A ship of Lindblad Expeditions cruising through the Northwest Passage (Canadian Arctic) agreed not to stop at Ulukhaktok (Canada) after COVID cases had been reported onboard.
National Geographic Resolution, sailing between Greenland and Alaska, didn't visit the NWT community on Monday, August 1. Sistership National Geographic Endurance is still expected to dock at Ulukhaktok on Tuesday, August 2.
According to Denise Okheena, Ulukhaktok’s economic development officer/corporate manager, the vessel had reported 14 confirmed cases of COVID and had been asked not to arrive in Ulukhaktok for the safety of the community.
NatGeo Resolution is less than 1 year old. The vessel is designed for rough polar waters and carries up to 126 passengers in 69 staterooms.
22-day voyages through the Northwest Passage cost at least US$34,450 according to the websites of operators Lindblad and National Geographic.
On its website, Lindblad states that all passengers on its voyages take COVID tests before boarding and must test negative to be allowed to sail.
Patty Disken-Cahill, a spokesperson for Lindblad, said the Resolution was heading westward and had no further scheduled stops in the NWT.
“National Geographic Endurance does not have any cases and plans to stop in Ulu tomorrow.
“We will also be picking up our Inuvialuit marine monitor for NG Endurance, and she will be on board for four days. We will be the first vessel to have a monitor on board and we are delighted that we are able to accommodate her.”
Endurance’s guests were due to arrive in the community at 08:30 a.m. on Tuesday and tour Ulukhaktok, enjoying demonstrations of fish filleting, dancing, drumming, and Arctic sports.
At the time of the accident, NatGeo Resolution was on a 22-day voyage from Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) to Anchorage (Alaska/Denali NP). The itinerary started on July 17 and ends on August 7, 2022.