Overnight stay on board

The life motto of the Canada’s Haida Nation couldn’t be more perfect for this expedition: “Learn something new every day.” The small HANSEATIC inspiration makes this possible with a route rich in experiences and a top-class team of experts on board. Leaving Toronto, you’ll get a first sense of the vastness of North America as you cruise on Lake Ontario.

Lock adventure: a day trip through the seven locks of the St Lawrence River

The early-morning passage through the Thousand Islands provides another illustration of the scale here among the hundreds of islands in this watery maze. This is where the enormous river system between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic begins: welcome to the St Lawrence River. An adventure through the locks promises excitement as you watch the ship negotiate seven locks with a height difference of up to 15 m (49 ft) from the spacious decks during the day.

Savoir vivre awaits you next in Quebec. Enjoy the charming historic quarter – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – on a city walk with tea at Chateau Frontenac*. The 80 m (262 ft) high Montmorency Falls and Ile d’Orleans* also promise special experiences.

The wonders ashore continue on the water as you cruise on the Saguenay Fjord with some time to look out for whales, before visiting Saguenay (La Baie) for a hike. Craggy rock faces around 400 m (1,312 ft) tall tower all around you.

With a little luck, you’ll spot beluga, blue, humpback or fin whales whilst whale watching* off Tadoussac.

Your experts will supply a wealth of information as you cruise on the St Lawrence River and through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, taking a cultural journey from the early Woodland period to the First Nations and the area’s modern economic significance. Then Newfoundland awaits – a true insider’s tip with particularly unspoilt nature.

The small town of Norris Point describes itself as a photographers’ paradise. Glaciers, fjords and lakes make fabulous subjects on a hike in Gros Morne National Park* between the mountains and the coast.

Imagine the life of Icelandic/Greenlandic settlers here as you explore the excavations at L’Anse aux Meadows independently.

Cartwright in Labrador seems to have been forgotten by the world, although seafarers around 1,000 years ago called its coastlines the “Wonderstrands”.

What better way for Greenland to warm your explorer’s heart than with a dip in the hot springs of Unartoq with a view of drifting icebergs? Perhaps by discovering the Viking history of Qassiarsuk, where Erik the Red settled in around 985.

The fjords of Greenland will open up a millennia-old book on the history of the earth. The Zodiacs offer a flexible way to explore the deeply carved coastlines against the backdrop of majestic mountain ranges. On Disko Island, enter Qeqertarsuaq through a whalebone gateway leading to a world of colourful houses, kayaks and huskies. Natural wonders await in Ilulissat: enjoy a hike with your experts to the ice fjord with views of the ice masses that gather here. Disko Bay has even more spectacular sights to offer. Glittering sculptures drift through the water – with you at the centre as you cruise or take a Zodiac ride. In Sisimiut, where the old town feels like a museum village, you’ll bid farewell and leave with unforgettable memories of an expedition full of contrasts.

Charter flight from Kangerlussuaq to Germany**