Day 1 - Monday - May 27, 2024
Abounding with natural and man-made wonders, Seattle is Washington's largest city. Located on the Puget Sound, this vibrant city is surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests. Seattle is also home to a large tech industry with Microsoft and Amazon headquartered in its metropolitan area. Arrive a day early to explore this incredible destination. Stop at the original Starbucks next to the Pike Place Market, before exploring the iconic Space Needle, a 1962 World's Fair legacy. Departing from the famous Fishermen's Terminal, begin your cruise from this lively city to the majestic waters of Puget Sound.
Day 2 - Tuesday - May 28, 2024
Anacortes is a picturesque waterfront town located on Fidalgo Island in Northwest Washington. This vibrant coastal community is home to one of the world's largest whale watching fleets, as well as Deception Pass, one of the most photographed places in the Northwest. More than 50 miles of trails run through Anacortes and Fidalgo Island, where you can enjoy views of Mount Erie, four fresh-water lakes, old-growth forest, and a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles. Explore the downtown, just a few steps from our dock, and peruse its sophisticated boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops.
Day 3 - Wednesday - May 29, 2024
| Friday Harbor, United States |
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Friday Harbor is a charming town with a rich history and an abundance of character. Small enough to walk from one end to the other, this secluded coastal fishing village is adorned with historic storefronts, picturesque turn-of-the-century houses, and Coast Salish native carvings. Explore Friday Harbor's diverse topography, from pebbly beaches to magnificent mountains and lush valleys. Stroll through the historic district, visit the Whale Museum, and witness the local population of whales from the Port of Friday Harbor.
Day 4 - Thursday - May 30, 2024
| Crusing the Straits of Georgia, Canada |
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Witness the natural wonders and majestic beauty of the Strait of Georgia. From the comfort of your furnished private balcony, discover the unique and biologically rich characteristics of this estuary system where hundreds of rivers flow into the sea. Along the way, delight in the locally inspired cuisine prepared by our team of master chefs.
Day 5 - Friday - May 31, 2024
| Cruising Queen Charlotte Sound, Canada |
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Enjoy a relaxing day of cruising along the Queen Charlotte Strait, a part of the Inside Passage from Washington to Alaska. View the beauty of the Broughton Archipelago with its variety of marine mammals, including orcas, harbor seals, and sea lions. In the evening, enjoy our award-winning onboard enrichment programs presented by the area's finest historians, naturalists, and entertainers.
Day 6 - Saturday - Jun 1, 2024
| Frederick Sound, United States |
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On your way to Ketchikan, spend the day cruising the Frederick Sound and Inside Passage. Surrounded by majestic snow-covered mountains, the glacier-fed waters of the Frederick Sound are abundant with krill and herring, making it one of the world's premier locations to observe humpback whales. Thousands migrate here to feed on the super nutrient-rich waters, as do orcas, sea lions, porpoise, and harbor seals. Along the shoreline, you may also spot black and brown bears as well as Sitka black-tailed deer.
Day 7 - Sunday - Jun 2, 2024
Ketchikan, Alaska is truly the beginning of the last frontier, where animals may actually outnumber people. Located in the midst of the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan is home to black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, and bald eagles. Witness the incredibly rich Alaska native culture and the many Native American totem poles on display throughout town. Enjoy the scenic views of nearby Misty Fiords National Monument, a glacier-carved wilderness featuring snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, and salmon spawning streams.
Day 8 - Monday - Jun 3, 2024
Natural beauty abounds in Wrangell with a variety of landscapes including mountains, islands, and rainforest. Explore the city of Wrangell and walk among the petroglyph carvings in this "Gateway to the Stikine River". Visit places along the river where miners camped and garnets were mined during the Gold Rush. Savor the flavors of fresh salmon and halibut, view bears on the mountainside, participate in native Tlingit culture, or stop and pick from the abundance of wild blueberries, huckleberries, and salmon-berries.
Day 9 - Tuesday - Jun 4, 2024
| Petersburg, United States |
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Founded more than 100 years ago by Norwegian fishermen, Petersburg is a thriving fishing community that maintains its strong Norwegian heritage and continues to make its living from the sea. Located on Frederick Sound near the summer feeding grounds of hundreds of humpback whales, this authentic Alaskan town is surrounded by breathtaking wilderness. Explore its beautiful seaport, charter a fishing boat for the afternoon, or learn about the area's rich history at the Clausen Museum.
Day 10 - Wednesday - Jun 5, 2024
| Tracy Arm Fjord, United States |
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Fifty miles southeast of Juneau is Tracy Arm, a long, narrow fjord leading to the South Sawyer Glacier. Witness seals lounging on small ice floes, as you sail under the 1,500-foot-high vertical cliffs of Tracy Arm surrounded by the magnificent sight of hundreds of waterfalls cascading down its towering sides. Indulge yourself at our one-of-a-kind Hot Chocolate Bar on the sun deck, as our onboard naturalist provides expert commentary on this natural wonder. There is a sense of excitement as you anticipate the next waterfall, mountain goat, or bear, on your way to the crystal-blue glacier.
Day 11 - Thursday - Jun 6, 2024
| Glacier Bay, United States |
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Covering 3.3 million acres of dynamic topography, Glacier Bay is the world's largest Biosphere Reserve, comprised of massive glaciers, temperate rainforest, and snow-capped mountain peaks. American Cruise Lines is one of a few cruise lines allowed privileged access into this natural wonder. Immerse yourself in its majesty as you enjoy spectacular views and breathtaking moments. From the comfort of your private balcony, witness the native wildlife, including seals, whales, eagles, bear, and more.
Day 12 - Friday - Jun 7, 2024
Bald eagles are among the most populous of over 260 species of birds in Chilkat Valley. Our onboard expert and a local guide will take you through the valley describing all the different species along the way. We have an extended stay in Haines to let you do a variety of things, including kayaking on Chilkoot Lake, or an afternoon of salmon fishing on a charter boat.; Note: We visit Haines on cruises departing from Juneau. Cruises departing from Seattle spend an extra day in Glacier Bay.
Day 13 - Saturday - Jun 8, 2024
Located at the northernmost point of the Inside Passage, Skagway was central to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897. Known as the "Gateway to the Yukon", the restored town is true to its past with vintage buses reminiscent of the old frontier and gold-rush-era buildings, now preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Vintage locomotives from The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad continue to run past the iconic Chilkoot trail, offering sweeping mountain views on the way up to Canada.
Day 14 - Sunday - Jun 9, 2024
Watch humpback whales frolic in the cool waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Experience Mendenhall Glacier and soar to new heights in an enclosed gondola tramway from downtown Juneau to the top of Mount Roberts. Enjoy breathtaking views of the harbor, the sea, and the mountains.
Day 15 - Monday - Jun 10, 2024
Departure day. Breakfast is served onboard, then spend some time exploring the impressive collection of museums, shops, and attractions in the heart of Alaska's capital.
