Alaska’s Inside Passage: Fjords of the Great Land

Set sail from Vancouver

Your expedition cruise 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. Arrive early and 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. 

After embarking MS Roald Amundsen, settle in and take your time to get to know the ship before listening to the safety briefing. Then enjoy a welcome dinner and relax – your adventure is underway. 

Look out for marine wildlife as we cruise 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.  

We’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 our passage is somewhat protected from the open ocean by the island of Haida Gwaii. As we sail, look out for wildlife including humpback whales, orcas, fin whales, minke whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins. 

Revel in a wilderness where wildlife thrives  

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreen trees, roaring waterfalls, and snowcapped 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 our small expedition boats, or you’ll explore in a kayak. 

Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. As we 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, harbor seals, orcas, and Dall’s porpoises. Skyward, you might spot herons and bald eagles.

Discover Klawock’s Native heritage

Today we visit Klawock, which is 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 center for Łingít culture, the island’s original name 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.

Explore the scenic bays of Chatham Strait

Start your day looking out for whales in the pristine waters of Frederick Sound. Today is an exploration day, so the Captain and Expedition Team will use their expertise to choose the best destination.  

We might take to the water in our expedition boats and investigate the secluded coves and forested shorelines of the 150-mile-long Chatham Strait, or perhaps opportunities for kayaking will present themselves if the conditions are right. Wherever we explore, keep a lookout for wildlife like bald eagles, bears, and humpback whales, which can be spotted in this region.

Embrace the thrill of wild Alaska

Today is another day of exploration as we sail into Icy Strait and take a closer look at some of the islands and islets. As ever – we will gauge the weather conditions and wildlife spotting opportunities to decide upon the best location.   

Using our expedition boats, we may get close to some of the rocky shores here, and it’s possible we may land and take a nature walk. The coast in this region grows more rugged the closer we get to the open sea, and there are rocky pinnacles and sea caves galore. Keep an eye out for whales, as well as sea lions, orcas, and bald eagles.

Spot wildlife in these glacier-fed waters

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 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 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, we’ll scout for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, and harbour seals which are often seen in these waters. 

Learn about the rich history of Valdez

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 you’ll learn about the history of Alaska’s Bush Pilots. As we travel around this region, look out for wildlife such as beavers, moose, and bears.

Get ready to experience nature’s raw power

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 best location for the day based on the conditions. 

We’ll get as close to the glaciers as we safely can, taking our 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.

Travel inland to Anchorage through spectacular scenery

Your expedition cruise ends in Seward, the only deep-water, ice-free port with road, rail and air connections to Alaska’s interior. Keep your eyes open as we cruise into Resurrection Bay as the area is known for its population of beluga whales. 

Seward is a picturesque seaside town nestled on an inlet on the Kenai Peninsula. Surrounded by towering mountain peaks, Seward is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and offers numerous trails for hiking enthusiasts. To get the most out of your stay, we recommend joining our optional Post-Programme.