Greenland - tips - independent travel or cruise

[drcam]

Dear Friends,

I'm planning on visiting Greenland in the next coming Northern Hemisphere summer.
I know that HX Expeditions is doing a no solo supplement cruise for about $1000 a day (which runs for 13-16 days).
Alternatively, I could organise my own accommodation, flights and transports, including going possibly on the public ferry, Arctic Umiaq line.
Please drop me a line if you have any experience regarding this.
I am still aiming toward the latter, simply because it gives me more autonomy in choosing the sights I want to see. Whether it saves any money is probably a secondary concern only.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dear Friends,

I'm planning on visiting Greenland in the next coming Northern Hemisphere summer.
I know that HX Expeditions is doing a no solo supplement cruise for about $1000 a day (which runs for 13-16 days).
Alternatively, I could organise my own accommodation, flights and transports, including going possibly on the public ferry, Arctic Umiaq line.
Please drop me a line if you have any experience regarding this.
I am still aiming toward the latter, simply because it gives me more autonomy in choosing the sights I want to see. Whether it saves any money is probably a secondary concern only.

My doctor just came back from greenland!

Don’t know how much if this is accurate (or useful) but they joined a tour which was land-based… so hiking and walks and that sort of stuff. They said the only way to get around, really, is by boat, so the tour organised all that for them. This is included accommodation and importantly, quite a few meals.

Apparently most (all?) food has to be privately imported, so it’s eye-watering expensive (coming from my doctor that says something!). Not much fresh food, and the stuff imported comes mostly from Spain.

So they did to the land thing, but organised rather than completely independent.

Now, all of this was communicated during my consultation, so I didn’t have any time to probe or ask questions!

 

[RooFlyer]

I can refer you to my TR so you can see some of the towns and sights in western Greenland. I reckon DIY using the ferries would be a good way to go if you are up to the rigours of doing so, but you will miss a lot you'd see from the water cruising - I guess the ferries are just point to point. Ilulissat is 'adventure tourism central' so you could get any sort of land, sea or air tour from there. There's a hotel there too!

And yes, per @MEL_Traveller fresh food is expensive and we were asked not to buy any as it would deprive locals of scarce supply. Went to a few cafes and they were OK price and selection-wise.

If you are taking a cruise, I'd recommend that its one that goes north to the sea ice - that's unique.