The place seems almost too inhospitable for people to live there, but about 57,000 Greenlanders call it home. Considering that this large island covers 836,000 square miles that’s a density of only 15 people per square mile, making it one of the worlds least densely populated places.
So What’s All This Fuss About Greenland?
It is argued by some that Greenland holds immense natural resource value, primarily in crucial minerals like Rare Earth Elements (REEs), along with speculation regarding significant untapped oil, gas, gold, zinc, copper, and graphite, that could be worth trillions by some estimates. But exploration and extraction costs will be a major challenge as 80% of the surface of the island is locked up under a polar ice cap and it doesn’t look like it will be melting in the foreseeable future. For that reason the true value of Greenlands resources cannot be seriously evaluated because that Arctic ice sheet covering 660,000 square miles of Greenland.
The true value of Greenland is probably more about its location than its resources. The island is located in a very strategic position that could control access to a number of Northern Hemisphere land masses thus providing a defensive and offensive platform between geo-political advisories.
The people of Greenland and the cost of subsidizing their economy is actually a minor consideration as Greenland’s population is around only 57,000 people, making it the least populated country globally, with most residents living in coastal towns, primarily in the southwest. The population is predominantly Inuit Indians, with the capital, Nuuk, being the largest settlement, housing less than 20,000 people.
Looking down on Greenland from above the Arctic Circle demonstrates the strategic importance of this frozen island.
The people, along with Greenland’s government operations get about 87% of their economic needs in one form or another from Denmark. Denmark provides financial support to Greenland, with annual expenditures of around $700 million (that’s about US$12,500 per person). Under just one program Denmark provides an annual block grant of approximately DKK 3.9 billion (about USD 511 million), covering around 80% of Greenland’s total financial needs. Some reports indicate that the total subsidies from Denmark may exceed 4.5 billion kroner annually, further illustrating the reliance of Greenland’s economy on these funds and providing very little financial benefit back to Denmark.
Greenland: Survival in a Harsh Environment
Because the island is mostly covered in ice and rock there is little environment that will support many people.There is very little agriculture and most of the people live off the sea and some hunting.
With the world’s growing number of cruise ships and a large population of cruisers looking for new destinations to visit, Greenland is currently experiencing a tourist boom.
Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland with a population of about 3,055 people is known for its colorful houses, rich Norse history and Erik the Red’s settlement.
Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
It is not unusual to see Scots in Halifax wearing traditional dress. Scots represent a significant percentage of the population (over 30% are of Scottish ancestry) and there are numerous Scottishsocial groups and civic events.
Starting in 1768, the North British Society in Halifax (also known as “The Scots”) became the oldest Scottish heritage society outside of the British Isles, and celebrated the lasting Scottish influence in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Halifax, Nova Scotia was named as ‘New Scotland'” and it has a rich Scottish history dating back to 1620. Later a new wave of immigration occurred after the Highland Clearances in the 18th century. The Clearances were a series of forced evictions of tenants in the Scottish Highlands beginning in 1750. Driven originally by agricultural changes it became responsible for large waves of Scots immigrating to North America.
Here Are A Few Our More Recent Posts You Might Find Interesting…
There is a country, a principality, a magic kingdom that sits on the Mediterranean coast between France and Italy called Monte Carlo (Monaco)that attracts an incredible number of celebrities. From F1 race drivers, tennis stars and entertainment figures like the late actor Sir Roger Moore. Partly famous for its tax haven status but also for its glamorous lifestyle it’s been home to many top music icons like Bono and Ringo Starr. But, perhaps its most famous resident of all was an actress namedGrace Kelly.
The End Of A Real Royal Fairy Tale
She was a highly acclaimed Hollywood actress in the 1950s who starred in a number of classic films such as Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and The Country Girl, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. But in 1956, Grace fell in love and married Prince Rainier III, Monarch of Monaco. Grace retired from acting at the peak of her career to focus on her royal duties, to raise her family and support numerous charities. She became the world’s most famous princess and on September 14, 1982she died as a result of a car crash.
Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Today in an alcove in Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco that’s known as the Chapel of the Princes, rests the casket of the American actress and princess, Grace Kelly.She was laid to rest in the Grimaldi family vault in the Chapel of the Princes because of her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco and that made her the Princess of Monaco.
Chapel of the Princes
Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Monaco Royal Palace
Below You’ll Find A Couple Of Our More Recent Posts You Might Find Interesting…
The Iconic Windmills Of Mykonos. Traditionally, these windmills are heavy, three-story buildings made of stone, are circular in shape, reflecting the simple yet functional design typical of the Cycladic islands. They were primarily built by Venetians in the 16th century and continued to be constructed into the early 20th century for milling wheat. Mykonos is…
What country claims this baked treat as its own? This is a traditional European pastry made from sweet yeast dough. This unique treat is crafted by wrapping strips of the dough around a conical baking tube, which is then grilled usual over coals till it achieves a golden brown color and crispy exterior. Answer •…
We’re asking for your opinion… I think Clint Eastwood said it best; “If you’re looking for a guarantee in life, buy a toaster.” We have, over the years, visited over one hundred countries and on a few occasions we’ve found ourselves in some touchy situations, but we have always been cautious in selecting when and…
Download Today For Free! Over the past few weeks we’ve been working at updating our popular CRUISE CONTROL a guide to cruising, but we’ve run out of time as we are soon leaving on an extended trip. We also realized that while our cruise ship listings are a bit out of date*, generally the guide…
As long as we have our health and the money holds out The Intentional Travelers will continue to explore this amazing world. So to answer the recent inquiries about what our plans are, following are scheduled trips for the first half of 2026:
Torres del Paine
First up in a few weeks is a couple of weeks in Chile with a package tour.(Exottica): We’ll start in the north with the Atacama Desert for several days. Next is time in Santiago followed by a trek south for a visit to Torres del Paine National Park.
Egypt
By the end of February we’ll make our third try at exploring Egypt (wish us luck!). Like most popular itineraries we’ll spend a few days in Cairo seeing the Pyramids and visiting both major museums. After that we cruise the Nile and visit the Valley of the Kings and Luxor. This trip ends with a few days in Dubai.
Africa
After Egypt and before July we return to Cape Town for a cruise up Africa’s west coast with stops at the islands of Saint Helena and Cape Verdi. After about a month we finish in London with a visit to Stonehenge which will also be my third try at visiting (again wish us luck!).
Northern Lights
That’s it so far but we intend to make an attempt at the Northern Lights in Winter. We’re thinking Tromso, Norway and may try and schedule visits to a Scandinavian Christmas Market in that trip.
In 2027 we already have a cruise booked that will take us north along the east coast of South America and across the Atlantic to Europe. Still in2026 we have about a four month hole in the calendar so Judi and I would welcome any suggestions?
Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
So far this year we’ve taken eight flights – all international and we’ve come to realize that we just don’t know what our bags will cost until we check-in at the counter. Twice we expected to pay US$70 per bag and nobody asked for money. On one flight we were told that a carry-on weighing over 15 pounds would cost US$25 but nobody weighed my 35 pound backpack – so no extra fee. Just over a year ago most international flights did not charge for checked bags – PERHAPS NO MORE!
SINGAPORE – 18 NOV, 2016: Travelers enter immigration control at Changi International Airport in Singapore.
The fees charged for baggage are rising faster than inflation and international flights have almost eliminated free checked bags while some are now charging for carry-ons (what’s the difference between a carry-on and a personnel item??) If you want to pick a seat before the flight expect to pay between US$25 and US$45. If I don’t want to pay does that mean that my wife sits in the front of the plane while I’m in the back?? Additionally, there is a growing trend to eliminate any free options for economy tickets – carry-ons, onboard food, maybe using the lavatory?? All of this now requires a reevaluation of economy ticket fares.
Recently we booked a flight from Rome to Amsterdam with KLM where if we selected an economy ticket we would have paid US$70 per bag but if we selected Economy Plus that included one free bag each and the fare went up by just US$37???
Because of all that you need to use this guide as a starting point and a way of comparing airlines, but you also need to confirm current fees at the time of booking. For example from October 2023 to May 2024 Delta raised the charge for a first bag from US$30 to US$35 and 2nd bag from 40 to $45. For Frontier Airlines there is no published price list – you’ll need to check your flight by logging in on their website HERE???
Some US based airlines will allow you to prepay for your bags using points, but mostly only on domestic flights?? We’re expecting card readers to be installed on lavatory doors soon to get in…
Frontier Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $40 to $75, 2nd – $50 to $60 3+ – $75 to $80 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100. Carry On 1 free – The size of your one included personal item will be checked during boarding. Items larger than the allowed dimensions are subject to an additional charge of $35 plus.
Spirit Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $40 to $75, 2nd – $60 to $100 3+ – $85 Overweight Bags 1 – $30 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – $37 to $65. Fees may be waived based on member status.
Sun Country Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $35, 2nd – $50, Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – Free
United Airlines The airlines no longer publishes a baggage fee schedule. To calculate cost based on a flight and bag description click HERE.
Virgin America Checked Bags 1st – $35 2nd – $50+ Overweight Bags 1 – $50 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100. Carry On 1 – Free
U.S. & International Airlines Baggage Fees on Most International Flights
El Al Israel Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $85 to $100 3+ – $85 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $55 to $100 Oversized Bag 1 – $85 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free
WestJet Checked Bags 1 – $19 to $22 2 – $26 to $30 3+ – $74 to $87 Overweight Bags 1 – $55 to $65 Oversized Bags 1 – $55 to $65 Carry On 1 – Free
Because of the constant changing fees consider the above information for comparison purposes only. To help you reach an informed decision check with the actual airlines. Following is a collection of links to a number of individual airlines baggage web page*
They come in all sizes, configurations and yes, prices and it’s not uncommon for a cruise to offer you a cabin upgrade. Understand, there may be valid reasons to turn down a stateroom upgrade.
If you do more than a few cruises, chances are you will, at some point in time, be offered an upgrade. Generally upgrades fall into a several categories:
Upgrades at discounted rates
A promotional offer
Complimentary upgrade
Last minute upgrade offer at time of sailing
Usually the first reaction when offered an upgrade is elation over your luck, but don’t jump at that offer right away. There are a few things to consider, so be sure and ask a few questions.
If you’re being offered a stateroom upgrade ask if the usual category perks are still included with the upgrade. They can include complimentary spa use, a special restaurant, preferred seating at shows, preferred boarding to tenders. Often the upgraded does not include those perks and you need to consider if the change in stateroom location is worth the little extra room?
Additionally, often the cabin upgrade is in a less desirable location. Could it be noisy being near to an area that operates late into the night? Is it still on one of your preferred decks? Be sure and check a ship map to see if it is next to a void where there could be machinery or elevator noise?
There is also an upgrade on booking called “run of the ship”. What that means is you will be guaranteed a specific stateroom upgrade but you’ll learn about the actual location when you board the ship. That means the stateroom could be on a lower deck, a high deck, all the way forward or include an obstructed view. While you can save money in booking by accepting “run of the ship” staterooms, that is a decision you consider in relationship to your budget and if the savings is worth the possible inconvenience. In the case of this upgrade there usually isn’t a reduction in fare.
If you’re interested in an upgrade there is really no way to understand how to go about getting one. Your chances do improve with your frequent cruising status on a cruise line and that is based on the number of cruises you’ve taken. Also remember the cruise ship knows a lot about the desirability of specific staterooms onboard and they intend to get some advantage out of making the offer. Sometimes it’s intended to increase your loyalty to their cruise line and that’s the real win-win!
If you’re picky about cabin location, understand you usually cannot choose the location of your upgrade stateroom or suite and if you’re excited about the upgrade for the increased perks, you need to know that most cruise lines don’t offer those perks with a free or discounted upgrade from a standard class cabins. So be sure you understand everything that offer includes.
There is also a new twist that’s been added to cruise stateroom upgrading. Usually shortly before your sailing you may get an offer to bid on an upgrade. Like any auction you’ll be bidding against other passengers so keep that in mind when making an offer. From the cruise’s point of view, if the ship has unbooked cabins that’s time-sensitive inventory that will have no value when the ship sails. This offer simply gives them an opportunity to get paid something for upgrading your booking that represents no actual cost to them. When thinking about bidding keep in mind that all of the same cautions still apply.Just like all transactions, in upgrading the caution “buyer be ware” is good advice.
Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
U.S. Airlines Baggage Fees on Domestic Flights
U.S. & International Airlines Baggage Fees on Most International Flights
The Intentional Travelers 