Greenland excursions

[drmel]

Excursions for Greenland on the Caribbean sold out immediately.  Anyone know any private companies, especially in Nanortalik?  Would like to take a boat ride.....

 

Dr. Mel  55 on Princess

[cnd crsr]

1 hour ago, drmel said:

Excursions for Greenland on the Caribbean sold out immediately.  Anyone know any private companies, especially in Nanortalik?  Would like to take a boat ride.....

 

Dr. Mel  55 on Princess

 If you are referring to the August 19th cruise from NYC, there are some tours available from 2 of the 3 stops...  Nanortalik is the only stop that is sold out. Can't help you with private tours there but go to the roll call for that sailing and see if anyone can help you.

[EightFurryPaws]

When going on an excursion in Greenland, I would try to go with Princess.  If you choose to book a private tour, be sure it is refundable or payment is not due until after the 

excursion.

We have tried to get into Greenland twice with Princess, and both times there were too many iceburgs for the ship to dock.  We were there in the fall. 

[BarbinMich]

Ports in Greenland have very few residents, hence lack of "tourist infrastructure."  Nanortalik in particular.  In a way, that's part the attraction of visiting Greenland.  The entire population of the island country is under 60,000.  There are 18,000 folks in Nuuk, 1,400 in Nanortalik, and 3,000 in Qaqortoq.  Those are the 3 places cruise ships stop (and usually tender at).  We visited there in 2009 and 2010 as part of WB TA's from the UK in Sept.  Missed Nanortalik (on 2009 itin.) due to an iceberg "parked" where Capt. wanted to drop anchor.  We were able to stop at Nuuk in both 2009 (there was snow on the ground) and 2010; stopped at Qaqortoq in 2010.  Scenery is beautiful at all.  These very small towns have colorful houses, didn't have souvenir shops back then, but a few trinkets could be had at their grocery store.  Pretty little church.  I understand there are more tourist opportunities now as there is more cruise ship traffic and some ships are going there in the summer.

Edited June 19, 2019 by BarbinMich

[drmel]

Thanks all !

[LeeW]

While we didn't try a tour, we did go ashore in Nanartorlik.  More passengers on ship than people in the port.  Locals dressed up in traditional clothing and showed off how they used to live in tents, the church, and their food and dancing in the school gym.  Gift shop only about 20'x20' but you could get long handmade fur gloves for about $25 (calendar not made locally was $30) and some great stone or bone carvings for $30 or so.  Essentially the town WAS a tour.

 

Funny thing about the gift shop - they did NOT want cash.  Credit card purchases could go directly into their community bank account but cash had to be transported somewhere else to be deposited.

 

Also took a while to go ashore - ship lifeboats had to dodge the icebergs.  So get an early ticket.

Edited July 1, 2019 by LeeW
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