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View of Mendenhall glacier on an Alaska cruise

Ultimate Coves & Passages 2016

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Wilderness Discoverer
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Expect adventure on this 15-day Ultimate Coves and Passages cruise. Begin in Ketchikan and sail for the remote shores of Tongass National Forest and Glacier Bay National Park, greeting orcas, seals, and birds as you sail.
Coastal town of Ketchikan, Alaska.Alaska travel and dall sheep grazing on Alaska hillsideA Bald Eagle catches a fish.Alaska wildlife tours and brown bear fishing for salmonView of Mendenhall glacier on an Alaska cruise
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark in Ketchikan, Alaska

Welcome aboard! Meet your crew, get settled in, and keep watch for eagles as you cruise through the Tongass Narrows out of Ketchikan.

Day 2: Tongass National Forest

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Aha! The wilderness of Southeast Alaska. Wake in a remote cove surrounded by breathtaking Tongass National Forest — the largest national forest in the US. Joined by your expedition team, it’s a water ops morning. Spend it paddling a kayak, paddle boarding, or exploring by skiff. Then settle in as you cruise the northern tip of Prince of Wales Island, nestled right in the heart of the Tongass. It’s a grand first day of exploration!

Day 3: El Capitan Cave / Prince of Wales Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take a walk on the wild side winding through high forest on an old logging trail, and find your way to El Capitan Cave, the largest known cave in Alaska and one of the largest mapped caves in the Americas. Learn from Forest Service Rangers about karst and the geologic forces that created this intricate cave system. Locals — bears, harbor seals and humpbacks, deer, eagles, humans too — enjoy the calm and serenity of the island.

Day 4: Chatham Strait

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
It's Captain's Choice today as you explore the intricate passages and shores along Chatham Strait's Kuiu or Baranof Islands. Join your expedition team on (or in!) the water. Conditions permitting, take to the water by kayak, skiff, or snorkel. Snorkeling is optional, but hidden beneath the surface lies a magical array of sea life only seen from below. Take a deep breath and go for it! Today's discoveries are within some of the most untouched wilderness of the Tongass National Forest.

Day 5: Frederick Sound

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Lush forest, spectacular views, play time, and wildlife —they are all in abundance in Frederick Sound. Keep watch along the coastline for birds, wolves, and black bears. With many secluded coves to choose from, you may slip into the waters of Deep Cove, Patterson, or Saginaw Bay, or perhaps another hidden gem to explore by skiff or paddle a kayak. Gear up for snorkeling or guided treks. This evening, toast another day of amazing adventure with a cold microbrew or cocktail.

Day 6: The Brothers Islands / Stephens Passage

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
There is plenty of wildlife viewing today. The Brothers, a pair of tiny, rocky islands at the confluence of Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound, are home to some of Alaska’s most abundant wildlife, including a haulout for Stellar sea lions. The area is also the summer feeding ground for the largest concentration of humpback whales in the northern hemisphere. Keep watch for orca, humpbacks, and porpoise.

Day 7: Tracy Arm Wilderness

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls, hundreds of cascading waterfalls, and some of the largest icebergs in all of Alaska, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers — Sawyer and South Sawyer. The fjord is home to brown and black bears, deer, mountain goats, harbor seals, and birds such as Arctic terns and pigeon guillemots.

Day 8: Juneau

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend the day off the boat in Alaska's capital city. Enjoy lunch in town (included) and explore all that historic Juneau has to offer. A complimentary laundry service is provided today. Embark your vessel this afternoon, and keep watch for eagles as cruise through the Tongass National Forest.

Day 9: Captain’s Choice

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Plying the remote waterways of Lynn Canal or Chatham Strait, your captain sets the course for adventure today! Wake up at anchor and kick off your morn with on-deck morning yoga stretches, then slip into a kayak or try out your skills paddle boarding and gliding along rocky outcroppings with your guides. While you keep watch for harbor seals who frequently play in these protected waters, bald eagles keep an eye on your improving paddling skills from the treetops.

Day 10: Glacier Bay National Park

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
One of America’s crown jewel national parks is yours to explore — Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. A National Park Ranger joins you to uncover coves and corners of the bay that most visitors miss. Linger near South Marble Island to spot the many species of rare sea birds that call this area home. Keep your eyes on the water and the island for brightly-colored puffins and black oystercatchers. With much to see all around you, find sea lions, mountain goats, bears, eagles, and spectacular scenic backdrops. Tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating before you in the waters of Glacier Bay. Your day is complete with a stop in Bartlett Cove for a visit to the Park Service's Headquarters.

Day 11: Icy Strait

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Set your course for arguably the richest whale waters in Southeast Alaska. Join the Captain on the bridge or the Expedition Leader out on deck in search of marine mammals. Camera in hand, begin your land and sea exploration of these remote reaches. Ride the skiffs for a closer inspection of the rugged and wild coastline with eyes set on the shore for possible bear sightings.

Day 12: Chichagof Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Meander along the spectacular waterfall coast of Chichagof Island. Marvel at the grand scenery as your crew expertly guides you through unsung, glacier-carved fjords. Anchor in remote waters for an opportunity to lower the kayaks and skiffs. Explore the shoreline on an intertidal walk or forest exploration with your guides.

Day 13: Kuiu Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
There aren’t many straight lines along the shores of Kuiu Island and with many secluded coves to choose from, discover the region’s intertidal zones, or from your skiff or kayak, watch for whales and sea lions. Gear up for a guided hike with your expedition team for a new perspective of the vast, stunning Tongass National Forest. This evening, toast another day of amazing adventure with a frosty microbrew or hot toddy.

Day 14: Peril Strait / Sergius Narrows

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Peril Strait runs 50 miles from Chatham Strait to Salisbury Sound. This haven for small boats is scenically highlighted by a very narrow connecting passageway called Sergius Narrows and an opening at Hoonah Sound. This historic and wildlife-rich waterway is a great place to watch the shoreline for bears, the waters for otters and whales, and to look skyward for eagles. The passage narrows to only 300 feet in one spot (24 feet deep). After an adventurous day, toast your voyage with a festive Farewell Dinner and a “photo journal” of your trip presented by your Expedition Leaders.

Day 15: Disembark in Sitka, Alaska

  • 1 Breakfast
Gather for breakfast this morning as you cruise into Russian-influenced Sitka for disembarkation. Transfer to the airport.

Ship/Hotel

Wilderness Discoverer

Wilderness Discoverer
Wilderness Discoverer in the San Juans PNW
Wilderness Discoverer

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$7,195
Wilderness Discoverer's Navigator Cabin.
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Navigator
Main Deck, cabins 201, 204-208 and 210. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
Interior Cabin
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Trailblazer
Observation Deck, cabins 310-325. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
Wilderness Discoverer's Pathfinder Cabin.
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Pathfinder
Observation Deck, cabins 300-309. Outside entry, queen bed, sitting area, private bath with shower and view window.
Wilderness Discoverer's Explorer Double Cabin.
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Admiral
Sun Deck, cabins 400-403. Separate sitting area, queen or twin beds, private bath with shower, large picture window with sofa bed/triple.

Notes

- All rates are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy.
- Rates do not include port taxes and fees, which vary by itinerary.
- Children 8-13 are welcome on all sailings and will received a $500 per child savings

Due to the nature of your explorations, itineraries are guidelines and may change in order to maximize wildlife and natural encounters. Variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur.
Included
  • 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
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