ALASKA'S INSIDE PASSAGE ITINERARY:
• 1. Embark Juneau
Tour begins: Juneau Airport. A transfer is included from
Juneau International Airport to the dock where embarkation
aboard the Spirit of Yorktown begins at 4:00 PM. Accessible only
by air or water, Juneau is the most remote state capital and is
a walker’s delight. You may wish to stroll through town and see
the State House or the Governor’s Mansion before meeting your
fellow travelers at dinner. Meals D
• 2. Skagway / White Pass Rail
Skagway is a lively Gay-Nineties town that served as a
gateway to the Yukon during the gold rush of 1898. Its history
is preserved today in the town’s wooden sidewalks, original
frame buildings and colorful saloons. Arrive early morning and
board a restored 1890 parlor car of the famous White Pass &
Yukon Route. The route follows that of the gold rushers along
the narrow gauge tracks built at the height of the Klondike Gold
Rush; view Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse
Gulch prior to returning to Skagway. Spirit of Yorktown remains
dockside throughout the evening, then sails to Haines, located
on the shores of America’s longest fjord. Meals BLD
• 3. Haines / River Rafting
Dock at Haines, with the jagged “Cathedral Peaks” of the
Chilkat Mountains as a backdrop, and the Chilkoot Inlet lapping
at its shores. The highlight of your visit will be rafting
through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, where you will be able
to see America’s iconic emblem, the American Bald Eagle. As you
silently float along the river, eagles can be seen perched in
the shoreline trees; be on the lookout for bears and wolves that
roam the riverbanks! Set sail once again this afternoon, heading
for Frederick Sound and the rocky palisades of Tracy Arm. Meals
BLD
• 4. Tracy Arm Fjord / Frederick Sound
Your ship enters beautiful Tracy Arm Fjord this morning.
Amidst the tranquil turquoise water, view the luminous blues and
greens of Sawyer Glacier at the head of the fjord – listen for
ice calving! Cruise through Frederick Sound, home to one of
Alaska’s largest populations of humpback whales. Whether on
deck, dining, relaxing in the observation lounge or your
stateroom, the Spirit of Yorktown, with its enormous picture
windows, affords wonderful viewing of the panoramic scenery.
Meals BLD
• 5. Discover Sitka
En route to Sitka, skirt the nearby shores of Peril Strait
and Whitestone Narrows. Sitka once belonged to the Russians as
part of their fur-trading empire that extended to northern
California. Visit small, wood-framed St. Michael’s Cathedral,
the center of the Russian Orthodox religion in Alaska. View
hawks and magnificent eagles close-up at the Alaska Raptor
Rehabilitation Center, and see the totems at Sitka National
Historic Park. Time and weather permitting, you’ll have a chance
to take an optional kayak adventure at an additional charge.
Meals BLD
• 6. Icy Strait / Bartlett Cove
There is a possibility for spectacular wildlife viewing as
you cruise through Icy Strait, where humpback whales are often
seen swimming. Arrive in Bartlett Cove, headquarters for Glacier
Bay National Park. Nestled along a tree-crowned shoreline, there
are trails and boardwalks for nature walks – a rare opportunity
to explore a place that most cruise ships don’t visit! Meals BLD
• 7. Glacier Bay – Day at Sea
A National Park Service ranger boards Spirit of Yorktown
early today to provide a running commentary on the glacial
landscapes and the wildlife that call Glacier Bay home.
Tidewater glaciers are moving rivers of ice found at the heads
of fjords and inlets, terminating at the sea; when these
tidewater glaciers calve, sections of ice crash to the water in
spectacular fashion. As you cruise Glacier Bay, watch for bears,
mountain goats, and perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime sighting of the
enormous humpback whale. Meals BLD
8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Juneau. Disembark by 9:00 AM; fly home any time.
A transfer is included from the dock to Juneau International
Airport for all flights departing as early as 6:00 AM; allow a
minimum of two hours for flight check-in. For additional nights
in Juneau, ask at time of booking. Meals B
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