Alaska & The Canadian Inside Passage

Arrive independently to the vibrant Canadian city of Vancouver and make your way to your included hotel for an overnight stay. The rest of the day is at your leisure and will offer you some time to explore the surroundings where scenic parks, harbours and a bustling restaurant and nightlife scene will be sure to impress. A hospitality desk will be available in the hotel reception should you need any advice on your upcoming voyage, or tips on places to visit, trips to take or places to dine.

The following morning you will have the opportunity to join an optional excursion which offers a guided coach tour of Canada’s third largest city, including famous areas and landmarks such as Robson Street, Stanley Park and China Town. This excursion is optional and costs may apply. Alternatively you can spend some free time exploring the city at your own pace.

Later you will join your ground transfer to the port to board your first-class expedition ship and set sail for an unforgettable adventure.

Today will be spent relaxing at sea as your ship makes its way towards the Canadian Inside Passage. Spend some time on deck looking for seabirds and marine mammals, relax with a cocktail in the bar with your new shipmates, indulge in a lie-in with breakfast in bed, gather in the Compass Lounge for snacks and games, or savour delicious meals in one of the fantastic onboard restaurants.

Today we begin our sail through one of the world’s most beautiful cruising routes, an incredible stretch of coastline buffered by a thousand-mile chain of islands that create spectacular scenery and play host to a rich marine environment. As we calmly traverse the British Columbia portion of the route, you will want to be on deck or on your balcony as we search for sightings of humpback, fin and killer whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions and all five species of salmon. Your onboard team of naturalists will also be keeping a close eye out for sightings of coastal brown bears, black bears and the elusive spirit or Kermode bears, and as we enter the Johnstone Strait our focus will turn to sightings of the orcas which are often spotted in this stretch.

Sailing through the narrow, protected waters of the Discovery Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland, as well as a short stretch along the wider and more exposed Hecate Strait near Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, we will pass remote waterfalls, abandoned fishing villages, iconic white and red Canadian lighthouses and verdant shorelines filled with cedar trees, creating an atmospheric and truly enjoyable sail.

Today’s adventures will see us reach southern Alaska and our first stop will take us to beautiful Ketchikan, Alaska’s “first city”. After disembarking at Ward Cove, a historic timber mill that has recently been repurposed as Ketchikan’s newest and most unique cruise ship dock, you can board a shuttle bus to enjoy a tour of the city, with guided stops including the historic totem village of Saxman and the quaint downtown boardwalk section of Creek Street. Here you can enjoy a special crab brunch feast where you can indulge in fresh and native Dungeness crab, cheeses, fresh fruits, smoked salmon dips and delicious mimosas.

Today you will see another of the benefits of sailing upon such an innovate and ground-breaking ship as we make our way towards the Tongass National Forest to visit the Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, a journey that upon many other cruise vessels would require a 4 hour round-trip small boat transfer. Upon the Ocean Victory, we can head straight there! The largest wilderness area of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a place of spectacular beauty, with ancient glaciers and soaring granite cliffs that are around 50 to 70 million years old. As we explore around this scenic geological wonder, enjoying guided Zodiac excursions and kayaking, we will see the iconic New Eddystone Rock, glistening waterfalls and the glacier-sculpted granite fjords of Rudyerd Bay. We will also be on the lookout for sightings of the bears, orcas, humpback whales, harbour seals and seabirds that frequent this area.

Your next stop will bring you to the picturesque city of Wrangell where you will be warmly welcomed by the locals whose ancestors have lived on this island for thousands of years. Upon arrival here you can enjoy an included tour to learn about the island’s history and how the Tlingit culture continues to thrive here. You will be invited to visit the Chief Shakes Tribal House, make a stop at the Wrangell Museum and uncover the mysteries of the 8,000-year-old site of Petroglyph Beach where you can scour the sands for ancient rock carvings.

A number of other excursions will be available today including a jetboat on the Stikine River through the Tongass National Rainforest to Shakes Glacier, a nature walking tour through the trails of the Tongass in search of brown bears and eagles, and a trek through the rainforest. You could also take a “moderately difficult” hike to the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory, or take a jet boat ride to LeConte Bay, known for its bright blue icebergs, and abundant wildlife.

We now enter the Chatham Strait, a narrow passage of the Alexander Archipelago that extends southward from the junction of Icy Strait and Lynn Canal to the open sea. As we sail surrounded by wildly beautiful and remote wilderness areas, you will be on the search for sightings of the humpback whales that are often abundant in these waters. We hope to cruise along the eastern coast of Baranof Island, often known as “Waterfall Coast” due to the large number of waterfalls cascading down from the high mountain peaks, and along he remote shoreline of Kuiu Island to search for sightings of otters and black bears.

Whether you’re observing from deck, or traversing the shores in a kayak or Zodiac boat, your expert expedition team will always be on hand to offer insight into the area and its iconic wildlife including bald eagles, moose mink, deer, bears and river and sea otters.

Next up is the shallow, protected harbour of Petersburg, an Alaskan village that is home to around 3,100 people and Alaska’s largest home-based halibut fleet. Here you will be welcome guests and can enjoy a privileged full day tour to discover the village’s authentic wonders and learn all about the way of life here.

Often considered the most majestic of the Alaskan fjords, your exploration of Tracy Fjord today is likely to be one of the highlights of your trip. Lying approximately 45 miles south of Juneau, you can explore this stunning natural wonder via Zodiac or kayak in the company of your team of expert marine biologists. Witness one-of-kind, 1,000-foot waterfalls, marine and terrestrial wildlife, snow-topped mountains, and floating glaciers as you discover this breathtaking area.

Your final full day of adventure will take you to the remote Tlingit village of Kake and Frederick Sound where you will discover an authentic and historic side of Alaska. Your day will begin with an onboard presentation by a local cultural ambassador who will help orient you to the Tlingit cultural traditions. You will then receive a warm welcome ashore where you will discover the carved structures and totem poles, each representing a piece of Alaskan history and culture.

You will then make your way to the Community Hall for some enjoyable cultural demonstrations and the chance to learn about the way of life here for those indigenous to the Kake and Frederick Sound area and to meet some of the local clan leaders to hear their stories. Today will offer the perfect conclusion to your Alaska cruise and leave lasting memories of your time this far north.

Your Alaska cruise will conclude in the scenic city of Sitka, where upon disembarkation you can choose to take an optional post-cruise excursion or join your transfer to the airport for your journey homewards or onwards.