Famed Passages of Discovery
« All Wilderness Explorer cruise options
- Day 1 Juneau — embark
- Day 2 Tracy Arm Wilderness / Frederick Sound
- Day 3 Thomas Bay / Cascade Creek
- Day 4 Thomas Bay / Baird Glacier / Wrangell Narrows
- Day 5 Wrangell
- Day 6 Yes Bay
- Day 7 Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska
- Day 8 Ketchikan
- Days 9-11 Canada’s Inside Passage
- Days 12-13 San Juan Islands / Friday Harbor
- Day 14 Salish Sea
- Day 15 Seattle, Washington — Disembark
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||
| Trailblazer Cabin | Pathfinder Cabin | Explorer Cabin | |
| Sep 8 '13 |
$4,895 | $5,495 | $7,995 |
| Port Charges: $350 per person | |||
- All rates are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy.
- Rates do not include port taxes and fees, which vary by itinerary.
- Children 12 years of age or younger receive a 25% savings on Family Departure dates.
Deposit & Payment - Rates do not include port taxes and fees, which vary by itinerary.
- Children 12 years of age or younger receive a 25% savings on Family Departure dates.
Day 1 Juneau — embark
Welcome aboard! Meet your crew and get acquainted as you set sail for the Tracy Arm Wilderness.
Day 2 Tracy Arm Wilderness / Frederick Sound
At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls and large floating icebergs, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Explore Frederick Sound—summer feeding ground for humpback whales. Keep watch for humpbacks, orca, and Steller sea lions.
Day 3 Thomas Bay / Cascade Creek
Choose kayaking and a forest trek on a Cascade Creek trail or hike five miles to the rarely visited Patterson Lake for spectacular kayaking. Hear legends about the area’s mythical shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.
Day 4 Thomas Bay / Baird Glacier / Wrangell Narrows
Hike atop the otherworldly Baird Glacier. Natural beauty is today’s setting for kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff riding, or hiking. Bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows this evening.
Day 5 Wrangell
Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder—Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and the only one ever governed by four nations. Brush up on your Tlingit culture at Chief Shakes Tribal House for native storytelling. View recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park.
Day 6 Yes Bay
Wildlife abounds in Yes Bay and the surrounding Tongass National Forest—humpback whales, orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Say yes to a kayak paddle up the bay or a wildlife-seeking hike along a scenic trail.
Day 7 Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska
Home to nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska—glacial valleys filled with sea water, and steep walls are a haven for wildlife. Glide through Walker Cove soaking in the splendor of this largely forgotten corner of the world.
Day 8 Ketchikan
Alaska’s southernmost city and “salmon capital of the world” also claims fame to having the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles. Explore the Saxman Totem Village, Tlingit culture, and the notorious Creek Street, once a red-light district. Watch for eagles as you cruise out of Ketchikan.
Days 9-11 Canada’s Inside Passage
Intricate waterways and fjords alongside temperate rainforests and mountains are ideal for sightings of orca, seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoise, and birds. Native influences have shaped these sparsely-populated islands and communities. Keep your eye out for orcas and other wildlife as you make your way north through Canada's Inside Passage. Pass the ghost town of Butedale, on British Columbia’s Princess Royal Island, before reaching Prince Rupert, BC and again crossing the US/Canadian border.
Days 12-13 San Juan Islands / Friday Harbor
Forested islands dot the seascape of this yachter’s paradise. You’ll "gunkhole" close to shore by skiff or kayak. Explore quaint Friday Harbor and its fascinating Whale Museum. Keep watch for the resident orca pods.
Day 14 Salish Sea
Explore the intricate coastal waterways of the Salish Sea. The name was recently coined to recognize the indigenous peoples of this culturally rich area.
Day 15 Seattle, Washington — Disembark
Disembark the ship after breakfast. Transfer directly to the Seattle airport.
Itinerary Notes
Included in your fare:* Educational programming - interpretive lectures, guest speakers, narrative
* All meals aboard the ships
* Kayaking, guided hiking, and small boat exploration
* Onboard Expedition Leaders
* Airport transfers
Not included in your fare:
* Airfare to and from your home city
* Liquor, beer, wine
* Discretionary gratuities to vessel's crew, typically 5-10% of fare
* Travel insurance
* Select optional onboard excursions, payable on board.
* Optional pre- or post-night hotel stays or land extensions
* Fishing excursions, caving, jet boat trips or guided overnight trips
* Port charges, taxes and fees
Deposit & Payment
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. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure.
Final payment by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 70 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 91 days or more | Half of deposit |
| 90-61 days | Full deposit |
| 60-46 days | 55% trip cost |
| 45-31 days | 80% trip cost |
| 30-0 days | 100% trip cost |
Wilderness Explorer
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 76
The newly renovated 76-guest Wilderness Explorer is equipped for action, adventure, and exploration. As with her sister “Wilderness” ships, its interior complements the outside and public and private spaces are loaded with amenities. The ship offers a main lounge that evokes the feel of a National Park Lodge or neighborhood pub, dining room, and ample space on deck for taking in the great outdoors.
On board the Wilderness Explorer:
Three accessible decks are fully equipped for comfort and action. Guests enjoy over-the-top views from the bow or from under-the-stars in two hot tubs; on-deck sauna and fitness equipment; and the EZ Dock launch platform makes getting in the water a synch, even for a novice. Onboard are kayaks; stand-up paddle boards; inflatable skiffs; hiking poles; yoga mats; hydrophone for listening below-surface; and a bow-mounted underwater camera pipes the action to the lounge and to your cabin TV.
Guest Accommodations:
The three cabin categories aboard the Wilderness Explorer: Trailblazer, Pathfinder and Explorer provide single and double accommodation. All cabins are above deck with view windows.
Common to all Wilderness Explorer cabins are flat-screen TV/DVD and iPod docking station.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Trailblazer Cabin Feature queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window. |
 | Pathfinder Cabin Feature queen or twin beds, private bath with shower, and view window. |
 | Explorer Cabin Feature a sitting area, fixed queen bed, private bath with shower and large picture window. |
