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A Bald Eagle catches a fish.

Ultimate Coves & Passages

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Wilderness Explorer
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Expect adventure on this 15-day Ultimate Coves and Passages cruise aboard the Wilderness Explorer. 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.
View of Mendenhall glacier on an Alaska cruiseAlaska wildlife tours and brown bear fishing for salmonCoastal town of Ketchikan, Alaska.Alaska travel and dall sheep grazing on Alaska hillsideA Bald Eagle catches a fish.
Highlights
  • Be guided by a Park Ranger during your visit to Glacier Bay National Park
  • View birds and sea lions at South Marble Island & The Brothers Islands
  • Hike on Chichagof Island and in El Capitan Cave
  • Enjoy a cultural visit and private tour at Kake Tlingit village
  • Kayak, paddle board, and skiff Chatham Strait
  • Investigate intertidal zones of Krestof and Nakwasina Sounds
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 | Embark

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 | Kake

  • 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. On the northern tip of Kupreanof Island, learn about rich heritage of Tlingit culture on a private tour of Kake village. Uncover the legends in their totems and get a front seat view of carving and dance demonstrations. 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 you 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! Wake up at anchor and kick off your morn with on-deck yoga stretches. Then slip into a kayak or step onto a paddle board and glide along rocky outcroppings with your guides. While you keep watch for playful harbor seals in these protected waters, bald eagles likely monitor 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 some of the most remote waters in Southeast Alaska. Join the captain on the bridge or the expedition team out on deck in search of whales and marine mammals. Camera in hand, begin your land and sea exploration of these wilderness reaches. Ride the skiffs for a closer inspection of the wild coastline with eyes set on the shore for possible bear sightings.

Day 12: Chichagof Island | Peril Strait

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Meander along the coast of Chichagof Island. In the UnCruise expedition spirit, marvel at the unbelievable scenery as your crew expertly guides you through glacier-carved fjords. Anchor in remote coves for an opportunity to lower the kayaks and skiffs. Explore the shoreline on an intertidal walk or forest hike with your guides. Wend along Peril Strait—a twisting channel known for dramatic currents, Peril Strait runs 50 miles from Chatham Strait to Salisbury Sound.

Day 13: Sergius Narrows | Neva Strait

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Opening at Hoonah Sound, the aptly named Sergius Narrows—squeezing to only 300 feet wide in one spot and a shallow 24 feet deep—is a great place to watch the shoreline for bears, the waters for otters and whales, and skyward for eagles. The rugged rock fingers of the narrows winds into scenic Neva Strait. This evening, toast another day of amazing adventure with a frosty microbrew or hot toddy.

Day 14: Krestof & Nakwasina Sounds

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
There aren’t many straight lines along Baranof Island, but along its western side lay hundreds of remote, uninhabited islands, and endless opportunities for dropping anchor and adventure. With many secluded coves and islands 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 Tongass National Forest. After an active day, toast your voyage with a festive Farewell Dinner and a “photo journal” of your trip presented by your expedition team.

Day 15: Sitka, Alaska | Disembark

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

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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