Arcadia Transits the Northwest Passage

On September 26th 2011 the Royal Huisman built 36m (118ft) explorer yacht Arcadia completed her east to west transit of the infamous Northwest Passage, she was only the 159th vessel to do so in the 108 years since records started.

The yachts exterior was designed by Tony Castro and her interior decor was designed by the renowned Rhoades Young Design studio. She was always seen by her owner as a globe-trotting gentleman’s yacht with the ability to go anywhere in comfort and style, this is shown through her classy exterior lines.

She departed from Christianshab, Greenland, on the 2nd of September, Arcadia crossed the Baffin Sea to Pond Inlet where she commenced her transit on the 5th of September. Under the command of Captain James Pizzaruso, Arcadia’s owner and guests experienced a stunning passage that included numerous polar bear sightings, fine and challenging weather and some exhilarating shore-side hiking. Arcadia covered a total of 3,278 nautical miles, of which 1,587 were completed between Ilulissat and Cambridge Bay, and a further 1,691 between Cambridge bay and Nome, Alaska. The route from Pond Inlet took in Bylot Island, Devon Island, Prince Leopold Island, Fort Ross (Somerset Island), through Bellot Strait to Jenny Lind Island, Cambridge Bay (Victoria Island) and on to Nome Island via Banks Island, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea.


Arcadia can accommodate 10 guests and a crew of 7, who will be most likely taking on some more world adventures after getting the taste for exploration/adventure in completing the Northwest Passage.