Cruises to Greenland

1. Note the travel period

2. Uncertainties

3. Local conditions

4. Tendering

5. Excursions

6. Payment method

7. Clothings

8. Mosquitoes

9. Prices in greenland

10. Souvenirs

11. Shore excursions

      11.1 GetYourGuide

Greenland is a fascinating destination for cruise travelers. The world's largest island offers impressive glaciers, vast ice sheets, and breathtaking fjords. Visitors can experience the unique Arctic wildlife, including whales, seals, and the Northern Lights. The charming villages and the captivating Inuit culture make the stay unforgettable. With cruises through the Northwest Passage or along the coast, travelers can explore unspoiled nature and the rugged climate. Greenland is a paradise for nature lovers, adventurers, and photographers eager to discover the beauty of the Arctic. A trip to Greenland is an extraordinary experience full of impressions and natural wonders.

The cruise season in Greenland is very short. The ideal travel period/main cruising season is from early July to the end of August. Outside this timeframe, the ports can only be visited to a limited extent or usually not at all, unless the ship has a higher ice class.

During cruises in the Greenlandic area, weather conditions can cause changes at any time.

Icebergs may also prevent a visit to the port. The captain has the option to make a last-minute decision to change the route if a port cannot be called at. Additionally, docking times may vary. This could potentially affect your individually booked excursions with local providers. However, experience shows that these providers are usually able to adapt to changing conditions.

The Prins Christian Sund Passage may also be affected by these uncertainties.

Greenland is very hilly and cannot be compared to the cities and villages within Europe in terms of infrastructure. The towns visited during the trip are no exception. Usually situated on hilly terrain, there are also hardly any paved roads or streets. This requires a certain level of mobility and, above all, sturdy footwear for landings.

Greenland is very hilly and its infrastructure cannot be compared to that of cities and villages within Europe. The towns visited during the trip are no exception. Usually situated on hilly terrain, there are also few paved roads or streets. This requires a certain level of mobility and, above all, sturdy footwear for excursions ashore.

All ports visited, except Nuuk, were so-called tender ports. This means that the ships anchor somewhat offshore, and guests are transferred to shore using tender boats. If tendering is already challenging from the ship due to rough seas, it becomes even more adventurous at the respective piers. Nanortalik has a good pier where disembarking is straightforward. However, in Illimanaq, the situation was quite different; there, you can expect a pier with very high steps and a somewhat difficult disembarkation. During our trip, one guest even fell there.

In Sissiummut, it was a bit better but still not easy. It's really important to consider whether tendering is feasible if you have physical limitations. And, without sturdy footwear, you should not attempt it at all.

Once you have booked your trip, you should also start planning your excursions promptly. We booked our trip almost a year in advance and then quickly began looking into local providers and exploring excursions offered through AIDA as soon as they became available. In both cases, it's important to act quickly, as the availability is limited and quickly exhausted. With AIDA, you can sign up for email notifications about newly added excursions.

Excursions in Greenland are generally not very inexpensive, but you can usually book them more cheaply through local providers and often travel in smaller groups.

You should also reserve rental cars at least six months in advance.

In Iceland, credit cards are accepted everywhere, even for small amounts. Greenland is generally the same. If you happen to encounter someone who doesn't have a card payment device, euros will also be accepted. However, you will receive your change in Danish kroner. If you'd like, you can exchange a few kroner—we didn't need any.

The temperatures during this trip can vary greatly. In Iceland, temperatures around this time of year can often be in the double digits, whereas in Greenland it is significantly colder. If you have booked an iceberg safari or whale watching tour, it is advisable to wear warm winter clothing, including a scarf, hat, and gloves. It can get very cold quickly on the boats, and not all boats offer a sheltered interior to warm up. You should also always bring rain gear, as the weather in Greenland can change suddenly. Sturdy shoes are mandatory for all land excursions and boat trips. Overall, layering your clothing (the "onion tactic") is always a good choice for this trip.

In Greenland, many mosquitoes are active at this time of year. They can become really quite bothersome, so it is absolutely highly recommended to always have a mosquito net with you to at least protect your head. Fortunately, the mosquito presence was limited for us, but they were there and quite annoying.

In Greenland, everything is relatively expensive because all the essentials needed for daily life must be imported. This is already noticeable in the prices of excursions offered and everywhere else. For example, if a magnet costs around 5 euros throughout Europe, you can expect to pay almost twice as much in Greenland.

Certainly, you also enjoy taking a souvenir home. When in Greenland, please note that some souvenirs are made from whales or seals, and their import into Germany is prohibited. Be sure to check locally whether the chosen keepsake can be legally imported into Germany.