Cruise
Rates & Dates
Length: 8 Days
Prices: From $4,199 pp
2010 Departures:
May 19, 26
Jun 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
Jul 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28
Aug 1, 4, 8, 11, 18, 25
Ships: Spirit of Yorktown Spirit of Endeavor
Notes: The cost of your cruise includes $464 per person which covers taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services. On board gratuities are neither required nor expected.
Day 1 - ARRIVE IN KETCHIKAN AND SET SAIL
- Meet your traveling companions at our hospitality area in the lobby of the hotel. If you have time visit the Southeast Alaska Discovery Museum. A representative from your ship will welcome you at the hospitality area and explain boarding procedures. A motorcoach will transfer you to your ship to begin your cruising adventure in the afternoon. D
-
Day 2 - MISTY FIORDS NATIONAL MONUMENT AND METLAKATLA
- All the important geological and ecological characteristics of Southeast Alaska are found within the 2.3 million acres of Misty Fiords National Monument. Steep-sided mountains become even more magical shrouded in mist. Mountain goats graze on new grasses. Black and brown bears forage on the bounty of the intertidal zone as they fatten up for their dormant phase of winter. Harbor seals frolic near the estuaries. Seagulls and pigeon guillemots find the perfect nesting sites along glacier-carved granite walls in this tranquil, temperate rainforest. We cruise into the United States largest national forest. At 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is the size of West Virginia and covers 80 percent of Southeast Alaska. We’ll cruise past the southernmost islands of the Alexander Archipelago, the 1,000 islands that comprise Southeastern Alaska.
We’ll have the unique opportunity to visit Metlakatla on Annette Island. In a quest for religious freedom, Father William Duncan and a group of Tsimshian Indians moved 100 miles north of Metlakatla, British Columbia to Annette Island, the site of present day Metlakatla. In 1891, the United States government set aside Annette Island for the exclusive use of the Tsimshian Indians and other Alaska Natives and it is now the only such reservation in Alaska. Tour this community and meet residents, including local artisans. Be honored by a traditional dance performance in traditional Tsimshian regalia in their tribal long house. BLD -
Day 3 - PETERSBURG
- Arrive in picturesque Petersburg at the northern tip of Mitkof Island and disembark for your shore excursions and adventures in Alaska’s “Little Norway,” with a population of about 3,000. Begin with an included celebration at the Sons of Norway Hall, close to where the vessel moors. The Leikarring Dancers perform traditional Norwegian dances in colorful and authentic dress of bright blues accentuated by red, white and yellow embroidered flowers. You will also be treated to an introduction to the community and sample some homemade Norwegian pastries. Explore this tiny seaside fishing community surrounded by 10,000-foot snowcapped mountain peaks jutting from the sea. BLD
-
Day 4 - FREDERICK SOUND AND TRACY ARM
- Travel through Holkham Bay, the mouth of 2 spectacular, glacier-fed fjords. Crossing the bar, look for signs of the strong currents tugging at the red and green navigational markers and for the many birds that feed on the rich nutrients stirred by these currents. Travel up Tracy Arm, a glacially carved fjord filled with deep, emerald-green seawater, bordered by steep cliffs. The fjord twists and turns for 25 miles. We’ll come as close as safely possible to the face of a glacier and hope for a show of thundering ice splashing seawater hundreds of feet high. Arctic terns may buzz close to the bow, their shrill call warning us to stay away from their nests.
We’ll exit Holkham Bay and enter Frederick Sound, the body of water that hosts a world-renowned humpback whale population. Nutrient-rich waters compel large numbers of humpbacks to return from Hawaii every summer to feed and frolic in this region. Look for these magnificent creatures as well as Steller’s sea lions and harbor seals. BLD
-
Day 5 - SITKA
- On the way to Sitka cruise through a zigzag of beautiful, narrow passageways between Baranof and Chichagof Islands to Sitka, the oldest non-Native settlement in Southeast Alaska. Along the way there is an excellent opportunity to view bald eagles and Sitka black-tailed deer along the shorelines. Also look for sea otters feeding on sea urchins and floating close to protective kelp beds. Sitka is nestled on the shores of Sitka Sound, on the west coast of Baranof Island, protected from the Pacific by lush, forested islands and Mt. Edgecumbe, the “Mount Fuji of the West.” Enjoy a wonderful walk through the Sitka National Historical Park, whose forested beachside trail is lined with a number of finely carved totems. Various optional shore excursions are available in this small coastal community that was once called “The Paris of the Pacific.” BLD
-
Day 6 - GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE
- Entering the park in the early morning we’ll pick up a Glacier Bay Park Ranger and a local Tlingit Cultural Interpreter in Bartlett Cove. They will provide a comprehensive day of narrative sightseeing. Over 65 miles of pristine terrain and habitat have been revealed in Glacier Bay since its giant rivers of ice began dramatically retreating 200 years ago. Approach Marble Islands and hurry outside to encounter a teeming multitude of seabirds like black-legged kittiwakes, murrelets and puffins, all swooping and swarming above the writhing, barking haul-out of Steller’s sea lions. We may encounter mountain goats on Gloomy Knob or watch brown and black bears foraging along the shoreline. Look for sea otters and the humpback whales that call Glacier Bay their summer home. BLD
-
Day 7 - SKAGWAY AND HAINES
- Cruise the deep and mysterious emerald-green waters of Lynn Canal, bordered by tall, rugged, snowcapped mountain peaks. Disembark in Skagway, the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Your included tour is a drive and overview in a unique touring car. Tour guides dress in period costumes and are well versed in the raucous stories of this frontier settlement. Wooden sidewalks border historic buildings erected when this boomtown was jammed with thousands of folks lured by gold fever, all eager to ascend the foreboding and treacherous mountain trails to find the elusive mother-lode of gold.
With its strategic location along the Chilkat Trail, the area around Haines has thrived for hundreds of years as an important and integral trade center for the Chilkat band of Tlingit natives, famous for the intricately designed blankets woven with the hair of mountain goats. Haines is also renowned as home to the world’s largest autumnal congregation of bald eagles, with the Chilkat Bald Eagle Reserve located 18 miles from the town. BLD
-
Day 8 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAU
- Alaska’s capital city is in the northern heart of the United States’ largest National Forest. Juneau is the only state capital that is inaccessible by roadways. Even though it is located on the mainland, the surrounding imposing mountains and massive icefield create a community accessible only by air or water. And it takes only minutes to cruise along Gastineau Channel into the wilderness.
Transfer to the hotel. Explore the capital city of the great state of Alaska. A vast array of optional activities includes flightseeing, hiking, and glacier viewing. B
-
Day 9 - DEPART FROM JUNEAU
- Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
+ Denali
Rates & Dates
Length: 14 Days
Starting from: $7,199 pp
2010 Departures:
May 19, 26, 13, 20, 27, 31
Jun 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28
Jul 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
Aug 1, 4, 8, 11, 18, 25, 2, 5, 12, 19
Ships: Spirit of Yorktown Spirit of Endeavor
Notes: The cost of your cruise includes $564 per person which cover taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services for double-occupancy cabins and $599 for single-occupancy cabins. Onboard gratuities are neither required nor expected.
CRUISE + DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE
Day 1 - ARRIVE IN KETCHIKAN AND SET SAIL
- Transfer to your ship to begin your cruising adventure. Because of flight arrival times an add-on hotel night in Ketchikan before your cruise is strongly advised. Check with your Travel Professional or your airlines.
D
Day 2 - MISTY FIORDS NATIONAL MONUMENT AND METLAKATLA
- Visit magical Misty Fiords National Monument boasting sheer cliffs, narrow waterways, and awe-inspiring stillness. Make an exclusive port call at Metlakatla on Annette Island, Alaska’s sole Tsimshian community. BLD
Day 3 - PETERSBURG
- Enjoy a warm welcome at the fishing village of Petersburg, a true cannery town. The Leikarring Dancers perform for you in the Sons of Norway Hall. Explore wilderness waterways around Petersburg, like the iceberg-filled Thomas Bay. BLD
Day 4 - FREDERICK SOUND AND TRACY ARM
- Humpback whales abound in Frederick Sound. Cruise under Tracy Arm’s sheer 1,500-foot vertical cliffs toward the twin Sawyer Glaciers. BLD
Day 5 - SITKA
- Only small ships can negotiate Peril Strait and Sergius Narrows, the “inside” route to Sitka on Baranof Island. A guided walk through Sitka’s National Historic Park reveals towering totems keeping watch over the forest. You may see playful otters, Sitka black-tailed deer, and eagles. BLD
Day 6 - GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE
- First established as a National Monument by presidential proclamation in 1925, Glacier Bay has since enjoyed the honored and highly protected status of National Park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Glide through this wonderland approaching up-close to the “rivers of ice.” A National Park Service Ranger will be onboard helping you spot the abundant wildlife such as mountain goats, whales, and brown and black bears. BLD
Day 7 - SKAGWAY AND HAINES
- Relive the Gold Rush in the picture-perfect setting of Skagway, the starting place for many early gold seekers. Just down mountain-lined Lynn Canal visit Haines, famed for attracting artists , its bald eagle population and for its picturesque beauty. BLD
Day 8 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAU
- Spend the day exploring Alaska's capital city, inaccessible by road. Overnight at the Goldbelt Hotel near the waterfront. B
Day 9 - FLY TO ANCHORAGE
- Transfer to the Juneau Airport for your included flight to Anchorage and transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. Enjoy an Anchorage City Orientation and time to explore the Anchorage Museum. Dinner will be enjoyed at the Sheraton Hotel or your choice of one of our selected Anchorage restaurants. D
Day 10 - ANCHORAGE TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK VIA MOTORCOACH AND RAIL
- Your Tour Director will accompany you to Denali National Park and then on to Fairbanks. Board a motorcoach to travel through scenic wilderness areas paralleling the Susitna River and the Talkeetna Mountains. In Talkeetna, board a deluxe domed railcar to continue your journey. Take in the sweeping views as you cross Hurricane Gulch and Broad Pass. Upon arrival in Denali hear an exclusive presentation on Sub-Arctic Climate from the Denali Education Center. Enjoy dinner at your choice of several Denali locations and overnight at a Denali Hotel. BD
Day 11 - DENALI NATIONAL PARK EXPLORATION
- Denali National Park’s wild landscape is the natural habitat of bears, Dall’s sheep, moose, and a variety of other animals. Catch the elusive views of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. After breakfast at your Denali Hotel, tour Denali Park on one of three tour options you chose at the time of booking your cruise. The Denali Natural History Tour is a 4-5 hour tour that travels 20 miles into the park and leaves time for other optional tours later. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a 6-8 hour trip 55 miles into the park that leaves limited time for optional tours later. The Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour is a 12-13 hour, 90-mile trek into the park that does not allow enough time for any additional optional tours. Optional adventures include flightseeing, whitewater rafting, float trips, and more. Overnight at your Denali Hotel. B
Day 12 - DENALI NATIONAL PARK TO FAIRBANKS
- Breakfast at your Denali Hotel before boarding a motorcoach to Fairbanks, Alaska's second largest city. Sightseeing features a delightful riverboat excursion on the Chena and Tanana Rivers, a tour of the city, admission to the new University of Alaska Museum of the North and a farewell dinner at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge. Overnight at a Fairbanks Hotel. BLD
Day 13 - FAIRBANKS
- Transfer to the Fairbanks Airport for your flight home.
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
+Denali +North Face Lodge
Rates & Dates
Length: 15 Days
Prices: From $8,449 pp
2010 Departures:
May 19, 26, 13, 20, 27, 31
Jun 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30
Jul 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31
Aug 1, 4, 8, 11, 18, 25, 2, 5, 12, 19, 4, 11, 18
Ships: Spirit of Yorktown Spirit of 98 Spirit of Endeavor
Notes: The cost of your cruise includes $634 per person which covers taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services. On board gratuities are neither required nor expected.
CRUISE + DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE + PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
Day 1 - ARRIVE IN KETCHIKAN AND SET SAIL
- Transfer to your ship to begin your cruising adventure. D
Day 2 - MISTY FIORDS NATIONAL MONUMENT AND METLAKATLA
- Visit magical Misty Fiords National Monument boasting sheer cliffs, narrow waterways, and awe-inspiring stillness. Make a port call at Metlakatla on Annette Island, Alaska’s sole Tsimshian community. BLD
Day 3 - PETERSBURG
- Enjoy a warm welcome at the fishing village of Petersburg, a true cannery town. The Leikarring Dancers perform for you in the Sons of Norway Hall. Explore wilderness waterways around Petersburg, like the iceberg-filled Thomas Bay. BLD
Day 4 - FREDERICK SOUND AND TRACY ARM FJORD
- Humpback whales abound in Frederick Sound. Cruise under Tracy Arm’s sheer 1,500-foot vertical cliffs toward the twin Sawyer Glaciers. BLD
Day 5 - SITKA
- Only small ships can negotiate Peril Strait and Sergius Narrows, the “inside” route to Sitka on Baranof Island. A walk through Sitka’s National Historic Park reveals towering totems keeping watch over the temperate rainforest. You may see playful otters, Sitka black-tailed deer, and bald eagles. BLD
Day 6 - GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE
- First established as a National Monument by presidential proclamation in 1925, Glacier Bay has since enjoyed the honored and highly protected status of National Park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Glide through this wonderland approaching up-close to the “rivers of ice.” A National Park Service Ranger will be onboard helping you spot the abundant wildlife such as mountain goats, whales, and brown and black bears. BLD
Day 7 - SKAGWAY AND HAINES
- Relive the Gold Rush in the picture-perfect setting of Skagway, the starting place for many early gold seekers. Just down mountain-lined Lynn Canal visit Haines, famed for attracting artists and for its picturesque beauty. BLD
Day 8 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAU
- The day is yours to venture and see the sights of Juneau. Overnight at a downtown Juneau hotel. B
Day 9 - FLY TO ANCHORAGE, TRANSFER TO WHITTIER, SET SAIL
- Transfer to the airport for your included flight to Anchorage. Board your motorcoach. Travel along scenic Turnagain Arm. Pass through tunnels under the Chugach Mountains to the port of Whittier. Board the Spirit of Columbia for Prince William Sound exploration. D
Day 10 - COLLEGE FJORD
- Come face-to-face with active glaciers calving into the tidal waters. Watch for seals on the ice. Explore up-close through Esther Passage. BLD
Day 11 - CHENEGA GLACIER/KNIGHT ISLAND
- Far from civilization, explore wilderness waterways and forested islands. Watch for sea otters, orcas, and seabirds along the shoreline of Knight Island where large ships can’t navigate this maritime maze. BLD
Day 12 - RETURN TO ANCHORAGE VIA MOTORCOACH
- Breakfast onboard the Spirit of Columbia. Disembark in Whittier and transfer to Anchorage by motorcoach. Sightseeing includes a tour of the city, and the Anchorage Museum. Enjoy dinner at your choice from four of Anchorage's fine restaurants or at the Sheraton. Overnight at the Sheraton Hotel. BD
Day 13 - ANCHORAGE TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK VIA MOTORCOACH AND RAIL
- Breakfast at the Sheraton Hotel before boarding your motorcoach to Talkeetna. At Talkeetna board a deluxe railcar to Denali. Your Tour Director accompanies your travel by motorcoach and domed railcar to Denali National Park. Hear a presentation on Sub-Arctic Climate by the Denali Education Center and enjoy a Denali Dine Around dinner at your choice of Denali hotels. Overnight at a Denali hotel. BD
Day 14 - DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE EXPLORATION
- Breakfast at your Denali Hotel. Take a tour into Denali National Park from a choice of three tours, one of which you chose at the time you booked your cruise. The Denali Natural History Tour is a 4-5 hour tour that travels 20 miles into the park and leaves time for other optional tours later. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a 6-8 hour trip 55 miles into the park that leaves limited time for optional tours later. The Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour is a 12-13 hour, 90-mile trek into the park that does not allow enough time for any additional optional tours. Overnight at your Denali Hotel. B
Day 15 - DENALI NATIONAL PARK TO FAIRBANKS VIA MOTORCOACH
- Breakfast at your Denali Hotel before boarding a motorcoach to Fairbanks. Step back in time with a riverboat excursion, take a tour of the city including admission to the University of Alaska's Museum of the North. Enjoy your farewell dinner at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge and overnight at your Fairbanks Hotel. BLD
Day 16 - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT FOR YOUR TRIP HOME
-
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
+Denali +Kantisha Roadhouse
Rates & Dates
Length: 15 Days
Prices: From $7,949
2010 Departures:
May 19, 26, 13, 20, 27, 31
Jun 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
Jul 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28
Aug 1, 4, 8, 11, 18, 25, 2, 5, 12, 19, 4, 11, 18, 1, 4, 11, 18
Ships: Spirit of Yorktown Spirit of Endeavor
Notes: The cost of your cruise includes $634 per person which covers taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services. On board gratuities are neither required nor expected.
CRUISE + DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE (SPIRIT OF ENDEAVOUR, CAMP DENALI)
Day 1 - ARRIVE IN FAIRBANKS
- Transfer from the airport to Pike’s Waterfront Lodge on the banks of the Chena River for a wine and cheese reception.
Day 2 - RIVERBOAT CRUISE
- Our excursion on the Chena and Tanana Rivers mirrors the original river route of access to the Fairbanks Gold Rush a century ago. Along the riverbanks, original log cabins intersperse with elegant waterfront homes, some of which have floatplanes tethered in front. Stay overnight at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge. An optional activity is a flight above the Arctic Circle, barely 125 miles away. BLD
Day 3 - FAIRBANKS TO DENALI PARK VIA RAIL
- Board a deluxe domed railcar bound for Denali National Park. Breakfast is included onboard. Enjoy sweeping views on all sides as you approach the Alaska Range. Arriving at the train station embark on a six-hour bus tour that takes you deep into the heart of Denali National Park. Watch for moose, grizzly bears, and caribou as you travel through varied subarctic ecosystems. Stay at your choice of North Face Lodge or Camp Denali. Each is an intimate family-operated lodge in the heart of Denali National Park and provide unparalleled opportunity to view Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. You are surrounded by true wilderness and one of the greatest completely intact ecosystems in all of North America. BLD
Day 4 - DENALI PARK EXPLORATION
- Experience the Denali that most never will – three full nights within the expansive park boundary. You may hike the backcountry and observe wildlife with staff naturalist-guides who are trained on the Park’s flora, fauna, geology, and cultural heritage. All meals are included at either lodge as you dine family-style in relaxed comfort with your companions. BLD
Day 5 - DENALI PARK EXPLORTION
- A second day at Denali Park. BLD
Day 6 - DENALI PARK TO ANCHORAGE VIA RAIL
- Enjoy your final panoramas of Denali Park as you transfer to the rail station. Board a deluxe domed railcar to travel south to Anchorage and overnight at the Sheraton Hotel. Ask about optional bush planes out. B
Day 7 - ANCHORAGE AND ALYESKA
- Here is one of the most scenic drives in North America. You travel by motorcoach down lovely Turnagain Arm. Continue to Alyeska Resort, where lunch is included high on a mountaintop accessed by an aerial tram. Dinner is also included at the Sheraton Hotel. BLD
Day 8 - FLY TO JUNEAU
- Transfer to the airport to fly to Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. You will transfer on arrival to the Goldbelt Hotel on the waterfront. Numerous options may be available, from kayaking tours to helicopter and floatplane flightseeing. B
Day 9 - EMBARK ON YOUR CRUISE
- D
Day 10 - SKAGWAY AND HAINES
- Historic Skagway at the northern tip of Lynn Canal was the route to the Yukon for the Klondike Gold Stampeders. Just down the fjord, visit breathtaking Haines, known for its bald eagle population. BLD
Day 11 - UP-CLOSE GLACIER BAY CRUISING
- A Park Service Ranger joins you onboard to help you spot puffins and murres, mountain goats, and bears in this beautiful setting. BLD
Day 12 - SITKA
- Sitka is a treasure house of art and history. Admire the evocative totem poles of Sitka National Historic Park. BLD
Day 13 - TRACY ARM AND FREDERICK SOUND
- Tracy Arm’s winding, cliff-lined channel leads to two spectacular glaciers. Use your binoculars to watch for humpbacks in the deep waters of Frederick Sound. BLD
Day 14 - PETERSBURG
- Cruise through rarely visited LeConte Bay or other wilderness fjords near Petersburg. Visit the Norwegian fishing village of Petersburg, and see the Leikarring Dancers. BLD
Day 15 - METLAKATLA, MISTY FIORDS
- This Tsimshian community welcomes you with a dance at the tribal long house. A Forest Service Kayak Ranger joins you onboard as you explore Misty Fiords National Monument, and venture deep into Rudyerd Bay. BLD
Day 16 - ARRIVE IN KETCHIKAN
- Transfer to the airport to return home with lifetime memories. B
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
