through a maze of towering icebergs that gently drift under Arctic waters, calving from parent glaciers from the Inland Ice. Take in this awe-inspiring landscape from the Observation Deck alongside your expert Discovery Team, who can answer any questions you have. Or perhaps you’d like to soak it up from your own private verandah.

Witness nature’s breathtaking spectacle of the total solar eclipse today in the untamed wilderness of East Greenland. The partial eclipse begins at 16:37hrs local/REY time. Totality begins at 17:37hrs. At 1740hrs the first rays slip past lunar creating a "Diamond Ring" effect and then totality is over. This once-in-a-lifetime experience ends at 18:33hrs when the last parts of the moon leave the solar disk. Positioned at the heart of this celestial event, Scenic Eclipse will provide uninterrupted views for you to enjoy this extraordinary phenomenon. 

Today you will arrive in East Greenland, where majestic landscapes and a unique culture await. Just 3,500 people call this remote region home, and it possesses a culture deeply rooted in myths and legends. East Greenland is dominated by mountains with glaciated peaks, ice caps and icebergs. Its landscape may be frozen but its people are warm and welcoming. Tonight could be the night you enjoy Sushi @ Koko’s with your new friends. Stay up late in the bar or retire to the library for a moment of blissful solitude before bed.

Enjoy some relaxation on board today. Indulge in the 550sqm Senses Spa, reinvigorating your mind, body and soul. Pamper yourself with holistic ESPA treatments#, including massages and facials or experience alternative therapies such as Japanese shiatsu and Tibetan bowl sound healing. Enjoy an evening in the state-of-the-art-theatre entertained by world-class performances as you sit back and relax sipping your favourite cocktail. Alternatively, choose to dine in the comfort of your suite and have your evening nightcap brought by your butler. Scenic Eclipse will arrive in Akureyri later this evening, where it will stay overnight.

Akureyri is the charming capital of the north, a small city nestled along the scenic shores of Eyjafjord. Regularly overshadowed by Iceland’s famous capital Reykjavik, Akureyri is a more laidback and intimate experience. The city is easily explored on foot – enjoy the day walking around its vibrant streets lined with colourful houses, boutique shops, and cosy cafes. Take a wander through the botanical gardens or embark on a whale-watching tour. Tonight, settle in at the spacious Scenic Lounge Bar to enjoy your beverage of choice, whether it be aged whiskey—there are over 130 varieties—or a glass of wine, while reflecting on the days discoveries.

Welcome to Vigur Island, a private island oasis off Icelands coast and just below the Arctic Circle. The island has a history dating to the 11th century and is a time capsule of Icelandic heritage, boasting charming buildings and traditional farming for eiderdown. Vigur Island is also designated as an internationally important seabird habitat, where you may seem some of the 7,000 breeding eider ducks, 100,000 puffins, nesting Arctic terns and Europe’s largest colony of black guillemot. There’s also a seal colony and passing whales, making this a remote wildlife sanctuary.

Weather permitting, today well visit the jewel of the Westfjords, Dynjandi Waterfall. Feel the freezing mist on your face as you admire the cascading bridal veil falls and discover why it was nicknamed ‘the thunder’. Tumbling down seven tiers over 100 metres, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Marvel at natures grandeur and wildlife spectacle as you cruise through this remote corner of Iceland.

As our journey concludes, we bid farewell in the vibrant city of Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital city in a country of extremes. It’s the gateway to Iceland’s Golden Circle, a scenic volcanic landscape where geysers, waterfalls and glaciers are found. The city is the country’s quirky and creative heart, filled with colourful buildings, a buzzing night scene and brimming with museums.   Enjoy one last leisurely breakfast on board, reflecting on the cherished memories created during this once-in-a-lifetime voyage.   Please book your flight to depart out of Reykjavik after 12:00 PM. #Spa treatments at additional cost. +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.    The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.