Cruise West

Wilderness Inside Passage

Our Wilderness Inside Passage journeys are designed to take you far from the mainstream within the hidden reaches of Alaska's magnificent Inside Passage. You will explore spectacular fjords inhabited only by mountain goats, seals, and black bears.

Recommended for:

  • Explorers who want to see Nature on her own terms, away from the crowds, unscheduled, unexpected.
  • Travelers who are looking for a different kind of Alaska cruise, a voyage that will change their lives.

Highlights:

  • Explore far beyond Alaska's travel mainstream
  • View pristine wilderness, tiny native villages, and isolated cultures.
  • See Alaska as it was over 50 years ago.
  • Experience the Alaska Coastline and Beringia.

The Ship:

Our Wilderness Inside Passage ship, the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery, is perfectly suited to your voyage, able to maneuver waterways usually reserved for fishing boats and private yachts. Your ship often ventures very close to shore. If a bear is spotted on the beach or a pod of whales is playing in Frederick Sound, your captain has the flexibility to stop for as along as Nature chooses to put on a show.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN JUNEAU
Transfer to the Goldbelt Hotel. The hotel’s waterfront locale is a perfect base for exploring.

Day 2 SAIL FROM JUNEAU
Your small ship sails in late afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to explore Juneau. Once onboard, step out on deck to watch Gastineau Channel glide by as you enter Alaska’s true wilderness.

Day 3 TRACY ARM
Many travelers consider these narrow fjords the most spectacular spots in Alaska. Sheer cliffs rise thousands of feet from waterline to snowcapped peaks, their sides studded and stunning waterfalls. And there's the ice. Conditions permitting, your crew will welcome you into inflatable excursion craft to explore the waters and shorelines amid bouncing bergie bits calved from ancient glaciers.

Day 4 FREDERICK SOUND AND WILDERNESS EXPLORATION
Frederick Sound teems with the humpback whale’s favorite food – and the whales take full advantage, feeding in the rich waters as they prepare for their long migration. Once they leave Alaska waters at summer’s end, these giant creatures will not eat again until they return next year. This afternoon you’ll discover the joys of “gunkholing,” a nautical term that means, among other things, “exploring at leisure.” Your Captain and Exploration Leader know these waters intimately – and each voyage is likely to be different, depending on what magic they find to share with you.

Day 5 SITKA
This beautiful little city is thought by many to be the “jewel of the Inside Passage.” Its setting alone is breathtaking. But, for you, getting there is half the fun. 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,” threading through beautiful Peril Strait and navigating the delicate passage through Sergius Narrows where tides challenge all but the most expert mariner’s skill. Enjoy the peaceful setting as you stroll amongst the totems at the beautiful Sitka National Historic Park, or choose other optional excursions to further explore the gem of Baranof island.

Day 6 ICY STRAIT
Watch for the gentle humpbacks as they feast on tiny krill churned by waters from the Pacific Ocean. Today, try to count, not only the whales, but the numbers of behaviors you’ll see them exhibit. Spouting. Sounding. Breaching. Tail slapping. Fin smacking. Lunge feeding. Even rare bubble feeding if you’re very, very lucky. The tiny Inian Islands stand between you and the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska, with enticing opportunities to get out there and explore by inflatable craft. Be sure to keep an eye out for Stellar sea lions, orcas, harbor seals, and porpoise.

Day 7 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. A few of the most outstanding highlights are:

The birds and Steller's sea lions of South Marble Island, where you'll find constant activity off these rocky sentinels.

The 15,000-foot peak of Mt. Fairweather represents the steepest climb from Sea level in the world.

Massive glaciers of all varieties - hanging, tidewater, and valley glaciers - abound here. In a full day of exploration, you'll be accompanied by the expert guidance of a National Park Ranger and a Native Cultural Interpreter who board your small ship and stay throughout your visit.

Day 8 EXPLORATION
You may visit one of the tiny, coastal communities of southeast Alaska, accessible only by sea, to explore and maybe even share a friendly chat with the locals. For those lucky and hearty few that 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 Day 9 ARRIVE IN JUNEAU Disembark in Juneau this morning, and we'll escort you to the airport.

Cost of This Trip

8 Night trip

The least expensive cabin costs:
$475 per person per night in low season and
$525 pp pn during high season

The most expensive stateroom costs:
$687 pp pn in low season and
$737 pp pn in high season