Our Arctic and Antarctic small ship expeditions are truly polar opposites! Most of us naturally associate both destinations with ice and icebergs. But what’s different? People and penguins! In this post we’ll take a look at two of our most popular Wild Women adventures at opposite ends of the earth: Heart of the Arctic and Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition.
Destination: Heart of the Arctic, 67.0093° N, 50.7006° W
For artists and admirers, Arctic hamlet communities like Dorset Island and Kimmirut are a creative hotbed to visit. The Inuit are the beating heart of this region that is deeply connected to the Labrador Sea. Highly polished ivory scrimshaw and jewelry depicting animals and Arctic life are etched into whale teeth, bone or walrus tusks.
Located near Foxe peninsula, Dorset Island is the location of Kinngait Studios, one of the oldest professional printmaking studios in Canada. It’s an integral part of the Kenojuak Cultural Centre. In 1959, the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative was established to showcase the talents of carvers, illustrators and printmakers. The Co-op includes Toronto-based Dorset Fine Arts, which helps to extend the artists’ audience further south and globally.
Kimmirut was home to one of the first Hudson’s Bay Company outposts on Baffin Island— the trapping skills of the Inuit were immediately recognized and capitalized on. Art has also played a monumental role in this community, and local artists create fine jewelry utilizing semi-precious stones. Sapphire, zircon, moonstone, garnet and lapis lazuli have all been discovered in the region.
On this expedition, you will meet generations of artists, carvers and printmakers and visit a few studios. There are opportunities to purchase one-of-a-kind Arctic mementos to keep you forever connected to your experience and crew of Wild Women.
Fun fact: Kinngait boasts more artists per capita than any other city in Canada as the result of a federal government program established in the 1950s to help create a cash economy in Inuit communities.
Art, the Arctic and You!
Why not embark on your own artist, writers or photographers residency? No experience is required—just blank pages. Bring a journal or a sketchbook on your next journey with us—you may be surprised by what unfolds.
For Mary-Ellen Campbell, our Wild Women Greenland and Wild Labrador small ship expedition inspired a personal passion project and the creation of a watercolor book that captured the “rusted rocks and milky green waterfalls” witnessed by her group. She illustrated the tundra and fjords in both brush strokes and poetry. A copy was raffled off on the ship in support of local indigenous groups’ health and education initiatives.
Talented Wild Women like Karen Kroeker expressed her Camino de Santiago pilgrimage memories in 4×4” applique. The embroidery images she selected were based on her favorite trip photos and sewn into an impressive panel. You can read about Karen’s cool trip tradition here. As an art stitcher, she always travels with a Ziploc of fabric scraps, small scissors, needles and embroidery thread. Karen started her “visual diary” tradition over 10 years ago–you can start yours on your upcoming trip!
Destination: Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition 66°33′50.2″ S
We all create lists for the satisfaction of crossing things off of them, right? Why not double down and cross the Antarctic Circle and cross it off your wish list at the same time?
Depending on the weather conditions, on this expedition, the Ocean Explorer makes a southbound beeline in an attempt to reach 66°33’S latitude to cross the famed (but imaginary) Antarctic Circle. This voyage passes colossal icebergs that appear to be the concentrated work of an artist’s intuitive hands and chisels.
If the brooding weather permits the ship to reach this momentous, heart-pounding, goosebumpy goal, prepare to experience the same rush as the bold explorers who first ventured this far south! There will definitely be more thrills than chills on this voyage in comparison to Captain James Cook’s experience of crossing the parallel on January 17, 1773, aboard the Resolution. The Ocean Explorer has a dry sauna (with a view!) on Deck 7, two outdoor jacuzzis on the ship’s stern, and an observation lounge to warm up with coffee or cocktails and conversation. A little different than the amenities (none) and menu (salt pork and sauerkraut) on the Resolution!
Fun and frigid fact: The Antarctic is the world’s highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent—it’s almost entirely covered by a vast ice sheet. (*Don’t worry, you’ll be provided with an expedition parka to weather it all!) There are no resident humans and no polar bears. Instead, more than five million penguins waddle and raft about!
What else do we have in our polar fleece department? 66° 33’ North
Our brand new 10-day Iceland Circumnavigation small ship expedition is a blend of culture and wild scapes, AND on this navigation, you will cruise north to the isle of Grímsey, which sits (barely!) on the Arctic Circle at 66° 33’ North, earning Iceland its title as one of the world’s eight Arctic nations.
From cosmopolitan Reykjavík, round the immense island country and back, this expedition is a constant highlight reel of nature at its most sublime. The scenery shifts from black sand beaches, volcanic rims, towering mountains and pounding waterfalls to dramatic fjords. The wildlife is equally impressive, with puffin colonies and whales stealing the show.
Whichever direction you choose to circle and cross off, be sure to share your poetry, art, photos and memories with us in any form!
I love small ship expeditions because it allows me to experience a true connection to the land and wildlife – to witness up close and personal (within IAATO regulations) where they walk, eat, sleep and care for their young. Imagine walking among a colony of hundreds or thousands of penguins! Pinch me!
There’s no other place like Antarctica. Whether by kayak or Zodiac, when in the middle of a bay surrounded by glaciers, icebergs of all sizes, mounds of snow covered jagged peaks peeking… it’s incredibly breathtaking.
~ Marissa Dolotallas, Expedition Guide and WWE Host
Join our Wild Women team at 2 PM PST on December 9th, 2024, for a free webinar to learn about small-ship expedition travel!
Join us as Franny Bergschneider, our Program and Operations Manager, teams up with Cline Owen, our Community Engagement Manager, and our Expedition Engagement Manager, Raakhe Kapila, to reveal why Small Ship Expeditions should be at the top of your travel list.
Register for the event here!
