visit the most intimate ports of the inside passage

The best way to visit Alaska, especially the Inside Passage region in the Southeastern sector, is by cruise ship. This is actually the second most popular cruise destination (aside from the Caribbean) for all cruise travelers. Whether this is your first time cruising or your 100th cruise, Alaska's Inside Passage is an experience that you will never forget, and I have extensive experience in this destination to ensure that everyone will have the trip of a lifetime.

The most popular Inside Passage experience is the itinerary that includes a full day of scenic cruising within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This is my personal favorite and I embark on this very experience every 2 years because of the awesome beauty and grandeur of the glaciers and the wildlife within the park. This is also the most requested itinerary among cruise travelers of all experience levels and age groups. However, no matter which itinerary you decide to experience, I will always include an unforgettable glacier viewing experience that will keep you wanting for more.

7-night inside passage with glacier bay national park and preserve

The itinerary for this sailing generally includes the following:

Day 1 - seattle, washington, usa: embarkation day

Let the adventure begin! Welcome aboard your first destination, your cruise ship, for the unforgettable journey that you are about to embark on. After you have boarded your ship, you can begin exploring your traveling resort and start sampling the popular food options that will feed your need for the next few days as you glide through the open Ocean and inner waterways of your Alaska adventure. After stowing your gear in your Stateroom, you will need to complete a required Muster Drill presentation before the ship can depart port so follow the required guidance and directions that have been provided by your cruise line to get this done. Don't forget to be on the top decks for the sail away event! Now, start the relaxation time because it is only going to get better.

Boarding times will vary based on cruise line itineraries and schedules.

Day 2 - at sea

As you wake up this beautiful morning your ship will be gliding through the waters of the North Pacific Ocean on her way to the entry of the Inside Passage of Alaska. As you enter the Inside Passage you will be traveling the same passage as the brave people who made the rush to the Gold fields of the Yukon and your ship will make Port calls in the same cities and towns that were founded along the way. You will find that the inner waterways of the Passage are cut through high mountain ranges and dotted with all manner, and size, of Islands that offer abundant scenery. Another experience to keep a look out for is the wildlife that you can see, such as: the majestic Bald Eagle, Sea Lions, Dall Sheep, Bears, Otters, and maybe even some whales (both Humpback whales and Orca's are quite common to these waters). During the spawning season, you may have the opportunity to see the massive numbers of all Salmon species that have made Alaska famous and are still a major economic mainstay today. 

As you will be at Sea all day, take this opportunity to experience all that your ship has to offer in entertainment and food. If simple relaxation is your thing, you can sit back on one of the many deck loungers and enjoy the pure ocean air. If you require a bit more relaxation, today is the perfect day to pamper yourself with a Spa treatment. Whatever your desires are for the day, enjoy yourself at your pace.

Dining for this evening is FORMAL, so dress to the nines and enjoy a little luxury and experience what was once a standard on cruise ships around the world. Formal nights are nice way to elevate your experience and feel like someone special for a night so enjoy yourself and capture the moment with a photograph (either your own or one of the Professional photography locations).

day 3 - juneau, alaska

Good morning and welcome to Juneau, the Capital City of Alaska!

Juneau is home to many unique experiences and one of them is Mendenhall Glacier, the most photographed glacier on the planet. No visit to Juneau is complete without visiting the glacier. Juneau offers a wide range of excursions as well as an abundant selection of pubs, eateries, and shopping that is sure to meet the needs of everyone. If you are looking for a scenic opportunity then look no further than a tram ride to the top of Mount Roberts, which is located right where your ship will be docked, and enjoy the most scenic view of the channel and surrounding area of Juneau.

day 4 - skagway, alaska

Welcome to Skagway - the Gateway to the Yukon!

Skagway is the official starting point for the long, and dangerous, trek to the riches of the Yukon gold fields. This small town is nestled in a picturesque valley that is surrounded by high mountain ranges. Skagway is also loaded with charm, culture, and history that dates back to the wild days of the Yukon gold rush and you can see this everywhere you look while walking about the town. 

There are many optional excursions that you can enjoy and there is plenty of recreational and shopping experiences as well. Enjoy your day in Skagway, and don't forget to sample some of the local food and brews!

day 5 - glacier bay national park & preserve, scenic cruising

Enjoy your day of scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and, if you are an early riser, you will want to be on deck as your ship enters the park. Watching the sunrise as you enter into the park and make your way to terminus of your journey to this glacial wonderland is like no other sunrise experience, it truly is amazing.

Your ship will come to the farthest point of the journey into the park where the Captain will position the ship at the point where the 2 most noted glaciers of the park come together and meet the bay - the Margerie Glacier and the Grand Pacific Glacier. As the ship remains on station, the Captain will put her into a slow rotation so all onboard can see the entire scenic wonders that surround you. And, if you are really lucky, you will be able to experience the thunder of a large piece of ice calving from the face of the glacier. 

Throughout your visit to the park, you will be hearing live narrations from the onboard naturalist about the history of the park and everything you would want to know about the wildlife and eco-system. You will also see several National Park Rangers throughout the ship that are there to provide presentations to the passengers and to answer any questions that you may have. There are even special kids programs with the Rangers while inside the park.

Your adventure here does not end once you leave the park though. As you enter the inner waterways of Icy Strait Point, be on the lookout for Humpback whale activity; this area is a hotspot for whale sightings and I have never been disappointed here. 

A visit to Glacier Bay is one of the single most memorable events that has cruisers book this itinerary over, and over again. 

You will never forget this experience.

day 6 - ketchikan, alaska

Welcome to Ketchikan, Alaska - the Salmon Capital of the World!

Ketchikan is known, globally, for their Salmon production and it is a very active location for travelers who want to try their own hand at Salmon fishing. Ketchikan is also known for its history and lively activities of its early years and the best place to see evidence of this era is by visiting the famous Creek Street District. More famously known as the Brothel area of town, Creek Street is now a mecca for art galleries, small shops, historical venues, and some small pub style eateries, that still includes that old style charm and feel.

Ketchikan is surrounded by Native American cultural sites and is a shoppers paradise for those looking for trinkets and keepsakes. And don't forget to visit the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show if you have the time. This rip roarin' show is a combination of comedic antics and extreme athleticism that is perfect for people of all ages.

day 7 - victoria, british columbia, canada

Beautiful British Columbia and the city of Victoria, Canada.

On this itinerary you will have an evening arrival into Victoria so you may not have many options to see all that there is available. However, you do have long enough in Port to visit the downtown area and there should be some horse-drawn trollies/carriages at the cruise ship terminal that are for hire. 

If you would like to be able to experience more of Victoria, Canada on your cruise, there are other itineraries that deliver much more time in port and with much earlier arrival times.

day 8 - seattle, washington, usa: debarkation day

As you wake this morning you find that your ship has tied-off at the Cruise Terminal and that the crew and shoreside teams have started the process of preparing for their next departure, later in the day. 

You will see a bustling activity level on the ship but you can still enjoy a full breakfast and coffee before you need to check-in for Debarkation. Although your vacation may be coming to an end for this adventure, now is the perfect time to start thinking about what you next adventure will be and get in touch with your Travel Advisor to get started.

In the mean time, travel safely and stay well, and we will see you again soon on the Seas and Oceans for another journey.

other options to enhance your experience

Many first-time cruise travelers miss so much of the total experience from their Alaska cruise vacation and it is primarily due to how they book their trip. It is quite common that most vacations, cruise or otherwise, are booked through one of the several online travel platforms (Expedia, Priceline, Kayak, etc.) and this is where travelers learn the hard way that when you book with one of these platforms you are not going to have anyone share experiences or knowledge with you that can make your overall experience more enjoyable, and, when something comes up that could cause a problem with your travel, they are not in the business of providing assistance or guidance; they don't even have real travel agents, just script readers and guidebook followers. 

When you work with a Professional Travel Advisor you are working with a trained, and often certified and credentialed, professional who not only knows all of the unique requirements of each sector of travel that they work within, they also have abundant hands-on experience as a traveler and they use all of this to bring everything possible to your vacation planning experience. Professional Travel Advisors have access to every piece of information necessary to make your trip more complete, more memorable, and loaded with more value, while also ensuring that you get the best price for your budget.

You have additional vacation enhancement options that can make your travel experience more complete and more memorable, such as:

• Pre-/Post-Cruise Hotel Extensions: perfect, and highly recommended, for anyone who may be traveling from long distances to get to the Port city. Adding a hotel stay at the beginning of the trip allows you to arrive a day, or more, earlier so that you are not rushing to get from point A to point B, and you can also turn your Port city into one of the destination experiences for your trip. By working with your Travel Advisor, you will have access to highly-rated hotels that include special amenities that are extended only to the cruise traveler, when booked through the cruise line versus booking on your own or an independent reservation.
• Many cruise travelers end up taking a taxi or other form of transportation from the airport to the cruise terminal and that often means that they are dragging their baggage around everywhere they go. Your Travel Advisor can arrange ground transportation for you that allows you to turn your baggage over to designated staff at the airport for delivery to your ship, and then you will be transported to the cruise terminal in a more leisurely fashion and without the stress of having to arrange this yourself.
• Your Travel Advisor can carefully curated and recommend the best excursions and experiences that meet your specific wants and needs without you having to do the research and planning on your own. Your Travel Advisor also ensures that the providers/suppliers of these experiences have been carefully vetted and are properly qualified and licensed to provide these services and products.
• When you book on your own, you have to pay for your trip in full at the time of booking. When you work with a Travel Advisor, you have the option of payment in full at booking, the opportunity to finance your trip and pay over time, or the opportunity to pay your minimum required deposit at time of booking with installment payments, on your schedule, to be made upon your request up to final payment due date. This is not something you will ever get if not working through Professional Travel Advisor.
• And there is so much more that a Professional Travel Advisor can do to make your travel experience more complete that you would never know about by going it alone.

All you need to do to get started on planning your next vacation adventure is to reach out to me and let me know what you are looking for and I will help you get there.