Alaskan
Glaciers
Description
Explore Alaska, where
its mountains rival the Alps, its fjords surpass Norway’s
in their grandeur, its glaciers are outnumbered only by
Greenland’s and Antarctica’s and its marine
life is boundless. Discover southeast Alaska in a way
the early pioneers could not even imagine—from the
elegant environs of the Seven Seas Mariner. Cruise
to Ketchikan, home of the world’s largest collection
of totem poles. Explore the length of Tracy Arm and see
Sawyer Glacier. Visit Juneau, Alaska’s picturesque
capital city; the Yukon Gold Rush town of Skagway; and
Sitka, where onion-domed churches recall its quaint Russian
heritage. Marvel at the electric-blue expanse of Hubbard
Glacier. The legendary coastal beauty of Alaska awaits!
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart your gateway city for Vancouver. Upon arrival in
Vancouver, transfer by deluxe motorcoach to the pier to
embark the Seven Seas Mariner. This evening,
gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception on
the ship. (R,D)
Day 2 Spend the day cruising northward
along the coastal straits and sounds. Relax onboard and
admire scenic natural beauty. Enjoy a leisurely-paced
ambience and the opportunity to fully familiarize yourself
with the ship’s many amenities. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Travel to the lovely fishing port
of Ketchikan, the gateway to Misty Fjords National Monument,
a magnificent complex of fjords, mountains, dense rain
forests, wild rivers, tumbling waterfalls and high alpine
lakes. As you enter the harbor, take in its striking view
filled with colorful houses and buildings. Explore the
shops, galleries and restaurants along historic Creek
Street. Marvel at the world’s largest collection
of totem poles as well as museums and native cultural
centers. (B,L,D)
Day 4
This morning, cruise the narrow, 30-mile length of Tracy
Arm. Pass sheer rock palisades and waterfalls en route
to Sawyer Glacier. Catch a glimpse of great chunks of
pale blue ice at they suddenly calve into the fjord waters.
Watch for black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor
seals, mountain goats and bald eagles along the rain-forested
shoreline. In the afternoon, dock in Juneau, founded as
a gold-mining camp in 1880 and the only U.S. state capital
accessible solely by air or sea. Marvel at the city’s
spectacular setting ringed by soaring mountains, the teal-hued
Gastineau Channel and the snowy peaks of Douglas Island.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 Relive the historic trek along
the Gold Rush Trail of 1898 where tens of thousands of
prospectors climbed the 21-mile trail from Skagway to
the Yukon over White Pass. Today, this historic boomtown
retains much of its frontier character. Explore the formerly
rollicking outpost where false-front buildings and boardwalks
still line the streets, and where saloons, gambling houses
and dance halls once ran all night. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Explore Sitka, originally a Tlingit
settlement that was the capital of Russian America from
1808 until 1867 when Alaska was purchased by the United
States. See three of the city’s National Historic
Landmarks: Saint Michael’s Cathedral, an onion-domed
Russian Orthodox church; the Russian Bishop’s House,
one of the few surviving examples of Russian colonial
architecture in North America; and the American Flag-Raising
Site on Castle Hill. Admire an extensive collection of
authentic totem poles displayed in Sitka National Historic
Park. (B,L,D)
Day 7
Today, view the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska. From
its source on Mt. Logan in the Yukon, Hubbard Glacier
stretches 76 miles to the sea where it stretches across
Disenchantment Bay with an active calving face over six
miles wide. This evening, attend a Farewell Reception
onboard the ship. (B,L,D,R)
Day 8 After a morning arrival in Seward,
disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for the
return flight(s) to your gateway city. (B)
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