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11 Night Alaska Nature on a Grand Scale Cruise from Vancouver

Ship: Le Soleal

Cruise Line: Ponant Cruises

Sailed: Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 from Vancouver, Canada

Ended: Monday, Sep 9, 2024

The itinerary information below reflects the original day-by-day port of call schedule for the Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 departure of the Le Soleal. If Ponant Cruises modified this itinerary for weather or operational reasons after departing , the modified schedule would not be reflected here.

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Itinerary

Day by Day Summary and Map

Day 1 - Thursday - Aug 29, 2024

Vancouver, Canada

Depart: 6:00 pm

Verdant and cosmopolitan, Vancouver is one of Canada's most multi-cultural cities. Located in British Columbia on Canada's west coast, it's surrounded by mountains and outdoor activities are popular. In the city, you can immerse yourself in the Asian atmosphere of bustling Chinatown, shop for pashminas and silk saris at the Punjabi Market district, and explore the historic area of Gastown. Vancouver Art Gallery is known for works by regional artists, while the Museum of Anthropology houses important First Nations collections. Granville Island is a fascinating revitalised industrial area that hosts galleries, restaurants, and a large produce market.

Day 2 - Friday - Aug 30, 2024

Cruising Johnstone Strait, Canada

Along the north-east coast of Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait is a 100-kilometer-long channel formed by an old glacier bed, dotted with a string of lush islands. Sailing amid this wilderness offers fantastic opportunities to observe the wildlife. Humpback whales and resident orcas can be found in the cool and sheltered waters of the strait, and you can try to spot some from your ship's deck.

At Sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Day 3 - Saturday - Aug 31, 2024

Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage, United States

Sheltered from the ocean currents of the Gulf of Alaska, this maritime route that weaves a path around the islands and islets of Southeast Alaska will offer you wonderful sailing experience. Coniferous forests stretch on forever, interspersed with numerous coves, bays, huge valleys, and deep fjords formed as ancient glacial valleys. Accessible only by sea, the fishing villages are surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers that plunge into the waters of this veritable wildlife sanctuary. From your ship's deck, you can try spotting humpback whales or the famous bald eagle, emblem of the region.

Day 4 - Sunday - Sep 1, 2024

Metlakatla, United States

On the western coast of Annette Island, the small settlement of Metlakatla will welcome you for a timeless experience. Founded in 1887 by a group of Tsimshians from British Columbia, the Annette Island Reserve is today the only federal reservation for the indigenous peoples of Alaska. You will have the opportunity to discover their culture, between local arts and crafts, artistic performance, and the famous totem poles. A walking tour is also on the agenda for this port of call, in the heart of Alaskan culture.

Day 5 - Monday - Sep 2, 2024

Kake, Alaska, United States

Discover the small Tlingit village of Kake, around 60 kilometres west of Petersburg. Located on Kupreanof Island, it houses a community of over 500 inhabitants. Kake is paradise for salmon, which spawn in the Gunnuk Creek near the village. Bald eagles often make an appearance, as do black bears, which come to enjoy the fish. Another singularity of these parts: the presence of a totem pole standing over 60 metres tall, considered the highest in the world.

Day 6 - Tuesday - Sep 3, 2024

Petersburg, United States

Picture this: all around you, translucent waters. In the distance - snow-capped mountains. This is the vision that greets you on disembarking in Petersburg, one of Alaska's largest commercial fishing towns. The heart of the Tongass National forest is for people who yearn for a lungful of the great outdoors. There is some fauna here including no less than 240 species of birds, seals, sea lions, and humpback whales. Another special feature of this very lively town is its penchant for art. On its pavements and facades you can admire several murals, totems, and sculptures.

Endicott Arm, United States

In the heart of the Alexander Archipelago, Endicott Arm fjord is a short inlet on the southern coast of Alaska that boasts spectacular views of virgin wilderness. The azure-blue waters, snow-capped mountains, and lush forest are incredible but the main attraction is the Dawes Glacier, whose vast bluish back snakes down the mountain's flank. Weather permitting, you can observe how icebergs are formed by getting a closer look at the white cliff where glacier meets water, or just enjoy watching the resident harbour seals frolicking in the icy waters.

Day 7 - Wednesday - Sep 4, 2024

Haines, United States

Hidden in the heart of this spectacular wilderness, between jagged peaks and a sapphire ocean, the legendary small port of Haines lays out all the richness of its traditions. Founded by the Tlingit Indians, peopled by the pioneers of the famous gold rush, the village is now a rallying point for modern day adventurers. You can visit its streets trimmed with colorful houses, soak up local history at Fort Seward, or visit the Indian art museums, before a possible excursion into the nearby wilderness. The very beautiful Chilkat River is especially worth a visit and it is possible to see grizzly bears coming to feed.

Day 8 - Thursday - Sep 5, 2024

Point Adolphus, United States

Point Adolphus is located opposite the magnificent Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This dreamlike site is world famous for watching humpback whales. In the summer season, these majestic mammals come to feed in the nutrient-rich waters. They sometimes even come a few dozen feet from the shoreline, close to the houses and marinas. Orcas, sea lions... maybe you'll happen upon other marine species in these landscapes of fjords and ice fields. One thing is sure: here are the most beautiful Alaskan waters.

Elfin Cove, United States

At the tip of an island in the Alexander Archipelago, not far from the Canadian border, peaceful Elfin Cove shelters a fishing community that's only linked to the rest of the world by the sea. There is just a dozen wooden houses, a long wooden pontoon, and a tiny port surrounded by crystalline waters... It doesn't get any quainter than this. Choose from a network of hiking paths that weave through a pristine forest to lead you to secret beaches where silence reigns. The wonders of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, accessible by a short boat trip, are many.

Day 9 - Friday - Sep 6, 2024

Sitka, United States

Formerly a Russian colony located on Baranof Island to the west of the Alexander Archipelago, Sitka is brimming with history. The historical national park of Sitka shelters totems carved out of red cedar, a tree that is omnipresent in the region. These totems are testimonials of the former presence of Tlingit Indians. This place is full of natural wonders too. You just have to look up to admire the mountain range around the port. In the distance, the snow-peaked Edgecumbe Volcano stands majestic. Numerous islands scattered around Sitka stretch out before you in a vision of preserved Alaska.

Day 10 - Saturday - Sep 7, 2024

Tsaa Fjord, United States

Formed by the retreat of the Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall Glaciers over the past 100 years, Icy Bay is one of those timeless places where silence reigns supreme. Let yourself be enthralled by landscapes of breathtaking beauty, enhanced by magnificent views over the Saint Elias Mountains, visible in the background. The bay, several kilometres wide, is often scattered with icebergs sliding on clear and deep waters. It will let you access several sounds, among which is the Tsaa Fjord, very close to the Guyot Glacier. Many marine mammals and sea birds have chosen to live on this territory with very few visitors in the south of Alaska.

Day 11 - Sunday - Sep 8, 2024

Prince William Sound, United States

On the eastern coast of Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound unfolds its majestic beauty. You will sail in this labyrinth of islets, icebergs, narrow fjords, surrounded by the Sitka spruce and western hemlock that make up the incredible decor of the Chugach National Forest. If you are lucky, you may spot some of the otters, orcas, grizzlies, bald eagles, sea lions, and humpback whales that live here. There are still traces of the 1964 earthquake, one of the most powerful episodes ever recorded on Earth, at a magnitude of 9.2 on the Richter scale. Sailing in Prince William Sound is also an opportunity to contemplate the imposing Harvard and Bryn Mawr glaciers as they form on the horizon.

College Fjord, United States

A secret inlet in a hewn-out bay on the southern coast of Alaska, College Fjord features outstandingly rich glacier scenery. Come and admire the five tidewater glaciers and high-altitude glaciers. These glaciers were named after the prestigious US East Coast schools attended by the professors who first laid eyes on them at the end of the 19th century. The setting is awe-inspiring, but don't forget to listen out for the thunderous crack as great pillars of ice break off from the glaciers...

Day 12 - Monday - Sep 9, 2024

Seward, United States

Seward is located on the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage. This bustling port, built for the fishing and shipbuilding industries, will show you just how vibrant it is with its shops and galleries. The entrance gate for the sublime Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward nestles in the heart of very beautiful scenery, between glaciers, mountains, and very rich marine life (whales, sea otters, orcas, seals...).