Adventures in Anchorage

Experience the sights and sounds of Alaska’s capital

Anchorage is packed with places to explore and enjoy, from restaurants and galleries to sports venues and shops. If you can, it's worth extending your time here. Anchorage Museum and the Native Heritage Center give you a taste of local culture. If you enjoy the outdoors, why not visit the flowering Town Square Park or go salmon fishing in Ship Creek. Animal lovers will love our optional Pre-Program, which takes in the incredible Denali National Park. It's home to North America’s highest peak, and a first taste of the Alaskan wildlife you'll experience on your adventures.

Scenic road trip to Seward

Wild landscapes, ice fields and animal conservation

Our ride to Seward takes us through the Kenai Peninsula and some of the world’s most awe-inspiring back country scenery. Look out for the impressively-horned Dall sheep grazing on misty mountain slopes. On the way, we’ll stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to learn about their work rehabilitating orphaned or injured animals, from bears, bison and moose to eagles and owls. Our embarkation point, Seward, is the gateway to the vast, mountainous Kenai Fjords National Park, home to the largest ice fields in Alaska. A spectacular and fitting launch point for the adventures ahead.

Ivy League glaciers

Elemental nature and whimsical names

Your lecture today may well be related to glaciology. We visit College Fjord, which holds five tidewater glaciers, five valley glaciers and a dozen others. The 1899 Harriman Expedition team, which charted the fjord, named the glaciers after their alma maters, which include Vassar, Harvard and Yale. Princeton is missing, apparently a deliberate snub. We’ll get as close to the glaciers as we can, taking our small expedition boats on the fjord if possible, or in kayaks as an optional excursion. From the water, you might glimpse humpback whales, Bald Eagles, otters and sea lions that inhabit this icy wilderness.

Edge of the Copper River

Cordova's successful environmental recovery

Sitting in the Chugach National Forest and only accessible by boat or plane, remote Cordova has retained its tradition small-town authenticity, and its friendly residents will welcome you as you explore the salmon fishing town. You'll be in awe of its spectacular setting between Orca Inlet, Hawkins Island, Mount Eccles, Eyak Lake and the Copper River Delta.

In 1989, Cordova was probably best known for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Today, after major clean up efforts, its coastline has mostly recovered, and you'll be able to see wildlife like sea otters, eagles, tundra swans, beavers, moose and bears.

Tidal Glaciers

Wildlife watching in glacier-fed waters

You'll experience an amazing expedition day in Icy Bay today. Three glaciers—Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall—regularly calf into the bay. If conditions allow, the Expedition Team will take you ashore on the 34-mile-long, 8-mile-wide Guyot Glacier or you can explore in kayaks on an optional excursion.

Wildlife abounds in the Gulf of Alaska, offering unrivaled photography opportunities. Humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, sea otters and harbor seals lazing on floating chunks of ice, can be seen in these waters. Our onboard photographer is ready with expert tips on how to get the best from your camera.

William Henry Bay

Whale watching and wilderness exploration

In the afternoon, we’ll pass Point Adolphus on the northern tip of Chichagof Island, across from Glacier Bay National Park. These nutrient-rich waters are famous for attracting humpback whales and other marine life, so be sure to get out on deck and have your camera ready.

We'll visit William Henry Bay on our included excursion. Lying south of Haines, at the edge of the Chilkat mountain range, it's home to brown bears, black bears and moose. We’ll drop anchor here and explore the shores lined with old-growth forest under the guidance of an expert local guide.

Native art in Haines

Artist community in the 'Valley of the Eagles'

Haines was originally home to the Chilkat Tlingit people, renowned for their weaving skills. You’ll see examples of their intricate, beautiful work in the blankets on display in Haines Sheldon Museum. We’ll visit Fort Seward on an included excursion while we’re ashore, as well as the flourishing art scene in Haines itself. The galleries and workshops are filled with Totem carvings, silverwork and sculpture. Discover your own artistic side—try your photography skills on the incredible landscapes and wildlife. Look out for bears, moose, and the Bald Eagles for which this town is famous.

Holkham Bay fjords

Icebergs and wildlife in idyllic twin fjords

Holkham Bay has two arms—Tracy and Endicott—beautiful fjords that are out of reach for larger cruise ships. Your captain will decide which offers better exploration options on the day, but don't worry, both are equally special.

At the end of each fjord, fresh icebergs calve from the glaciers against a stunning backdrop of forested cliffs. Endicott Arm is a breeding ground for harbor seals, often seen on the floating ice. You might also see whales, bears, mountain goats and moose.

Get wildlife tips from our onboard photographer before we head out on expedition boats to get closer to these unique sights.

Sitka's blend of cultures

Stunning scenery and a unique mix of cultures

Surrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea and air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe Volcano.

Discover Sitka's fascinating history with our Expedition Team. Inhabited by the Tlingit for 10,000 years, it was occupied by Russia in 1804, before being sold to America after the Crimean War. Today, Sitka blends all three cultures.

Visit the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House. Sitka National Historic Park is a real highlight, where you'll see ornate Haida and Tlingit totem poles. Or enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.

Alaska's 'Little Norway'

Humpback whales and the Devil's Thumb

We continue to cruise north to Petersburg, perched at the edge of stunning Frederick Sound. Settled by a Norwegian in the 1800s—and fondly known as 'Little Norway'—its shallow, bustling harbor houses Alaska's largest home-based halibut fishing fleet. Our ships are small enough to enter, and our shared Norwegian heritage makes for a great talking point with the local community as we explore this charming town. Don't miss the views from the waterfront. You can watch icebergs float down the sound, look across to North America’s biggest rockface, the Devil’s Thumb, and in summer, the waters attract feeding humpback whales.

Wrangell's Petroglyphs

Visit one of Alaska’s oldest harbor towns

Our cruise of the Alaskan islands takes us to Wrangell. A mile out of town you’ll find the ancient rock carvings of Petroglyph Beach. Bring paper and take some stone rubbings as a unique souvenir. Learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past in the local museum. Now part of the US, it’s been governed by Britain, Russia and the Tlingit people. On Shakes Island, the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the Tlingit story. Your visit includes a trip on the waters in our small expedition boats. On land, hikers will enjoy the nature trails from Stikine River and Mount Dewey to the rainforest.

Beautiful Misty Fjords

Alaskan wilderness where wildlife thrives all around

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. Influential mountaineer John Muir described it as one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen. Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords on small expedition boats or take kayaks out for an optional excursion.

Look out for mountain goats, bears and moose. In the water, you'll find Pacific salmon, along with otters, sea lions, harbor seals, orcas and Dall porpoises. And look skywards for hummingbirds, herons and Bald Eagles.

Canada's Inside Passage

Up close to nature as we explore islands and channels

On our smaller expedition ships, you'll get an unrivaled intimate experience of the protected North American Pacific Fjordland. As we navigate the lesser-travelled channels, you’ll get close to the beautiful and fascinating scenery. Keep your binoculars close at hand. As always, there’s plenty to see and learn in the Science Center, with insightful lectures from your Expedition Team, and opportunities to swap memories of your adventures. This is also a great time to wind down, with a little pampering in the spa or sitting up on deck with your fellow explorers as the stunning scenery slips by.

First Nations encounter

Indigenous heritage and rich wildlife in Alert Bay

We arrive in Alert Bay, a scenic village on Cormorant Island, north of Vancouver Island. Here we'll have the opportunity to meet and learn from the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations community—to be welcomed by them is a real privilege. We’ll experience more at the U'mista Cultural Centre, where you'll see elaborate totem poles, paintings, carvings and ceremonial masks. You'll also see a dance performance. The island’s sheltered waters attract a huge array of wildlife—the Yellow-billed Loon, with its distinctive speckled back, is a particular highlight. We might even see orcas and humpback whales close to shore.

Vibrant Vancouver

Enjoy British Columbia’s largest city

Our expedition cruise ends in the beautiful city of Vancouver at the foot of the Rockies. Visit Gastown, the city's oldest neighborhood, and climb Vancouver Lookout for a citywide panorama overlooking neon-lit Granville Street, West End beaches and the towering cedars of Stanley Park. 

Vancouver has a flavor all its own—and so does its global cuisine. Dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy as you soak up the city's buzzing atmosphere.

While you're here, you might want to join our Post-Program to the beautiful mountain resort of Whistler. What better way to end your adventure.