Voyage to the Bering SeaOur Voyage to the Bering Sea journeys take you on an epic voyage of nearly 2,000 miles in the wake of Danish explorer Vitus Bering, to some of the most remote and spectacular islands on earth. Every place you go is rarely, if ever, visited by other cruise ships. Experience sights, sounds, and people you'll remember the rest of your life - the white bones of a whalebone repository, Native cultures who still rely on sealskin kayaks, and wildlife so prolific, the cliffs and shorelines seem to shift and move like a mirage. Truly a voyage beyond the ordinary. Stop along the wildlife-rich Aleutian Archipelago and cross the International Date Line and the Arctic Circle as you journey between Anchorage and the northern waters near Nome. On this voyage, you'll experience sights, sounds, and people you'll remember the rest of your life — the white bones of a whalebone repository on the dark tundra, native cultures that still rely on sealskin kayaks, cliffs and shorelines that seem to shift and move like a mirage.
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Alaska OverviewVideo Gallery Special Guest Lecturers FAQ Inside Passage cruises Alaska's Inside PassageAlaska's Whales & Wilderness Gold Rush Inside Passage Glacier Wonderland cruises Glacier Bay HighlightsGlaciers of Prince William Sound Coastal Alaska & the Russian Far East cruises In Harriman's WakeVoyage to the Bering Sea Coastal Odyssey |
- Cruise Only
13 nights / 14 days - Cruise + Denali
17 nights / 18 days - Cruise + Redoubt Bay Lodge
16 nights / 17 days - Cruise + Winterlake Lodge
16 nights / 17 days
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. | |
| Sail From Whittier Enjoy a tour that includes a visit to the Museum of History and Fine Art. Board a motorcoach in Anchorage to travel to Whittier. This 2-hour scenic drive follows a significant portion of Turnagain Arm, named by Captain Cook in 1778, because his crew, exploring up the fjord in a small boat was forced to turn back. Watch for Dall’s sheep clinging to the rocky precipices. The marsh flats are the perfect habitat for a variety of birds and grazing moose. Look for lurking coyote and lumbering bears on the perimeters of the marshes and forests. In mid to late summer, the small beluga whales with bulbous foreheads are sometimes seen feeding on spawning salmon making their way up the arm. Sail from Whittier, located at the northern end of Passage Canal in Prince William Sound. The sound is about 100 miles wide with an amazingly intricate coastline deeply cleaved by fjords and inlets. Prince William Sound is about the same size as Puget Sound in Washington and 3 times larger than San Francisco Bay. The steep, jagged Chugach Mountains crown this coastline. The snowy peaks capture much of the significant rainfall that occurs here, creating one of the larger ice fields in the world. Prince William Sound also contains one of the largest concentrations of tidewater glaciers in Alaska and we visit most of them. Continue down Passage Canal, lined with hanging and valley glaciers and fringed by the verdant rainforest. Enter Blackstone Bay with its glacially carved valley lined with eight glaciers of various types, hanging, valley, or tidewater. Keep an eye out for sea otters, harbor seals and the occasional river otter. BD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. We may conduct inflatable excursion craft tours to get an up-close view of the spectacular geology and wildlife. You will see thousands of seabirds off the Chiswell Islands, including black-legged kittiwakes, rhinoceros auklets, fulmars, puffins and murres. Granite Island is home to a rookery that draws birders from near and far. Look for other marine wildlife including humpback whales, Steller's sea lions, harbor seals, Dall's porpoises, sea otters, orca and minke whales. BLD | |
| Kodiak The Kodiak Archipelago is a large group of islands about 30 miles off the coast of Alaska. The archipelago is about 177 miles long and encompasses nearly 5,000 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. At 3,588 square miles, Kodiak Island is the largest island in the group and the second largest island in the United States. Only the island of Hawaii is larger. Kodiak lies exactly on the line of demarcation between coastal spruce forests around the Gulf of Alaska and the treeless expanse of the Aleutians. From this point on you won’t see any trees until you reach Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula 1,600 miles away. At one time the Aleutians did support trees, but the last ice age 20,000 years ago stripped the islands bare. Reseeding is difficult here on the islands, with weather working against it. The seeds need dry weather and wind to scatter and take root, and here the wet weather and winds blowing from the south make it nearly impossible. However, the trees are slowly making their way back on the island. Those first tenacious seeds to take hold were likely carried by the wind or by birds, floated on a log to the beach or were brought by the Natives. At any rate, the forest of Kodiak is slowly creeping southward at a rate of about 1 mile every 100 years. Today will be action packed, showing you several aspects of life on Kodiak Island. Sightseeing includes the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center. At the Fish Tech Center, a huge aquarium filled with interesting local specimens is the center of attention. You’ll also hear the passion and enthusiasm of the St. Innocent’s Academy Choir. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park / Geographic Harbor The setting of Geographic Harbor will take your breath away. As you look up at the sweeping bowls and valleys between the peaks, be careful not to mistake ash for snow. On June 6, 1912, Novarupta Volcano erupted becoming the largest 20th century eruption in the world, 10 times more forceful than the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The blast produced the only historic welded ash flow sheet deposited entirely on land at an estimated depth of 820 feet (250 meters). This ash can still be seen on the hillsides of Katmai. Inflatable excursion craft will take you into quiet coves and harbors where giant Kodiak brown bears forage on the beach, digging for clams. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, visit Unga Island. This is your first opportunity to really explore the tundra. When viewing the tundra from the ship it looks flat, but when you step into it you find out that the vegetation is thick, dense and very spongy. Take a guided nature hike and look for foxes, birds, tundra flowers and sea lions. Look across the broad uninterrupted expanse of the island – not a tree in sight. On the beach look for deposits of petrified wood, the remains of a metasequoia forest that once grew on this island. Evidence from fossils indicates these trees were once important components of circumpolar swamp forests and the only surviving native forest is in Szechuan, China. Watch for the 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seals, seabirds and sea lions hauling out on Haystack Rock. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor / Unalaska The Unangan Natives inhabited Unalaska for over 9,000 years and encountered many different explorers and cultures from Russian fur traders to Captain Cook, all of whom left traces of their heritage on the island. Evidence of Russian habitation stands stoically in the form of the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Cathedral, one of the oldest cruciform-style churches in the country. Just recently the people of Dutch Harbor were able to purchase the original drawing of an Unangan woman done by a crew member of Captain Cook. It hangs proudly in the Museum of the Aleutians. Dutch Harbor has prospered and grown in the past few decades with the booms of the fishing and crabbing industries. A large migrant population comes from around the world to work during the fishing season. See the Museum of the Aleutians, and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands This group of flat-topped rocky islands is located in the middle of the Bering Sea. Taking inflatable excursion craft to seldom-visited St. George Island, you see fur seals and cliff-side seabird rookeries, led by locals who will share stories with you along the way. Tour the town, with its Russian Orthodox Church and quaint general store. St. George is a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. BLD | |
| Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Go to remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and caribou. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea - Provideniya Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, you may also visit these villages: * Little Diomede - Separated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than 2 miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot - These Chukchi subsistence hunters go after walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, an ancient ritual site dubbed "Whale Bone Alley" runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” the Natives here are subsistence hunters, living off the sea and land. You’ll be astonished that humans can live in this inhospitable place. Winds are so strong that no trees could stay rooted and the weather is so cold in the winter that the dead cannot be buried until summer. Their way of life is endangered by the slowly retreating ice pack. These people rely on the ice to live. With the ice come the whales, seals, walrus and polar bears they hunt and harvest. The ice is used for transportation and the permafrost soil is used to preserve and protect their food between hunting seasons. Although life may look like it is hard and unforgiving, these people find joy in the simplest things and are happy. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north today into the upper reaches of the Bering Sea very near where it opens up into the Chukchi Sea and far enough to cross the Arctic Circle where it intersects with the International Date Line. The waters we sail today are vast and beautiful. Possible whale sightings include grays, minkes, humpbacks and bowheads. BLD | |
| Nome To Anchorage In 1899 gold was found on the beaches at the edge of Nome. Thousands of people rushed north to see if they could strike it rich on the beach. Today dredging for gold is still part of everyday life in Nome. You will see tents set up on the beach and all manner of equipment, dive rafts and vacuums used to separate the gold from the gravel and sand on the beach and in the water. You will have the opportunity to try panning for gold yourself. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Gold Rush Nome before your included flight departs for Anchorage. You will learn why it is so hard to get rid of anything and how expensive it is to buy a vehicle and ship it to Nome. Stop at the home of a former dog musher who will give you a look at the life of an Iditarod racer. Your tour ends upon arrival at the Anchorage airport. BL |
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. | |
| Fly To Nome In Nome, enjoy a tour of their Gold Rush fever history before boarding the Spirit of Oceanus. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, perhaps to cross the Arctic Circle at the International Date Line. Possible whale sightings include minkes, humpbacks, and bowheads. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, you may also visit these villages: * Little Diomede - Seperated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than two miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot - These Chukchi subsistence hunters go after walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, Whale Bone Alley runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” the natives here are subsistence hunters, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| Wilderness Exploration Go to remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and caribou. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands St. George is a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor / Unalaska Here on Unalaska Island see the Museum of the Aleutians, and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, “wet land,” to explore tidal pools and the tundra. Look for 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park Look for brown bears digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic Tern stop. BLD | |
| Kodiak Visit the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska’s first Russian-American settlement. BLD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. BLD | |
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the airport where your tour ends. B |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Directions: Anchorage to Fairbanks / Fairbanks to Anchorage
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. | |
| Sail From Whittier Enjoy a tour that includes a visit to the Anchorage Museum of History and Fine Art. Transfer by motorcoach to Whittier to board the Spirit of Oceanus and begin your cruise, sailing through Prince William Sound. BD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. BLD | |
| Kodiak Visit the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska’s first Russian-American settlement. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park Be on the lookout for giant Kodiak brown bears digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic tern stop. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, “wet land,” in an inflatable excursion craft to explore tidal pools and the tundra. Look for 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor / Unalaska Here on Unalaska Island see the Museum of the Aleutians, the historic Russian Orthodox Church and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands St. George Island is a prime viewing site for fur seals and birds like puffins, auklets, and murres. You will be welcomed by the friendly Unungan people who inhabit this remote island. BLD | |
| Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Using inflatable excursion craft, weather conditions permitting, go to remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and caribou. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, you may also visit these villages: * Little Diomede - Separated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than 2 miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot - These Chukchi subsistence hunters go after walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, an ancient ritual site dubbed "Whale Bone Alley" runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” the natives here are subsistence hunters, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, perhaps to cross the Arctic Circle. Possible whale sightings include grays, minkes, humpbacks and bowheads. BLD | |
| Nome To Anchorage Disembark at Nome for a brief tour before your included flight to Anchorage. Enjoy admission to the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, dinner at one of Anchorage's finest restaurants or the Sheraton and overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BLD | |
| Anchorage To Denali Via Motorcoach And Rail Travel by motorcoach to Talkeetna, board a deluxe domed railcar for your journey to Denali National Park. Cross the high trestle at Hurricane Gulch and then ascend via Broad Pass into the Alaska Range. The domed cars allow spectacular views on both sides of the train. Watch for moose on the banks of ponds and (weather permitting) sweeping views of snowcapped peaks. Mt. McKinley, also known as "Denali, the Great One," soars to 20,320 feet, the highest mountain in North America. Lunch is included onboard the train. Attend an exclusive presentation on Sub-Arctic Climate by a naturalist from the Denali Education Center. Dinner is a Denali Dine Around. Overnight at a Denali hotel near the park entrance. BD | |
| Denali Exploration Choose from1 of3 included tours* into the park. The Denali Natural History Tour is a 4-5 hour tour that travels 20 miles into the park and leaves time for other optional tours later. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a 6-8 hour trip 55 miles into the park that leaves limited time for optional tours later. The Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour is a 12-13 hour, 90-mile trek into the park that does not allow enough time for any additional optional tours. On the longer tours you will venture into the heart of Denali, where a guide from the park will help you search for moose, grizzly bear, caribou, Dall's sheep and more. Optional activities include up-close flightseeing around Mt. McKinley, heli-hiking, whitewater rafting or scenic float trips. B *Your Denali tour must be chosen when you book your cruise/land tour. | |
| Denali to Fairbanks Travel to Fairbanks by comfortable motorcoach. You will have a delightful day of sightseeing which includes a visit to the University of Alaska Museum of the North, plus a sternwheeler riverboat cruise down the Chena River. Lunch and a farewell dinner are included today. Overnight at a Fairbanks Hotel. BLD | |
| Transfer to the Fairbanks Airport Transfer for your flight home. |
| Arrive In Fairbanks Transfer from the airport for a wine and cheese reception where you will meet your Tour Director and your fellow travelers and hear an overview of the next few days as well as discuss some of the exciting optional excursions that are available in Denali. Overnight at a Fairbanks Hotel. | |
| Fairbanks Sightseeing, To Denali National Park and Preserve Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Fairbanks. Visit the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and tour the highly acclaimed museum, with one of the finest collections of artifacts from Alaska's rich history, explanations of the indigenous cultures and displays of the natural wonders of this part of the world. You'll be greeted at the door by Otto, the 8-foot, 9-inch-tall grizzly bear that is the museum's mascot. You won't want to miss the mummified remains of Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old Alaska steppe bison on display. Enjoy lunch at the museum. We’ll take an authentic sternwheeler ride of the Chena River before getting back into our motorcoach and heading off to the mountains. We’ll be following the George Parks Highway on our way to Denali. Finished in 1971, the highway links the major communities of Anchorage with Fairbanks and presents picture-postcard views at nearly every bend. En route you’ll enjoy spectacular sweeping vistas. When we reach Nenana, a large village at the confluence of the Tanana and Nenana Rivers, you will see how the river systems of Alaska’s Interior are comparable to highways, considering the amount of freight that is moved on barges to the small villages. We’ll climb the rolling hills north of the Alaska Range. These imposing mountains create a rain shadow in this area as the moisture that blows inland from the Gulf of Alaska precipitates on the south side of the mountains, leaving this area relatively cold and arid. You may notice the stunted and scattered vegetation and learn of the significance of the great expanse of permafrost. Those short, sickly looking trees you’ll see are actually hundreds of years old. Just past the town of Healy we will follow the Nenana River as it cuts through Healy Canyon and then it’s up to the village of Denali. Hear an exclusive presentation on Sub-Arctic Climate by the Denali Education Center, a non-profit organization devoted to the education and preservation of the natural wonders of Denali National Park. Enjoy a Denali Dine Around dinner and overnight at your Denali Hotel near the entrance to the Park. BLD | |
| Denali Exploration Choose from 1 of 3 included tours into the Park.* The Denali Natural History Tour travels almost 20 miles into the park, including a stop at the Wilderness Access Center and includes a light snack and hot beverages. With this tour lasting approximately 5 hours, the History Tour leaves you more time for other, optional excursions in Denali. The Tundra Wilderness Tour takes visitors to the Toklat River, 54 miles into the park and leaves time for optional excursions as well. The Kantishna Wilderness Trails excursion journeys 95 miles into the park, with the last 30 miles allowing for full viewing of Mt. McKinley, weather permitting. At about 12 hours in length, the Kantishna Tour is the longest Denali Park wilderness excursion.Optional activities include up-close flightseeing around Mt. McKinley, heli-hiking, whitewater rafting or scenic float trips. B *Tour must be chosen when you book your cruise/land tour. | |
| Denali To Anchorage Via Rail Breakfast at your Denali Hotel before transferring to the Denali Depot via bus. One of the many highlights of this day is the opportunity to take in the breathtaking scenery aboard your luxury domed railcar. This segment of the Alaska Railway is considered by far the most scenic portion of the trip and takes travelers farther away from the Parks Highway and deeper into the virtually untouched wilderness. Moose, bears and bald eagles can often be sighted along the route and at certain times of the summer the salmon can be seen spawning in the streams. Of the many spectacular sights along the way, perhaps the most magnificent is Hurricane Gulch, where a bridge spans 914 feet and rises 296 feet above the creek below. Arrive in Anchorage, the largest city in the largest state in the union. Choose between four of Anchorage’s finest dining establishments or the Sheraton for dinner and overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BD | |
| Fly To Nome Transfer to the airport. Along the way take a brief city tour and a stop at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. After your charter flight arrives in Nome you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Gold Rush Nome. The local driver-guide will share stories of life in Nome and you will learn why it is so hard to get rid of anything and how expensive it is to buy a vehicle and ship it here. A stop at the home of a former dog musher will give you a look into the life of an Iditarod racer. He will hook up a team and take them for a run. You can see and hear the dogs' sheer joy in running as you watch them take the loop. Before you board the Spirit of Oceanus you will have time to shop downtown and see the Finish Line for the Iditarod. A crew member will direct you to your suite and explain the safety and comfort features. Then join your traveling companions for refreshments. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, perhaps cross the Arctic Circle at the International Date Line. The waters we sail through today are vast and beautiful. Possible whale sightings include minkes, humpbacks, and bowheads. This is a day for you to relax and fully take in the immenseness of the sea. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and tour Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, you may also visit: *Little Diomede - Separated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than 2 miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot - These Chukchi subsistence hunters go after walrus, whales, and other sea creatures. Nearby, Whale Bone Alley runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - The “Walrus Capital of the World,” where the Natives are subsistence hunters, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. At first you will be astonished that humans can live in this place. Winds are so strong that no trees could stay rooted. You will learn that these Natives' way of life is endangered by the slowly retreating ice pack. These people rely on the ice to live. With the ice come the whales, seals, walrus and polar bears they hunt and harvest. The ice is used for transportation and the permafrost land used to preserve and protect their food between hunting seasons. Learning about life around the Bering Sea teaches most of us a few lessons about how complicated our lives have become even with the abundances we enjoy. Although life may look like it is hard and unforgiving, these people find joy in the simplest things and are happy. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| Wilderness Exploration Anchor in the sweeping cove of Nash Harbor on the north end of Nunivak Island, part of the Yukon Delta Wildlife Refuge. Use inflatable excursion craft to go ashore. The treeless, gently rolling hills are carpeted by a unique tundra ecosystem. Take a walk to search for wild musk oxen and caribou. Evidence of their existence is everywhere in the form of scat and qiviut, the soft under-hair of the musk ox. Musk oxen are native to Alaska but were nearly hunted to extinction in the early 20th century. The herd that exists on Nunivak was introduced to the island from Iceland in 1928. The tiny modern Eskimo village of Mekoryuk, with a population of 215, lies on the coast of huge Nunivak Island. The rest of this 1.1million acre island in the Refuge is open expanse. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands The Pribilofs are a group of flat-topped rocky islands located in the middle of the Bering Sea. On seldom visited St. George Island, a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer, you'll step ashore from inflatable excursion craft. Take time to tour the town and conditions permitting, there may also be a more rigorous walk available that will appeal to birders. Locals will accompany you to the seal rookery, telling stories along the way. You will likely see thousands of seals on the beach, led by the bellowing beachmasters. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. By the end of the day you will understand why the Pribilof Islands are considered a birder's paradise. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor / Unalaska The Unangan natives have inhabited Unalaska for over 9,000 yeaers and encountered many different explorers and cultures from Russian fur traders to Captain Cook, all of whom left traces of their cultures on the island. Evidence of Russian habitation stands stoically as a sentinel in the form of the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Cathedral, one of the oldest cruciform-style churches in the country. The town has prospered and grown in the past few decades with the booms of the fishing and crabbing industries. See the Museum of the Aleutians, and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, "wet land" in an inflatable excursion craft to explore tidal pools and the tundra. This is your last opportunity to really explore it. While the tundra looks flat when viewing it from the ship, when you step into it, you see that the vegetation is thick and dense and very spongy. Take a guided nature hike (easy or vigorous - we will offer both). There's so much life here! Fox, birds, tundra flowers and sea lions are highlights. Look closely at the bluffs overlooking the sandy beach - you might glimpse a bald eagle nesting. On the beach, look for deposits of petrified wood, the remains of a metasequoia forest that once grew on this island. Evidence from fossils indicates these trees were once important components of circumpolar swamp forests and the only surviving native forest is in Szechuan, China. Watch for views of 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park The setting of Geographic Harbor will take your breath away. The shoreline, inlets, islands and mountains seem perfectly composed for a picture worthy of the magazine and the expedition the harbor is named after. As you look up at the sweeping bowls and valleys between the peaks, be careful not to mistake ash for snow. On June 6, 1912, Novarupta Volcano erupted, becoming the largest 20th century eruption in the world, 10 times more forceful than the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The blast produced the only historic welded ash flow sheet deposited entirely on land at an estimated depth of 820 feet (250 meters). Inflatable excursion craft will take you into quiet coves and harbors where huge brown bears forage on the beach. Watch for them digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic tern stop. BLD | |
| Kodiak The Kodiak Archipelago is a large group of islands about 30 miles off the coast of Alaska. The archipelago is about 177 miles long and encompasses nearly 5,000 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. Kodiak Island is the largest island in the group and the second largest island in the United States. Only Hawaii is larger. Today is action packed and will show you several aspects of life on Kodiak Island. Sightseeing includes the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum, and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska's first Russian-American settlement. At the Fish Tech Center, a huge aquarium filled with interesting local specimens is the center of attention. You can stick your hands in the chilly water of the demonstration tank and pet a sea cucumber or hold an Alaskan king crab in your hands. The St. Innocent's Academy Choir will wow you with their talent and enthusiasm. BLD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. See the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. You may get inflatable excursion craft tours to get an up-close view of the spectacular geology and wildlife. You will see thousands of sea birds off the Chiswell Islands, including black-legged kittiwakes, rhinoceros auklets, fulmars, puffins and murres. Granite Island is home to a rookery that draws birders from near and far. Your Exploration Leaders will be on deck identifying birds and spotting the marine wildlife common to these parts, including humpback whales, Steller's sea lions, harbor seals, Dall's porpoises, sea otters, orcas and minke whales. BLD | |
| Transfer To The Anchorage Airport Arrive in Whittier. Transfer by motorcoach to the Anchorage Airport for your flight home. B |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. | |
| Sail From Whittier Enjoy a tour that includes a visit to the Museum of History and Fine Art. Transfer by motorcoach to Whittier to board the Spirit of Oceanus and begin your cruise, sailing through Prince William Sound. BD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. BLD | |
| Kodiak Visit the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska’s first Russian-American settlement, situated at the crossroads of the world's most productive commercial fishing grounds. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park Look for brown bears digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic tern stop. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, “wet land,” by inflatable excursion craft to explore tidal pools and the tundra. Look for 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor / Unalaska Here on Unalaska Island see the Museum of the Aleutians, and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands St. George is a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. BLD | |
| Wilderness Exploration Go to remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and caribou. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, you may also visit these villages: * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot . These Chukchi subsistence hunters live on walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, Whale Bone Alley runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” The natives here are subsistence hunters and ivory carvers, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, perhaps to cross the Arctic Circle at the International Date Line. Possible whale sightings include minkes, humpbacks, and bowheads. BLD | |
| Cruise Into Nome Fly To Anchorage Enjoy evening dinner and overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BLD | |
| Redoubt Bay Lodge Travel 50 minutes southwest of Anchorage by floatplane to your lodge located at the entrance to Lake Clark Pass. Enjoy the spectacular views of Cook Inlet and the Kenei Peninsula on your way. BD | |
| Redoubt Bay Lodge Discover a true sense of wilderness at this off-the-beaten-path location enjoyed by only a lucky few. With one of the densest bear populations in the state, guests may have the opportunity to see bears come to the water to fish. Activities include canoeing or kayaking, animal tracking, hiking or relaxing at the lodge. BLD | |
| Travel By Floatplane To Anchorage Land on Lake Hood and transfer to the Anchorage International Airport for your flight home. B |
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. | |
| Fly To Nome In Nome, enjoy a sightseeing tour of their Gold Rush fever history before boarding the Spirit of Oceanus. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, perhaps to cross the Arctic Circle at the International Date Line. Possible whale sightings include minkes, humpbacks, and bowheads. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, you may also visit these villages: * Little Diomede - Separated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than two miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot - These Chukchi subsistence hunters live on walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, Whale Bone Alley runs along the shore for hundreds of yards.. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” the natives here are subsistence hunters and ivory carvers, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| Wilderness Exploration Go to remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and caribou. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands St. George is a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor / Unalaska Here on Unalaska Island see the Museum of the Aleutians, and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, “wet land,” to explore tidal pools and the tundra. Look for 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park Look for brown bears digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic Tern stop. BLD | |
| Kodiak Visit the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska’s first Russian-American settlement, situated at the crossroads of the world's most productive commercial fishing grounds. BLD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. BLD | |
| Arrive In Whittier, Fly To Anchorage Enjoy evening dinner and overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BD | |
| Redoubt Bay Lodge Travel 50 minutes southwest of Anchorage by floatplane to your lodge located at the entrance to Lake Clark Pass. Enjoy the spectacular views of Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula on your way. BD | |
| Redoubt Bay Lodge Discover a true sense of wilderness at this off-the-beaten-path location enjoyed by only a lucky few. With one of the densest bear populations in the state, guests may have the opportunity to see bears come to the water to fish. Activities include canoeing or kayaking, animal tracking, hiking or relaxing at the lodge. BLD | |
| Travel By Floatplane To Anchorage Land on Lake Hood and transfer to the Anchorage International Airport for your flight home. B |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. D | |
| Sail From Whittier Enjoy a tour that includes a visit to the Anchorage Museum. Transfer by motorcoach to Whittier to board the Spirit of Oceanus and begin your cruise, sailing through Prince William Sound. BD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. BLD | |
| Kodiak Visit the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska’s first Russian-American settlement, situated at the crossroads of the world's most productive commercial fishing grounds. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park Look for giant Kodiak brown bears digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic tern stop. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, “wet land,” by inflatable excursion craft to explore tidal pools and the tundra. Look for 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor Here on Unalaska Island visit the Museum of the Aleutians, the historic Russian Orthodox Church and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands St. George Island is a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. You will be welcomed by the friendly Unungan people who inhabit this remote island. BLD | |
| Yukon Delta Wildlife Refuge Using inflatable excursion craft, weather conditions permitting, stop at remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and reindeer. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, other stops may include: *Little Diomede - Separated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than 2 miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot . These Chukchi subsistence hunters live on walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, an ancient ritual site dubbed Whale Bone Alley runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” the natives here are subsistence hunters and ivory carvers, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, and depending on the conditions, cross the Arctic Circle at the International Date Line. Possible whale sightings include grays, minkes, humpbacks, and bowheads. BLD | |
| Cruise Into Nome Fly To Anchorage Enjoy evening dinner and overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BLD | |
| Winterlake Lodge Experience the thrill os a floatplane ride over Alaska to Winterlake Lodge. From Anchorage it is 198 miles to Winterlake Lodge, sitting on 15 acres by Winter Lake. Located on the historic Iditarod Trail, this remote, rustic lodge offers seclusion and spectacular scenery. Trimble Glacier, Rainy Pass and Wolvering Mountain are all visible from the Lodge. Enjoy savory Alaskan foods prepared by owner/chef Kirsten Dixon who has written 2 cookbooks and was named one of the 10 best chefs of the Pacific Northwest by Pacific Northwest Magazine. The main lodge has large picture windows for lake viewing, a dining room, library, a massage therapy room and services. Daily activities include narrated walks, cooking classes, lake tours by canoe and seasonal opportunities like berry picking. BD | |
| Winterlake Lodge Discover a true sense of wilderness at this off-the-beaten-path location enjoyed by only a lucky few. With one of the densest bear populations in the state, guests may have the opportunity to see bears come to the water to fish. Activities include canoeing or kayaking, animal tracking, hiking or relaxing at the lodge. BLD | |
| Travel By Floatplane To Anchorage Land on Lake Hood and transfer to the Anchorage International Airport for your flight home. B |
| Arrive In Anchorage Transfer to the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. D | |
| Fly To Nome, Board The Spirit Of Oceanus In Nome, enjoy a sightseeing tour of their Gold Rush fever history before boarding the ship. BLD | |
| The Arctic Circle Cruise far north, and depending on the conditions, cross the Arctic Circle at the International Date Line. Possible whale sightings include grays, minkes, humpbacks, and bowheads. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea Clear customs into Russia and take a tour of Provideniya. Search the rugged shoreline of Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula. In 3 days of exploration, other stops may include: *Little Diomede - Separated from Russia's Big Diomede by less than 2 miles and the International Date Line. * Novoye Chaplino - This Yupik village claims kinship to Alaskan Eskimos. * Yanrakynnot . These Chukchi subsistence hunters live on walrus, whales and other sea creatures. Nearby, an ancient ritual site dubbed Whale Bone Alley runs along the shore for hundreds of yards. * Savoonga - Hailed as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” the natives here are subsistence hunters and ivory carvers, living off the sea and land. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A second day of exploration. BLD | |
| Exploring The Bering Sea A third day of exploration. BLD | |
| Yukon Delta Wildlife Refuge Using inflatable excursion craft, weather conditions permitting, stop at remote islands such as Nunivak, part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. You may spot wild musk oxen and reindeer. BLD | |
| Pribilof Islands St. George Island is a prime viewing site for fur seals and reindeer. Also watch for puffins, auklets, and murres. You will be welcomed by the friendly Unungan people who inhabit this remote island. BLD | |
| Dutch Harbor Here on Unalaska Island see the Museum of the Aleutians, the historic Russian Orthodox Church and the World War II Memorial Park. BLD | |
| Shumagin Islands Conditions permitting, “wet land,” to explore tidal pools and the tundra. Look for 8,200-foot Pavlov Volcano and seabirds, seals, and sea lions on Haystack Rocks. BLD | |
| Katmai National Park Look for brown bears digging for clams as you explore the remote shoreline of Geographic Harbor, where migrating birds like the Arctic Tern stop. BLD | |
| Kodiak Visit the Baranov Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Fish Tech Center, all in Alaska’s first Russian-American settlement, situated at the crossroads of the world's most productive commercial fishing grounds. BLD | |
| Wilderness Cruising The waters between the Alaska mainland and Kodiak Island are filled with intrigue. Be on deck to see the rugged coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your Captain will determine the best spots to explore today based on the local conditions. BLD | |
| Arrive In Whittier, Transfer To Anchorage Enjoy evening dinner and overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BD | |
| Winterlake Lodge Experience the thrill os a floatplane ride over Alaska to Winterlake Lodge. From Anchorage it is 198 miles to Winterlake Lodge, sitting on 15 acres by Winter Lake. Located on the historic Iditarod Trail, this remote, rustic lodge offers seclusion and spectacular scenery. Trimble Glacier, Rainy Pass and Wolvering Mountain are all visible from the Lodge. Enjoy savory Alaskan foods prepared by owner/chef Kirsten Dixon who has written 2 cookbooks and was named one of the 10 best chefs of the Pacific Northwest by Pacific Northwest Magazine. The main lodge has large picture windows for lake viewing, a dining room, library, a massage therapy room and services. Daily activities include narrated walks, cooking classes, lake tours by canoe and seasonal opportunities like berry picking. BD | |
| Winterlake Lodge Discover a true sense of wilderness at this off-the-beaten-path location enjoyed by only a lucky few. With one of the densest bear populations in the state, guests may have the opportunity to see bears come to the water to fish. Activities include canoeing or kayaking, animal tracking, hiking or relaxing at the lodge. BLD | |
| Travel By Floatplane To Anchorage Land on Lake Hood and transfer to the Anchorage International Airport for your flight home. B |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
