Alaska Cruise Inside Passage

The Inside Passage lets you experience Alaska from one of its most beautiful perspectives: the water. Setting sail from Vancouver, you’ll cruise past a coastline dotted with islands, through fjords carved out by glaciers and across vast temperate rainforests. Along the way, it’s not just the next port of call that’s something to look forward to. The days spent on the water are also part of the experience, with ever-changing landscapes and opportunities to spot wildlife.

This sample itinerary takes you from Vancouver to Alaska and back in eight days. You’ll go ashore in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, sail through Glacier Bay and follow the Inside Passage on both the outward and return journeys. This way, charming towns and the history of Alaska are interspersed with days when fjords, glaciers and the rugged coastline take centre stage.

Sail to places
you’d never otherwise get to.

Day 1 – Vancouver
Your journey begins amidst the mountains and waters of Vancouver. Feel free to arrive a little early to explore Stanley Park, Granville Island and Gastown before you board. As soon as the ship leaves Vancouver behind, the journey begins northwards towards Alaska.

Day 2 – Inside Passage
Today, the cruise route itself is the destination. The ship follows the sheltered waterways of the Inside Passage, past islands, fjords and temperate rainforests along the coast. Keep an eye on the water and the coastline too: according to Holland America, humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles and brown bears are among the wildlife that can be spotted in this region.

Day 3 – Juneau
Surrounded by mountains and water lies Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Its location makes the city a great base from which to explore the surrounding natural beauty. On this itinerary, you’ll arrive in the afternoon and stay until late in the evening, giving you plenty of time to decide for yourself how to spend your time here.

Day 4 – Skagway
In Skagway, you’ll delve into the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. Around the turn of the 20th century, this place served as a gateway for gold prospectors heading for the Klondike. Today, that past remains an important part of Skagway’s character.

Day 5 – Glacier Bay
Today, you won’t need to go ashore to experience one of the highlights of the trip. The ship sails into Glacier Bay, where fjords, mountains and glaciers dominate the view. The exact route and timing depend on weather and ice conditions, meaning that nature literally helps determine how the day unfolds.

Day 6 – Ketchikan
In Ketchikan, you’ll discover yet another side of Alaska. Historic totem poles and galleries featuring indigenous art offer a glimpse into Alaska’s indigenous culture. After several days spent amidst nature and glaciers, this stop once again focuses on the region’s culture and history.

Day 7 – Inside Passage
On the return journey to Canada, you’ll sail through the Inside Passage once more. Just one more full day where all you really need to do is look out of the window: islands, fjords and the green coastline glide slowly past as the ship continues southwards.

Day 8 – Vancouver
After seven nights at sea, you’ll arrive back in Vancouver. Stay on for a few more days to explore the city further, or follow up your cruise with a tour of Western Canada.

As this cruise starts and ends in Vancouver, you can easily combine it with a longer stay in Canada. Explore Vancouver before or after the cruise, or travel further through British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. This means a week in Alaska from the water can form the perfect part of a more extensive tour.

The itinerary above is an example. The exact route, ports of call, duration of the trip, cruise line and ship may vary depending on the departure date.

Do you dream of a cruise to Alaska? Please feel free to get in touch with us.
We’ll listen to your wishes and work with you to plan a trip that’s perfectly tailored to you.