Alaska National Parks

Upon arrival in Fairbanks, the vibrant hub of Alaska’s interior, be welcomed by your Adventure Guides, who will accompany you to your accommodations. From this first meeting, they’ll serve as your dedicated hosts, leading you through the expansive and varied terrain that characterizes this remote and remarkable region.

After breakfast, join your fellow travelers and Adventure Guides for a guided exploration of Fairbanks. Begin at the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, where exhibits highlight Alaskan history, Native art, and regional wildlife. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Trans Alaska Pipeline, a feat of engineering that spans the state. Then, tour the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, home to a renowned collection of vintage vehicles and historical fashion from the Victorian through Art Deco eras. Conclude the day with a Welcome Reception featuring regional cuisine and a chance to connect with your group.

After breakfast, set out along Denali Park Road for a guided exploration led by a local naturalist. This scenic route offers insight into Alaska’s dynamic ecosystems and the enduring forces that shaped them across the Alaska Range. Watch for wildlife in their natural habitat and take in views of snowcapped peaks that have inspired generations of explorers.

Pause midday for lunch surrounded by the quiet grandeur of the park before returning to your hotel to prepare for the evening’s entertainment. At the Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre, enjoy a hearty meal paired with an engaging retelling of frontier life during the early 1900s Gold Rush—a lively glimpse into the humor and resilience that defined this era.

Behold a landscape shaped by time and legend, where dense forests rise to alpine slopes, and the great peak of Denali commands the horizon. Once known as Mount McKinley, the mountain’s original name Denali, meaning “the high one” in the Koyukon Athabascan language, reflects the deep connection Alaska Native peoples have long held with this land. Accompanied by a trained naturalist, learn how Denali became a symbol of both cultural reverence and conservation, preserved as a national park in 1917 to protect its wildlife and vast wilderness.

As twilight settles over the range, the fading light casts a golden glow across the tundra and glacial valleys. Grizzly bears wander through open meadows, moose feed near quiet streams, and the sounds of the wild fill the evening air, a reminder that Denali remains as untamed and awe-inspiring as it was centuries ago.

In the morning, board a deluxe dome railcar for a scenic journey from Denali to Anchorage. As the train winds south, panoramic windows reveal river valleys, distant peaks, and the vast expanse of the Alaskan wilderness along the Southcentral rail corridor.

Anchorage, founded as a railroad construction camp in 1914, has grown into Alaska’s largest city and a gateway to both commerce and adventure. Framed by the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet, the city balances modern life with proximity to untamed nature. On clear days, Denali rises on the horizon, a striking reminder of the frontier spirit that continues to shape this northern hub.

Kenai Fjords National Park reveals the meeting point of mountains, glaciers, and sea. Established in 1980 to protect nearly 700,000 acres of coastal wilderness, the park showcases the slow, powerful movement of ice that has shaped Alaska’s southern coast for millennia. As you travel through these waters, watch for humpback and orca whales, sea otters drifting through kelp beds, and puffins nesting along the cliffs. Your captain and naturalist guide share insights into the park’s geology, marine life, and the early explorers who first charted these fjords.

Conclude the day in Seward, one of Alaska’s oldest communities, founded in 1903 as the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad. Over dinner with fellow travelers, take in the town’s harbor views and relaxed pace.

Traveling north toward Anchorage, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre sanctuary established in 1993 to protect and rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Chugach Mountains, the center provides a rare opportunity to observe Alaska’s native species up close, from brown bears and bison to caribou and wolves. Knowledgeable staff share insight into the center’s ongoing conservation efforts and Alaska’s broader history of wildlife preservation.

After your visit, return to Anchorage for an evening of rest at your hotel, preparing for the cruise portion of your Alaskan journey.

After exploring Alaska’s national parks, take a short flight from Anchorage to Juneau, the state capital since 1906. Nestled between the Coast Mountains and the Gastineau Channel, Juneau is the only U.S. capital unreachable by road, accessible only by air or sea. Upon arrival, enjoy a group lunch before checking into your hotel, where mountain and harbor views reflect the city’s unique setting within the Tongass National Forest.

Founded during the 1880s gold rush, Juneau has long balanced its frontier heritage with a vibrant modern culture. In the evening, explore its historic streets, lined with shops, galleries, and landmarks that speak to its mining past and maritime ties.

Once on board, settle into your spacious stateroom and take in the views as the ship departs port. Keep watch from your private balcony or one of the observation lounges as these waters are home to humpback and orca whales, often seen breaching in the distance. Join your fellow guests for cocktail hour, followed by regionally inspired dining and evening entertainment featuring live music or expert lectures that bring Alaska’s history and wildlife to life.

Haines sits where the Lynn Canal narrows between steep mountain walls. Join an eagle-watching expedition through the Chilkat Valley, where more than 200 species of birds thrive. Paddle the quiet waters of Chilkoot Lake or taste history at Southeast Alaska’s first distillery.

Valley of the Eagles Nature & Wildlife Expedition - Complimentary Excursion
Knowledgeable and enthusiastic naturalists will guide you through the "Valley of the Eagles" to experience Alaska's magnificent nature and wildlife in 5 different wildlife habitats (ocean, estuary, river, lake, and rainforest) via coach. The fertile Chilkoot Valley provides an abundance of potential wildlife highlights including bald eagles, mountain goats, salmon, harbor seals, migratory birdlife, and brown bears. This exploratory journey is a great opportunity to photograph the stunning scenery and wildlife in their natural habitat. Before or after the nature exploration, enjoy a visit to the American Bald Eagle Foundation, a raptor center, natural history museum, and gift shop.

Activity Level: Moderate | ADA Accessible: Partial

Haines Shuttle - Complimentary Excursion
This convenient shuttle will transport you from the ship to the center of Haines and back. At your leisure, explore the rich history, scenic beauty, and vibrant culture of this enchanting Alaskan town. Wear your lanyard for complimentary access to the Haines Sheldon Museum and the Hammer Museum, a small museum tracing the global history of the hammer.

Activity Level: Low | ADA Accessible: Partial

A designated World Heritage Site, Glacier Bay is one of Earth’s grandest living ecological wonders. American Cruise Lines is among the few granted access to these protected waters. From the deck, watch immense glaciers meet the sea as harbor seals rest on floating ice. Onboard naturalists interpret each sight with insight into the park’s evolving ecosystems and the centuries of Indigenous presence that long preceded exploration. Guests may also experience a guided hike along forest trails or visit Glacier Bay Lodge.

Interpretive Glacier Bay Program - Complimentary Excursion
The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is like no place else on Earth. The park includes magnificent glaciers, towering snow-capped mountains, abundant wildlife, and miles of pristine coastline. A National Park Service Ranger will board the ship for the day and provide expert narration as you cruise through Glacier Bay, identifying wildlife, including orcas, humpback whales, brown bears, and bald eagles. Your tour will include a stop at a majestic tidewater glacier where you may hear the sounds of a calving glacier. American Cruise Lines has also made special arrangements to have a Huna Tlingit Cultural Interpreter join you on board, who will share with you the fascinating human history and family stories of Glacier Bay’s native clans and people.

ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Explore Bartlett Cove – Complimentary Excursion
Nestled within Glacier Bay National Park, Bartlett Cove serves as a stunning gateway to the breathtaking wilderness of the area. Stretch your legs and go for a morning hike along the forest trails of this serene cove. View wildlife, including seals, sea lions, and diverse bird species, as you enjoy a picturesque backdrop of towering mountains and lush forests. Visit the Glacier Bay Lodge and have a bite to eat or explore the bookstore and second-floor exhibits depicting the natural and cultural wonders of Glacier Bay.  

Activity Level: Low | ADA Accessible: Partial

Founded by Norwegian fishermen, Petersburg remains a working harbor where tradition meets innovation. Explore its docks and canneries or venture out on a guided flightseeing or jet boat excursion for sweeping views of the LeConte Glacier. In town, stroll through “Little Norway” and continue “out the road,” as locals say, to Falls Creek Waterfall, where salmon often gather.

Petersburg Dock Walk - Complimentary Excursion
Petersburg's location is in the heart of southeast Alaska, making it ideal for major industry commercial fishing. Led by local fishermen and fishery biologists, enjoy a one-hour narrated dock walk through Petersburg's boat harbors. Enjoy discussing fishing boats, fishing methods, permits, processing, and more.

Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Petersburg Shuttle - Complimentary Excursion
This convenient shuttle allows you to discover Petersburg independently as you shop and stroll through this charming fishing town. At your leisure, explore this island community which continues to make a living from the sea.  Wear your lanyard for complimentary access to the Clausen Museum, dedicated to the preserving the histories of those who have lived and worked in Petersburg and the surrounding areas.    

Activity Level: Low | ADA Accessible: Partial

Watch glaciers that have shaped Alaska’s coastline for thousands of years, waterfalls fed by ancient ice, and wildlife once essential to the survival of Indigenous communities—seals, sea lions, and the seabirds that still follow these same migration routes today.

Once governed by four different nations, Wrangell holds one of Alaska’s most layered histories. Visit Petroglyph Beach to see ancient carvings etched into the rocks or join a jet boat trip up the Stikine River—a vital corridor during the Gold Rush. A local expert will guide you through the botanical wonders of Tongass National Forest, home to some of the world’s oldest temperate trees.

Wrangell Experience - Complimentary Excursion
Discover the highlights of this truly Alaskan town and see its colorful history and native culture come to life while visiting the Petroglyph State Historic Site and the Wrangell Museum with its 5,000+ historical photos, native artifacts, Tlingit Petroglyphs, and fishing, mining and logging displays.
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Journey through Endicott Arm, a fjord formed by ancient glacial movement and defined by granite cliffs that rise steeply from the water’s edge. As the ship travels deeper into the channel, narrow streams tumble from the cliffs, and harbor seals rest on drifting ice. Humpback whales and bald eagles are often seen nearby, drawn by the nutrient-rich waters of the fjord.

At the far end, Dawes Glacier comes into view—a massive tidewater glacier that descends from the Stikine Icefield. When ice breaks free and falls into the sea, the sound rolls through the valley, a vivid reminder of Alaska’s ongoing transformation.

Enjoy breakfast on board before heading home. Transportation to Juneau International Airport is included for a seamless end to your journey.