Northern Passage and Glacier Bay Cruise

See the Tongass and Glacier Bay National Park as Alaskans do!

Tour Overview

See Alaska up close on this adventure cruise between Juneau and Sitka*. Experience Glacier Bay National Park uniquely and see humpback whales at Icy Strait. Immersed in awe-inspiring wilderness, access remote areas that only the lucky few will ever see. Explore by ship, skiff, kayak, and on foot. Watch for whales, try a paddle board, and go beachcombing with your expedition leader. This unique small boat cruise in Alaska’s Inside Passage offers unparalleled personal experiences with authentic Alaska.

* NOTE: Cruise may operate in the reverse direction from Sitka to Juneau depending on sailing dates.

What's Included
  • Local transfers & baggage handling on day one and day eight
  • Seven nights’ accommodation in a private cabin
  • All meals while onboard and most alcohol
  • From-the-boat adventure activities, including kayaking, paddle-boarding, skiff excursions, and hiking
  • Onboard professional naturalist
  • Entry fees to national parks/preserves
What's Not Included

Airfare to/from Sitka or Juneau; port fees and taxes; super-premium wine, beer and liquor; optional excursions on land; and gratuities (typically 10 – 15% of cruise fare).

 

Tour Itinerary

Below outline is for the Juneau to Sitka sailing. The Sitka to Juneau sailing will operate in reverse direction.

Day 1
Juneau Arrival

Welcome aboard! Transfer to your vessel in the afternoon. Please arrange your arrival no later than 2:30 pm today. A pre-night in port is highly recommended. After meeting your crew and getting acquainted with your ship’s features, finish the evening with a delicious meal. From the bow, enjoy views of the Coast Mountains.

Day 2
Captain's Choice

Your captain will pick the best option today! Enjoy the remote waterways of Lynn Canal or Chatham Strait to start an incredible week. Experienced guides will help you gear up and lead your adventure along the shoreline’s rocky outcroppings. Enjoy the incredible size of this wilderness by kayak or paddle board. Look for bald eagles in the tree tops, harbor seals bobbing up and under the water, and pods of orcas – the largest in the dolphin family – along the water’s surface.

Day 3
Glacier Bay National Park

Explore the 3.3 million acre Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Orange-beaked puffins, guillemots and marbled murrelets are just a few possible sights. Look for sea lions hauled out at Marble Island, and watch for mountain goats and foraging bears along the shoreline. Up the bay, glacial silt turns the water a milky white. Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers are up ahead – one holding steady, the other retreating. Look for harbor seals on bits of icebergs. End this very full day with the sail into Icy Strait.

Day 4
Icy Strait

Nearly to the Pacific Ocean, Icy Strait is remote and wild. Watch for whales and marine mammals. Spouts and fin slaps are certain giveaways. Don’t forget to look straight down – porpoises and dolphins may ride on a bow wave. The crew will point out any wildlife they spot. Quiet areas along the rugged coastline offer muskeg and forest. Skiff the shore and down along kelp-threaded channels.

Day 5
Chichagof Island

Kick off your morning with on-deck yoga. Then, meander through glacier carved fjords along the Chichagof coast and admire the moss-draped trees that run right down to the water. With one of the world’s larges populations of bears, it possible to spot one through the trees. Hike in the Tongass to search for giant trees and tidal pools with your guides. Later, wend along a twisting channel known for dramatic currents.

Day 6
Baranof Island / Peril Strait

Wind along a twisting channel known for dramatic currents. Peril Strait runs 50 miles to Salisbury Sound. The shorelines are close and you can skiff ashore and hike into the backcountry. Otters back float working to crack snacks resting on their bellies. Travel through Hoonah Sound and into Neva Strait. Enjoy watching the scenery change in the late fading light from your hot tub.

Day 7
Krestof & Nakwasina Islands

There aren’t many straight lines along Baranof Island. Its western side is spattered with remote, uninhabited islands. With endless opportunities for exploration, drop anchor and choose your adventure. Whether you kayak, paddle board or skiff, you’re well placed to look for curious sea lions and maybe even whales. Rocky intertidal zones make good beach combing. Turn a stone or two to see what’s out on a guided hike John Muir would approve of. Toast your voyage with a festive Farewell Dinner this evening and a “photo journal” of your trip.

Day 8
Sitka Departure

Cruise into Sitka this morning over breakfast, and disembark at about 9:00am. A transfer is provided to the airport or the Un-Cruise hospitality area. (Please arrange a departure no earlier than 11:30am today.)

Listed itinerary is a guideline only! Variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur to maximize your experience!

Tour Map

 

Dates & Rates

Two ships with multiple room configurations sail this itinerary. Please contact us to find your best option.

*** 2024 Special! Save $500 per person on all departures June 1, 2024 and later ***

Dates with a (*) indicate Sitka to Juneau sailings!

2024 Departure Dates 7 Nights Juneau to Sitka or (*) Sitka to Juneau

SEND CRUISE REQUEST

Safari Endeavour Navigator Trailblazer Pathfinder Admiral Commodore
May 11
May 18*
$6,100 $6,700 $7,200 $7,900 $11,100
May 25
June 1*
$6,600 $7,200 $7,800 $8,500 $12,000
June 8, 15*, 22, 29*
July 6, 13*, 20, 27*
August 3, 10*, 17, 24*
$7,000 $7,700 $8,300 $9,100 $12,900
August 31 $6,600 $7,200 $7,800 $8,500 $12,000
September 7* $6,100 $6,700 $7,200 $7,900 $11,100
September 14 $5,600 $6,100 $6,600 $7,200 $10,200

 

The listed prices are per person based on double occupancy. Additional taxes/port fees/fees are $375 per person and are not included in these rates.

Safari Endeavour:  84 guests / 42 cabins. 230 feet in length / 40 feet wide

Special Payment Policy:
Deposit of 50% is due at time of booking.
Final payment is due 90 days prior.

Special Cancellation Policy:
Any time after confirmation up to 91 days prior to cruise date:  $250 per person cancellation fee
90 to 61 days prior to cruise date: 70% cancellation fee
60 to 0 days prior to cruise date: 100% cancellation fee

 

Well we had a fabulous time in Alaska – back home now.  It certainly was the holiday of a lifetime and far exceeded our expectations.  Alaska is such a beautiful place – we did not realize the stunning scenery you have. Thanks for your help – all our travel plans worked perfectly.

Liz | U.K.