Newfoundland Circumnavigation Cruise

12 Days from
$9,595 USD
Ship Trip
Highlights

Highlights

  • Revel in Newfoundland’s world-famous culture and hospitality
  • Experience life in remote outports and fishing villages
  • Visit North America's only authenticated Norse site at L’Anse aux Meadows
  • Enjoy a warm Mi’kmaw welcome in Miawpukek First Nation
  • Hike the spectacular Tablelands at Gros Morne National Park
  • Get a taste of Europe on the French island of Saint-Pierre
  • Visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Red Bay, L'Anse aux Meadows, and Gros Morne National Park
  • Savour local dishes and meet the fishers and growers who make it happen
Map

Map

Map for Newfoundland Circumnavigation Cruise

Tour Overview

Explore Newfoundland at its most authentic: by sea! Daily excursions explore the island’s hidden treasures. Our engaging local guides will have you wanting to stay.

Canada’s newest province is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Hiking is excellent. Photography, superb. Wildlife and scenery, striking. And the hospitality, sublime.

Newfoundland is full of unexpected sights; Gros Morne, where the Earth’s mantle protrudes through the crust; Red Bay, where Basque whalers once plied their trade; L’Anse aux Meadows, where Vikings established a base. Miawpukek First Nation, where a thriving community offers a warm welcome. The French island of Saint-Pierre provides a taste of Europe.

Join our expedition team of enthusiastic local musicians, artists, naturalists, scientists, and scholars. Every day is an adventure ashore, and every night is a potential kitchen party aboard the Ocean Endeavour!

Departures & Cabins

DEPARTURES & CABINS

What's Included

Tour Price Includes

  • Passage aboard the Ocean Endeavour
  • Applicable taxes and credit card fees
  • Complimentary expedition jacket
  • Contribution to Discovery Fund
  • Special access permits, entry, and park fees
  • Expert expedition team
  • Guided activities
  • Sightseeing and community visits
  • All Zodiac excursions
  • Port fees
  • Pre-departure materials
  • Educational program
  • Photo Equipment Trial Program
  • Interactive workshops
  • Evening entertainment
  • All shipboard meals

Tour Price Does Not Include

  • Commercial and charter flights
  • Program enhancements/optional excursions
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
  • Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
  • Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation

Itinerary

Day 1: St. John’s, NL, Canada

Welcome to St. John’s—Newfoundland’s historic, vibrant capital. Sailing out of the port of St. John’s, Signal Hill keeps watch as we exit the world-famous Narrows. The charming houses of the Battery are always a hit with shutterbugs. Watch for icebergs, whales, and seabirds as we sail!

St. John's

Day 2: Saint-Pierre, France

Explore Saint-Pierre, a last bastion of France’s colonial territories in North America. The colourful and charming shops and residences of the town of Saint-Pierre reveal its unique historical character.

French food, wine, clothing, and culture are all on offer here. The sweets at the local cafes and bakeries are in high demand. Saint-Pierre offers a taste of European living, just a short sail from the coast of Newfoundland!

St. Pierre, France

Day 3: Miawpukek (Conne River)

The First Nations community of Miawpukek became a permanent settlement sometime around 1822. Before then, it was one of many semi-permanent camps used by the Mi'kmaw people—who had traditionally travelled nomadically throughout the east coast of Canada.

Since its establishment as a reserve in 1987, Miawpukek has successfully bridged traditional knowledge and contemporary practice. We will receive a formal welcome from local leaders and have a chance to explore this special community.

Day 4: Francois

The wild and windswept coast of southern Newfoundland is home to a few remaining outport communities. Experience the warm hospitality and adventurous spirit of Francois, Newfoundland—a quaint and picturesque fishing village, with colourful homes and buildings that offer visitors a glimpse into Newfoundland's coastal lifestyle.

Explore the town, and hike to stunning lookout points and waterfalls. A day in Francois will stimulate your soul and remind you of the importance of good neighbours, stories, and music.

After a day of adventure, head to the community hall for an oversized kitchen party with treats, drinks, and dancing. Rediscover a bit of your own spirit, through the essence of Newfoundland's culture in this charming and resilient community.

Ocean Nova in Francois

Day 5: Southern Coast

There are many choices of unique bays and coves to explore via Zodiac or land excursions. Along the coast, the geology is outstanding, and the plant life is gorgeous. We’ll be on the watch for wildlife, too. We’ll make the most of every chance to explore this beautiful and remote coast.

Rose Blanche, Newfoundland

Day 6–7: Gros Morne National Park and Woody Point

Gros Morne National Park's Tablelands, a six-hundred-metre plateau, form one of the world’s best examples of exposed mantle. Normally found below the Earth’s crust, the mineral-rich rocks support very little life, making the Tablelands an eerie landscape.

We will offer various walking and hiking options here. Views of Bonne Bay are spectacular. Gros Morne’s interpretation centre is excellent and the town of Woody Point is a delight to explore.

Hiking in Gros Morne

Day 8: Red Bay

The Red Bay Basque Whaling Station became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013. Basque whalers operated out of the Red Bay harbour in the 1500s: North America’s first export industry.

The interpretation centre at Red Bay is excellent. Here we find tools, personal items, and navigational instruments recovered from the wreck of the whaling ship San Juan. The ship was lost in a storm in 1565 and found centuries later submerged in the harbour. We'll visit nearby Saddle Island to learn the history of the whaling industry.

Red Bay Basque Whaling Station

Day 9: L’Anse aux Meadows

L’Anse aux Meadows, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only authenticated Norse settlement in North America. The archaeological remains found here in 1960 date to approximately 1000 CE. Amazingly, the location was first established by a close reading of the Viking sagas.

Today, a superb interpretation centre and several reconstructed Norse-style sod buildings make L’Anse aux Meadows a must-see for any visitor to Newfoundland and Labrador.

L'Anse Aux Meadows

Day 10–11: Northeast Coast

The northeast coast of Newfoundland is known for the dozens of picturesque villages that dot its rocky shores, and we’ll find harbour in one of these unique communities. We look forward to a characteristically warm Newfoundland welcome upon our arrival. Photographers will have their work cut out for them, capturing all the special charm of classic island communities and stunning coastlines.

Day 12: St. John’s, NL, Canada

On the final day of our expedition, we sail back through the Narrows and into St. John’s harbour. We will say our farewells and the expedition team will be on hand to assist you with luggage and transportation arrangements.

St. John's © Dennis Minty

What to Expect

Our Newfoundland cruise program allow you to experience the best of the natural world, while enjoying the comforts of our friendly floating hotel. The ship generally makes crossing between islands at night, so every morning you awake to new vistas and discoveries. Every day we offer a combination of interesting shore excursions and fun shipboard activities. You can choose which elements of the program you want to participate in.

This expedition cruise necessitates passengers to be in reasonably good health. Zodiac cruises and transfer times can be lengthy. You must be able to climb stairs between decks on the ship, as well as the external gangway stairs to transfer between the zodiac and ship.

Some of our shore landings will be ‘wet’, requiring waterproof boots. Once you have left the zodiac, you’ll find our shore excursions accommodate both those who wish to enjoy a gentle stroll and those who prefer more active hikes. The excursion may involve walking over uneven or sandy terrain in variable weather conditions. Our onboard specialists will join us on these shore excursions to provide interpretation and narration to these wonderful landscapes and experiences.

Each evening we will gather in the lounge to recount the day’s events and share memorable stories. Our onboard musician will provide some lively entertainment during happy hour and the expedition leader will outline the following day’s schedule. Our resource staff of naturalists, historians, and other guest speakers will give informative talks at various times throughout the voyage.

Meals in the ship’s dining room are a great opportunity to meet new friends and recount the day’s adventures. Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Safety is also a top priority with Eagle-Eye Tours – our team has extensive experience in the field, and all of our Voyages are run in conjunction with operators with the highest safety standards.

When the ship is underway, it is a wonderful time to join a naturalist on deck, take photos of the stunning scenery, or get caught up on some reading in the library.

Weather, ice, government regulations, and community requests may necessitate changes to the planned itineraries and/or the cancellation of certain shore excursions and enhancements. Published itineraries are examples only and we reserve the right to change or modify the itinerary and landing sites at any time prior or during an expedition. Changes will be communicated at your expedition orientation or during your onboard expedition briefings.

We know that everyone travels for different reasons. Over the years, however, we have found one common element among the guest who choose to travel with us – a thirst of knowledge and authentic experience. Knowing this drives us to ensure the highest quality learning experience on our trips, by taking time to carefully design each trip we offer.

Ship & Deck Plan: Ocean Nova

Ocean Nova

Ocean Nova

The Ocean Nova offers a classic expedition experience. Built in Denmark in 1992 for Greenland’s icy waters, this compact ship sails with a lighter carbon footprint than most expedition vessels.

Designed for intimate and immersive journeys, this nimble and sturdy ship accommodates just 78 guests. With the ship’s shallow draft and ability to anchor close to shore, you’ll spend less time ferrying and more time exploring.

Cosy cabins feature large windows for breathtaking views, while a glass-enclosed lounge offers sweeping 200-degree views—perfect for whale watching and seabird spotting. The open decks are a dream for photographers and scenery lovers. Meals feature open seating and ocean views, with globally inspired options to suit all tastes.

With one of the best guide-to-guest ratios, the Ocean Nova is perfect for those seeking an enriching experience.

 

 

Learn More

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

  • Black-legged Kittiwake
  • Atlantic Puffin
  • Common Murre
  • Greater Shearwater
  • Razorbill
  • Black Guillemot
  • Humpback Whale
  • Minke Whale
  • Fin Whale

Past Tour Checklists

View the list of birds and other wildlife we encountered on our past tours.

Trip Reports & Inspiration

Tour Reviews