North America Cruise - from Kangerlussuaq / Søndre Strømfjord - 134664

Kangerlussuaq, also known by its Danish name, 'Søndre Strømfjord', lies at the end of the 170 km long Fjord of the same name in Greenland. It is home to the largest airport in the country and the starting point for exploratory and adventure expeditions. The town has been dominated by the American presence since 1941, as Kangerlussuaq was one of the most important stopovers for airforce manoeuvres during World War II. The surrounding area of this town in western Greenland is home to around 4,000 musk oxes - the largest herd living in the wild, and visitors are also likely to see reindeers.

With a population of 5,000, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland. The Greenlandic name, Sisimiut, means "foxhole inhabitant". The town has the most northerly port that remains ice-free all year. Accordingly, the fishing industry and the export of prawns are booming. The town is proud to be home to the most modern shrimp factory in the world. Sisimiut is also the first settlement North of the Arctic Circle where the Inuit kept sled dogs for use in the Winter. The museum and the old town with the oldest wooden church in Greenland, which dates from 1775, are particularly worth seeing.

Jakobshavn - or Ilulissat as it is called in Greenlandic - lies at 68 degrees North latitude and 51 degrees West longitude, around 290 kilometres North of Arctic Circle in the Disko bay on the West coast of Greenland. The town has a population of around 4,300; the number of dogs here is far greater - 6,000 in total, and all of them sled dogs. There are hardly any cars, and the few cars here are mainly taxis that travel the small number of roads - but not for any great distance, since the metalled roads end just behind the last houses. The dog sleds have right of way during the winter months in any case. A mere two kilometres behind the last houses of Ilulissat, a huge glacier constantly pushes new icebergs into Disko bay. It is these ephemeral creations that gave the burgeoning small town its name: Ilulissat means "Cliffs of Ice".

The Canadian small town Churchill cannot be reached by car. It is only accessible by plane, train or ship. The town located at the Hudson Bay is especially famous for watching the wildlife, e.g. polar bears, beluga whales and many different kinds of birds. Therefore it is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Furthermore it is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. Fur trade has a long tradition in Churchill but today's visitors usually come to the town to go hiking, kayaking or to enjoy the outstanding cuisine.

The Canadian small town Churchill cannot be reached by car. It is only accessible by plane, train or ship. The town located at the Hudson Bay is especially famous for watching the wildlife, e.g. polar bears, beluga whales and many different kinds of birds. Therefore it is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Furthermore it is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. Fur trade has a long tradition in Churchill but today's visitors usually come to the town to go hiking, kayaking or to enjoy the outstanding cuisine.

With a population of around 140,000 St. John's is the largest city in Newfoundland and also the oldest city in North America. Since large areas of the craggy island are uninhabitable, the majority of the population lives in the city and in small coastal suburbs. Colorful wooden houses and rustic pubs, particularly in legendary George Street, are St. John's trademark. In the middle of the city is Signal Hill, where the first wireless message from Europe was received in 1901. In the spring visitors are highly likely to be able to see massive icebergs drifting past; in the summer, whales frolic in the bay. It was not far from here that the Titanic sank. Sights include: Newfoundland Museum, the Colonial Building, Arts and Culture Centre, Signal Hill National Historic Site.

The capital of the French-speaking province of the same name enchants visitors with its French charm, which has shaped the city's image. Its landmark, the famous Hotel Chateau Frontenac, opened in 1892 as a luxury hotel with around 500 rooms, overlooks old stone houses, winding streets and a well-preserved city wall dating from the 19th. A stroll around the hotel's terrace provides a breathtaking view of the St. Laurence river and the well-preseved old town. The citadel, huge fortifications built around the city in a star shape, features tourist attractions in the form of the daily changing of the guard in summer and a military museum. Sights include: wax works, the Musée du Fort, the Anglican cathedral, the old harbour and the Musée de la Civilisation.

Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada - a lively metropolis with an 80% French-speaking population. Visitors can take a guided tour of the attractive Olympic Park, the home to the Olympic Games in 1976. The area around the Rue Crescent is famous for its many jazz cafés and restaurants. Sights include: the "Place des Arts", where the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and several theatres are located; the historic harbour area "Vieux Montreal"; the former residence of the French governor "Place Jacques Cartier"; Chateau Ramzay; the oldest church in the city "Notre Dame de Bonsecour".