The Alaskan Explorer Cruise with Holland America

Day 1

Fly to Seattle, ship departs at 3pm, Cruising Puget Sound - On Puget Sound you'll see everything from ice-capped mountains to remote islands dotted with gigantic Douglas firs to Mount Rainier, hulking behind Seattle's sleek skyscrapers as if to remind coffee-fueled urbanites that nature is boss.

You too will soon be reminded that nature is boss as you cruise through the San Juan Islands from Seattle. The San Juans are a wildlife-rich archipelago and popular vacation spot amongst locals. From the comfort of your cruise, watch for soaring eagles, harbor seals, and both humpback and orca whales. 

Day 2

At Sea - On board duty-free shopping, the spa and salon, or just sightseeing from the deck or your window, there is plenty to see and do on days without a port call.

Day 3

Cruising Stephens Passage - Stephens Passage is like the best shortcut in the world, a straight line through Southeast Alaska in a landscape that comes with very few straight lines. It's not only people and ships that use the passage. Concentrated in and around its waters is a "greatest hits" list of Alaskan wildlife, most notably humpback whales, the whoosh of their breath loud enough to be heard almost a kilometer away. In tiny bays, guillemots and gulls gather. When they take off at the ship's wake, the noise sounds like applause. Juneau - Arrives 12:30 pm, Departs 10:00 pm - Visit the most remote, beautiful capital city in the United States. Surrounded by water, forest and mountain sights, visitors seeking things to do in Juneau indoors and outdoors can hike a glacier, eat fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio and tour the grand capital building all in one day. The sleepy, misty city of around 32,000 - mostly fishermen and small-business owners - has a frontier town vibe while welcoming more than a million visitors each summer.

Day 4

Glacier Bay - Arrives 6:00 am, Departs 3:00 pm - On your cruise to Glacier Bay, close your eyes and take in the sounds - the creaks and groans of "living" ice, the shrill cries of gulls and soaring eagles, the splash of a breaching humpback whale. With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Icy Strait Point - Arrives 5:30 pm, Departs 10:00 pm - Icy Strait Point is a popular destination on Alaska cruises and is only open when a ship is in port. This historical town is filled with history and culture. 

Day 5

Sitka - Arrives 8:00 am, Departs 4:00 pm - A storied past mixed with jaw-dropping scenery sets Sitka, Alaska apart from other ports. Located on Baranot Island surrounded by the Sitka Sound's icy blue water, it not only boasts lush scenery and captivating wildlife, Sitka offers a unique glimpse into Alaskan history. Russia controlled Alaska from the mid-1700s until the United States purchased it in 1867, and Sitka was settled as the capital of Russian America with the name New Archangel.

Day 6

Ketchikan - Arrives 6:30 am, Departs 1:00 pm - Ketchikan is one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. You can experience intricately carved totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center and Toten Bight State Park, while the attraction of Saxman Village just outside of Ketchikan offers the chance to see Tlingit culture in action, with working carvers and a dance show in the clan house. Don't forget to leave time to explore the sights in the town itself, including historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over Ketchikan Creek. 

Day 7

Victoria, British Columbia - Arrives 8:00 pm, Departs 11:59 pm - Because this is a night call, activities here will be limited. 

Day 8

Seattle - Arrives 7:00 am - As the cruise comes to a close your Tour Director will assist you in getting your bags and transferring to the airport for your return flight home.