Alaska and British Columbia (Southbound)

Upon arrival, transfer to a hotel for your overnight stay in Anchorage, a city with plenty of restaurants, galleries and shops. The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center give you a taste of local culture.

If you prefer the open air, why not visit the flowering Town Square Park, or go salmon fishing in Ship Creek.

To get the most out of your stay, we recommend joining our optional Pre-Programme to the incredible Denali National Park, home to North America’s highest peak and a huge range of Alaskan wildlife.

After breakfast you’ll enjoy a scenic drive to Seward. Drive through the Kenai Peninsula, considered by Alaskans and visitors alike to be some of the world’s most awe-inspiring backcountry scenery. The transfer will take you through this stunning scenery as you wend your way to the Pacific coast where your expedition ship awaits.

Your embarkation point, Seward, is the only deep-water ice-free port with road, rail and air connections to Alaska’s interior.

Once you board MS Roald Amundsen, locate your cabin and explore this spacious and comfortable expedition ship which will be your home for almost two weeks. 

Today you will visit College Fjord, which features five tidewater glaciers and five valley glaciers, as well as a dozen other types.

The 1899 Harriman expedition team, which charted the fjord, named the glaciers after their alma maters, including Vassar, Harvard and Yale.

Princeton is missing, apparently a deliberate snub. You will get as close to the glaciers as the ship safely can, taking small expedition boats into the fjord or even exploring by kayak if conditions permit. From the water, you might catch sight of humpback whales, Bald Eagles, otters and sea lions, all of which inhabit this icy wilderness.

Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall – regularly calve into this bay. If conditions allow, you’ll explore in small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.

Wildlife abounds in the Gulf of Alaska, offering unrivalled photography opportunities. Humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, sea otters and harbour seals lazing on floating chunks of ice are often seen in these waters.

In the morning the ship will pass by Point Adolphus, located on the northern tip of Chichagof Island across from Glacier Bay National Park. The nutrient-rich waters are known for attracting humpback whales and other marine life, so be sure to get out on deck and have your camera ready.

William Henry Bay lies south of Haines at the edge of the Chilkat Range mountains, and is home to brown bears, black bears and moose. Under the watchful eye of an expert local guide, we’ll drop anchor here and explore the shores lined with old-growth forest.

Near the head of the Lynn Canal lies the frontier town of Haines, which was originally home to the Chilkat Tlingit people. They are renowned for their weaving skills, with mountain goat fur and cedar bark woven into intricate designs, and here, you’ll see excellent examples of their work.

Haines has a flourishing art scene, with galleries and workshops showcasing totem carvings, silverwork and sculptures. Taking home some Alaskan arts and crafts is a great way to support local creators. The beautiful landscapes here are also ideal for hiking and wildlife spotting.

Holkham Bay is home to two beautiful fjords – Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Your Captain will decide which offers better exploration options on the day.

At the end of each fjord, fresh icebergs calve from the glaciers against a stunning backdrop of rocky cliffs. This area is a breeding ground for harbour seals, who are often seen on the floating ice. You might also see whales, bears and mountain goats.

Surrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea or air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe volcano.

Inhabited by the Tlingit people for 10,000 years, the town was settled by Russian explorers around the turn of the 19th century before being sold to the United States after Russia lost the Crimean War. Today, Sitka has roots in all three cultures.

A visit to the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House is recommended. Admire ornate Haida and Tlingit totem poles at Sitka National Historical Park and enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.

Explore Alaska in true expedition style on today’s exploration day in this magical corner of the Inside Passage.

Conditions permitting, you may take to the water in small expedition boats, and seek out secluded coves, iceberg-filled bays, and thickly forested shorelines. Try and catch a glimpse of some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, including Bald Eagles, Pigeon Guillemots, otters, whales and even bears.

Continue cruising the Alaskan islands towards Wrangell. Only a mile out of town, Petroglyph Beach is where you'll see ancient rock carvings among the sand.

Visit the local museum to learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past. Now part of the United States, it was once governed by Britain, Russia and the Tlingit people. Cross to Shakes Island, where the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the story of the Indigenous Tlingit people.

Hikers will enjoy the nature trails, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River, and the foot of Mount Dewey at the edge of the rainforest.

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. The revered naturalist writer John Muir described the area as one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen.

Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in small expedition boats, or take kayaks out.

Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You’ll scan for mountain goats, bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall’s porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles.

The Inside Passage coastal route takes you through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long. Unlike other cruises which pass through at night, you’ll be able to view the sublime scenery in all its glory during the day.

Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of dolphins, porpoises, orcas and humpback whales.

Arrive at Alert Bay, a scenic village on Cormorant Island, north of Vancouver Island. Here you will have the opportunity to meet and learn from the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations community – to be welcomed by them is a real privilege.

At the U'mista Cultural Center, you'll see elaborate totem poles, paintings, carvings, ceremonial masks and other meaningful artifacts.

The island’s sheltered waters attract a huge array of wildlife – the Yellow-billed Loon, with its distinctive speckled back, is a particular highlight. Keep an eye out for orcas and humpback whales close to shore.

After breakfast, disembark the ship