| Porthole 17 Nov 21

NEW Zealand’s Heritage Expeditions has announced what must be one of the world’s most unique shore excursions – an opportunity for cruisers to stay on the remote Wrangel Island in the far north Arctic Circle.

The experience is limited to just five intrepid passengers, who will live ashore as guests of the rangers working at the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve – best known as the “polar bear denning capital of the world” as well as for having a large population of Pacific walrus.

There’s also a local population of musk ox and reindeer, and Wrangel Island is also claimed to be the last known survival place of the Woolly Mammoth (pictured), with tusk and skull showing evidence the massive creatures were on the island as recently as 4,000 years ago.

The Ultimate High Arctic Expedition leaves Nome, Alaska on 24 Jul 2022 aboard the new Heritage Adventurer (formerly the MS Hanseatic), dropping off the five lucky adventurers before venturing further afield with other guests on board and returning to pick up the Wrangel Island contingent 10 days later.