IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
Extensive planning has gone into an ambitious luxury cruise ship voyage scheduled to stop in two Nunavut communities on a journey designed to traverse the Northwest Passage.

The Crystal Serenity's 32-day voyage from Seward, Alaska, to New York City, New York, is expected to carry 1,070 passenger and 650 crew members through the Arctic via the Northwest Passage from Aug. 16 to Sept. 17. - photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

The communities of Cambridge Bay and Pond Inlet are planned ports-of-call during the historic voyage of the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity from Aug. 16 to Sept. 17.

Population estimates in those communities in 2015 are 1,697 and 1,668 respectively, while the total population on board the luxury ship weighing anchor near them will be an estimated 1,700, including crew members.

Passage on the sold-out voyage began at a cost of $21,855 per person

It's a first, said Peter Garapick, the Canadian Coast Guard superintendent of Search and Rescue for the Central and Arctic Region.

Impact on communities is being carefully addressed.

Crystal Cruises states on its website it "is committed to ensuring that the local Inuit communities are positively impacted by our visit."

Bernie MacIsaac, assistant deputy minister of economic development for the Department Economic Development and Transportation, said the cruise ship company approached the territorial government a couple of years ago.

"In 2014 representatives from Crystal Cruises consulted with each community the ship will visit, and although the cruise will be the largest to transit the Northwest Passage, not all of the passengers will be able to visit each community," he said.

"Passengers have the option in their cruise package of visiting Cambridge Bay or Pond Inlet, but there are a limited amount of slots available for each community. A morning and afternoon landing will take place in each community."

To prepare for the future, the GN is developing new Marine Tourism Regulations which, if passed, may limit the amount of passengers able to arrive in a community at any one time., said MacIsaac.

"The limit will vary depending on the ability of the community to handle large amounts of visitors and will be reached in consultation with each community."

And passengers will not be running around willy-nilly.

"A lot of work goes into preparing cruise passengers for the Arctic, and that includes education and awareness about the communities that the passengers will be visiting. Passengers will undergo a cultural sensitivity briefing onboard the ship before arriving in a community," said MacIsaac.

With passenger-ship traffic expected to increase, the GN is also developing a Marine Tourism Management Plan which includes codes of conduct for ships to distribute to their passengers, as well as the creation of consistent communication protocols between ships and the communities they visit.

Community benefits

For cruise passengers, the 32-day voyage is not all champagne cocktails at the end of a day trekking and exploring, or sunning themselves on the 13th deck - dubbed the Sun Deck. The company runs a program entitled You Care. We Care., along with its wilderness jaunts and wildlife sightseeing.

"We have already begun making visits to the local communities to understand first-hand how Crystal can make the most positive impact. We will be discussing a number of ideas, ranging from helping with the construction of new buildings, scholarships for school children or bringing additional medical supplies. We hope to create easy ways for guests to voluntarily assist the communities along the way, as well," states the company.

Paul Garcia, director of global public relations for Crystal Cruises, stated in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North that plans are in the works for both Nunavut communities.

"Yes, our land program team is developing those and we will be officially announcing the voluntourism programs in the next month or so," he said.

Along with cultural sensitivity, passengers and crew will have the benefit of Inuit guidance.

For Inuit, that means employment.

"The Crystal Serenity will have two Inuit on board, " said MacIsaac.

"The ship's cultural specialist is Gwen Angulalik, who works as an Innuinnaqtun interpreter/translator at the legislative assembly of Nunavut. Stevie Audlakiak from Qikiqtarjuaq, a former Canadian Ranger and cold-water diver and hunter, will offer his services as an Arctic guide on board the ship."

Other benefits for community members include the sale of artwork.

"In Cambridge Bay a special arts and crafts fair will be held, with some of the region's finest arts, crafts and sculptures on display for passengers to buy. In Pond Inlet there will be demonstrations of Inuit culture and opportunities for passengers to shop for soapstone carvings and other crafts," said MacIsaac.

"This is a great opportunity for community members to be open and welcoming, and to take pride in sharing and showcasing Inuit life and culture, which could lead to more opportunities to benefit in the future."

The department also has funding on offer to help communities prepare.

"This assistance can be anything from providing material for artists and training for local walking tour guides, to co-ordinating community resources and local stakeholders, and funding innovative development initiatives targeted at increasing the direct economic benefits from cruise ships," said MacIsaac.