Cruise Overview
Alaska Cruise | Alaska and British Columbia - Wilderness, Glaciers and Culture (Northbound) 2025/2026
Journeying from Vancouver to Seward and on to Anchorage, discover Alaska’s captivating fjords, Gold Rush-era history, and rich culture.
Experience rugged wilderness, the glaciers of Icy Bay and College Fjord, and authentic fishing towns such as Sitka and Cordova.
Seek out wildlife such as whales, eagles, moose, bears and much more on landings and small expedition boat cruising with your Expedition Team.
Epic scenery and iconic wildlife
Voyaging from Vancouver to Seward and then overland to Anchorage, this expedition cruise showcases the marvels of British Columbia and Alaska. You’ll see towering mountains whose flanks are clad in old growth rainforest, and you’ll also see glittering glaciers and deep blue fjords. As we progress, we’ll be on the lookout for some of Alaska’s many wild species, including Bald Eagles, moose, bears, Steller sea lions, otters, orca, humpback whales and many, many seabirds.
A land many cultures call home
Alaska has a rich and complex history and is home to numerous cultures. From native peoples including the Tlingit and Haida, to the Russian settlers and the American Gold Rush pioneers – there's so much to discover on your voyage. Activities such as kayaking up to waterfalls in the Misty Fjords, small boat cruising near glaciers, and authentic cultural experiences will ensure Alaska is imprinted onto your very soul.
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A taste of Vancouver
Day 1
A taste of Vancouver
Enjoy British Columbia’s largest city
Your expedition cruise starts with an overnight stay in Vancouver, a bustling and beautiful seaport city set against steep mountains.
Vancouver's various neighbourhoods buzz with world-class farm-to-table cuisine. Don’t miss Gastown, Vancouver’s Victorian neighbourhood. Here you'll find the 553-foot Vancouver Lookout, which offers a perfect 360-degree panoramic view over the city.
Your expedition begins
Day 2
Your expedition begins
Explore British Columbia’s largest city
After an enjoyable breakfast at your hotel, we’ll take you on a city tour showcasing the main highlights of fabulous Vancouver.
When the tour is over, you’ll be dropped at the pier where your expedition ship MS Roald Amundsen awaits you. Settle in and take your time to get to know the ship, before listening to the safety briefing.
Your knowledgeable Expedition Team will lead the way on excursions and landings. Get to know them and sit down to enjoy a welcome dinner — your grand Alaska adventure is now underway.
Canada's Inside Passage
Day 3
Canada's Inside Passage
See sublime scenery as we sail the Inside Passage
The Inside Passage coastal route takes us 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.
Our smaller expedition ship allows us to reach areas that larger vessels can’t, meaning you’ll get to explore lesser-travelled channels with breathtaking scenery. Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of whales, including humpback, fin, minke and perhaps even orca.
Unspoiled Misty Fjords
Day 4
Unspoiled Misty Fjords
Revel in a wilderness where wildlife thrives
Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snowcapped 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 our small expedition boats or take kayaks out.
Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You’ll scan for mountain goats, black and brown bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall’s porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles.
Wrangell's petroglyphs
Day 5
Wrangell's petroglyphs
Visit one of Alaska’s oldest harbour towns
We 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.
The wonders of the southeast
Day 6
The wonders of the southeast
Discover southeast Alaska’s magical waterways
Explore Alaska in true expedition style on today’s exploration day in this magical corner of the Inside Passage.
Conditions permitting, we may take to the water in our 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, if luck is on our side.
Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm
Day 7
Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm
See the lesser-known gems of Holkham Bay
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.
Tlingit crafts in Haines
Day 8
Tlingit crafts in Haines
Discover an artistic heritage in the 'Valley of the Eagles'
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.
William Henry Bay
Day 9
William Henry Bay
Feel immersed in ancient nature as you explore an old-growth forest
We drop anchor at William Henry Bay, on the edge of the Chilkat Range mountains, for a day of exploration. Local guides will lead you through the old-growth forest. They’ll keep a lookout as you watch for brown and black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and moose.
Back in the comfort of the ship, we’ll get going again as we cruise towards Sitka. Keep an eye out for humpbacks as we pass Point Adolphus on Chichagof Island — it’s known as one of the best places for whale sightings in North America.
Blended cultures of Sitka
Day 10
Blended cultures of Sitka
Take in Sitka’s views and mix of cultures
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.
Glaciers of Icy Bay
Day 11
Glaciers of Icy Bay
Spot wildlife in these glacier-fed waters
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 our 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.
Remote Cordova
Day 12
Remote Cordova
Soak up Cordova’s traditional small-town vibe
Located in the Chugach National Forest and only accessible by boat or plane, remote Cordova has retained its traditional small-town authenticity. Only a select number of visitors each year get to admire the town’s spectacular setting between Orca Inlet, Hawkins Island, Mount Eccles, Eyak Lake and the Copper River Delta.
Sadly, Cordova is probably best known for the catastrophic Exxon Valdez oil spill that occurred in 1989. Today, after significant clean-up efforts, its coastline has recovered — a remarkable testament to what can be done to heal damaged ecosystems — and you might spot wildlife such as sea otters, eagles, Tundra Swans, beavers, moose and bears.
Ivy League glaciers
Day 13
Ivy League glaciers
Get ready to experience nature’s raw power
Today we 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.
We’ll get as close to the glaciers as we safely can, taking our 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.
Seward’s stunning beauty
Day 14
Seward’s stunning beauty
Travel inland to Anchorage via spectacular landscapes
Your expedition cruise ends in Seward, the only deep-water, ice-free port with road, rail and air connections to Alaska’s interior. Keep your eyes open as we cruise into Resurrection Bay as the area is known for its population of beluga whales.
What's included
Hotel
- Overnight in Vancouver, including breakfast, before the expedition cruise
Transfers
- Transfer from the hotel to the ship in Vancouver, including a city tour
Expedition Cruise
- A stay in a cabin of your choice
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Wine, beer and spirits available at meals and throughout the day and evening (subject to licensing laws, excludes premium drinks)
- All day coffee, tea and soft drinks
- Meals and take-away available throughout the day during Fredheim restaurant opening hours
- Fine dining in restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
- A complimentary water bottle to refill on board and take home
- A polar expedition jacket, a backpack, or another piece of HX kit
- Professional photos from your trip taken by our onboard photographer
- Complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note, streaming is not supported
- Use of sauna, hot tubs, pool, fitness room, lounges and more
- Gratuities included. Fantastic service is standard at HX – though if you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated
- Range of included activities
Onboard Activities
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
- Full access to the ship’s Science Centre
- Citizen Science Programme allows guests to assist with ongoing scientific research
- Professional onboard photographer gives tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
- Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings
Landing Activities
- Escorted landings with small expedition boats
- Loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities
- Expedition photographers on hand to assist you
Notes
- All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
- Excursions and activities are subject to change
- Please make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements
- Depending on your flight times, an additional overnight might be needed (not included)
What's not included
International flights
Additional overnight(s) if required due to international flight timings
Travel insurance
Luggage handling
Optional shore excursions with our local partners
Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area
Special offers
Expedition exclusive cost savings and rare opportunities.
* Certain offers may not be combinable, up to two savings opportunities except where noted otherwise
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Amazing Antarctica and the World of HX
Save up to $9,000 per Suite to the frozen continent of Antarctica*. Explore great offers across our all-inclusive adventures to Alaska, Iceland, Greenland, Northwest Passage, Svalbard, Galapagos and more.
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