Alaska’s Glacier Wilderness

Day 1: Juneau
Day 2: Icy Straight & Neka Bay 
Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park
Day 4: Glacier Bay National Park
Day 5: Chichagof Island
Day 6: Frederick Sound
Day 7: Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glaciers 
Day 8: Juneau

The planned itinerary is subject to change due to nautical, technical, or meteorological reasons and other unforeseen circumstances. The captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety, even with no advance notice. 

Day 1: Juneau
After arriving in Juneau, you will be transferred from the airport to the boat. Upon boarding, your crew will greet you with champagne and smiles and then you set sail for a week of scenic channels and secluded wilderness. Surrounded by the rich, green Tongass National Forest, and located on the beautiful Gastineau Channel, Juneau is an important port and a popular tourist destination. It is the only state capital in the United States that is inaccessible by road! Juneau sits at sea level below the steep mountains that are home to the Juneau Icefield and the Mendenhall Glacier. Its temperate climate produces remarkable scenery with miles of hiking trails through woods and alpine meadows providing a glimpse of just how rugged the rainforest of Southeast Alaska is. (B)

Day 2: Icy Straight & Neka Bay 
From kelp-lined channels to hemlock and spruce forests, every inch of this far northwest corner is worth exploring. Today’s adventures promise to be as big as the water is deep! Seals and sea lions haul out on rocky outcroppings, resting before they disappear in the water to search for food. If the tides are right, your guides will load up the skiff for a closer peek along the rugged shore, or perhaps, make it all the way to George Island. Remember that your expedition team guides you in whatever you choose to do: wilderness trekking, skiffing, or paddling. (BLD)

Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park
This crown jewel of America’s national parks covers 3.3 million acres (that’s a tad smaller than the state of Connecticut). Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not you. You’re going the furthest and exploring parts that 99% of visitors never go to. Taylor Bay sea stacks and rocky shores make for a good adventure. You could hike the outwash field of glaciers winding down the Fairweather Mountain Range. The cool breeze off the nearby snow and ice fields is energizing. If you motor over to Dundas Bay, keep your eye out for bears, humpbacks, and if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting. There are several options for activities today such as kayaking in the bay, and trekking into the forest. (BLD)

Day 4: Glacier Bay National Park
Today features South Marble Island with its significant seabird colony. Rare sea birds, black oystercatchers, and orange-beaked tufted puffins can be sighted as well as the federally endangered species, the Stellar sea lions. As you tuck into the silent Tidal Inlet - the stomping grounds for bears, wolves, mountain goats, and eagles - the backdrop is spectacular. At the end of the westernmost arm of the bay sits Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. (BLD)

Day 5: Chichagof Island 
Find a perch on the bridge with your captain, or with your guides on the bow, and watch for whales and other creatures as you wind through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof Coast and Tongass National Forest. Any spot is a good one to pull over and stretch your legs. Hike, paddle, or skiff your way through this remote corner with bears on the shoreline, seals bobbing on the surface, and welcoming boughs of moss in the trees. It’s all yours to explore. Back on board, there’s a treat in store - the farewell dinner and some special memories from your crew. (BLD)

Day 6: Frederick Sound
The glacier-fed waters of Frederick Sound, surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Coast Range, are abundant with krill, zooplankton, and herring. Humpback whales migrate here from Hawaii to feed on its nutrient-rich water. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Hang out and enjoy the show. You will cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station, and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. (BLD)

Day 7: Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glaciers
Let us set the stage: fjord cliffs reach skyward, floating ice scatters the surface and deep U-shaped valleys cut the landscape. As you navigate the Tracy Arm Fjord, you cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. During the summer, you can spot eagles, seals, bears, and whales here, and even mountain goats showing off their fancy footwork. The cotton candy blue Twin Sawyer glaciers tower from afar. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ins and outs and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, waterfalls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains. (BLD)

Day 8: Juneau
Today your tour comes to an end. As you enjoy your breakfast, the ship cruises to Juneau. You will then be transferred to the airport or into Juneau. (B)

Take a look at our Alaska and Pacific Northwest cruises here for more options!

• Wilderness Discoverer

  Comfort

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  View Boat

  Comfort Class Boat

  The maiden vessel in the ‘Wilderness’ boat fleet, the Wilderness Discoverer was built in 1992 and renovated in 2012. Designed to get you into remote places, off-limits to bigger boats, this small boat is all about getting out and about. Read More
• Wilderness Adventurer

  Comfort

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  View Boat

  Comfort Class Boat

  The 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer is everything a large cruise ship is not. A small boat, big on adventure, she sails quiet waters - inaccessible to big ships - docking overnight in small bays and coves. Explore beyond the boat on daily guided activities with expert guides and naturalists. Back on board, the informal and unpretentious spaces welcome relaxation. With three cabin categories, all cabins are above deck with large view windows. Read More