Itinerary Highlights include stunning glaciers and endemic wildlife Glacier Bay National Park; Tlingit culture at Chief Shakes Clan House and Wrangell’s hand-carved totems; as well as included tours to Castle Hill, St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, and Sitka National Historic Park embrace Sitka’s Russian heritage
as well as visits to the Alaska Raptor Center, Fort William Seward, Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center uncover Alaskan heritage. Enjoy unhurried time for watching whales and wildlife as you cruise port-to-port through scenic waterways by replica turn-of-the-century coastal steamer.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Welcome aboard! Meet your crew and get acquainted with your new companions as you set sail northward through the Tongass National Forest on your Alaska small ship cruise.
Day 2: Wrangell
The only Alaskan town ever governed by four nations, Wrangell was established as a fur trading center by the Russians in the early 1800s. It later held a strategic location for Gold Rush prospectors and served as the launch point for pioneering conservationist John Muir’s famous glacier expedition. An included tour features the newly renovated Chief Shakes Clan House. This afternoon, transit the once treacherous (in the pre-technology age) Wrangell Narrows, a 22-mile winding, snake-like channel—dubbed “Christmas Tree Lane” for its abundant red and green navigational lights. Along the way, watch the shore for Sitka black-tailed deer, black bears, and seabirds.
Day 3: Petersburg / Frederick Sound / Chatham Strait
Founded over 100 years ago, Petersburg was nicknamed “Little Norway” due to its large Scandinavian population. An included city tour reveals the impact fishing had on this tiny Alaskan village, and afterwards, you’ll have time on your own. Whale watching in the nutrient-rich waters of Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait highlight your afternoon. Seals and sea lions frequent the shores around Turnabout and The Brothers Islands and the Five Fingers Lighthouse.
Day 4: Sergius Narrows / Sitka
Navigate your way through Sergius Narrows, an “inside route” once plied by Russian sea otter hunters. Russian American and Tlingit history come to life in Sitka—Southeast Alaska’s oldest non-Native settlement. Uncover its past and present on an included tour to the Alaska Raptor Center, historic Castle Hill, St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, and Sitka National Historical Park—Alaska’s oldest federally designated park.
Day 5: Captain's Choice / Chichagof Island / Icy Strait
Leave it to your Captain to uncover the best opportunities for today’s wilderness adventure. Cruise the shores of Chichagof Island and through the northern whale waters of Icy Strait. Take in the spectacular scenery and keep watch for lounging sea lions and gentle humpbacks. Feasting on krill. Breaching. Giving you the fluke.
Day 6: Glacier Bay National Park
First established as a National Monument in 1925, Glacier Bay holds the status of National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Glaciers unfold front and center today and there are many to choose from—Margerie, Grand Pacific, Johns Hopkins, or Lamplugh. Cruise by Marble Islands and witness Steller sea lions barking on the rocky haulout. Seabirds also flock to the area—murrelets, puffins, and black-legged kittiwakes are frequent residents. The 15,000-foot peaks of the Fairweather Range drape the skyline. This evening, set sail toward the Lynn Canal, North America’s deepest fjord.
Day 7: Haines / Skagway
Haines—home to the world's largest autumnal congregation of bald eagles—thrived for years as an integral trade center to the Chilkat band of Tlingit natives, famous for their intricately designed blankets woven with mountain goat hair and cedar bark. A tour at Fort William H. Seward and Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center shares the history and significance of this notable landmark. In Skagway, gateway to the Chilkoot Trail and one of the original routes of the Klondike Gold Rush, wooden boardwalks line the outer edges of the town’s historic buildings where tales of betrayal, fortune, and mystery come alive. An included White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railway tour carries you 3,000 feet up and around cliff-hanging turns for a stunning panorama of glaciers, mountains, and gorges, and waterfalls. Join the Captain for a toast at tonight’s Farewell Dinner and relive your journey with a memorable presentation by your Legacy Leader.
Please note for 2015 departures, the entire day will be devoted to exploring Skagway.
Day 8: Juneau, Alaska / Disembark
Bid adieu to your newfound friends and crew. Disembark after breakfast for your transfer to the Juneau airport or begin your independent journey.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Queen, double or twin beds, view window, private bath with shower. #105-112, 206-210, 303-308, 311-318
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Captain Stateroom
Queen or two twin beds, view window, private bath with shower. #211-214
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Admiral Stateroom
Queen or twin beds, view window, private bath with shower, trundle bed for triple. #101-102, 201-202, 309-310
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Jr Commodore Suite
Queen or twin beds, refrigerator, wrap-around windows, private bath with shower. #301-302
Notes
- All rates are quoted in USD and represent cost per person, based on double occupancy. Any stateroom (except designated single) may be sold as a single for 175% of the double occupancy rate. Triple and quad rooming arrangements are available, please contact us for rates.
Initial deposit is $950 for one week cruises, $1700 for two or three week cruises, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.