OVERVIEW

Cruise the sheltered waters of the Tongass Narrows and observe the boundless natural beauty on the way to Ketchikan. This alternative means of reaching downtown offers express boarding, allowing you to bypass the long lines often associated with other modes of transportation. Enjoy locally roasted coffee, but majestic scenery is the real attraction of cruising versus driving from the pier at Ward Cove. Along the way, you will pass uninhabited islands, densely forested shorelines and countless boats – both recreational and commercial – as the waterway is part of the Alaska Marine Highway and the Inside Passage. You may even see floatplanes taking off and landing with splash in the harbor. Be sure to look for wildlife such as sea lions and bald eagles. You may even spot a humpback whale breaching the water’s surface.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to Ketchikan instead of driving and enjoy spectacular scenery along the way.
• Admire the natural beauty that comes right to the edge of Ketchikan’s city limits.
• Look for wildlife such as sea lions in the Tongass Narrows and bald eagles overhead.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

This 2-hour glacier trekking adventure, led by our knowledgeable interpretive guides, offers an amazing blend of scientific discovery, ice trekking and exploration, and stunning views of the Mendenhall Glacier’s most breathtaking features. Soar over the beautiful wilderness on the outskirts of Juneau in a helicopter and land near an ancient glacier, where you can hike across its ever-changing icescape. Following a picturesque flight inland, you will enjoy an orientation briefing on how to maximize your experience. All the necessary mountaineering gear for your adventure will be provided, including an ice ax, crampons, and harness, allowing you to reach even remote areas of the glacial landscape. As you negotiate the rugged terrain and take in the extraordinary scenery, you will learn about the formation of glaciers, the rate at which they are retreating and why parts of the ice have a bluish hue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a helicopter over the pristine wilderness that borders Juneau.
• Hike over the icy terrain of a glacier with a mountaineering expert.
• Gain a firsthand understanding of glaciers and how they creep across the landscape.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Feel the adrenaline rush of riding in an actual hovercraft! This 75-minute trip takes you from the bustling dock to a secluded Ketchikan beach and on to hidden coves teeming with native wildlife and spectacular Alaskan scenery. Take your seat among a small group of 12 fellow thrill seekers, settling inside the covered and enclosed cabin of your unique watercraft, which is designed to have minimal impact on this pristine wilderness. Your heart will start pounding faster as you push away from land and start flying across deep-blue Inside Passage waters, speeding along craggy coastlines, lush with tall evergreens. The vessel will then gently drift onto a black-sand beach, and you'll have the chance to hop out and breathe in the fresh air while walking along the shore. Enjoy the serenity that can only be found in this part of the world. Then, get ready for more action as you lift off dry land and glide across the water in search of more wildlife. Breaching whales, splashing harbor seals, and soaring bald eagles are often seen during the trip, so be sure to bring your camera.

OVERVIEW

Your journey begins with a narrated tour of downtown Juneau, highlighting the city’s landmarks and rich cultural past as you head towards the Mendenhall Valley. Your first stop is the historic Brotherhood Bridge, where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the valley and, weather permitting, the Mendenhall Glacier off in the distance. This bridge holds significant cultural and historical importance, symbolizing the bridging of the gap between Native and Non-Native communities and overcoming racial tensions. Adorned with ten bronze medallions featuring the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) crest, sculpted by Roy Peratrovich Jr. in honor of the ANB’s 50th anniversary, the bridge depicts the two great Tlingit moieties—Eagle and Raven—emphasizing the ANB’s foundational role in their shared heritage. Next you're off to Glacier Gardens where you'll board a guided tram vehicle and climb up through the temperate rainforest to a scenic viewing platform that offers alpine views of the surrounding mountains, waterways and islands. Upon your return to the base area, you'll have time to visit the Gardens pavilion and view the variety of botanical plants that thrive in the local climate. From the Gardens, it's a short drive back to your ship along Juneau's waterfront.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Try your luck fishing in crystal-clear waters teeming with salmon, while enjoying a stunning backdrop of glacier-carved bays and fjords and the natural beauty of Tongass National Forest. Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World, so there is no better place to catch these highly prized sportfish. Once you reach the prime fishing grounds, a captain will supply you with fishing gear and you will troll for salmon using a downrigger. There will be 4 rods in the water at one time. Anglers will rotate from rod to rod after a fish is caught so that everyone has the same amount of time on each one. Five species of salmon live in these waters, including king salmon, which are also called Chinook salmon. Pink salmon are the most abundant species and they are vigorous fighters. If you want to keep what you catch, it can be processed and shipped anywhere in the United States..

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fish for hard-fighting, highly prized salmon.
• Enjoy a stunningly beautiful, natural backdrop.
• Ship your catch home if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Tour the island’s only cacao farm and see how beans from the trees are made into custom chocolates. Now the largest chocolate factory in Hawaii, the Maui Ku’ia Estate sustainably produces chocolates from the seeds of the cacao trees that thrive on its 20 acres of farmland. As you walk through the orchard, a guide will describe the chocolate-making process step by step, show you how the cacao seeds are harvested and explain how the farm maintains a net-zero carbon footprint through solar power and eco-friendly packaging. During the tasting that follows in the shade of a thatched hale tree house, you will sample an assortment of milk and dark chocolates that may be flavored with mango, cappuccino, peppermint and coffee. You will also have the opportunity to purchase sweets in the gift shop. To support the local community, 100% of the farm’s net profits are donated to Maui charities.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover how chocolate is made from cacao seeds at a farm on the outskirts of Lahaina.
• Sample a variety of milk and dark chocolates, some flavored with tropical ingredients.
• Gain an understanding of how the farm and factory achieve a net zero carbon footprint.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Soar through the treetops of a centuries-old rainforest and over glacially fed waterfalls on a series of exhilarating ziplines. You will ride to the Grizzly Falls zipline camp in an all-terrain Mercedes Unimog, a 4x4 vehicle made for off-road adventure. Then, after an orientation that will help you maximize the experience, the real thrills begin. After climbing the first zipline platform and getting harnessed in, you will step off into thin air. Gravity will pull you through the forest canopy and so close to the waterfalls that you can feel their rising mist. The ziplines will carry you downhill at an adrenaline-pumping, heart-racing speed of up to 45 miles per hour, or if you would prefer to take it a bit slower, just use the brake system. Either way, it will be a thrill. Suspension bridges link several of the zipline platforms, providing you will excellent photo opportunities and time to catch your breath.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Race through the rainforest and over gorgeous waterfalls on a series of ziplines.
• Control the zipline speed with the braking system or tear downhill at full speed.
• Pause for photos of the natural beauty at several suspension bridges between the ziplines.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience the infinite beauty of Alaska’s remote glaciers! A short drive brings you to the heliport where, following a safety video, you’ll be outfitted with boots. Lift off from the historic Skagway waterfront and head into a rugged region of sheer mountains, majestic valleys and massive glaciers. Jagged peaks towering over the Chilkat Glacier, cascading waterfalls surrounding the Ferebee Glacier, or the spectacular “river of ice” known as the Meade Glacier, may be among the wonders you’ll encounter.

Upon arrival at your glacial destination you’ll have the rare opportunity to explore one of Mother Nature’s greatest marvels. Enjoy a walking exploration of the river of ice, while experienced glacier guides answer your questions and explain the awesome forces at work.

OVERVIEW

Follow a scenic mountain route used during the gold rush to a soaring suspension bridge and feast on salmon, baked Alaskan-style. You will set out on the Klondike Highway, a historic passage through White Pass that was once a trade route for the Tlingit tribe and a path to the gold fields during the late 1890s. While ascending the soaring mountain summit, you will enjoy spectacular views and hear stories of the hardships that early travelers endured to reach Alaska’s interior. You will be treated to a closer look at the natural beauty while walking across the Yukon Suspension Bridge, which spans the churning Tutshi River. A traditional salmon bake follows in a setting that is anything but traditional. You will dine at Liarsville, a re-creation of a gold rush camp complete with a general store, saloon and costumed characters for added ambiance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive the Klondike Highway, once a path to the gold fields.
• Gaze down on the turbulent river from a soaring suspension bridge.
• Feast on baked salmon at Liarsville Gold Rush Camp.
• Wander through camp, exploring on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly in layered clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise to the Channel Islands State Marine Park and then ease into a tandem kayak to observe the abundant wildlife, whose star attractions are humpback whales. To reach the uninhabited islands within the marine park, you will cruise through Lynn Canal in a small boat that will offer panoramic views of the snow-capped Coastal and Chugach Mountain Ranges. Although the natural beauty will be undeniably breathtaking, few sights can compare to watching massive humpback whales feeding on krill and small fish to fatten up for their migration south. Observing the spectacle in an open kayak from a close but safe distance will make the experience even more special. These waters are among the richest feeding grounds in Alaska, so the chance of spotting whales, orcas, porpoises and Stellar sea lions is excellent. Be sure to keep an eye out for bald eagles overhead and Sitka black-tail deer along the shore.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through the incredibly scenic Lynn Canal to the Channel Islands State Marine Park.
• Paddle a tandem kayak around the uninhabited islands within the marine park.
• Look for humpback whales, porpoises, Stellar sea lions and harbor seals.
• Scan the sky for majestic bald eagles and other avian species.
• Hear fascinating facts about the wildlife and the history of the area

HELPFUL HINTS

• Guests will be entering the temperate rainforest and ocean environment, dress accordingly Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Join this bear-viewing opportunity, which is accessible by road. You'll begin with a narrated eight-mile coastal drive to the forested area of Herring Cove located within the Alaska Rain Forest Sanctuary. Meet your guide and set out on a walking expedition to locate some of the black bears that call this area home. You will pass through tall stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar as you explore the sanctuary. An elevated boardwalk trail leads you to private viewing platforms overlooking Herring Creek, where bears often come to fish for salmon in the stream. The nearby Whitman Hatchery ensures that the river is teeming with salmon every summer. Typically, large numbers of black bears gather here to feed on these huge runs of salmon that are returning to spawn in the stream. Bald eagles perch in the trees, waiting patiently for scraps left by the bears. Mink and marten often frequent the area, and seals often hang out near the mouth of the stream feeding on the bountiful fish runs. You will have ample time to observe the wildlife activity. Walk through the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill established by legendary pioneer Ben Fleenor. Transportation to and from the sanctuary is by motorcoach.

OVERVIEW

Explore the pristine waters of Icy Strait Point on this tour that highlights the protected waters of Port Frederick. From the pier, you will walk the short distance to the Kayak center where you will receive a safety briefing and kayaking orientation. Following that, you will hop in your two-person kayak and begin your adventure. You'll spend nearly two hours paddling about these pristine waters, delighting in the serenity and joy of being out on the water, as well as having the opportunity to observe the bountiful wildlife that inhabits this wilderness area. Your guide will help you spot animals, explain their habits, and offer all sorts of tidbits to maximize your time kayaking along the shoreline. While there are no certainties regarding what you might observe, humpback whales typically feed along the very same route that you will be traveling. You may see one in the distance breaching the water's surface, waving its fluke before diving, or spy hopping, which is when a whale pokes just its head out of the water to look around. The nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait are also home to orcas, sea lions, porpoises, sea otters and seals. During your excursion, you will also paddle to an even more serene area, frequented by bald eagles. There are few sights more visually arresting than following the flight of one of these majestic creatures as it rides the wind until swooping down to catch a fish with its talons. After returning to the beach at Icy Strait Point, you will turn in your equipment and head back to the ship, or perhaps visit the nearby Welcome Center.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak through Icy Strait Point, an area teeming with marine life.
• Watch for humpback whales feeding in the nutrient-rich waters.
• Appreciate the wilderness even more as the naturalist explains its biodiversity.
• Look for bald eagles riding the wind until they swoop down to catch fish in their talons.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly in layers.
• Wear sturdy flat shoes.