Itinerary

Upon arrival in Juneau, transfer to your hotel and settle in to one of the USA’s most unique state capitals.

Today, explore the intriguing sights and sounds of the city. Highlights include historical buildings downtown such as the Alaska State Museum, the State Capitol and Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. Take the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway 500 metres above the city for the best views of the surrounding Chilkat Mountains, or explore Tongass National Forest on a hike. If you are keen to kick off your wildlife-watching early, there are large populations of black and brown bears in the surrounding hills, while there are also regular whale-watching tours from the city.

Transfer to the ship – the Wilderness Discoverer or Wilderness Adventurer. Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne or soft drink and settle into your cabin as you set sail through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Enjoy wonderful views of the landscape from the observation deck, relax on the sun deck and soak in the hot tub, then enjoy some delicious local specialities for dinner.

Wake up to your first full day of exploration in Alaska. Start with some on-deck yoga and a good breakfast before taking your pick from the range of activities available.

You can go kayaking in some of inlets and fjords of Icy Strait, through giant bullwhip kelp that can grow to over 100 feet long. Take a skiff (rowing boat) to a rocky outcrop to watch sea lions, or embark on a forest hike with naturalist guides who provide detailed background on Alaska’s wildlife, eco-system and geology.

Back onboard, relax in the lounge and on the sundeck, and if conditions are right, settle down to some star-gazing after dinner

Spend two unforgettable days exploring Glacier Bay National Park, an incredible wilderness of mountains, glaciers, temperate rainforest and deep sheltered fjords.

Even though the park covers 3.3 million acres, most visitors only see a tiny section, but on this holiday you get to explore areas deeper in the park that are inaccessible to most cruises. The park has more than 1,000 glaciers, including famous tidewater glaciers such as Margerie and Lamplugh that flow from the mountains to the ocean.

After visiting the Lodge at Bartlett Cove, hike the glacier field which winds down the Fairweather Mountain Range. Kayak in the bay and watch out for sea lions, puffins and humpback whales. Get up close to tidewater glaciers that calve icebergs into the sea. If you’re feeling energetic, tackle the hike up the ridge of Lamplugh Glacier for spectacular views. The waters are inhabited by humpback whales, orcas, porpoises, Steller sea lions and otters, while on land you may spot black and brown bears.

Today you will leave Glacier Bay and head south, meandering through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Alaska has the largest concentration of brown bears in the world (larger and less aggressive than grizzlies). Explore inlets by kayak or skiff and look out for these amazing creatures prowling the shoreline, fishing and foraging. Step ashore and go hiking into the forest with your naturalist guide for more chances to see bears, as well as giant trees and tidal pools.

Continue south today to Frederick Sound, renowned for the humpback whales that inhabit its glacial waters in summer. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station and The Brothers Islands to watch sea lions lounging on the rocks. Go kayaking in Port Houghton or step ashore to explore Tongass National Forest, another prime location to see bears.

The penultimate day of your cruise is also one of its most spectacular. Head north to the glacial scenery of Tracy Arm, a 30-mile-long fjord in Tongass National Forest. Pass harbour seals and their pups lounging on icebergs, then embark on your skiff excursion beneath dramatic granite cliffs, crashing waterfalls and towering glaciers. A highlight is often seeing icebergs crashing into the sea from the immense Sawyer Glacier, while you may see more bears as well as mountain goats on the shoreline.

Finish your cruise in style with a Captain’s dinner, post-dinner cocktails and watch slides of the week’s highlights.

This morning, return to Juneau after breakfast as your cruise concludes. Either transfer to the airport to begin your journey home, or continue on to discover another fascinating region of North America.