Alaska's Inside Passage

Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s scenic capital city. Meet fellow travelers and staff at this evening’s welcome reception.

Spend the day visiting Juneau’s highlights, including the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaska State Museum, with its extensive collection of artifacts from Alaska’s rich multi-cultural history.   Board the Admiralty Dream in late afternoon and meet the captain and crew as we make our way southward into the Inside Passage.

Journey through Tracy Arm Fjord, an area John Muir referred to as “a wild, unfinished Yosemite.” This glacial fjord is renowned for its pristine waterfalls, towering icebergs and granite cliffs rising to 4,000 feet. As ice conditions permit, we'll navigate the entire length of the fjord, stopping in view of both Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers.  Frederick Sound is the feeding ground for hundreds of humpback whales that are famous for behaviors that create incredible viewing and photography opportunities.

Arrive in Wrangell, home to just 2,000 permanent residents, and the only town in Alaska to have been ruled by four nations:  the Tlingit, Russia, England, and the United States. Board covered jet boats for an unforgettable excursion up the nearby Stikine River, the fastest navigable, free-flowing river left in North America. Look out for the abundant wildlife that roams freely here, including moose, brown and black bear, beaver and bald eagles. Enjoy time this afternoon to explore Wrangell on our own.

Visit the Native village of Kake for an introduction to the intriguing culture of the Tlingit.  Meet with tribal members to discuss their approach to preserving Native cultural traditions and their subsistence lifestyle.  See one of the world’s largest totem poles and watch a carving demonstration. Relax on deck this afternoon as we search for humpback whales, pods of orca, Pacific white-sided dolphins and other marine life.

Great marine and bird life opportunities abound as we make our way to tiny George Island, where the open Pacific Ocean mixes with more protected waters, bringing an abundance of nutrients.  Explore by durable inflatable boat, kayak or on foot.  At the top of the island we can see a 10-ton naval gun, which was part of U.S. coastal defenses in WWII. This afternoon, arrive in the Inian Islands, a stunningly beautiful area and site of the Tidelines Institute, a non-profit organization founded by Stanford alumni, whose mission is to educate and inspire rising environmental leaders.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a treasure trove of natural wonders, home to glaciers and snowcapped mountains and teeming with wildlife, including brown and black bears, Steller sea lions, mountain goats, whales and more than 250 species of birds. One of the park’s highlights is the Margerie Glacier, known for its dramatic calving displays. Watching from our ship’s sundeck, experience “white thunder” as immense spires of ice cleave away from the glacier wall and crash into the sea.

Enjoy a full day of exploration around Lake Eva, on the northeastern shore of Baranof Island. Activities may include kayaking, hiking in old growth forest, whale watching, beachcombing, and boat excursions. In the evening, toast our journey at a farewell feast of salmon, Alaskan king crab or prime rib at Fin Lodge, the ship’s exclusive day-lodge on Fin Island, overlooking Sitka Sound.

Arrive in Sitka, located on the west side of Baranof Island, flanked by majestic snow-capped mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Disembark from our ship and transfer to the airport for flights home.