Itinerary
- Day 1
Vancouver
You'll arrive in Vancouver and have time to walk around this seaport city with mountains all around. Head to Gastown to see the Victorian buildings and architecture, then take a trip up to Vancouver Lookout for views across the city. After that, you'll board the MS Roald Amundsen and check out the ship's main areas including the Science Center, workout facilities, and dining options.
Included Activities
- Explore Vancouver neighborhoods and farm-to-table cuisine scene
- Visit Gastown Victorian neighborhood
- Visit Vancouver Lookout for panoramic city views
- Orientation and exploration of MS Roald Amundsen ship facilities
Optional Activities
- Pre-Program: Luxury train trip on Rocky Mountaineer through the Canadian Rockies
Landmarks/POIs Vancouver Lookout Gastown - Day 2
Inside Passage
Your cruise heads through the Inside Passage, a protected coastal route that stretches over 930 miles through Pacific fjords in North America. Because the ship is smaller than typical cruise vessels, you'll reach areas larger ships can't access along quieter channels. Bring your camera ready because dolphins, porpoises, orcas, and humpback whales show up in these waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing through Inside Passage fjordland with scenic viewing
- Wildlife watching for dolphins, porpoises, orcas, and humpback whales
Landmarks/POIs Inside Passage - Day 3
Misty Fjords
You'll explore Misty Fjords, a wild area inside Tongass National Forest with evergreens, waterfalls, and peaks with snow on top. If the weather cooperates, the Expedition Team will take you out on RIB boats or kayaks to get a closer look. Watch for mountain goats, bears, moose, sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, orcas, and bald eagles as you move through the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Misty Fjords via RIBs or kayaks (weather permitting)
- Wildlife viewing and photography in glacier-fed fjord waters
Landmarks/POIs Misty Fjords Tongass National Forest - Day 4
Wrangell
The ship stops at Wrangell, one of Alaska's oldest towns with a long history. Walk to Petroglyph Beach where you can see ancient rock carvings, then go through the local museum to learn how British, Russian, and Tlingit people all shaped this place. Later, head out to Shakes Island to see the Chief Shakes Tribal House and the totem poles there. If you like hiking, trails around Stikine River and Mount Dewey are nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Petroglyph Beach to view ancient rock carvings
- Visit local museum to explore Wrangell's history
- Visit Shakes Island and Chief Shakes Tribal House
- View Tlingit totem poles
- Nature trail hiking at Stikine River and Mount Dewey (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Petroglyph Beach Shakes Island Chief Shakes Tribal House Stikine River Mount Dewey - Day 5
Sitka
You arrive at Sitka, a town you can only reach by water or plane, surrounded by Tongass National Forest. From the ship's deck, you'll see the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe Volcano. In town, check out the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Russian Bishop's House to understand Sitka's mix of Tlingit, Russian, and American cultures. Sitka National Historical Park has ornate totem poles and a trail through the forest that leads to the ocean.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- View Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe Volcano from ship deck
- Visit Russian Orthodox Cathedral
- Visit Russian Bishop's House
- Visit Sitka National Historical Park
- View Haida and Tlingit totem poles
- Walking trail through forest to ocean (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Mount Edgecumbe Volcano Sisters Mountains Russian Orthodox Cathedral Russian Bishop's House Sitka National Historical Park Tongass National Forest - Day 6
Icy Bay
This day focuses on Icy Bay where three glaciers named Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall regularly break apart and fall into the water. Weather allowing, you'll go out by RIB or kayak to see the area up close. The water here is full of humpback whales, orcas, Steller sea lions, sea otters, and harbor seals hanging out on chunks of floating ice.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Icy Bay via RIBs or kayaks (weather permitting)
- Glacier viewing at Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall glaciers
- Wildlife viewing and photography for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, and harbor seals
Landmarks/POIs Icy Bay Guyot Glacier Yahtse Glacier Tyndall Glacier - Day 7
Gulf of Alaska
This is a day for relaxing while the ship crosses the Gulf of Alaska. You can lounge at the infinity pool, sink into the hot tubs, or hit the sauna and track for a run. Down in the Science Center, the Expedition Team gives talks about the region's animals, rocks, and history. Keep an eye out for three types of North Pacific albatross from the deck, especially the harder-to-spot short-tailed kind.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Use of onboard wellness facilities: infinity pool, hot tubs, sauna, gym, running track
- Spa and massage services available
- Expert lectures on wildlife, geology, glaciology, history, and culture
- Social gathering in Explorer Lounge & Bar
- Albatross and seabird watching
Optional Activities
- Spa and wellness treatments
Landmarks/POIs Gulf of Alaska - Day 8
Kodiak Island
You'll check out Kodiak Island, the second-largest island in the US and called the 'Emerald Isle' because of its spruce forests and grasslands. Stop by the Alutiiq Museum to learn about the Indigenous Alutiiq people, or visit the Kodiak History Museum which is inside Alaska's oldest building from 1808. Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park has World War II history, and the island itself is home to roughly 3,500 Kodiak brown bears in the national wildlife refuge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Alutiiq Museum to learn about Indigenous heritage
- Visit 1808 Kodiak History Museum
- Visit Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park with World War II fort and bunkers
- Kodiak brown bear wildlife observation and photography
Landmarks/POIs Alutiiq Museum Kodiak History Museum Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge - Day 9
Katmai National Park
You're heading into Katmai National Park's massive four million acres with over a dozen active volcanoes. More than 2,000 brown bears live here, the largest group anywhere. With an experienced bear guard watching out, you'll spot bears from the ship's deck or from RIBs while they forage for berries, dig for clams, or fish. Depending on conditions, you might go to Geographic Harbor, Kinak Bay, or Kukak Bay, where sea otters, seabirds, and humpback whales also appear.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Brown bear viewing and photography in Katmai National Park with experienced bear guard
- Exploration of Geographic Harbor, Kinak Bay, or Kukak Bay via RIBs (weather permitting)
- Wildlife observation for sea otters, seabirds, and humpback whales
Landmarks/POIs Katmai National Park Geographic Harbor Kinak Bay Kukak Bay - Day 10
Chignik
Chignik is a small fishing settlement on the southern coast of the Unalaska Peninsula. You can go ashore and walk through the village to meet the local fishing community. During summer, salmon swim up the rivers to spawn, so you might catch sight of fish leaping upstream. The area has lots of bald eagles in the sky and bears sometimes wander near the settlement, so watch for their tracks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Chignik village
- Wildlife viewing including leaping salmon, bald eagles, and bears
- Cultural interaction with local fishing community
Landmarks/POIs Chignik - Day 11
Unga Village
You'll visit Unga Village, an abandoned settlement on the southern end of Unga Island. The Aleuts first settled it in 1833, but people left in 1969 when fishing couldn't feed the community anymore. Now pink lousewort, fireweed, and wildflowers cover the ground and grow around the old wooden buildings as nature takes the place back. You'll explore during a RIB boat landing to see what's left.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nature landing and exploration of abandoned Unga Village via RIBs
Landmarks/POIs Unga Village Unga Island - Day 12
Dutch Harbor
You pull into Dutch Harbor, which is America's largest fishing port and sits under a volcano. The Museum of the Aleutians teaches about the local Unungan people, and there's a Russian Orthodox Cathedral to see. The World War II museum covers the 1942 battle that happened here. Look up for bald eagles and puffins, and on land you might spot foxes, lemmings, and wild horses. The water has whales, sea lions, and porpoises. Dutch Harbor is also where the TV show 'The Deadliest Catch' gets filmed.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of the Aleutians to learn about Indigenous Unungan people
- Visit Russian Orthodox Cathedral
- Visit World War II museum
- Wildlife viewing for bald eagles, puffins, foxes, lemmings, wild horses, whales, sea lions, and porpoises
Landmarks/POIs Museum of the Aleutians Russian Orthodox Cathedral - Day 13
Gulf of Alaska
This sea day gives you time to rest and think about your trip as you cruise along the Alaskan coast. Take in the views from the Explorer Lounge & Bar, the infinity pool, or the outdoor hot tubs. Keep scanning for puffins, auklets, murrelets, and if you're lucky, the rare red-legged kittiwake which only lives in this area. The Expedition Team is in the Science Center talking about the region's geography, climate, and birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Use of onboard facilities: Explorer Lounge & Bar, infinity pool, hot tubs
- Seabird watching including puffins, auklets, murrelets, and red-legged kittiwakes
- Expert lectures on regional geography, climate, and birdlife
Landmarks/POIs Gulf of Alaska - Day 14
St. Paul Island
You'll land on St. Paul Island, windswept and home to roughly 400 Aleut people, the largest Aleut community in the US. Check out the historical remains of barabaras, traditional homes built partially underground to handle the strong sea winds. The island is marked as an Important Bird Area where around 300 bird species stop during migration. Look for horned and tufted puffins, the Pribilof sandpiper, and the rare red-legged kittiwake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of St. Paul Island village and culture
- Visit historical barabaras traditional dwellings
- Birdwatching for migrating species including horned puffins, tufted puffins, Pribilof sandpiper, and red-legged kittiwake
Landmarks/POIs St. Paul Island - Day 15
St. Matthew Island
St. Matthew Island is wild, remote, and isolated, sitting 200 miles from the nearest village as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. You'll see old abandoned buildings between black-sand beaches and tundra filled with wildflowers. Only birds live here now: thousands of puffins, murres, and cormorants. During your nature landing, you might see the rare McKay's Bunting which breeds almost only on this island, and hear the unusual call of the singing vole.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nature landing and exploration of St. Matthew Island via RIBs
- Birdwatching for puffins, murres, cormorants, and rare McKay's Bunting
- Viewing of abandoned buildings and wildlife-dotted tundra
Landmarks/POIs St. Matthew Island Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge - Day 16
Bering Sea
You're cruising the Bering Sea with Russia on one side and the United States on the other as you cross the international date line where tomorrow sits to your right and today to your left. Humpback whales and seabirds move through these waters. This is your last full sea day, so kick back and enjoy being onboard. The Expedition Team will sum up the best moments from your Alaskan journey, and the Science Center stays open if you want to keep exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Crossing the international date line
- Humpback whale and seabird viewing
- Expedition Team recap and highlights discussion
- Access to Science Center for final exploration
Landmarks/POIs Bering Sea - Day 17
Nome
You'll explore Nome's gold rush history starting with prospectors who came in 1898 and people still hunt for gold today. Everywhere you look there are signs of that era: old dredges, steam engines from the turn of the century, and railroad tracks that give the town its character. Nome was also where explorer Roald Amundsen ended three of his major polar expeditions, including his 1926 flight toward the North Pole. After leaving the MS Roald Amundsen, you fly back to Vancouver for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Nome and Gold Rush era landmarks
- Viewing of abandoned dredges and historic steam engines
- Disembarkation from MS Roald Amundsen
Landmarks/POIs Nome - Day 18
Vancouver
Your expedition wraps up in Vancouver where you can explore on your own. Spend time at the cafes on Granville Island, head to Richmond's well-known multicultural night market for food stalls, or relax on Kitsilano Beach. There are lots of galleries, museums, events, and shows around the city. If you want to keep going, there's a Post-Program option to the mountain resort Whistler that includes Shannon Falls and a Sea to Sky Gondola ride going up almost 3,000 feet.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Vancouver neighborhoods at leisure
Optional Activities
- Visit Granville Island café culture
- Visit Richmond multicultural night market
- Beach time at Kitsilano Beach
- Galleries, museums, exhibitions, and shows in Vancouver
- Post-Program: Whistler mountain resort visit with Shannon Falls and Sea to Sky Gondola ride (approximately 3,000 feet above sea level)
Landmarks/POIs Granville Island Richmond Night Market Kitsilano Beach Whistler Shannon Falls Sea to Sky Gondola
