Alaska’s Glacier Wilderness with Glacier Bay Cruise

Explore islands, glaciers and forests on a small-ship adventure through Southeast Alaska.

Tour Overview

Cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage in Southeast Alaska in comfort and style aboard one of Un-Cruise Adventures’ small ships. Thanks to their small size, these smaller Alaska cruise ships can travel into areas in Alaska’s waterways that most larger cruise ships cannot reach. You’ll explore seacoast islands, go whale watching for humpbacks, watch glaciers calving, and explore wilderness forests. You can also kayak, paddleboard, or take skiffs into remote inlets that bring you closer to Alaska wildlife, birds, and marine life, including eagles, sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and seabirds. You’ll travel into Frederick Sound, a playground for whales, harbor seals, and sea lions, Icy Strait, a favorite summer stopping point for whales, and Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get close to glaciers, hike through the Tongass National Forest, and explore scenic waterways with local guides on this incredible Southeast Alaska adventure.

What's Included
  • Local transfers & baggage handling on day one and day eight
  • Seven nights accommodations in a private cabin
  • All meals and most alcohol while onboard
  • 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 from/to Juneau; port fees and taxes; pre-night hotel in Juneau; super-premium wine, beer, and liquor; and gratuities (approx. 10-15% of cruise fare).

 

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Juneau Arrival

Upon arrival you will be transferred from the airport or hospitality area to board the ship (please arrange an arrival no later than 2:30pm today). Toast to the riches of Alaska as you sail west toward Icy Strait.

Day 2
Icy Strait

Start your morning with on-deck yoga and a strong cup of coffee. Explore the remote bays off of Icy Strait in your kayak, gliding through giant bullwhip kelp that can grow to over 100 feet long. Take a skiff to a rocky outcropping to watch sea lions play. Or, step into mud boots for a forest hike with your top-notch, naturalist guides who have plenty to share about everything Alaska – marine biology, plants, and even geology. On board, soak it all in as you soak in the hot tub.

Day 3
Glacier Bay National Park

Have your binoculars handy – South Marble Island is a birder’s slice of heaven. Puffins scoot through the water, guillemots and gulls chatter, and sea lions sleep through it all. Cruise to the far end of John Hopkins Inlet or Tarr Inlet where glaciers calve into the water. Look for bears and mountain goats along the shoreline. Back at Bartlett Cove, if time and daylight allow, take a forest hike around the park’s HQ.

Day 4
Admiralty Island National Monument

At Admiralty Island National Monument kayak, skiff, and weave in and out of the bays and islets keeping your eyes out for Alaska brown bears and nesting bald eagles. Tlingit call the island Kootznoowoo, meaning “Fortress of the Bear”, and Admiralty Island has a higher density of bald eagles than all the other states combined. After another big day, pop up to the bridge to look over charts with your captain and mates.

Day 5
Frederick Sound

Humpback whales come to Frederick Sound every season to feed on krill, zooplankton and herring. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Based on wind and weather conditions, your expedition team has a lineup of adventures all mapped out. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station and the Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocks. Tonight, toast to another spectacular day in Alaska.

Day 6
Windham Bay & Stephens Passage

Humpback and orca are frequent visitors of this Southeast passage. Your captain navigates Wyndham Bay and Stephens Passage. Explore by kayak as little or much as you want. Or, hike into the Tongass. It is a landscape of hanging waterfalls and shades of green.

Day 7
Endicott Arm / Dawes Glacier

Skiffing up Endicott Arm, keep your eyes out for harbor seals lazing around on icebergs. If the tides are right, slip into Fords Terror and marvel at the steep walls of this narrow opening streaked with waterfalls. Back in Endicott Arm, admire the deep glacier carved valleys before arriving at Dawes Glacier where blue ice descends from the Coast Mountains. Listen for the sharp crack of glacier calving. Tonight, celebrate a week of adventure with a festive Farewell Dinner.

Day 8
Juneau Departure

After breakfast, disembark in Juneau at about 9:00am. A transfer to the airport or your hotel is provided. (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

*** Early Booking Special for 2025: Book by Sep 30, 2024 and receive a 10% off the cabin fare. **

 

2025 Departure Dates 7 Nights Roundtrip Juneau                       SEND CRUISE REQUEST
Safari Quest Navigator Pathfinder Admiral
May 23 $6,100 $7,500 $8,300
May 30 $7,600 $9,300 $10,300
June 6, 13, 20, 27
July 4, 11, 18, 25
August 1, 8, 15, 22
$8,900 $10,900 $12,100
August 29 $7,600 $9,300 $10,300
Sep 5 $7,600 $9,300 $10,300

 

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 Quest: 22 guests / 11 cabins. 120 feet in length / 29 feet wide.

Special Payment Policy:
Deposit of $500 per person 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:  $500 per person cancellation fee (deposit is non-refundable)
90 to 61 days prior to cruise date: 70% cancellation fee
60 to 0 days prior to cruise date: 100% cancellation fee

 

Thank you for the beautiful trip you organized. The route was beautifully thought out, the suggested itinerary worked well, all the hotels and reservations were expertly handled. We were grateful for your expertise and for helping us select different activities for different members of our group.

Moshe | Facebook