I am an adventurous active solo traveler who likes unusual itineraries and more remote parts of the world. I’ve cruised on at least 12 cruise lines, and the Northwest Passage Expedition Cruise on the “Crystal Serenity” was a unique and remarkable experience for my 49th cruise.

The inaugural Northwest Passage Expedition Cruise sailed a distance of approximately 8,370 sea miles. It visited three ports in Alaska, three Native communities in the Canadian Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and three local communities in Greenland before visiting four east coast ports in the United States. The cruise began in Seward, Alaska on August 16, 2016 and ended in New York City, New York on September 17, 2016.

Reaching Seward, Alaska where the cruise began was an adventure in itself. I live in a remote part of the country and it took four days of leisurely flying to reach Seward. I positioned the night before my first flight at the Boston Logan Airport Hilton, a favorite for years. At stop-over cities, I stayed at Hilton’s new Home2Suites several times and enjoyed it very much. It’s not for fans of luxury hotels, but it served my needs perfectly, with each hotel room being a tiny home away from home. I flew to Seward, Alaska from Anchorage, Alaska with a locally well-respected and expert bush pilot, enjoying some hands-on time flying myself as a licensed private pilot. Crystal Cruise Line provided complimentary coach transfer service for passengers from Anchorage to Seward, but I preferred to see something of the area on my own without the long bus ride. My night in Seward before the cruise was spent at the outstanding Bell in the Woods bed and breakfast, which definitely lives up to its rave reviews with its beautiful large house, welcoming family owners, and marvelous breakfast. Read more