Traversing the Northwest Passage
1 - 27 September 2025

9 September 2025: Day 9

Cruise Day 2: a day at sea

Introduction

Safe harbours with aircraft runways are rare in this part of the world, Cambridge Bay being the only place where cruise ships can terminate their cruises. But the sites and sights that we have come to see were a day's sailing away. Fortunately the sea was calm and we made good time. During this time the crew were able to check that our new coats fitted and we were introduced to the "mud-room" where our muck boots and life vests awaited and where we checked everything fitted. Of course most people had guessed the wrong shoe sizes so everybody swapped around.

Coats and boots sized, we were required to present all bags, tripods and other items that we intended to take ashore. These were checked for freeloading insects, seeds and dirt to avoid any contamination of isolated Arctic locations. That done there was time for a quick tour of the deck (in the rain) before we moved on to the Inuit lighting ceremony where our Inuit ambassadors introduced us to their traditional fire and light ceremony.