Silaqqi Alariaq was standing on Kinngait’s sand beach at around 8 a.m. on July 19.
She was cold in her thin green coat. It was 3 C and windy. “Should have taken a warmer one,” she kept saying, looking out at the water.
Alariaq, along with eight local guides and some coastal guards from the community of about 1,400 residents, was waiting for the Silver Endeavour — a 10-deck, 20,500-tonne ultra-luxury mega-yacht with close to 200 guests on board. The ship is operated by Silversea Cruises, headquartered in Monaco. Fares start at about $40,000.
A bit later than planned, small black inflatable boats each carrying about eight people wearing red Silversea coats, black rubber boots and backpacks began landing on the beach at around 8:50 a.m. Alariaq has helped organize cruise ship tours in Kinngait since she was 15 years old, about 31 years ago.
She said the Silver Endeavour is the biggest ship she’s seen so far. Nunatsiaq News joined one of the cruise ship groups on its tour in Kinngait. Silver Endeavour’s Arctic tour takes 17 days, ending Aug.
1 in Kangerlussuaq, a Greenlandic coastal community of 500 people. It started in Iqaluit on July 15. After stopping for a tour in Kimmirut, the ship’s passengers spent time at Cape Wolstenholme, the northernmost point of Quebec, before arriving the next day in Kinngait.
“We’re just hopscotching, following the best weather and best available opportunities,” said expedition leader Michael Callaghan. On the ground in Kinngait.