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You can now cruise from the Arctic to Antarctica on this over-the-top new voyage

June 02, 2021
3 min read
Hurtigruten ship Roald Amundsen
You can now cruise from the Arctic to Antarctica on this over-the-top new voyage
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It may be the coolest cruise ever. Both figuratively and literally.

Adventure cruise specialist Hurtigruten on Tuesday unveiled plans for an epic "pole-to-pole" voyage from the Arctic to Antarctica that will take in some of the world's most spectacular -- and chilly -- polar regions.

Kicking off in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Aug. 8, 2022, the 93-day sailing will include a relatively rare complete crossing of the Northwest Passage, the fabled Arctic route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans first traversed in 1903 by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.

It'll also include stops in the rarely visited Aleutian Islands along the Alaskan Peninsula; deserted St. Matthew Island, the most isolated place in Alaska; Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic; and ice-capped Greenland.

And that's just for the initial Arctic portion of the voyage. The ship eventually will make its way south to Antarctica for an exploration of the world's southernmost continent, also explored by Amundsen (the first person to reach the geographic South Pole, in 1911).

(Image courtesy of Hurtigruten)

Dubbed the "Pole to Pole Adventure: The Ultimate Bucket List Expedition Cruise – In the wake of polar hero Roald Amundsen," the trip will, appropriately enough, take place on Hurtigruten's 2-year-old, 530-passenger expedition ship named Roald Amundsen.

During its passage between the Arctic and Antarctica, the ship will stop at more than two dozen destinations along the East Coast of Canada and New England; the East Coast of Central America and the West Coast of South America.

Port calls will include Belize City, Belize; Colon, Panama; Manta, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; and La Serena, Chile.

As part of the passage southward, the vessel will make a complete passage through the Panama Canal. The trip ends in Ushuaia, Argentina.

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In all, the trip will include visits to 11 countries. Fares start at $64,581 per person.

Hurtigruten on Tuesday also announced plans for a shorter, 66-day "pole-to-pole" adventure kicking off Sept. 22, 2022. This second sailing will take place on the line's 500-passenger Fram.

The voyage will include stops in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Caribbean, South America and Antarctica and also a passage through the Panama Canal.

Fares for the trip start at $50,143 per person.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by ANDREA KLAUSSNER/HURTIGRUTEN
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.