What it's really like to cruise the Northwest Passage on a superyacht charter

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There are few places left on the chart where a superyacht does not dominate its surroundings. The Northwest Passage is one of them. Here, scale shifts, time stretches and even the most seasoned travellers are reminded that luxury, in its truest form, is space, silence and perspective.

From Greenland’s iceberg-choked fjords to the stark drama of Baffin Island, guests are invited into the process - up on the bridge, out on deck and into conversations shaped by discovery. A charter through these high latitudes on board 42-metre Sheergold is guided by Captain Sammy Koetsier’s calm, experience-led approach, and the Northwest Passage reveals itself as a place that leaves its mark.

SHEERGOLD

42m | 1987/2025 | Amels
Top speed 13.5kn | 387GT
10 guests | 8 crew

Built by Amels and comprehensively refitted in 2025, 42-metre Sheergold is a proven expedition yacht with the soul of a classic and the systems of a modern explorer. Accommodating 10 guests across four cabins and run by an eight-strong crew, she pairs a steel hull and exceptional system redundancy with original Jon Bannenberg interiors, where herringboned pear wood, brass detailing and leather Chesterfields create a warm atmosphere ideal for polar cruising. Outside, teak decks, ceiling-heated aft lounges and a distinctive canoe stern provide front-row seats to the Arctic. A brand-new water toy collection adds adventure between ice and shore.

THE ITINERARY

Kangerlussuaq – Gateway to the Arctic

Your Northwest Passage charter begins in Kangerlussuaq, a former military airbase turned Arctic gateway, set at the head of a vast fjord system. After boarding Sheergold, guests settle in as the crew conducts a confidence-building briefing. As the yacht eases away, glaciers and tundra stretch into the distance, often dotted with musk oxen. Captain Sammy Koetsier invites guests to the bridge to explain ice forecasts and routing, immediately making them part of the expedition. The evening ends with a relaxed dinner on the aft deck, wrapped in blankets, watching the long Arctic light fade.

Sisimiut – Life on Greenland’s West Coast

Cruising north along Greenland’s dramatic west coast, Sheergold arrives in Sisimiut, one of the country’s oldest towns and a cultural heartbeat of the region. Colourful houses cling to rocky slopes, while fishing boats and sled dogs hint at everyday Arctic life. Guests explore ashore, visiting local workshops where traditional craftsmanship still thrives, before returning to the yacht for an afternoon zodiac cruise through ice-carved channels. From the aft deck, heated and sheltered, wildlife spotting becomes a shared ritual. As Captain Koetsier notes, these moments are where guests begin to feel the rhythm of the Passage.

Ilulissat – Ice in Motion

In Ilulissat, icebergs drift endlessly from the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, calved from the mighty Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest-moving in the Northern Hemisphere. Sheergold anchors amid a constantly shifting sculpture garden of ice, framed by Disko Bay’s rugged cliffs. Whales often surface between bergs, a reminder that this is a living seascape. Guests step ashore for guided walks overlooking the fjord, then drift silently among the ice by zodiac, engines off. Back on board, the main saloon, with its soft lighting, becomes a storytelling hub.

Sheergold is a proven expedition yacht with the soul of a classic

HILL ROBINSON

Isabella Bay – Realm of Giants

Crossing into Canadian waters, Sheergold reaches Isabella Bay, a remote marine sanctuary on Baffin Island renowned for its bowhead whales. The scale of the landscape is humbling: steep mountains plunge into icy seas, and silence dominates. Captain Koetsier slows the yacht to a near standstill, allowing guests to absorb the stillness — ice brushing gently along the hull. Zodiac excursions offer respectful wildlife encounters, while the bridge remains open for those curious to learn how routes are chosen through drifting ice. A simple deck toast marks the crossing deeper into the Northwest Passage.

Buchan Gulf – Fjords and First Peoples

Buchan Gulf reveals some of Baffin Island’s most dramatic fjords, their steep walls carved by ice over millennia. The day includes hikes ashore to reveal sweeping viewpoints, while visits to secluded communities offer rare opportunities to hear stories passed down through generations. Elders speak of survival, artistry and connection to the land. On board, evening briefings outline the next day’s conditions.

Pond Inlet – Edge of the Passage

Approaching Pond Inlet, known as the “Jewel of the North”, the scenery becomes sharper and more elemental. Towering cliffs and shifting ice define the approach, while seabirds wheel overhead. Guests explore the village, gaining insight into Inuit culture and modern Arctic life, before returning to Sheergold for a final afternoon on deck. With hot drinks in hand, guests linger outside to soak up every moment.

Reflection and Farewell

The final morning is unhurried. As Sheergold rests quietly, guests gather on the bridge one last time, reflecting on routes taken, ice navigated and moments shared. Captain Koetsier speaks candidly about the Passage as a place that grants perspective. This Northwest Passage superyacht charter with a sense of connection to nature and history. Guests disembark changed, carrying memories that feel less like a holiday, and more like a once-in-a-lifetime chapter.