Alaska & British Columbia – Inside Passage, Bears and Aleutian Islands (Southbound)

Begin your adventure in the Emerald City

Your expedition cruise starts with an overnight stay in Seattle. 

If you can, why not arrive early and see what the Emerald City has to offer? Take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go.  

 For a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer's market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers!

Launch your adventure in historical Nome

Today, we'll fly you from Seattle to Nome for the start of your expedition cruise.  

Set at the tip of the Seward Peninsula and overlooking the Bering Sea, Nome is perhaps the most famous Gold-Rush town in Alaskan history. There are artifacts from this era to be seen everywhere, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the-century steam engines, and old railroad tracks. 

Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions, including an attempt to reach the North Pole by air in 1926. It's a fitting place to launch your grand Alaska adventure.

Discover wild nature and remote communities 

Over the next four days, we'll head across the Bering Sea towards Nome. You'll have two exploration days and two days at sea.

For the exploration days, your Captain will choose the best location based on the conditions at the time. Possible destinations include the rugged island of St Paul, home to the largest Unangan community in the US. It's also an Important Bird Area, with species such as the Pribilof Sandpiper and Tufted Puffin nesting here. 

We might also explore wild St. Matthew Island where abandoned buildings lie between black sand beaches and wildflower-dotted tundra. You may even spot the rare McKay's Buntings which breed and nest exclusively on this island. During the sea days, look out for puffins, auklets, and murrelets, especially closer to the coast. If you're lucky, you might glimpse the Red-legged Kittiwake, only found in this part of the world.  

Enjoy panoramic views from our Explorer Lounge & Bar, the infinity pool, or the outdoor hot tubs. Or learn more about the region's geography, climate and birdlife from the Expedition Team in the Science Centre.  

Learn the fascinating history of America's biggest fishing port

The US's largest fishing port, Dutch Harbor is a fascinating place to visit. As we sail towards it you may see Mount Makushin, a sometimes-steaming volcano reaching almost 6,000 ft.  

Here, you'll learn about the local Indigenous Unangax̂ people at the Museum of the Aleutians. Visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral or tour the WWII museum commemorating the battle that took place here in 1942.  

Scout for bald eagles and puffins. Foxes, lemmings and wild horses thrive on land, while whales, sea lions and porpoises command the waters. Dutch Harbor was the filming location of the reality television seriesThe Deadliest Catch, which follows crab fishermen at work under extreme conditions.

Experience a deserted Alaskan town

Wild and deserted, Unga Village is an abandoned yet fascinating settlement on the southern end of Unga Island.  

It was settled by the Unangan people in 1833 but was abandoned in 1969 as subsistence fishing proved insufficient to support living here. Today, the few wooden buildings that remain are the only evidence that people once lived here.  

Pink lousewort, fireweed and other wildflowers surround the abandoned shacks as nature has gradually taken over. Experience the eerie beauty of this place during a nature landing with our small expedition boats. 

Explore rugged scenery in an untamed wilderness

The Alaska Peninsula is an untamed wilderness and a haven for wildlife. The region is characterized by its raw coastal landscapes, towering mountains and secluded bays.  

Join your Expedition Team for close exploration of hidden bays and inlets along the shoreline, offering the opportunity to scout for bears, bald eagles, and marine species like sea otters and humpback whales. Learn about the geological evolution of the region, appreciating how natural forces have sculpted the unique topography around you.

Spot brown bears in Katmai National Park

Your adventure continues in the four-million-acre Katmai National Park, which has over a dozen active volcanoes. Katmai is also home to more than 2,000 protected brown bears – the largest concentration in the world.  

We'll safely scout for bears from the deck or in our small expedition boats. They might be foraging for berries, digging for clams or catching fish in the stream. 

Depending on conditions, we might visit either Geographic Harbor, Kinak Bay or Kukak Bay.  

Explore the home of the Alutiiq people

Kodiak Island, known as the ‘Emerald Isle, features lush temperate forests, mountains, and a rugged coastline. 

Its wetlands are home to a variety of bird species and wildlife, including the island's most iconic residents - Kodiak bears. Around 3,500 of them live in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which covers two-thirds of the island. 

We'll search for whales, sea otters, and seals, and, if we're lucky, catch a glimpse of Kodiak brown bears in their natural habitat, all set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska's wilderness. 

Enjoy a day of relaxation and birdwatching at sea

Your cruise continues across the Gulf of Alaska. It's the ideal time to enjoy onboard facilities such as the infinity pool, hot tubs, and sauna. Go for a run, hit the gym, or enjoy a massage in the spa.  

In the Science Center, the Expedition Team invite you to join lectures about subjects such as Alaska's wildlife, geology, glaciology, history and culture.  

Relax in the Explorer Lounge & Bar and share a drink with your fellow guests, or just sit back and enjoy the view. See if you can spot all three species of North Pacific albatross. The Laysan and black-footed albatross are often sighted, but the short-tailed albatross is harder to spot.

Spot wildlife in these glacier-fed waters

Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall – can be seen from this bay. If conditions allow, you'll explore in our small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.  

From Icy Bay you can admire striking, jagged Mt St Elias, known for its steep vertical relief, it has the second tallest peak in the US and third tallest in the US and Canada at over 18,000 ft. 

In the Gulf of Alaska for we'll scout for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters and harbour seals often seen in these waters.  

Take in Sitka's views and a unique mix of cultures.

Surrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea or air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe volcano.  

Inhabited by theŁingítpeople for 10,000 years, the town was settled by Russian explorers around the turn of the 19th century before being sold to the United States after Russia lost the Crimean War. Today, Sitka has roots in all three cultures.  

A visit to the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House is recommended. Admire ornate Haida andŁingíttotem poles at Sitka National Historical Park and enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.

Visit one of Alaska's oldest harbor towns

We continue cruising the Alaskan islands towards Wrangell.  

The traditional homeland of the Łingít people for 8,000 years, Wrangell has in the past two centuries come under the control of Russia, then Britain, and is now part of the US.  

Visit the local museum to learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past. Cross over to Shakes Island, where the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the story of the Indigenous Łingít people.  

Only one mile out of town, you'll find Petroglyph Beach, which has ancient carvings etched into the large rocks along the shore. Created by the Łingít people, they are believed to be over 1,000 years old. 

Hikers will enjoy the nature trails, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River, and the foot of Mount Dewey at the edge of the temperate rainforest. 

Revel in a wilderness where wildlife thrives

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snowcapped peaks. The revered naturalist writer John Muir described the area as one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen.  

Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in our small expedition boats or take kayaks out. 

Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You'll scan for mountain goats, black and brown bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, orcas and Dall's porpoises. Skyward, you might spot herons and bald eagles.

Enjoy sublime scenery as we sail the Inside Passage

The Inside Passage coastal route takes us through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long. 

Our smaller expedition ship allows us to reach areas that larger vessels can't, meaning you'll get to explore lesser-traveled channels with breathtaking scenery. Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of whales, including humpback, fin, minke and perhaps even orca.

Disembark in British Columbia's iconic city

Your expedition cruise ends in Vancouver, a beautiful city at the foot of the Rockies. Wander Gastown, Vancouver's Victorian quarter or walk around beautiful Stanley Park, which offers a stunning view of the city. 

Vancouver has a flavor all its own—and so does its global cuisine. Before your onward journey, we recommend you dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy for a taste of the city's buzzing atmosphere.