Letter From Arctic Safari Guest Joyce

It has been a week or so since we returned from our Arctic safari with Cruise North, but my thoughts are still in the misty clouds of places visited.

It was a fantastic and unforgettable experience.

Every need was catered to on board the ship and the food was first rate.
A pastry chef and baker had recently been hired, so the desserts and breads were welcomed with delight.

The expedition staff kept us quite busy. There were lectures on the people, towns, and flora and fauna daily. Our daily adventures always started on the zodiacs. I got in and out with very enthusiastic camera buffs with what appeared to be entire camera shops around their necks. My photos were taken with a small digital Canon. After mastering the art of kneeling in the zodiac while it bounced and bobbed on the water, and learning how to zoom in and click at the opportune moment, I think I got some great shots.

The landscape was extraordinary. The ice, water, snow, rocks, the lightness of the sky even after the sun would set in a spectacular display of orange, yellow and red hues. I loved the fantastic stone formations most of all.

The highlight had to be the second day when the PA system called us to the starboard side announcing an iceberg in the distance. I couldn’t believe how exciting this was. The majestic formation of ice floating by was serious art in pure form. Changing color and shape as the sun shone or the waves slapped upon it. To top it off, there was a polar bear walking on top.

That was just the beginning. Everyday brought new adventures and photo ops.
We saw hundreds of walrus where we dropped anchor near an island named after these creatures. They were gathered, lying in lumpy brown piles, all over the island, basking in the sun after consuming their daily 3,000 clams. They rolled and flopped and sometimes uttered a loud gruff bark, letting us know they knew we weren’t far.
We saw musk ox from a distance, grazing high above the valleys with their offspring.
While kayaking in Douglas Harbour, a curious seal swam beside me, bobbing and diving as I paddled.

On Akpatok island there were thousands of thick billed murres soaring the cliffs or nestling with their little blue eggs, soon to be newborns.
We saw caribou, and many more seal, polar bears and icebergs in the remaining days.

There is so much open space and so little impingement on the raw majesty of the natural world. I’m sure it must have looked quite the same 5,000 years ago. We were privileged to be there.

Thank you so much,

Joyce from NDG