If you?re looking for an experience that is atypical of what you?d expect out of a cruise; if you think the idea of encountering a polar bear one moment and lying back in a hot tub the next is your idea of an ideal vacation; if you?ve got the heart of an explorer, then a Celebrity cruise through the Arctic sea could be the answer for you.
A Celebrity cruise to the Arctic combines the adventure of the Arctic explorations of the past, without all those pesky life-threatening dangers! You?ll be treated to the luxury for which Celebrity is known, all while being in one of the most unforgiving, yet stunningly beautiful, landscapes on earth.
To many, the Arctic conjures images of a barren world; an area of the globe that offers nothing to man nor beast. However, it?s not the ice wasteland you might imagine. Yes, the land is definitely unforgiving; it can produce in many people what the Inuit call, iliyra, or the fear that accompanies awe. But it is also beautiful in its own way, both for its unique landscape and for the fact that few people have ever seen it first hand.
The Arctic region actually supports abundant wildlife and many indigenous peoples, such as the Inuit people mentioned above. Perhaps more widely recognized by the inaccurate name, Eskimo, the Inuit peoples? Arctic homeland stretches from the northeastern tip of Russia across Alaska and northern Canada to parts of Greenland.
On your cruise north to the Artic, you may get a chance to meet some of the friendly Inuit people, as well as witness wildlife in action. It may surprise you just how many species of animals are able to not just survive in the Arctic, but thrive. Wildlife including Polar bears, Arctic fox, caribou, moose, reindeer, musk ox, lemmings, orca (killer whales), beluga whales, otters, seals, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and more make up the diverse Arctic ecosystem.
Arctic cruises with Celebrity give you a chance to see that wildlife in action!
Beechey Island is the place where explorer Sir John Franklin and his men spent the winter of 1845-46 before disappearing forever, and has since been of significant importance to seafarers.
Lancaster Sound/Dundas Harb is a great spot for whale and polar bear sightings.
Cape York unique in that there are few ships in the world suited to travel there; fortunately, Kapitan Khlebnikov can take you there with ease.
Byot Island is an island bird sanctuary that is home to over 50 species.
Laden with ice fields and glaciers, Coburg Island can seem at times like its another planet entirely.
Qaamaag is on the north side of the largest island in the world, Greenland; three months out of the year, the sun is hidden, but in the summer months, the Artic sun perpetually shines.
Finally, Ellesmere Island is a land that few eyes have seen; although, evidence that Norsemen Vikings were there thousands of years ago has been found.
The only Celebrity vessel that travels to the Arctic is the icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov. Combining first-class accommodations with the raw power needed to cut through the ice, this ship is truly in a class of its own. At 12,288 tons, it is much smaller than a typical cruise ship. Only 106 passengers sail on her at a time, enhancing the feeling that you?re experiencing something few others have.
The cruise ship has a sauna, a pool, and a lecture hall that puts on enlightening lectures about the nature, culture, and history of the Arctic. But when it comes to something that really sets this ship apart, it has to be the onboard helicopter that can give you a stunning view of the tundra, a sight otherwise reserved to the eagles, falcons, and owls that glide over the landscape.
The time to book your cruise to the Arctic is now! Due to the harsh conditions of the Arctic?s environment, only the months of August and early September produce conditions hospitable enough for anyone to travel there. This is more than just a once-in-a-lifetime experience; a trip like this could literally change your life.
Make the first step, and book a cruise through RCCreservations, or speak to a Cruise Specialist.