21 Day Inspiring Canadian Rockies & Alaska Explorer Cruise

Welcome to Calgary!

Upon checking-in, you have the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Calgary International Airport (YYC) is located approximately 20km from downtown Calgary. There are a range of transportation options available. Taxis are available for approximately CAD$45-55 per vehicle.

Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.

This morning, we gather with our fellow travellers over breakfast before embarking on a captivating exploration of Calgary's landmarks, both modern and historic. From the iconic Calgary Tower to the storied Fort Calgary and the imposing skyscrapers of the bustling commercial district, we marvel at the city's diverse architectural tapestry.

As we bid farewell to Calgary, our gaze shifts towards the majestic Rocky Mountains, looming on the distant horizon. Prepare to be enchanted as we traverse through the picturesque foothills, gradually entering the breathtaking expanse of Banff National Park.

Our journey through Banff National Park is a feast for the senses, encompassing highlights such as the charming Banff town site, the commanding presence of Tunnel Mountain, and the awe-inspiring vista of the Banff Springs Hotel. Delight in the natural wonders of Johnston Canyon and the peculiar formations of the Hoodoos, before cruising along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway. Our adventure culminates at the renowned Lake Louise, offering an unforgettable rendezvous with one of the world's most iconic alpine lakes. We return to Banff whilst looking out for bears and moose, before retiring to our hotel in the heart of Banff.

After a delicious breakfast, begin your northward journey along the Icefields Parkway, where you'll be enchanted by an array of breathtaking landscapes. Admire the shimmering blue-green lakes, meandering mountain streams, lush forests, and majestic snow-capped peaks that dominate the scenery.

Alternatively, you may opt for a leisurely day in Banff, allowing you to explore the townsite further and fully embrace the mountain lifestyle.

Today's journey takes us along the renowned TransCanada Highway, tracing the path originally charted by railroad engineers and fur traders in the mid-1800s.

Our route traverses Kicking Horse Pass, guiding us from the Rockies into the picturesque Columbia River Valley, before ascending through Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. The Selkirk Mountains, known for their abundant winter snowfall, boast more than one hundred active avalanche zones.

Continuing onward, we navigate through the majestic Monashee Mountain Range, eventually arriving at the rugged interior town of Vernon.

Today marks our departure from the Okanagan Valley and its majestic mountains as we journey through the lower mainland. Few routes in Canada offer such a diverse range of vegetation in such a compact distance as Highway 3 between Osoyoos and Tashima. At the western end, lush rainforests abound, while to the east lies a desert landscape where prickly pear cacti thrive. Our route takes us along the Coquihalla Highway before arriving in Vancouver.

Indulge in a captivating sightseeing expedition of Vancouver, showcasing iconic attractions including Stanley Park with its renowned totem pole collection, picturesque English Bay, the vibrant ambiance of Robson Street, historic Gastown, bustling Chinatown, and the majestic Canada Place and Cruise Ship Pier.

The afternoon and evening is at leisure in Vancouver. There are countless restaurants, shops and bars within walking distance from your centrally located hotel. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to provide recommendations.

This morning offers you an opportunity for any final shopping endeavours in Canada before your transfer to the Vancouver Cruise Terminal for your voyage to Alaska. Your included transfer to the cruise port departs around 1pm.

Upon checking in to the cruise, commence your exploration of the myriad amenities aboard your ship.

Alaska is part of the USA and an ESTA or Visa may be required. 

Please note that ports of call may vary depending on ship schedules and sailing dates.

Relax and enjoy a full day of scenic Inside Passage cruising and immerse yourself in Holland America Line elegance. 

We arrive into our first port of Ketchikan at 7am this morning. 

Alaska's "First City" of Ketchikan is so named because it’s the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. 

Ketchikan has long been an important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries. Visitors can try their luck on a sportfishing  or simply savour the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants on a cruise to Ketchikan excursion. Ketchikanis also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. You can see intricately carved totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center and Totem Bight State Park, while the attractions of Saxman Village just outside of Ketchikan offers the chance to see Tlingit culture in action, with working carvers and a dance show in the clan house. On an Alaska cruise to Ketchikan don't forget to leave time to explore the sights in the town itself, including historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over the Ketchikan Creek, where you can shop for souvenirs, smoked salmon and local art, while exploring gold rush­–era tourist attractions like Dolly’s House Museum.

Arriving in Juneau at 10am, enjoy a full day of exploring Alaska's capital.

Juneau is known for its outdoor recreation, fresh seafood and fine dining. The city itself is pleasant, but the real highlight of a visit to Juneau is tracking down some wildlife. You can hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles. Most sightseeing and whale-watching tours head north to Auke Bay—bring a good pair of binoculars to get the best view of these majestic and surprisingly graceful creatures. If you prefer land mammals, catch a floatplane to a nearby wildlife reserve such as Chichagof or Admiralty Island to spy some bears lolling around on Alaska cruise excursion.

The sleepy, misty city of around 32,000—mostly fishermen and small-business owners—has a frontier town vibe, but welcomes more than a million visitors each summer to its natural attractions, cementing Juneau as Alaska’s number-one tourist destination. 

Step back to the days of the last great gold rush as we arrive into Skagway at 7am this morning. 

At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the port town of Skagway served as the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields, and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement. It was then a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway—but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colourful history, pristine wildlife and unrivalled natural beauty.

At every turn, you’ll find yourself immersed in gold rush lore, from the infamous Red Onion Saloon that still keeps a pistol that Wyatt Earp left behind en route to the Klondike, to the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, a classic narrow-gauge railway that traverses rugged mountains and passes cascading waterfalls and towering glaciers as it connects Skagway to Whitehorse deep in the Yukon. Known as the "Garden City of Alaska," Skagway is filled with beauty and nature.

Cruise the ice-studded fjords of this national treasure for a full eight hours as a Park Service Ranger narrates.

On your cruise to Glacier Bay, close your eyes and take in the sounds—the creaks and groans of  “living” ice, the shrill cries of gulls and soaring eagles, the splash of a breaching humpback whale. Frosted peaks towering over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers (there are seven in the park), and marine wildlife are givens on Glacier Bay cruises, but every experience in this changing biosphere is unique.

Scenic cruising College Fjord will bring you close to many glaciers—there’s even a spot where you can see eight at once. Your chances of watching ice thunder into the water is high, as the Prince William Sound is one of the most active areas for calving.

Out of all Alaska fjords, College Fjord is the most storied. The Harriman Expedition of 1899 with John Muir and other notable scientists traversed the College Fjord aboard the George W. Elder, funded by Ivy League colleges. All of the glaciers were named for various schools. As you travel into College Fjord, the glaciers on the left are named for women's colleges and those on the right are named for men's colleges. The names are Amherst, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Harvard, Smith, Vassar, and Yale.

Harvard Glacier is the biggest – its face is a mile and a half across. In case you’re wondering, it is rumoured that the scientists snubbed Princeton.

This remote village lies along the breathtaking shores of Prince William Sound, a habitat rich with wildlife such as bald eagles, sea otters, and orcas, so be sure to keep your camera close. Whittier is uniquely known for having nearly everything under one roof, meaning residents don’t need to drive to reach the grocery store, bank, or a neighbour’s home. This arrangement protects the community from frequently harsh weather, and nearly all of Whittier’s 220 residents live in the 14-story Begich Towers, originally built as a Cold War facility for the U.S. Army. On an Alaska cruise stop, you’ll experience Whittier’s small-town charm and can enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, scuba diving, and kayaking. The area is also famous for its high concentration of glaciers.

A cruising day today and one to savour – sailing towards Hubbard Glacier is an incredible feeling. The glacier is up to 65 metres wide at its face and 50 metres tall, but that’s only the tiniest piece of the ice: The main channel of this frozen river begins 122 kilometres back, pouring down from around the 3400-metre mark off the shoulder of Mt. Walsh. The deep blue of the face of the glacier on a sunny day is simply dazzling.

The glacier is on the move. Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier (meaning it ends at the ocean) in North America. But unlike nearly every other tidewater glacier on the continent, Hubbard is advancing, not retreating; it’s forever pushing a little further into the bay. Chunks of ice that break off become floaties for seals.

You might like to take the option of boarding an expedition vessel for Hubbard Glacier, cruising near the rocky shoreline and weaving through a maze of icebergs.

Enjoy your second visit to Glacier Bay today. 

With the serene grandeur of snow-dusted, forested mountains lining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park boasts some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery. Keep your binoculars and camera ready as you cruise to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, where you might witness the spectacular sight of ice calving. Glacier Bay teems with wildlife, so stay alert—you may glimpse a humpback whale’s fluke rising from the water or catch sight of a solitary brown bear on a windswept beach.

Local experts come aboard to enrich this experience, offering insights into the natural wonders and cultural heritage of the area. As an authorised concessioner for Glacier Bay National Park, Holland America partners with rangers and Huna Tlingit guides, who provide a deeper understanding of this diverse ecosystem and ancient culture. By the time you leave this 3.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site, your bucket list will be shorter and your appreciation for this remarkable place even greater.

We return to Skagway today and enjoy another opportunity to explore this town and surroundings.

Skagway is a charming Alaskan town steeped in gold rush history. Once a bustling gateway to the Klondike, it now offers visitors a step back in time with its well-preserved historic buildings and wooden sidewalks. The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway provides a breathtaking journey through stunning mountain scenery, while the Chilkoot Trail offers a challenging hike for adventurous souls. Beyond its rich past, Skagway also offers opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, with kayaking, fishing, and wildlife viewing being popular activities.

We are back in Juneau today. You have the chance of taking a different shore excursion to further your exploration of this remarkable region. 

We revisit Ketchikan today. If you took a shore excursion when we were here last, why not spend some time exploring this quaint town. Otherwise, take another shore excursion to learn more about this region. 

Today is a full day to relax and enjoy the many activities, restaurants and entertainment your ship has to offer whilst cruising the stunning Inside Passage.

Welcome back to Vancouver. Your ship will arrive in port at approximately 7:00AM this morning. At the appropriate time, disembark your Alaska cruise and make your own way to the airport for your onward flight. We hope you have had an unforgettable experience in Canada.

Vancouver's Canada Place Cruise Terminal is located approximately 15kms from Vancouver International Airport. There are a range of transportation options available. Taxis are readily available and will cost approximately $35-45. The Skytrain is also available to the airport from Waterfront Station, located approximately 150 metres from the Cruise Terminal.

Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.