18 August

Greenland: Kangerlussuaq

Founded in 1941 as a US Air Force base, Kangerlussuaq is home to Greenland’s main airport and a place that most visitors to the country will pass through at some point. The town also offers easy access to the magnificent Greenland Ice Cap, and the surrounding countryside is a great place to see the Northern Lights.

19 August to 20 August - At sea

21 August

Canada: Pond Inlet

The small Inuit settlement of Pond Inlet sits at the entrance to the fabled Northwest Passage, on the north coast of Baffin Island. A dramatic landscape of fjords, glaciers and icebergs provides a habitat for wildlife including whales, seabirds, seals and narwhals, the otherworldly ‘unicorns of the sea’.

22 August - At sea

23 August to 25 August

Canada: Ellesmere Island

Remote and mountainous Ellesmere Island is the northernmost island in Canada, situated just off the coast of Greenland, and its human inhabitants number about 200. The Arctic air is some of the cleanest in the world, and native wildlife includes caribou, musk oxen and polar bears.

26 August - At sea

27 August to 28 August

Greenland: Northeast Greenland National Park

Immerse yourself in the world’s largest national park, established in 1974 and covering some 375,000 square miles of uninhabited Arctic wilderness. The park is home to wildlife including polar bears, Arctic hares and musk oxen, and species including walrus, beluga whale and narwhal can be spotted around the coast.

29 August - At sea

30 August

Greenland: Kangerlussuaq

Founded in 1941 as a US Air Force base, Kangerlussuaq is home to Greenland’s main airport and a place that most visitors to the country will pass through at some point. The town also offers easy access to the magnificent Greenland Ice Cap, and the surrounding countryside is a great place to see the Northern Lights.

31 August

Greenland: Nuuk

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.

1 September - At sea

2 September

Canada: Iqaluit

The Arctic city of Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost territory. It’s a surprisingly cosmopolitan place given its isolation and polar climate, and is an important centre for contemporary Inuit culture; make sure you check out the fascinating Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum.

3 September

Canada: Diana Island

4 September to 5 September - At sea

6 September

Canada: Fury and Hecla Strait

7 September to 9 September - At sea

10 September

Canada: Cambridge Bay

The remote community of Cambridge Bay is located on the southeast coast of Victoria Island, part of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It’s the largest stop for ships transiting the Northwest Passage, despite a population of less than 2,000, and it's a great place to learn about the wildlife of the Arctic and the culture of the Inuit people who live here.

11 September to 14 September - At sea

15 September

Greenland: Sisimiut

The name Sisimiut means ‘the people living in a place where there are fox dens’, though these days the town is better known for being Greenland’s northernmost year-round ice-free port. Around 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it’s a common stop for ships making the journey north to Disko Bay.

16 September

Greenland: Evighedsfjorden Fjord

17 September

Greenland: Kangerlussuaq

Founded in 1941 as a US Air Force base, Kangerlussuaq is home to Greenland’s main airport and a place that most visitors to the country will pass through at some point. The town also offers easy access to the magnificent Greenland Ice Cap, and the surrounding countryside is a great place to see the Northern Lights.

18 September

Greenland: Nuuk

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.

19 September - At sea

20 September

Canada: Pangnirtung

21 September

Canada: Lady Franklin Island

21 September

Canada: Monument Island

22 September

Canada: Lower Savage Islands

22 September

Canada: Resolution Island, Qikiqtaaluk

23 September - At sea

24 September

Canada: Nachvak Fiord, Newfoundland and Labrador

25 September

Canada: Saglek Fjord

26 September

Canada: Nain

27 September

Canada: Indian Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador

28 September

Canada: L'Anse aux Meadows

The archaeological site of L’Anse aux Meadows, on the northern tip of Newfoundland, is the only confirmed site of Norse settlement in North America. Vikings arrived from Iceland and Greenland some 500 years before Columbus, and you can visit the reconstructed timber and peat-turf homes that they built.

29 September to 30 September - At sea

1 October

Canada: Halifax

The natural harbour at Halifax is the second largest in the world after Sydney, and this charming city has a proud maritime heritage. Take a stroll along the historic waterfront, delve into the vibrant arts scene or explore the beautiful coastal scenery of Nova Scotia.

2 October to 5 October - At sea

6 October

Saint Kitts and Nevis: South Friars Bay

The beach at South Friars Bay is a lovely sweep of golden sand at the southern end of St Kitts, although it can get a little busy when the larger cruise ships are docked on the island. There are several bars and restaurants along this half-mile stretch, with watersports equipment and loungers available to rent.

7 October

Montserrat: Montserrat

Montserrat garnered global attention in 1995 when the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted, burying the island’s capital, Plymouth. Although an exclusion zone is still in place in the south, visitors are often surprised by how lush and unspoilt the rest of the island is, home to a colourful variety of birdlife.

8 October

Saint Lucia: Rodney Bay

The majority of Saint Lucia’s hotels are clustered around the broad sweep of Rodney Bay, where you’ll find some of the best beaches on the island and a host of lively bars and restaurants. At the northern end of the bay is Pigeon Island and historic Fort Rodney, well worth a visit for the splendid views.

9 October

Arriving in Bridgetown

There’s more to Barbados than just beaches; the delightful architecture of the old garrison in Bridgetown, the capital, is fully deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status, and the island interior is littered with old sugar plantations and natural wonders such as Harrison’s Cave.