Day 1 (JUN 14, 2025): Seattle, Washington

Departs at 3:00pm

As the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, there are plenty of things to do in Seattle for cruise passengers like the iconic Space Needle, the bustling waterfront, and museums celebrating pop culture, art, science, and history. From indulging in the best fresh seafood restaurants to exploring the world of coffee roasters and more, here’s how to make the most of your visit to the Emerald City.

Day 1 (JUN 14, 2025): Puget Sound (Cruising only)

Puget Sound cruises deliver incredible Pacific Northwest scenery, more than enough reason to choose Seattle as an Alaska departure port. Keep your eyes peeled. On Puget Sound cruises en route to the Great Land, 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.

Day 2 (JUN 15, 2025): Day at Sea

Day 3 (JUN 16, 2025): Scenic 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 of Alaskan wildlife, from humpback whales, the whoosh of their breath loud enough to be heard almost a kilometer away, to giant sea lions and their very distinctive smell—well, okay, call it a stink—that can carry just as far. The southern reaches of Stephens Passage start at the edges of Frederick Sound, one of the best whale-watching areas in the state. The sound narrows and as you are funneled into the passage, the mountains come right down into the sea, high tide licking the roots of spruce and hemlock. In tiny bays, guillemots and gulls gather; when they take off at the ship’s wake, the noise is like applause. 

Day 3 (JUN 16, 2025): Juneau, Alaska

Nestled between towering mountains and the pristine waters of the Gastineau Channel, Juneau offers a unique blend of rugged natural landscapes and rich cultural history. Visit the awe-inspiring Mendenhall Glacier, where you can witness the stunning ice formations up close, or take a scenic tram ride up Mount Roberts for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and surrounding wilderness. Immerse yourself in the local culture with a visit to the Alaska State Museum, showcasing native artifacts and regional history, or stroll through the charming downtown area, filled with quaint shops, art galleries, and delectable dining options.

Day 4 (JUN 17, 2025): Glacier Bay (Cruising only)

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.

Day 4 (JUN 17, 2025): Icy Strait Point, Alaska

Icy Strait Point is a popular cruise destination on Alaska cruises and is only open when a cruise ship is in port. This historical town is filled with history and culture. Back in the old days when a freezer was a piece of ice, fishermen in Alaska had two problems. The first one was finding the fish, although that wasn’t too complicated, the ocean was chock-full of fins; but the second problem was a little harder. The government regulated how long you could keep your catch on the boat, and it wasn’t very long. Canneries were the answer. Owning a cannery was having a license to print money. Really. As operations spread up and down Southeast Alaska, each cannery had its own currency. True company towns, canneries had their own workforce, their own laws. A big cannery needed a couple hundred workers, for everything from keeping books to making the millions of cans needed to ship all that fish, as well as the actual cleaning and prepping of fish on the line, called 'slime row.' Canneries were usually somewhere beautiful, someplace you could see from far off and aim your boat towards. But canneries didn’t survive the advent of refrigeration. Most were taken back by the forest or simply left to rot. With one exception: Icy Strait Point, beautifully restored. Just opposite Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point stretches for a few hundred meters along the beach; the old wooden buildings, bright red in the endless green of the Tongass, now offer a museum and a cannery demo. But more interesting is simply the madness of scale. Icy Strait Point gives a chance to look into history to see where Alaska’s money came from, all in a ghost town of millions of fish.

Day 5 (JUN 18, 2025): Sitka, Alaska

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.

Day 6 (JUN 19, 2025): Ketchikan, Alaska

Known as the "Salmon Capital of the World," Ketchikan offers a blend of rich Native Alaskan culture and stunning natural beauty. Explore the historic Creek Street, a picturesque boardwalk perched on stilts above the water, once a bustling red-light district and now home to unique shops and galleries. Visit the Totem Heritage Center to admire one of the world's largest collections of totem poles and learn about the local Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. For outdoor enthusiasts, a boat tour through the breathtaking Misty Fjords National Monument provides awe-inspiring views of dramatic cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and pristine wilderness.

Day 7 (JUN 20, 2025): Victoria, BC, Canada

A Victoria cruise delivers passengers to a charming British-influenced city plunked in the rugged Pacific Northwest. You can have high tea in an English garden and go whale watching the same day. Victoria ranks high for quality of life—you’re always a stone’s throw from a windswept beach or a pint at a convivial pub—and it’s the perfect swirl of city life and nature. The influence of the First Nations culture is also strong in Victoria, with totem poles taking a front-and-center position on the Inner Harbour and in Beacon Hill Park and extensive galleries devoted to the First People at the Royal Columbia Museum. A Victoria cruise means delicious dining is in store. Taste your way through Canada’s oldest Chinatown, sample fresh fish and chips, and gobble down heavenly Nanaimo bars. The Victoria, British Columbia cruise port is just a pleasant walk or cab ride away from the Inner Harbour. Whale-watching cruises and sightseeing floatplanes take off and return here and government buildings, museums, the Visitor Centre and the grand Fairmont Empress provide a dignified welcome. Just around the point, Fisherman’s Wharf offers working fishing boats, paddling harbor seals and busy seafood restaurants. Roam the peaceful paths of the vast Butchart Gardens and see vibrant blooms at every turn. Enjoy afternoon tea or a walk in the park or a shopping trip to Market Square or along Government Street. Whatever you choose to do on your Victoria cruise, you will be so charmed by the city, you may never want to leave.

Day 8 (JUN 21, 2025): Seattle, Washington

Arrive at 7:00am.