Cruise deep into the wilderness of the Inside Passage and bask in a peaceful sanctuary, where wildlife abounds and people are few.  Sail round tip from Juneau and enjoy the luxury of spending a full day in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a privilege permitted exclusively to Cruise West guests.  Listen for the sound of thundering waterfalls and the crack of glaciers calving into the sea.  Come face-to-face and interact with the people of a remote Southeast Alaskan village.  Learn from a National Park Ranger and Native Cultural Interpreter about the Passage's array of flora, fauna and the culture of the Tlingits.  If spending time up-close with nature is a must, this is the voyage for you.  Get deep into the wilderness of Southeast Alaska to places inaccessible to large ships.

Day 3: Icy Strait

Icy Strait is a northern waterway that separates Chichagof Island from Glacier Bay on the mainland, extending 40 miles northwest from Chatam Strait to Glacier Bay and Cross Sound.  Its nutrient rich waters are a magnet to an abundant variety of marine mammals and seabirds, and its northern border is the untamed, natural wilderness of Glacier Bay.  Saw-toothed mountaintops of the Fairweather Range loom thousands of fee in the northern sky.  Watch for gentle humpbacks as they feast on tiny krill churned by waters from the Pacific Ocean.  Watch for the behaviors you may see them exhibit.  Spouting, sounding, breaching, tail slapping, lunge feeding, and rare bubble feeding if you're lucky. BLD

Day 4: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Declared by many to be the most extraordinary and untouched place in the world, Glacier Bay was first established as a National Monument in 1925 and has since enjoyed the highly protected status of National Park, Biosphere Reserve, and World Heritage Site.  Glacier Bay National Park shows you the earth in transition.  The glaciers here are receding rapidly, leaving in their wake scoured cliffs and deep fjords

We'll pick up a Glacier Bay Park Ranger and a local Tlingt Cultural Interpreter in Bartlett Cove.  They will provide a comprehensive day of narrative sightseeing.  Over 65 miles of pristine terrain and habitat have been revealed in Glacier Bay since its giant rivers of ice began dramatically retreating 200 years ago.  Approach Marble Island and hurry outside to encounter a teeming multitude of seabirds like black-legged kittiwakes, murrelets, and puffins, all swooping and swarming above the writhing, barking haul-out of Steller's sea lions.     BLD

Day 5: Wilderness Community

For those lucky and hearty few who call this wilderness home, "traffic" takes on a whole new meaning!  We will port call at one of a handful of small Alaskan villages to briefly get a taste of what it would be like to be part of a community that rests in the wild and off-the-beaten-path part of the world.  We'll also spend part of today in some of the richest whale waters in all of Southeast Alaska and take every opportunity to spot whales, letting our itinerary be dictated by their movements. BLD

Day 6: Sitka

This beautiful little city is thought by many to be the "jewel of the Inside Passage".  Its setting alone is breathtaking.  While big ships must plow through miles of open ocean and moor far from the tiny docks, your small ship will come to Sitka "through the back door".  Thread through the beautiful Peril Strait and navigate the delicate passage through Sergius Narrows where tides challenge all but the most expert mariner's skill.  Enjoy the peaceful settings as you stroll amongst the totems at the beautiful Sitka National Historic Park, or choose optional excursions to further explore the gem of Baranof Island. BLD

Day 8: Tracy Arm

Many travelers consider these narrow fjords the most spectacular spots in Alaska.  Sheer cliffs rise thousands of feet from the waterline to snowcapped peaks, their sides are stunning waterfalls.  And there's Ice.  Conditions permitting, your crew will welcome you into inflatable excursion crafts to explore the waters and shorelines amid bouncing bergie bits calved from ancient glaciers.  BLD

Day 9: Juneau departure

Disembark in Juneau this morning, and we'll escort you to the airport. B 

7 nights accommodations in private cabin and 1 night accommodation in Juneau; All meals aboard ship as listed (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner); all taxes. 

 

Save up to 25% off the regular prices on the following departures only:

May 18, July 24 & 29, August 5 & 26, and September 2. Limited availability.

Please contact us for more information.

 

2009 Rates and Departures   Cabin Category Cabin rates are per person based on Double Occupancy; Single/Triple Rates on request
mv Spirit of Discovery Click to review deck plan	A	AA	AAA	DELUXE
May  18, 25	$4599	$4899	$5249	$6099
June 1	$4849	$5099	$5449	$6249
June 15	$5099	$5349	$5649	$6499
June 22 July 3, 24 August 10	$5099	$5349	$5649	$6499
August 24	$4849	$5099	$5449	$6249

mv Spirit of Endeavour Click to review deck plan	A	AA	AAA	DELUXE
July 29 August 5	$5099	$5349	$5649	$6499
August 26	$4849	$5099	$5449	$6249
September 2	$4599	$4899	$5249	$6099
The price includes a $464 per person fee which covers taxes and port fees. Price does not include $105 per person fuel surcharge. Crossed out dates are sold out. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.