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Ultimate Coves & Passages 2015

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Wilderness Explorer
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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.
A Bald Eagle catches a fish.Alaska travel and dall sheep grazing on Alaska hillsideAlaska wildlife tours and brown bear fishing for salmonView of Mendenhall glacier on an Alaska cruiseA bear sprints across the landscape
Places Visited
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 / El Capitan Passage

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Wake in El Capitan Passage surrounded by breathtaking Tongass National Forest—the largest national forest in the US. Take a “wild” Alaska trek winding through high forest on an old logging trail, find your way to El Capitan Cave, the largest known cave in Alaska and one of the largest mapped caves in the Americas.

Day 3: Klawock Native Village

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Discover living history in Klawock—one of the most authentic Tlingit villages in Alaska. Learn the importance of carving, gaze up at totem poles coloring the town, and hear their stories. Visit the carvers' shed where the art of carving and restoring totems is passed on. Along with its small fishing fleet, this rustic community continues to thrive on the farthest reaches of the wild Alaska coastline. Explore the area on foot, keeping an eye for eagles and sea birds.

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 will be 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’ll be 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: Endicott Arm / Ford's Terror Wilderness

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Snow covered mountains, glowing blues, and the white thunder of calving ice take your breath away at the face of Dawes Glacier. As you glide through Endicott Arm you’ll likely find a few seals taking respite on the glaciers smaller “bergy bits.” Tides permitting, explore the narrow passage of Fords Terror.

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 on us and explore all that historic Juneau has to offer. A complimentary laundry service is provided today. Embark your new vessel this afternoon, and keep watch for eagles as cruise through the Tongass National Forest.

Day 9: Glacier Bay National Park

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
One of America’s crown jewel national parks is yours to explore and marvel at for the next three days—Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. A National Park Ranger joins you to explore coves and corners of the bay that most visitors miss. Tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating before you in the waters of Glacier Bay.

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. Stop in Bartlett Cove for a visit to the Park Service's Headquarters.

Day 10: Glacier Bay National Park

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend today exploring the flora and fauna of Glacier Bay National Park. Paddle a kayak and be awed at the face of a massive glacier. Go on a boot-sucking trek through sandbars and rainforest. And ride a skiff along shore for an up-close exploration of Glacier Bay. You'll find sea lions, mountain goats, sea otters, bears, moose, eagles, and spectacular scenic backdrops.

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 / Baranof Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Meander along the spectacular waterfall coast of Chichagof Island. In the Un-Cruise expedition spirit, marvel at the grand scenery as our 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: Captain's Choice

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today's agenda is flexible: you might explore a tidal inlet by kayak, feel the burn of a rain forest hike, or maybe you take the opportunity to smell the breath of a humpback while skiffing in a secluded cove. The possibilities are endless — your Captain knows best.

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 or begin your Un-Cruise hotel stay or land tour.

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
$7,195
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
  • 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners

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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
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