Day 1: Travel to Vancouver
We begin our adventure to Alaska
with a morning flight. Upon our
arrival a local guide will treat us
to an introductory tour of Vancouver
before transferring us to our cruise
ship. After boarding we will have
time to familiarize ourselves with
the ships amenities before the ship
embarks this evening.
Day 2: Inside Passage (Cruising)
We wake up this morning with a full
day at sea cruising towards
Ketchikan. Experience the beauty of
Alaska as we travel through the
Inside Passage. Apart from the
Alaska sites we will have the entire
day to enjoy what our ship has to
offer.
Day 3: Ketchikan
We arrive in Ketchikan this morning,
located in the Tongass National
Forest, the largest in the US at
over 17 million acres. Ketchikan is
Alaska's first port of call for
northbound ships. Originally
visited by Tlingit natives, the
heart of Ketchikan is downtown
Ketchikan Creek, which includes the
wooden boardwalks of Creek Street.
Take the tram for a bird's eye view
of downtown, or browse the many
shops and Native cultural displays
throughout the town. We depart this
afternoon for Juneau.
Day 4: Juneau
We arrive in Juneau, the capital of
Alaska, early this morning. Juneau
was founded during a gold rush in
1880. Today, the former gold-mining
town counts among its riches some of
Alaska's most spectacular scenery.
Nestled at the foot of Mt. Juneau in
the Alaska Panhandle, it faces the
water from the mainland side of
Gastineau Channel. Several
magnificent fjords are located along
the channel coast, and the majestic
Mendenhall Glacier, a favorite of
visitors, is nearby. We depart
later this evening for Skagway.
Day 5: Skagway
We arrive in Skagway this morning
for a full day of Alaskan
experiences. This "Gateway to the
Klondike" watched as countless
fortune-seekers passed on its
streets as they headed to the
Chilkoot and White Pass Trails
during the heyday of Alaska's Gold
Rush. Today, you can still feel like
a prospector in Skagway, as you walk
along its rustic boardwalks and
frontier-style storefronts. With
only 750 residents, this cozy town
lies at the head of the Lynn Canal
and offers a pleasant respite from
the hustle and bustle of most
cities. We will return to the ship
in early evening to continue our
cruise, voyaging on the Lynn Canal,
which affords breathtaking views of
the mountainous landscape.
Day 6: Icy Straight Point/Glacier
Bay National Park
Icy Strait Point is located near the
city of Hoonah, the largest native
Tlingit Indian settlement in Alaska,
and very near Glacier Bay National
Park. Home to a historic cannery,
the port's connection to the sea is
strong. Locals share the sea with
humpback whales, orcas, Dall
porpoises, seals, sea otters,
halibut and all five species of
Pacific salmon. It is not uncommon
to spot a humpback or an orca while
walking along the shore.
Day 7: Hubbard Glacier (cruising)
The longest river of ice in North
America, the Hubbard Glacier is also
one of the most active glaciers of
its kind in Alaska. And since our
ships are designed to provide our
guests with the best viewing
possible, you'll be able to see this
massive natural wonder, with its
1,350 square miles of blue ice, from
just about anywhere on the ship.
Day 8: Seward/Anchorage
We arrive early this morning,
disembark and transfer to the
Anchorage airport for our flight
home.
