Black Friday 2024 Special - see a complete list of participating voyages here.
Day 1 Vancouver, Canada - Start of the Expedition
Your expedition starts with an overnight in Vancvouer. From the boutiques on Main Street to the coffee shops of Commercial Drive, the steam clock in Gastown or the heritage-house beachfronts of Kitsilano, you’ll quickly find out why this coastal metropolis is consistently voted one of the world´s most livable cities. Add an optional Pre-Program train ride aboard the famous Rocky Mountaineer.
Day 2 Nome, Alaska - There’s No Place Like Nome
Estimated time of departure is 10:00 PM
Today, we fly you from Vancouver to Nome. Set at the tip of the Seward Peninsula, overlooking the Bering Sea, Nome is perhaps the most famous gold rush town in Alaskan history. There are artefacts of the gold rush era to be seen everywhere, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the-century steam engines, and old railroad tracks.
Day 3 At sea – Bering Sea - Crossing the International Date Line
Spend your first day at sea looking out for whales on deck, chatting with new friends, conversing with the Expedition Team in the Science Center, or just watching the world sail by. During the day, we will also cross the international date line – heading into tomorrow for a short while, before sailing back into today!
Day 4 - St. Matthew Island, Alaska Deserted Island in the Bering Sea
Coming ashore on the black sand beaches of isolated St. Matthew Island, we will be the only humans here. The island lies more than 200 miles from the nearest village, home only to nesting seabirds like murres and cormorants, the native St. Matthew Island vole, and the Arctic fox.
Day 5 St. Paul, Alaska - Birdwatching Haven
The island of St. Paul is an ideal resting spot for migrating birds, attracting some 300 species, including horned and tufted puffins, red-legged kittiwakes, and Pribilof sandpipers. Also, about half of the world’s northern fur seal population lives in the waters here. They will be busy nursing new-borns when you visit in mid-July.
Day 6 At Sea - Lectures and Relaxing
MS Roald Amundsen continues south through the Bering Sea, through the Aleutian Islands and towards our next stop of Dutch Harbor. The Expedition Team will prepare you for our upcoming destinations and continue their lecture series.
Day 7 Dutch Harbor / Unalaska - Largest Fishing Port in the US
As we sail towards Unalaska, better known as Dutch Harbor, you will see Mount Makushin, a steaming volcano almost 6,000-feet high. The popular TV show “Deadliest Catch” is based here, featuring local fishing crews. Stop in at the Museum of the Aleutians, view the Russian Orthodox Church, or spot some of the more-than-600 bald eagles around town.
Day 8 Unga Village, Alaska - Alaskan Ghost Town
Unga Village is a picturesque but abandoned town on the southern end of uninhabited Unga Island in the remote Aleutian Islands. Settled by Aleuts in 1833, subsistence fishing proved insufficient to support the community, which later moved in 1969. Today, a collection of wooden buildings is all that remains, surrounded by a carpet of pink louseworts.
Day 9 Chignik - Where the Aleutian Mountains meet the Gulf of Alaska
In the small village of Chignik Bay, red salmon fishing has been the core of the community’s economy for over a century. Stop in at the fish factory, meet the welcoming locals, or explore the salmon streams in the scenic surroundings. Scan the shores to spot the 20-or-so waterfowl species, and the skies for bald eagles.
Day 10 Geographic Harbor / Kukak Bay / Kinak Bay - Seeking out Brown Bears
Katmai National Park´s Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a dramatic volcanic landscape, with mountains rising to almost 3,000 feet. Here we hope to find brown bears as they forage along the shore for clams, and lunch on berries or fish in the clear running waters of mountain streams.
Day 11 Kodiak, Alaska - Emerald Isle City
The bustling city of Kodiak sits on Alaska’s largest island, surrounded by verdant forest. Take a walk in Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park, home to bunkers from WWII as well as ocean and forest wildlife. Also, make sure to visit Baranov Museum, the oldest standing building in Alaska which chronicles Kodiak’s diverse history.
Day 12 At Sea - Serenity at Sea
Enjoy a day at sea! Our Expedition Team continues its lecture program, sharing their extensive knowledge and experience, as well as summarizing the voyage so far and presenting plans for the exciting days ahead.
Day 13 Icy Bay - Tidal Glaciers
Icy Bay lives up to its name. Located in Prince William Sound, the spectacular scenery here has formed in the past 100 years with the retreat of three prominent glaciers which still feed ice into the bay. Our aim is to explore Guyot Glacier. The day’s weather and glacier ice conditions will determine which areas we can visit.
Day 14 Sitka, Alaska - Blended Cultures
Sitka enjoys views of the Sisters Mountains and of Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. The former capital of Alaska when it belonged to Russia, this historic town is now a blend of cultures. Wander around the Russian Orthodox St. Michael’s Cathedral, or visit nearby Stika National Historical Park, which has many ornate Tlingit totem poles on display.
Day 15 Wrangell, Alaska - Soul of Alaska
One of the oldest island towns in Alaska, Wrangell has been governed by four different nations – Tlingit, Russian, British and the United States. Numerous petroglyphs on the beach and moss-covered totem poles depict the distant past of this area. Outside of the main cruise ship routes, Wrangell remains a simple fishing town.
Day 16 Misty Fjords National Monument - Unspoiled Wilderness
Misty Fjords National Monument is a realm of thick evergreen rainforests, mountain rivers, granite cliffs adorned by strips of waterfalls, and wetlands along the coast, often with milky fog filling the bays and coves. Weather permitting, you will explore the area on our small expedition boats or kayaks.
Day 17 At sea - Cruising the Canadian Inside Passage
Sailing south into the open ocean, we spend a few hours journeying through the Inside Passage, admiring places such as Grenville Channel, Princess Royal Channel or Johnstone Strait. Enjoy exceptional views of tranquil fjords and mountains covered in evergreen forests. Unlike other cruise ships that normally pass through the area at night, you’ll be able to see this sublime summer scenery during the day.
Day 18 Vancouver, Canada - End of the Expedition
Estimated time of arrival is 8:00 AM
Your expedition cruise ends in Vancouver. Extend your holiday with an optional Post-Program to spend some extra time in this vibrant city. Make the most of the summer weather and cycle around Stanley Park, or enjoy the scenic views from the Sea-to-Sky Gondola. Richmond Night Market boasts endless food stalls while Granville Island is the artsy hub.
