Summary
Short description
Discover the magnificent landscapes and cultures of Alaska's Pacific Coast
Highlights
- Enjoy unforgettable views of the diverse biosphere of Glacier Bay
- Witness a cultural exploration in Ketchikan
- Explore the Gold-Rush heritage of Skagway
- Experience the USA’s remotest state capital in Juneau
- Enjoy superb dining options and more space at sea
In Brief
- 1 Night Vancouver
- 1 Night Cruising the Inside Passage
- 1 Night Juneau
- 1 Night Skagway
- 1 Night Cruising Glacier Bay
- 1 Night Ketchikan
- 1 Night Cruising the Inside Passage
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Ocean cruise
Board your Holland America cruise ship in Vancouver for an in depth exploration of Alaska’s Pacific Coast, including the iconic Inside Passage. In Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, you’ll dine on fresh fish and enjoy the ocean, mountain, and forest views. Explore Skagway’s Gold Rush heritage, while in Ketchikan you’ll uncover the rich history of the region’s Native Americans. Days at sea cruising the Inside Passage and majestic Glacier Bay provide unforgettable highlights, while onboard you’ll have the chance to indulge on delicious dining, included in your cruise fare, or even upgrade to the ship’s premium dining options at an additional cost. Elsewhere, there’s the chance to relax and rejuvenate with a treatment in the Greenhouse Spa.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
Depart Vancouver
You’ll board the Zaandam in the late afternoon today in Vancouver. Sail away this evening as you enjoy dinner onboard and get settled in your comfortable stateroom.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: D
Day
2
Cruise the Inside Passage
Today brings the views you’ll have been dreaming of when thinking of an Alaskan cruise. Alaska’s Inside Passage is renowned the world over; this protected network of waterways features glacier-cut fjords, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife. Along the way, learn Alaska’s rich history onboard your comfortable ship.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: B L D
Day
3
Tracy Arm Inlet & Juneau
Spend the morning in Tracy Arm Inlet. If you book a shore excursion, you’ll disembark to head inland to this fjord, which is flanked by steep cliffs and glacier-covered mountains and fringed by the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest in the United States. Tracy Arm is part of the 5.7 million acres of of pure wilderness sheltered by the Tongass National, where visitors often see bears, whales, and mountain goats in their natural habitats.
Spend the rest of the day in Juneau, America’s most remote state capital. Visitors to Juneau can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, such as hiking glaciers, eating fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio, and touring a grand capitol building—all in one day.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: B L D
Day
4
Skagway
Today is spent in Skagway. During the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway served as the main gateway to the legendary gold fields. It became a raucous frontier town filled with saloons, trading posts, and guesthouses. It faded away after the Gold Rush died down, but today it has been restored to its previous glory into a new kind of gateway: one for those looking to discover Alaska’s natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and rich history.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: B L D
Day
5
Glacier Bay
Your time cruising Glacier Bay is full of incredible sights, but do take a moment to simply close your eyes and take in the sounds: the groan of the “living ice,” the cry of the gulls, the whoosh of a soaring eagle, and the splash of a breaching humpback whale. There are seven tidewater glaciers in the park, along with ample marine life and beautiful frosted peaks towering over mossy forests. You’ll want to don your warm clothes, hat, and gloves to enjoy the views from the open deck on the Zaandam; they will take your breath away.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: B L D
Day
6
Ketchikan
As you make your way back to the Inside Passage, stop to explore the culturally rich town of Ketchikan. Its many Native American totem poles speak to the ancient history of this area, long before it was settled as America’s 49th state. Nearby Misty Fiords National Monument is a glacier-carved wilderness, and the area is home to fascinating and unforgettable wildlife.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: B L D
Day
7
Cruise the Inside Passage
Enjoy another day cruising the Inside Passage as you make your way back to Vancouver. Take in your last glimpses of Alaska’s mysterious and staggering natural beauty to take with you when you go.
Stay: Holland America Zaandam or Koningsdam
Meals: B L D
Day
8
Depart in Vancouver
Your cruise ship will arrive in Vancouver early this morning. After breakfast onboard, disembark and make your way home or toward your onward travels.
Meals: B
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