Deal

Your adventure starts in Vancouver. A bustling and beautiful seaport city set against steep mountains. Vancouver’s various neighbourhoods buzz with world-class farm-to-table cuisine. Wander Gastown, Vancouver’s Victorian quarter or walk around beautiful Stanley Park, which offers a view of the city and a glimpse of the stunning nature you’ll see on the voyage. Why not arrive early and take advantage of everything Vancouver has to offer. Your expedition ship MS Roald Amundsen awaits you at the pier. Settle in and take your time to get to know the ship before listening to the safety briefing.

The Inside Passage coastal route takes us through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long. You’ll be sailing outside of the protected fjords into open waters, up Queen Charlotte Sound and Hecate Strait. This is a day at sea, and the passage is somewhat protected from the open ocean by the island of Haida Gwaii. As you sail, look out for wildlife including humpback whales, orcas, fin whales, minke whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins.

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreen trees, roaring waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. The revered naturalist 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 the small expedition boats, or explore in a kayak. Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. As you explore, scan the shores and forests for black and brown bears, as well as moose. These waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall’s porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles.

Today you visit Klawock, beautifully situated on the western shore of Prince of Wales Island. The small town has a population of around 700 and is known for its array of totem poles. A centre for Łingít culture, the original name of the island was ‘Taan’ meaning sea lion. At the Totem Park you’ll see 21 exquisitely carved examples, some of them replicas of the originals that stood in the winter village of Tuxecan.

Start your day looking out for whales in the pristine waters of Frederick Sound. The next two days are exploration days, so the Captain and Expedition Team will use their expertise to choose the most suitable destination.

You might go ashore for a nature landing, take to the water in the expedition boats and investigate the secluded coves and forested shorelines of the 150-mile-long Chatham Strait, or sail into Icy Strait, where opportunities for kayaking may present themselves if the conditions are right. Wherever you explore, keep a lookout for wildlife as bald eagles, bears and humpback whales can be spotted in this region. As ever, you will gauge the weather conditions and wildlife spotting opportunities to decide upon the most suitable location.

Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall – each feed ice into the bay’s waters to give it its name. If conditions allow, you’ll explore in the small expedition boats or by kayak, engrossing 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 is 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, you’ll scout for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, and harbour seals which are often seen in these waters.

Today you’ll see a region that was in the news for all the wrong reasons when the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in 1989, but which today has made a remarkable recovery. After significant clean-up efforts, the coastline has largely recovered, a testament to what can be done to heal damaged ecosystems. On a visit to the Valdez Museum, you’ll see exhibits of Native Alaskan art and culture as well as artifacts from the Gold Rush era, and learn about the history of Alaska’s Bush Pilots. As you travel around this region, look out for wildlife such as beavers, moose and bears.

Today is a day all about glaciers. Prince William Sound is home to 150 of these amazing rivers of ice, including 17 incredible tidewater glaciers. Your Captain will choose the most optimal location for the day based on the conditions. You’ll get as close to the glaciers as you safely can, taking the small expedition boats into the fjord or even exploring by kayak if conditions permit. From the water, you might catch sight of humpback whales, Bald Eagles, otters and harbor seals, all of which inhabit this icy wilderness.