Selling Arctic: Expert tips from Wendi Hardy, National Key Account Manager at Scenic

Photo from Wendi's personal Archive

How many times have you’ve been to the Arctic and which specific regions?

I am lucky to have sailed in the Arctic region several times on Ocean liners, cruise ships but the best way by far is on our Ultra-Luxury Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse. Crossing the Arctic circle and sailing North is exciting, experiencing the Midnight Sun in Norway and most recently the mesmerising Northern Lights in Greenland.  I’ve visited the North Cape and crossed the magical line and kissed a wet fish when you get permission from King Neptune to enter his seas.

Do you have a favourite Arctic destination and why?

Northern lights in Greenland

Greenland is my favourite Arctic destination and one of my favourite overall destinations. This is because I did not expect it to be so unique & diverse.  Every fjord and inlet you sailed into painted a different picture and told a different story. From breathtaking glaciers, quiet lakes, to ginormous towering icebergs to the small details in the flora and fauna.  I saw so much wildlife, had a humpback whale virtually go under my zodiac and the same afternoon a pod of Orca’s kept us entertained. I witnessed the awe-inspiring Northern lights with my own eyes, the colours of green and red literally danced across the sky for hours, not once but on two separate occasions. You see no civilisation for days, then arrive at populated towns with shops and cafes.  It’s so interesting talking to Greenlanders and learning about local life and culture.

What was your favourite time during the season and why?

The calmness of the waters, the sun shining, the northern lights dancing, the clean fresh still air, the change in the panoramic views, the night sky, along with witnessing the different types of whales daily.

What is your favourite thing to do or a favourite place to visit in the Arctic?

In Greenland, when I saw my first Iceberg, there was no feeling like it! I was sitting on my balcony, and I knew I needed to get a better look, so I headed to the bridge and started to witness the change in colours and shapes and sizes. I did a cruise around Disko Bay, Ilulissat is the main town on the bay, named from the Inuit word for ‘iceberg’. It’s famous for the large number of icebergs breaking away from the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord, a World-listed site. Hearing the rumbling sounds in the distance as huge chunks of ice breaking from the glacier and tumble into the water below is mind blowing.

The most memorable moment you’ve worked/travelled to the Arctic

Taking a Zodiac cruise through icebergs @ Scenic

This has to be my very first Zodiac cruise.  I was sitting in the zodiac, surrounded by icebergs witnessing and appreciating the stillness of the landscape. Our discovery leader (who was driving the zodiac) noticed a humpback whale in the distance, we all got very excited (and loud)! So, we scared it off slightly, but then she came back, and we could see her without the binoculars.  It was approx. 25 feet long and we watched as it performed for us. But then she went about her day, we started to give our attention to some thick ice in the water hundreds of years old.  I can only imagine the whale wasn’t happy losing our attention, so she slowly came back to us, and swam right up and dived right below us.  It was the most incredible and surreal experience, a feeling I will never forget.

Top Tips for travel advisors

Don’t be shy on talking about the price – explain the value of experiencing a cruise to the Arctic, as in my opinion it’s the only true accessible way you can really deep dive into the destination. Talk about the unforgettable experiences you can have and that is priceless!

To learn more about Scenic and the Arctic, head to our Expedition Cruise Academy.