Cruise Alaska: Anchorage – Vancouver

Day 1 & 2 Saturday, July 4 - Sunday, July 5

Day 3 Monday, July 6

Today we travel to Whittier! About 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, the tiny community of Whittier, AK, serves as a gateway to Prince William Sound. Established as a World War II port, the town now draws hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, despite only having a resident population of around 200, most of whom reside in a single building. Stop by the Prince William Sound Museum to learn about Whittier’s history as a rail terminal and military port. Most other attractions here revolve around the deepwater sound, set against the majestic Chugach Mountains and home to a variety of wildlife and breathtaking glaciers. A catamaran cruise presents a scenic way to search for bald eagles, orcas, otters, seals and more.

ALL ABOARD the Norwegian JADE! Explore some of the most popular destinations in the world aboard Norwegian Jade. Take your taste buds on a culinary world tour with a wide variety of international restaurants, including Jasmine Garden, Le Bistro French Restaurant and Cagney’s Steakhouse. The ship offers many bars and lounges, and the theater rounds out the nightlife with larger than life entertainment. If you want a day of being pampered, your moment of zen awaits at the Mandara Spa, which features a full array of exotic treatments. Other amenities include a fitness center, a jogging track, a casino, an internet café, a card room, sports courts, a library, a chapel, a video arcade and much more.

Day 4 Tuesday, July 7

Cruise Hubbard Glacier While most of the world’s glaciers are receding, North America’s largest tidewater glacier is advancing. At 76 miles long and 7 miles wide, Hubbard Glacier presents a majestic sight for passengers cruising across Yakutat Bay on the Alaskan panhandle. One of the behemoth’s most impressive stunts is the same reason ships must keep a safe distance from the spot where it occupies Disenchantment Bay: The glacier calves frequently, meaning that large chunks of ice break off from its face and plunge into the water below, creating icebergs. In addition to witnessing this spectacle of nature, you can catch glimpses of the area’s wildlife, including harbor seals, orcas and humpback whales.

Day 5 Wednesday, July 8

Icy Strait Point. Housed in a refurbished salmon cannery, Icy Strait Point serves as headquarters for a variety of tours and activities. Perched on Chicagof Island, the cruise port is just outside Hoonah, home of Alaska’s largest Tlingit community. Tours explore the fishing village’s past through the likes of outings in traditional handcarved dugout canoes, and Icy Strait Point has a zipline, adventure center, cannery museum and shops selling native merchandise. The ABC Islands, which include nearby Admiralty and Baranof islands plus Chicagof, boast a high density of brown bears with an estimated 4,200 grizzlies (about one per square mile), so wildlife watching excursions are popular. Lucky tour-goers might even catch a bear swimming the smaller channels between islands. Orcas and humpback whales also are often spotted, along with otters and porpoises. The Icy Strait Point experience combines authentic regional culture with incredible natural beauty. Enjoy Tlingit dancing and art. Or get closer than you’d ever imagine to humpback whales and brown bears in the wild. Work up a wilderness hunger and satisfy it with fresh Dungeness crab. Take a cruise from Icy Strait Point and enjoy Alaska’s scenery and the many excursion options that Norwegian Cruise Line has to offer.

Day 6 Thursday, July 9

Juneau. Accessible only by air or sea, Alaska’s capital city entices travelers with its beauty, tranquility and outdoor activities. The Mendenhall Glacier, the jewel of the Juneau Icefield, can be discovered on scenic drives, hikes and boat rides, Juneau has been called “Alaska’s peak experience,” certainly due in part to its unparalleled glacier viewing from such places as Tracy Arm Fjord, the Juneau Icefields and Glacier Bay National Park. Kayak up one of the area’s many protected waterways, go flightseeing, tour historic downtown or try your hand at panning for gold. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier lies nearly 12 miles outside Juneau, a treck worthwhile. Juneau’s waters are a hot spot for humpback whales, and daily cruises afford the opportunity to witness these majestic creatures-a truly unforgettable experience. Brush up on local history with a visit to the Alaska State Museum, and cap off the day’s adventures with a sampling of freshly caught salmon and locally sourced beer.

Day 7 Friday, July 10

Skagway. In a single year from 1896 to 1897, this remote town along the Inside Passage grew from a few tents to a city of 20,000 gold seekers. Today, travellers come in search of other riches – to experience yesteryear along Skagway’s charming boardwalk lined with buildings that replicate those Gold Rush days. Though it’s small in terms of population, Skagway is plenty big when it comes to adventure. Sail among waterfalls and wildlife on Lynn Canal, one of the longest, deepest fjords in North America, or take a helicopter tour over glaciers before trying your hand at dog sledding. A kayaking expedition down the Inside Passage will have you paddling past seals, sea lions, porpoises and possibly humpback whales. Hikers can trek the Chilkoot Trail, the primary route prospectors followed in Alaska’s 19th-century gold rush, while photographers will marvel at the jaw-dropping photo ops from atop White Pass summit, which is accessible via railway or a picturesque drive on the Klondike Highway. Amid the scenery and stillness of Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, keep your eyes peeled for the rare and endangered birds during a river float.

Day 8 Saturday, July 11

Ketchikan. Its Tlingit Indian name, Kach Khanna, means “spread wings of the eagle.” Chances are you’ll see one of these magnificent birds perched atop a Sitka tree. Thanks to its abundant rainfall, Ketchikan is surrounded by some of the world’s most lush wilderness. With its boat-filled harbor and colorful waterfront, Ketchikan welcomes visitors to southeastern Alaska’s Inside Passage. Fishing opportunities abound in the self-proclaimed salmon capital of the world, and bear viewing spots often find the creatures munching on their catch of the day. The Totem Heritage Center displays 33 19th-century totem poles, making it the largest collection in the U.S. Expeditions to the country’s largest national forest, Tongass, explore its 16.7 million acres by Jeep, canoe or on foot, while floatplane tours provide a bird’s-eye view of Misty Fjords National Monument. Other outings explore the town’s past as a Native American settlement and gold rush hub or take to the water with kayaks or paddleboards for encounters with harbor seals and the occasional humpback or killer whale.

Day 9 Sunday, July 12

Many Alaska cruise itineraries sail the waterways of the Inside Passage, which stretches from Washington’s Puget Sound up through Southeast Alaska’s panhandle. As ships glide across the reliably smooth waters, passengers have plenty of opportunity to absorb the transforming terrain and abundant wildlife that Alaska has to offer. Scenic views comprise an ever-changing landscape of charming coastal towns, towering forest walls and imperious glaciers. Be sure to search the sky for bald eagles and watch the water for signs of sea lions, otters and whales.

Day 10 Monday, July 13

Vancouver. Positioned between the snow-dusted North Shore Mountains and the rich, blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver blends big-city sophistication with small-town charm. Don’t miss Queen Elizabeth Park – a 130-acre civic arboretum accented with sculptures by modern artist Henry Moore.

Day 11 Tuesday, July 14

Flights home! Depart Vancouver and fly to Toronto where our coach awaits to return us home!