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Coastal town of Ketchikan, Alaska.

Famed Passages of Discovery

Example 13 Day Cruise aboard Wilderness Explorer
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Famed passages of Discovery is a 13-day adventure through Alaska's Inside Passage. Embarking from Juneau, this voyage brings you among the ice-rich waters of Tracy Arm where you can explore this region's “wild and woolly” wilderness! Keep an eye out for wildlife and whales, and discover the epic waterways by kayaking, paddle boarding, or skiffing in secluded coves and passages.
Humpback whale in Alaska.Hiking through the snow.Kayaking among beautiful Alaskan mountainsFamily sitting on a glacier.Coastal town of Ketchikan, Alaska.
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: Juneau, Alaska / Embarkation

Welcome aboard! Meet your crew and get acquainted as your Alaskan small ship cruise sets sail for the Tracy Arm Wilderness.

Day 2: Tracy Arm Wilderness / Frederick Sound

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Choose kayaking and a forest trek on a scenic backcountry trail. Discover the origin of its "Devil's Country" nickname and hear legends about the area’s mythical shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.

Day 4: Glacial Landscapes / Wrangell Narrows

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz, natural beauty is today's setting for kayaking, paddle boarding, skiffing, or trekking. Bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows.

Day 5: Wrangell

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder—Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska. Brush up on your Tlingit culture and view recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park. Wander past the fishing marina to the famed and historically significant Chief Shakes Tribal House. Touch Wrangell's storied past at the artifact-filled museum.

Day 6: Behm Canal

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Wildlife abounds in Behm Canal and the surrounding Tongass National Forest—orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Paddle along pristine waterways or venture out on an intertidal shore walk.

Day 7: Misty Fjords National Monument

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Home to nearly every ecosystem in Southeast Alaska—stunning glacial valleys filled with seawater, untouched wetlands and estuaries, and 3,000-foot vertical cliffs that are a haven for wildlife. Soak in the splendor of this largely unknown corner of the world with an up-close look at this majestic, 2.3 million-acre wilderness.

Day 8: Ketchikan

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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 Tlingit culture and the notorious Creek Street, once a red-light district in downtown Ketchikan.

Day 9-11: Canada's Inside Passage

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take in the pure, wilderness air and see how many bald eagles you can spot from the deck. Intricate waterways and fjords alongside temperate rainforests and mountains are ideal for sighting orca and other wildlife as you sail through Canada's Inside Passage.

Fill your days through the passage with splendid scenery, relaxation, and plenty of onboard activities. Your expedition team aims to entertain and keep you busy with engaging presentations, games, and enlightening narration. Unlock the natural history of the area and discover how Native influences and the fishing and forest industries have shaped these sparsely-populated islands and communities.

Pass the ghost town of Butedale, on British Columbia's Princess Royal Island, before passing Prince Rupert, BC and crossing the US/Canadian border into Washington State. Shaped and molded by the last ice age, forested islands dot the shores of the Salish Sea. Weave through the inlets of this yachter’s paradise—keeping watch for the resident orca pods.

Day 12: Friday Harbor, Washington

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In quaint Friday Harbor, discover its maritime history, art galleries, and a fascinating Whale Museum. Gunkhole close to shore by skiff or kayak as you explore the serene San Juan Islands—an archipelago of islands first charted by the Spanish in 1791.

Day 13: Seattle, Washington / DIsembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Transit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks into Fishermen's Terminal and disembark after breakfast. Transfer directly to the Seattle airport or begin your independent journey.

Ship/Hotel

Wilderness Explorer

Kayaks with Wilderness Explorer
Wilderness Explorer lounge
Relax at the bar aboard the Wilderness Explorer.

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$4,795
Wilderness explorer Navigator cabin
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Navigator Cabin
#215; 302. Queen or twin beds, view window, and private bath with shower.
Wilderness Explorer's Trailblazer Cabin.
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Trailblazer Cabin
#105-106; 207-214; 303; 305-306; 309-312. Queen or twin beds, view window, and private bath with shower.
Wilderness Explorer's Pathfinder Cabin
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Pathfinder Cabin
#107-114; 202-206. Queen or twin beds, view window, and private bath with shower.
Wilderness Explorer Admiral Cabin
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Admiral Cabin
#301, 304, 313-314. Sitting area, refrigerator, fixed queen bed, large picture window, and private bath with shower.
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Navigator Single
#104. L-shaped twin beds; view window; private bath with a shower

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 years of age 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
  • 10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners

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