Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell and Misty Fjords

Upon arrival in Juneau, which is the capital city of Alaska, you will notice that the Juneau Icefield is located just north of the city. It is one of the largest non-polar masses in the world and the origin of many glaciers. After reaching downtown Juneau, you can spend some time visiting the Alaska State Museum or exploring the surrounding area before boarding ship.

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore the LeConte Glacier, which is one of the most active glaciers in Southeast Alaska and the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. The glacier face regularly sheds icebergs which get caught in the shallow moraine and along the shoreline. You can capture stunning photographs and learn photography tips and tricks from certified instructors. An experienced captain will guide you safely to the glacier and bring you as close as possible to it. You will then set out on a Zodiac to navigate among the surreal floating sculptures.

Navigate the stunning Wrangell Narrows, an area inaccessible to larger ships, and then cruise into the Sumner Strait, keeping watch for humpback whales surfacing and sea otters gliding through the clear water around the ship. Explore the coast by kayak or Zodiac and go ashore to trace bear trails through forests intersected by crystalline salmon streams as you learn about the rainforest ecosystem from naturalists. Fix your binoculars on the banks to spot Sitka black-tailed deer and moose and black bears, wolves, and bald eagles that frequent the shoreline in search of plentiful salmon.

This morning, arrive in the small town of Wrangell. The Tlingit and their ancestors have made this island their home for thousands of years. Take an optional jet boat excursion up the Stikine River or explore the town, including a visit to Chief Shakes Tribal House and the Petroglyph Beach, home to the highest concentration of petroglyphs in Southeast Alaska. This afternoon cruise Eastern Passage and Blake Channel, narrow waterways on the backside of Wrangell island where other ships rarely venture.

Wake up this morning to catch the sunrise over the stunning cliffs of Misty Fjords National Monument, rising more than 2,000 feet above the deep blue waters of the fjord. Watch wisps of cloud drift down the winding waterway and drape over green peaks as you cruise through the mists that give this extraordinary landscape its name. Set out by Zodiac and kayak to get close to the forested banks and the many dramatic waterfalls cascading down the cliffs.

Arrive in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in Alaska, spread at the base of forested slopes on Revillagigedo Island. Its many monikers, from "salmon capital of the world" to "rain capital of Alaska," capture the spirit of this city, famous for colorful buildings and abundant fishing boats and canneries. Visit the Totem Heritage Center to view the priceless collection of 19th-century totem poles.