Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer

24 Apr 27
Departs: 04:00 PM

The perfect combination of urban meets nature, Vancouver is a hub for lovers of the great outdoors. Enjoy picturesque views of the mountains while exploring the city’s local hot spots like Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown and more. Don’t forget to sample the best of the local culinary and cocktail scene for something truly unique. Here’s how to enjoy a stop at Hollywood of the North.

25 Apr 27

The Seymour Narrows is a stretch of water north of British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. Its breathtaking beauty hides its storied past. For much of modern times, an underwater mountain named Ripple Rock made navigation through the Seymour Narrows hazardous. George Vancouver described it as “one of the vilest stretches of water in the world.” In 1958, the Canadian government removed the top of the mountain in a controlled explosion — the most significant commercial, non-nuclear explosion in North America. The Seymour Narrows remains a challenging route, known for strong tidal currents.

25 Apr 27

Alaska's Inside Passage is a renowned cruising route through a protected network of waterways, featuring glacier-cut fjords, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife. Stops along the route showcase Alaska's rich history, including Native Alaskan culture in Ketchikan and Skagway's Gold Rush era legacy. Here's how to experience the best of the Inside Passage.

25 Apr 27

Bella Bella (Waglisla) is a Heiltsuk First Nation community on Campbell Island in British Columbia, surrounded by the Great Bear Rainforest — a staggering 15.8-million-acre temperate rainforest along the province’s misty coastline. Rich in biodiversity, the area is home to whales, otters, eagles, and rare animals like the spirit bear, a black bear subspecies with a cream-colored coat, and sea wolves, coastal gray wolves who feed on salmon. The Heiltsuk have a long cultural history and connection with the environment.

26 Apr 27

Scenic cruising the steel-gray sea surrounding Princess Royal Island is a wild experience. Take in views of one of the most remote regions of the Great Bear Rainforest — a vast 15.8-million-acre temperate rainforest known for plunging waterfalls and mist-draped mountains. Keep your binoculars ready; wildlife is abundant. Humpback whales, otters, orcas and bald eagles are frequently spotted in the area. Highly elusive animals, such as coastal wolves and the honey-colored spirit bear also call this region home. Relax and enjoy a front-row seat to British Columbia’s untamed beauty.

26 Apr 27

The Grenville Channel is a narrow passageway; you will feel like you could reach out and brush your fingertips against the forested cliffs flanking its sides — it is less than a quarter mile across at its tightest point. Cruise ships seldom enter this part of the Inside Passage, known for its old-growth forests, mist-draped valleys, and majestic wildlife. Otters, humpbacks, orcas, and seals feed and frolic in the serene waters, and bears forage the coast. During the gold rush days, steamboats plied this remote route to Alaska. There is no rush today — relax and enjoy an awe-inspiring journey through one of Canada’s most pristine landscapes.

26 Apr 27

Enjoy an unforgettable journey amid misty valleys, ancient spruce trees, and silvery beaches that stretch on for miles. The Great Bear Rainforest is a 15.8-million-acre temperate rainforest in British Columbia. The rainforest takes its name from the elusive spirit bear, a rare black bear with a recessive gene that gives it a striking white coat. The spirit bear symbolizes harmony and peace in the folklore of the First Nations communities who have lived here for thousands of years. You might encounter grizzlies foraging on the shore, acrobatic humpback whales, even coastal wolves, known to swim from island to island. You will never forget your experience scenic cruising through one of the world’s last true wildernesses.

27 Apr 27
Arrives: 07:00 Am
Departs: 03:00 PM

A storied past mixed with jaw-dropping scenery sets Sitka, Alaska apart from other ports. Located on Baranof 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 Alaska 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.

Sail to Sitka on an Alaska Cruise today and you’ll see vestiges of Russia’s influence. Stroll past the onion dome of St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Russian Bishop’s House, both National Historic Landmarks. On a Sitka, Alaska shore excursion, stop by the visitor center of the Sitka National Historical park to peruse fascinating collections of Russian and Native Alaskan artifacts, and then join a ranger-led tour of the battlefield where Russia fought the native Tlingit people.

Surrounded by the Tongass National rain forest, nature abounds in Sitka, Alaska. A walk up Castle Hill offers the ideal vantage point to take in Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. Visits to the Fortress of the Bear and Alaska Raptor Center are in order for any animal-lover. Both provide the opportunity to see Alaska wildlife, such as bears or raptors up-close, but safely.

28 Apr 27
Arrives: 12:00 PM
Departs: 11:59 AM

29-30 Apr 27
Arrives: 08:00 AM
Departs: 04:00 PM

Embark on a cruise to Anchorage, Alaska, a haven for nature lovers. With its national parks, scenic trails, and abundant wildlife—from city moose to majestic whales—Anchorage is a must-visit. Experience the Northern Lights, savor local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture. Your Anchorage, Alaska cruise port adventure awaits.

01 May 27
Arrives: 08:00 AM
Departs: 05:00 PM

Take an Alaska cruise and explore Homer – a small city in the Kenai Peninsula. This plucky little town sells End of the Road certificates to visitors who've motored here to the furthest reach of the Kenai Peninsula. It's something worth celebrating: a drive down the world's longest street that protrudes into the ocean! But walkers, bikers and in-line skaters can also experience the thrill, thanks to a 6.5-kilometer-long (four-mile-long) paved multiuse trail.

The rich fishing grounds here attracted Native Alaskans centuries before Captain James Cook claimed the Kenai Peninsula for Britain in 1778. After some Russian tyranny—fur traders forced Native Alaskans to hunt sea-otter pelts for them—Homer got a proper start as an English-settled coal-mining town in the 1890s.

Today the area's known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, and it captivates audiences around the globe as the home of the Discovery Channel's Kilcher family, made famous by Alaska: The Last Frontier. Homer's port also anchors the F/V Time Bandit, which swashbuckled into TV viewers' hearts via Deadliest Catch. Book an Alaska shore excursion and explore Homer's top attractions including the Pratt Museum andthe Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. Take an outdoor adventure and hikeat Grewingk Glacier Lake.

02 May 27
Arrives: 08:00 AM
Departs: 05:00 PM

Kodiak is all about bears. And what bears! This unique subspecies named for the Kodiak Archipelago where they are found evolved in isolation for around 12,000 years and can reach heights of 3 meters, or 10 feet, when standing on their hind legs. One of the world’s largest carnivores, the bears have a diet that goes far beyond meat (they can sleep for up to eight months, then wake up ravenous to feast predominantly on grass, plants, berries and fish). About 3,500 live on this tiny island, meaning you have a great chance of seeing one, if not many, from May through October!

Shrubs and bushes cover the rolling hills here, giving Kodiak its Emerald Isle nickname. It was once a prime native hunting ground for the Alutiit, but their population plummeted after Russian traders and fur trappers settled the area in the late 1700s. Bought by the United States in 1867, Kodiak grew into a commercial fishing center. Today both the island and the hardworking town that shares its name attract anglers, hunters, adventure travelers and nature photographers. Top highlights include the Baranov Museum, the Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church and the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

03 May 27
Arrives: 12:00 PM
Departs: 09:00 PM

A paradise for fishing enthusiasts, Valdez offers every kind of salmon, huge halibut and ample opportunity to reel them in. Rivers and streams spill into the Sound here and are ideal for kayaking.

04 May 27
Arrives: 12:00 PM
Departs: 11:59 AM

05 May 27
Arrives: 01:00 PM
Departs: 04:00 PM

An Alaska cruise toward Hubbard Glacier feels like you’re approaching another planet in a tiny space craft. It is that big and that otherworldly. Among all the vanishing Alaska glaciers, Hubbard has a rapidly advancing ice margin— up to seven feet in one day—earning it the nickname, “the Galloping Glacier.”

Hubbard Glacier cruises are so popular because of the glacier’s three-story icebergs that cannon into crystal waters, a process called calving. It’s also colorful. On clear days, Hubbard turns a stunning deep blue and on cloudy ones, its many ripples and icebergs shimmer in soft light.

This glacier dwarfs the other glaciers in Alaska. It is the longest tidewater glacier in North America and starts 122 kilometers (76 miles) back, pouring down off the shoulder of Mt. Walsh. It has an impressive terminal face that is 11 kilometers (7 miles) long and 106 meters (350 feet) above the water line, making its regular audience of Alaska cruise ships look like toy boats.

It’s a giant, but it’s not sleeping. Hubbard Glacier is one of the few Alaska glaciers that’s advancing and not succumbing to climate change. It sounds uplifting, but many fear that the expanding glacier will block the entrance to the fjord.

06 May 27
Arrives: 07:00 AM
Departs: 05:00 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. Frosted peaks towering over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers (there are seven in the park), and marine wildlife are givens on Glacier Bay cruises, but every experience in this changing biosphere is unique.

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is best explored on an Alaska cruise or an Alaska Land+Sea Journey cruise tour. Our ships are perfectly sized for the optimal experience. Prepare for inclement weather, even in summer and dress for rain. Pack a hat, gloves, wool or fleece layers, a warm coat and waterproof gear to comfortably admire the landscape from the open deck of your ship. There are glaciers, fjords, inlets, rivers, streams and wildlife galore on Glacier Bay cruises, so bring those binoculars.

More About Glacier Bay Cruises
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. Keep your binoculars and camera on hand as you cruise Glacier Bay to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, where you may have a chance to witness ice calving. Wildlife abounds in Glacier Bay, so stay ready—you never know when you will see the fluke of a humpback rise out of the water or spot a lone brown bear wandering a wind-swept beach.

Glacier Bay with the Experts
On our Glacier Bay cruises and Alaska Land+Sea Journey cruise tours, local experts come aboard for an experience that is both filled with natural wonder and enriching. As a proud Authorized Concessioner for Glacier Bay National Park, we partner with rangers and local Huna Tlingit guides who provide expert insight into this diverse ecosystem and millennia-old culture. You will not only leave Glacier Bay with a shorter bucket list, but you will also have a deeper understanding and appreciation of this 3.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your Glacier Bay Cruise Begins
As you cruise up the picturesque coast of Alaska’s panhandle toward Glacier Bay, immerse in all things Alaska by participating in Explorations Central™ (EXC®) activities, Glacier Bay’s natural history EXC Talks that aim to give an insider’s perspective on the destination.

Attend the Glacier Bay Primer Talk before your cruise to Glacier Bay. Get important details about the National Park Service Rangers’ commentary and the presentation from the Huna Tlingit cultural guide, covering the area’s ecology, how advancing glacial ice forced the Huna Tlingit people from their home, and why it’s critical that wild lands remain wild.

Glacier Bay Cruise For the Kids
There’s plenty for little nature fans on cruises to Glacier Bay. Clun HALoffers engaging age-appropriate activities for kids on your Glacier Bay cruise—and an exclusive Junior Ranger program for kids ages 3-16, available only in Glacier Bay.

The Taste and Tone of Alaska Onboard Your Glacier Bay Cruise
Dine on savory local salmon and other regionally produced foods, wines, and spirits from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest before catching evening entertainment. Enjoy jaw-dropping footage and rousing scores of BBC Earth's "Alaska in Concert", and the Alaska Stage Show; a captivating, animated stage experience bringing to life the cultural history of Glacier Bay and Tlingit traditions.

07 May 27
Arrives: 08:00 AM
Departs: 05:00 PM

Cruise to Juneau, Alaska and visit the most remote, most beautiful and strangest state capital 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 a grand capitol building all in one day.

Juneau is known for its outdoor recreation, fresh seafood and fine dining. The city itself is pleasant, but the real highlight of a visit to Juneau is tracking down some wildlife. You can hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles. Most sightseeing and whale-watching tours head north to Auke Bay—bring a good pair of binoculars to get the best view of these majestic and surprisingly graceful creatures. If you prefer land mammals, catch a floatplane to a nearby wildlife reserve such as Chichagof or Admiralty Island to spy some bears lolling around on Alaska cruise excursion.

The sleepy, misty city of around 32,000—mostly fishermen and small-business owners—has a frontier town vibe but welcomes more than a million visitors each summer to its natural attractions, cementing Juneau as Alaska’s number one tourist destination. Experience this breathtaking city on an Alaska cruise.

08 May 27
Arrives: 08:00 AM
Departs: 05:00 PM

Just outside of Wrangell, explore Tlingit culture, through authentic stories, intricately carved totem poles and dance, at the Chief Shakes Tribal House—built mainly by hand and largely by women.

09 May 27
Arrives: 08:00 AM
Departs: 05:00 PM

Take an adventure and cruise to Ketchikan, Alaska. Alaska's "First City" of Ketchikan is so named because it’s the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain.

Ketchikan has long been an important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries. Visitors can try their luck on a sportfishing or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants on a cruise to Ketchikan excursions. Ketchikanis also 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 see intricately carved totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center and Totem Bight State Park, while the attractions 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. On an Alaska cruise to Ketchikan don't forget to leave time to explore the sights in the town itself, including historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over the Ketchikan Creek, where you can shop for souvenirs, smoked salmon and local art, while exploring gold rush­–era tourist attractions like Dolly’s House Museum.

10 May 27
Arrives: 07:00 AM
Departs: 06:00 PM

Prince Rupert is a charming port on the secluded Kaien Island in British Columbia. Passengers on cruises to Prince Rupert will find a close-knit community nestled among jaw-dropping scenery. Vast forest, wide rivers and abundant wildlife make this port an unexpected favorite. Far from other more bustling B.C. cities, it is a gateway to pristine hiking and paddling spots. Butze Rapids Park and Trail is an easy to moderate trail that winds through temperate rain forest with excellent water views. Outdoor and nature activities are just the beginning. The area is known for a large population of bears and other wildlife.

Those interested in culture should visit the Museum of Northern British Columbia on their Prince Rupert cruise stop. The museum has a large collection of Tsimshian art and artifacts, amongst other highlights. For a smaller city, Prince Rupert has big personality with a plethora of shops, seafood restaurants and a fish market. All easy to explore from the Prince Rupert cruise port.

11 May 27

Alaska's Inside Passage is a renowned cruising route through a protected network of waterways, featuring glacier-cut fjords, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife. Stops along the route showcase Alaska's rich history, including Native Alaskan culture in Ketchikan and Skagway's Gold Rush era legacy. Here's how to experience the best of the Inside Passage.

12 May 27
Arrives: 07:00 AM

The perfect combination of urban meets nature, Vancouver is a hub for lovers of the great outdoors. Enjoy picturesque views of the mountains while exploring the city’s local hot spots like Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown and more. Don’t forget to sample the best of the local culinary and cocktail scene for something truly unique. Here’s how to enjoy a stop at Hollywood of the North.