Day 1 - Depart aboard Holland America's ms Ryndam OR ms Statendam
This afternoon, you will set sail for new adventures on board the exciting ms Ryndam or ms Statendam. The ships dazzles guests with more of everything they desire on a cruise ship: more staterooms with verandahs for private dining, sunning and relaxing more dining choices from fancy dress-up dinners to casual pool-side dining more ways to be pampered in The Greenhouse Spa and Salon. These spectacular cruise ships delight guests with unforgettable onboard experiences.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 2 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Today is at sea. Journey deep into one of nature's most isolated monuments accessible only by sea and air and encounter the magnificence of the Ice Age as you slowly glide through the Inside Passage. Expect the unexpected on your Alaska cruise - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. With guaranteed views of sky-splitting peaks, glaciers and vast wilderness.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 3 - Tracy Arm & Juneau, Alaska
In the morning you will cruise through this narrow, 26-mile long fjord is another of Alaska's most dramatic glacier settings. Stand on deck as the lush forest recedes and you enter a stunning canyon of bare rock. The panorama of 7,000 foot mountain peaks and nearly vertical rock cliffs is astounding. Waterfalls appear at every turn. Icebergs make their way to the sea in all sorts of wondrous shapes. And tucked away at the end of this remarkable waterway are two very active reminders of the Ice Age - the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The face of the South Sawyer Glacier stretches one-third of a mile and calves icebergs big and small. Harbour seals dot the floating platforms. Kittiwakes and mountain goats are a common sight. Whales and bears may even make an appearance in this magical place where closeness and intimacy make visitors a part of the scene.
In the afternoon, arrive Juneau. For years Juneau's livelihood, like that of many cities in Alaska, was tied to mining. The city itself is built on tailings from the A-J mine whose shafts perforate the hillside above town. Because it is Alaska's capital, Juneau prospers through government work and tourism. This is a great place to sample salmon baked over an alderwood fire, pan for gold, and hike the massive Juneau Icefield. If you feel the need for speed, hop on a sled and let a dog team pull you across the surface of a glacier. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Alaska-style Salmon Bake, Glacier View Sea Kayaking, Gold Panning at Gold Creek.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 4 - Skagway, Alaska
The sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway come winter, so you can only imagine the frightful conditions endured by the gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, with a mandatory ton of supplies to be hauled with them over the steep and treacherous Trail of '98. 21st-century summertime visits to Skagway require nothing of the sort, but you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces, past Deadhorse Gulch, to see what it was like back then. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): White Pass Summit Scenic Railway, Glacier Country Flightseeing, Best of Skagway Tour.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 5 - Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising
Cloistered in the rocky recesses of Alaska, Glacier Bay is a world still emerging from the Ice Age. Sixteen dazzling tidewater glaciers creep back and forth by millimeters, chiseling great masses of moraine onto their pristine surfaces.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 6 - Ketchikan, Alaska
In the heart of the Tongass National Forest, immerse yourself in Tlingit Indian culture and view the world's largest collection of totem poles kayak the colorful waterfront and stroll the boardwalk that once led to Ketchikan's red light district. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Saxman Native Village, Backcountry Jeep & Canoe Safari, Ketchikan Motorcycle Tour.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 7 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Today is at sea as you continue your cruise back to Vancouver. You set the pace and choose your pleasure: Start your day early with a brisk walk around the teak deck or enjoy a long, lazy morning with breakfast served in your stateroom. Relax away the afternoon by the pool or participate in one of many classes or speaker presentations. Dress for another stylish dinner or enjoy an excellent meal at one of our more casual restaurants. In the evening, watch a great show, try your luck in the casino or dance into a moonlit night at sea.
Deluxe: Overnight ms Ryndam or ms Statendam - various categories available
Day 8 - Arrive Vancouver
Arrive back into Vancouver in the early morning. Upon arrival, transfer (on own) to the Vancouver International Airport in time for your flight departure home.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 7 night Alaska Glacier Bay Holland America cruise aboard the ms Ryndam or ms Statendam including most meals & entertainment onboard ship
- Port Charges
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Shore Excursions
- Taxes (approximately $115 USD)
- Fuel Surcharges (approximately $5.25 - $5.90 USD per person/per day)
- Optional programs & activities
- Alcoholic beverages & soft drinks
- Spa Treatments
- Transfers to and from the cruise ship
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)