Cruise Review – Adventure Canada – Greenland & Wild Labrador
- Cruise Line: Adventure Canada
- Size: Small Expedition
- Name of Ship: Ocean Endeavour
- Guest Capacity: 198
- Cruised from: Kangerlussuaq Greenland
- Cruised to: St John’s Newfoundland Canada
- Embarkation date: 18th September 2018
- Disembarkation date: 2nd October 2018
- Name of Participant and role: Sam Patton, Product Manager, Cruise Traveller
What she promises:
About the ship from the Adventure Canada website: Her shallow draft and manoeuvrability allow her to access isolated fiords, bays and secluded communities. The stylish vessel is at home among the glorious settings we seek. Enjoy the class and comfort of a boutique hotel, while venturing to some of the world’s last great frontiers aboard the Ocean Endeavour!
What she delivers:
Surprisingly, a lot of space! Sometimes on small expedition ships, you don’t expect much in the way of room, but this ship has lots of large and open common areas. I would give her a 3-star if I had to rate her, but she is sturdy and beautifully at home in the Arctic, which is the most important thing in this region.
Overall experience:
I did “Greenland & Wild Labrador” which were to places I had only ever dreamed about. The itinerary was so much more as it moved and changed with local weather conditions. The ship was a safe haven on windy days and held up really well under challenging conditions. Our trips by zodiac into glaciers, towns and national parks were secure and well managed. There was never a time I felt un-safe and I loved feeling part of a small community of intrepid travellers who were as excited as I was to be out and about in this magnificent wilderness.
What impressed me the most:
| What impressed me the most: Onboard the ship, it was the crew. They made sure that each and every guest was included. They calmed nerves, they excited us with their enthusiasm and above all, they made us feel like part of the family. This cruise line is particularly good for solo travellers. Their level of attention to these guests was outstanding. I remember one lady who was so nervous about going out on a zodiac and the expedition leader took a lot of time with her beforehand and then personally had her on his zodiac the next day. When she safely returned to the ship, he gave her a bear hug in congratulations and she was so delighted. |
Accommodation impression:
Interestingly, this ship has a wide range of size and layouts for their cabins. I was in a category 6 which was really great for jumping out the door at a moment’s notice to spot aurora borealis lights as we were on the same deck as the promenade. But I also liked some of the solo-share cabins on the bottom deck which had two big areas within. If you go on this ship, it’s really worth pouring over the deck plan as a lower deck cabin might be more suited to your needs.
Dining impression:
Fab! Considering we were literally thousands of kilometres from any growing plant or food source, our meals were superbly fresh and delicious. Might I also add, that a hungry hiker can really put it away after a long day on the tundra!
Service impression:
| Service impression: Here we’re divided into two groups, the service staff on the ship such as cabin stewards, cooks, waiters etc. And the expedition team staff who do lectures, shore visits, zodiac trips etc. Both were excellent and engaging. I loved dining with the expedition team who always had so many great stories and I loved getting to meet the crew. Our waiter doubled as an opera singer – so that’s always handy. |
What is included in the fare:
All meals, All excursions, All port taxes and govt fees, Services of expedition team and in my case, we had a charter flight from Toronto to Kangerlussuaq in there as well.
Currency on board: USD for ship drinks etc and CAD for gift shop purchases
Shore experiences:
Now this is where the trip really shines. I did everything from biking in Nuuk (the capital of Greenland), to hiking through blueberry strewn tundra on remote Arctic mountains. There were expedition team members specialising in botany, marine biology, ornithology, Inuit culture and there was even one guy who’s name tag identified him as an “explorer” – which was just amazing. There was even a visit to Nain which is one of the bigger towns where the locals invited us into their houses. I could go on and on, but it’s better to go yourself, again and again if you can!
