We're with you on the Otaru to Guam, Rachel - maybe it is time to look at a plan B, but I think they will get through somehow. Financially it will be a huge expense for them if they don't.

I assumed an icebreaker could do the job ,so it is interesting to read that it didn't work for the National Geo ship. But there are 7 routes through the NW passage so maybe one will look better, plus the National Geo ship wasn't going all the way through, but ending in Iqaluit, so turning back wasn't the big deal for it as it would be for the SS Explorer. Likewise, the Bremen goes back to Greenland or Iceland, not all the way through.

Unlike the Nome to Otaru passengers we will have more notice. And it is possible they will get to Nome later than Sept. 1, but in that case they would most likely put up the passengers in Nome for a couple of days, cut a few days from the Nome to Otaru cruise and start ours on time.