You can now cruise from the Arctic to Antarctica on this over-the-top new voyage
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.
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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).
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.
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.
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There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
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- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees