This is the Alaska you came to see, and this is the Alaska Cruise West will show you. So close that binoculars are superfluous, and so personal that the memories you take away will last you a lifetime. When Chuck West established his first Alaska tour service in 1946, he knew he wanted to offer something different. Something for people who step forward when others hang back, people who are hungry for new experiences. That's why our maneuverable small ships and knowledgeable Captains take you through narrow channels, into shallow bays, and right up to isolated beaches out of reach of other ships. In fact, you'll often find that you and your shipmates are the only visitors in a picturesque port or wilderness waterway. We take you close enough to feel the mist from a waterfall. Close enough to see the concentration on the face of a whiskery sea otter as he pounds a rock against an oyster balanced on his belly. Close enough to hear the creaks and groans of a calving glacier. And give you the chance to get to know the people of The Great Land - from Chukchi Eskimos to Tsimshian elders. If you, too, hunger for new experiences, then come with us on a journey to Alaska that will touch your soul and send you home forever changed.
Southbound Cruise 8A Day 1 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAUTransfer to the Goldbelt Hotel in preparation for your cruise adventure.
Day 2 - SAIL FROM JUNEAUAlaska’s capital city is in the northern heart of the United States’ largest National Forest. Juneau is the only state capital that is inaccessible by roadways. Even though it is located on the mainland, the surrounding imposing mountains and massive icefield create a community accessible only by air or water. And it takes only minutes to cruise along Gastineau Channel into the wilderness. Some of the best optional excursions in Alaska are available in Juneau. Perhaps a flightseeing trip over the famous Juneau Ice Field, exploring the impressive Mendenhall Glacier. Meet your traveling companions at the hotel to board buses for a quick included tour of the little island of Douglas, once Alaska's largest city. Board the ship to begin your cruise.
Dinner Day 3 - SKAGWAY AND HAINESHistoric Skagway at the northern tip of Lynn Canal was the route to the Yukon for the Klondike Gold Stampeders. Cruise the deep and mysterious emerald-green waters of Lynn Canal, bordered by tall, rugged, snowcapped mountain peaks. Disembark in Skagway, the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Your included tour is a drive and overview in a unique touring car. Tour guides dress in period costumes and are well versed in the raucous stories of this frontier settlement. Wooden sidewalks border historic buildings erected when this boomtown was jammed with thousands of folks lured by gold fever, all eager to ascend the foreboding and treacherous mountain trails to find the elusive mother-lode of gold.
With its strategic location along the Chilkat Trail, the area around Haines has thrived for hundreds of years as an important and integral trade center for the Chilkat band of Tlingit natives, famous for the intricately designed blankets woven with the hair of mountain goats. Haines is also renowned as home to the world’s largest autumnal congregation of bald eagles, with the Chilkat Bald Eagle Reserve located 18 miles from the town.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 4 - UP-CLOSE GLACIER BAY CRUISINGEntering the park in the early morning we’ll pick up a Glacier Bay Park Ranger and a local Tlingit Cultural Interpreter in Bartlett Cove. They will provide a comprehensive day of narrative sightseeing. Over 65 miles of pristine terrain and habitat have been revealed in Glacier Bay since its giant rivers of ice began dramatically retreating 200 years ago. Approach Marble Islands and hurry outside to encounter a teeming multitude of seabirds like black-legged kittiwakes, murrelets and puffins, all swooping and swarming above the writhing, barking haul-out of Steller’s sea lions. We may encounter mountain goats on Gloomy Knob or watch brown and black bears foraging along the shoreline. Look for sea otters and the humpback whales that call Glacier Bay their summer home.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5 - SITKAOn the way to Sitka cruise through a zigzag of beautiful, narrow passageways between Baranof and Chichagof Islands to Sitka, the oldest non-Native settlement in Southeast Alaska. Along the way there is an excellent opportunity to view bald eagles and Sitka black-tailed deer along the shorelines. Sitka is nestled on the shores of Sitka Sound, on the west coast of Baranof Island, protected from the Pacific by lush, forested islands and Mt. Edgecumbe, the “Mount Fuji of the West.” Enjoy a wonderful walk through the Sitka National Historical Park, whose forested beachside trail is lined with a number of finely carved totems. Various optional shore excursions are available in this small coastal community that was once called “The Paris of the Pacific.”
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 6 - TRACY ARM AND FREDERICK SOUNDTravel through Holkham Bay, the mouth of two spectacular, glacier-fed fjords. Crossing the bar, look for signs of the strong currents tugging at the red and green navigational markers and for the many birds that feed on the rich nutrients stirred by these currents. Travel up Tracy Arm, a glacially carved fjord filled with deep, emerald-green seawater, bordered by steep cliffs. The fjord twists and turns for 25 miles. We’ll come as close as safely possible to the face of a glacier and hope for a show of thundering ice splashing seawater hundreds of feet high. Arctic terns may buzz close to the bow, their shrill call warning us to stay away from their nests. We’ll exit Holkham Bay and enter Frederick Sound, the body of water that hosts a world-renowned humpback whale population. Nutrient-rich waters compel large numbers of humpbacks to return from Hawaii every summer to feed and frolic in this region. Look for these magnificent creatures as well as Steller’s sea lions and harbor seals.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 7 - PETERSBURGArrive in picturesque Petersburg at the northern tip of Mitkof Island and disembark for your shore excursions and adventures in Alaska’s “Little Norway,” with a population of about 3,000. Begin with an included celebration at the Sons of Norway Hall, close to where the vessel moors. The Leikarring Dancers perform traditional Norwegian dances in colorful and authentic dress of bright blues accentuated by red, white and yellow embroidered flowers. You will also be treated to an introduction to the community and sample some homemade Norwegian pastries. Explore this tiny seaside fishing community surrounded by 10,000-foot snowcapped mountain peaks jutting from the sea.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 8 - METLAKATLA, MISTY FIORDSAll the important geological and ecological characteristics of Southeast Alaska are found within the 2.3 million acres of Misty Fiords National Monument. Sheer-sided mountains become even more magical shrouded in mist. Mountain goats graze on new grasses. Black and brown bears forage on the bounty of the intertidal zone as they fatten up for their dormant phase of winter. Harbor seals frolic near the estuaries. Seagulls and pigeon guillemots find the perfect nesting sites along glacier-carved granite walls in this tranquil, temperate rainforest.
We cruise into the United States largest national forest. At 17 million acres. The Tongass National Forest is the size of West Virginia and covers 80% of Southeast Alaska. We’ll cruise past the southernmost islands of the Alexander Archipelago, the 1,000 islands that comprise Southeastern Alaska. We’ll have the unique opportunity to visit Metlakatla on Annette Island. In a quest for religious freedom, Father William Duncan and a group of Tsimshian Indians moved 100 miles north of Metlakatla, British Columbia to Annette Island, the site of present day Metlakatla. In 1891, the United States government set aside Annette Island for the exclusive use of the Tsimshian Indians and other Alaska Natives and it is now the only such reservation in Alaska. Tour this community and meet residents, including local artisans. Be honored by a traditional dance performance in traditional Tsimshian regalia in their tribal long house.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 9 - ARRIVE IN KETCHIKANAlaska’s fourth largest city – “The Salmon Capital of the World,” was, until very recently, considered a rough and tumble frontier town supporting a thriving fishing and logging economy. Recently the focus has been less on resource extraction and more on becoming a major tourist destination on the cusp of the Alaskan wilderness.
The town’s backyard consists of mountains that rise sharply from the ocean. Stair streets reflect the upward climb to residences causing one to wonder about everyday logistics like getting groceries home from the market. The town’s front yard is Tongass Narrows, a waterway that separates Revillagigedo, the island on which Ketchikan is located, from the other islands in southern Southeast Alaska: Pennock Island supports a small, roadless community, Gravina Island hosts an international airport, requiring one to take a small commuter ferry in order to fly in or out of town. Annette Island is home to Alaska’s only Native reservation, and Prince of Wales Island is the archipelago’s largest island. This community is also proud of having the largest collection of totem poles in the world and highly acclaimed master carvers. As we cruise Tongass Narrows we have a water view of massive, intricately designed cedar story poles from Totem Bight and/or Saxman, standing as symbolic sentinels of the rich and unique cultural history of coastal First Peoples. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Breakfast Northbound Cruise 7A Day 1 - ARRIVE IN KETCHIKAN AND SET SAILMeet your traveling companions at our hospitality area in the lobby of the hotel. If you have time visit the Southeast Alaska Discovery Museum. A representative from your ship will welcome you at the hospitality area and explain boarding procedures. A motorcoach will transfer you to your ship to begin your cruising adventure in the afternoon
Dinner Day 2 - SPIRIT OF ’98 MISTY FIORDS, ETLAKATLAAll the important geological and ecological characteristics of Southeast Alaska are found within the 2.3 million acres of Misty Fiords National Monument. Steep-sided mountains become even more magical shrouded in mist. Mountain goats graze on new grasses. Black and brown bears forage on the bounty of the intertidal zone as they fatten up for their dormant phase of winter. Harbor seals frolic near the estuaries. Seagulls and pigeon guillemots find the perfect nesting sites along glacier-carved granite walls in this tranquil, temperate rainforest. We cruise into the United States largest national forest. At 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is the size of West Virginia and covers 80 percent of Southeast Alaska. We’ll cruise past the southernmost islands of the Alexander Archipelago, the 1,000 islands that comprise Southeastern Alaska. We’ll have the unique opportunity to visit Metlakatla on Annette Island. In a quest for religious freedom, Father William Duncan and a group of Tsimshian Indians moved 100 miles north of Metlakatla, British Columbia to Annette Island, the site of present day Metlakatla. In 1891, the United States government set aside Annette Island for the exclusive use of the Tsimshian Indians and other Alaska Natives and it is now the only such reservation in Alaska. Tour this community and meet residents, including local artisans. Be honored by a traditional dance performance in traditional Tsimshian regalia in their tribal long house.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 3 - PETERSBURGArrive in picturesque Petersburg at the northern tip of Mitkof Island and disembark for your shore excursions and adventures in Alaska’s “Little Norway,” with a population of about 3,000. Begin with an included celebration at the Sons of Norway Hall, close to where the vessel moors. The Leikarring Dancers perform traditional Norwegian dances in colorful and authentic dress of bright blues accentuated by red, white and yellow embroidered flowers. You will also be treated to an introduction to the community and sample some homemade Norwegian pastries. Explore this tiny seaside fishing community surrounded by 10,000-foot snowcapped mountain peaks jutting from the sea.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 4 - FREDERICK SOUND AND TRACY ARM Travel through Holkham Bay, the mouth of 2 spectacular, glacier-fed fjords. Crossing the bar, look for signs of the strong currents tugging at the red and green navigational markers and for the many birds that feed on the rich nutrients stirred by these currents. Travel up Tracy Arm, a glacially carved fjord filled with deep, emerald-green seawater, bordered by steep cliffs. The fjord twists and turns for 25 miles. We’ll come as close as safely possible to the face of a glacier and hope for a show of thundering ice splashing seawater hundreds of feet high. Arctic terns may buzz close to the bow, their shrill call warning us to stay away from their nests. We’ll exit Holkham Bay and enter Frederick Sound, the body of water that hosts a world-renowned humpback whale population. Nutrient-rich waters compel large numbers of humpbacks to return from Hawaii every summer to feed and frolic in this region. Look for these magnificent creatures as well as Steller’s sea lions and harbor seals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5 - SITKAOn the way to Sitka cruise through a zigzag of beautiful, narrow passageways between Baranof and Chichagof Islands to Sitka, the oldest non-Native settlement in Southeast Alaska. Along the way there is an excellent opportunity to view bald eagles and Sitka black-tailed deer along the shorelines. Also look for sea otters feeding on sea urchins and floating close to protective kelp beds. Sitka is nestled on the shores of Sitka Sound, on the west coast of Baranof Island, protected from the Pacific by lush, forested islands and Mt. Edgecumbe, the “Mount Fuji of the West.” Enjoy a wonderful walk through the Sitka National Historical Park, whose forested beachside trail is lined with a number of finely carved totems. Various optional shore excursions are available in this small coastal community that was once called “The Paris of the Pacific.”
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 6 - GLACIER BAY CRUISINGEntering the park in the early morning we’ll pick up a Glacier Bay Park Ranger and a local Tlingit Cultural Interpreter in Bartlett Cove. They will provide a comprehensive day of narrative sightseeing. Over 65 miles of pristine terrain and habitat have been revealed in Glacier Bay since its giant rivers of ice began dramatically retreating 200 years ago. Approach Marble Islands and hurry outside to encounter a teeming multitude of seabirds like black-legged kittiwakes, murrelets and puffins, all swooping and swarming above the writhing, barking haul-out of Steller’s sea lions. We may encounter mountain goats on Gloomy Knob or watch brown and black bears foraging along the shoreline. Look for sea otters and the humpback whales that call Glacier Bay their summer home.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 7 - SKAGWAY AND HAINESCruise the deep and mysterious emerald-green waters of Lynn Canal, bordered by tall, rugged, snowcapped mountain peaks. Disembark in Skagway, the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Your included tour is a drive and overview in a unique touring car. Tour guides dress in period costumes and are well versed in the raucous stories of this frontier settlement. Wooden sidewalks border historic buildings erected when this boomtown was jammed with thousands of folks lured by gold fever, all eager to ascend the foreboding and treacherous mountain trails to find the elusive mother-lode of gold. With its strategic location along the Chilkat Trail, the area around Haines has thrived for hundreds of years as an important and integral trade center for the Chilkat band of Tlingit natives, famous for the intricately designed blankets woven with the hair of mountain goats. Haines is also renowned as home to the world’s largest autumnal congregation of bald eagles, with the Chilkat Bald Eagle Reserve located 18 miles from the town.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 8 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAUTransfer to the Goldbelt Hotel. Explore Alaska’s charming capital city. A vast array of optional activities includes flightseeing, kayaking, and salmon bakes.
Breakfast Day 9 - DEPARTTransfer to the airport for your flight home.
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