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What’s on board Arctic cruise ship? Lots of ice gear, parkas

This Aug. 21, 2016, photo shows a man standing on the Bering Sea shore looking at the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity anchored just outside Nome, Alaska. The ship made a port call as it became the largest cruise ship to ever go through the Northwest Passage, en route to New York City. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
This Aug. 21, 2016, photo shows a man standing on the Bering Sea shore looking at the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity anchored just outside Nome, Alaska. The ship made a port call as it became the largest cruise ship to ever go through the Northwest Passage, en route to New York City. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) This Aug. 21, 2016, photo shows a man standing on the Bering Sea shore looking at the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity anchored just outside Nome, Alaska. The ship made a port call as it became the largest cruise ship to ever go through the Northwest Passage, en route to New York City. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

By Associated Press 2 min read

NOME, Alaska (AP) – It took years of planning and several million dollars to ensure a city-sized luxury liner could become the largest to ever sail through the Northwest Passage north of Alaska and Canada.

The Crystal Serenity left the town of Seward on Aug. 16, sailing up the Bering Strait and then east across the Arctic Ocean. It will complete its voyage Sept. 16 in New York.

Several million dollars were spent outfitting the ship with equipment and personnel to navigate through Arctic waters, said the vessel’s captain, Birger Vorland. And everyone on board was outfitted with their own parka.

The special equipment includes a dedicated ice radar, an ice navigation system that combines electronic charts with satellite imagery and thermal imaging, and two large ice searchlights on each bridge wing.

In addition, two Canadian ice pilots are on board. And the ship has an escort vessel carrying oil spill response equipment and two helicopters in case people need to evacuate.