Alaska’s Glaciers and Inside Passage

Alaska’s picture-perfect small towns nudge up against a dramatic wilderness where grizzly bears pluck salmon from clear waters, and moose and caribou preen freely along the roadside. Home to king salmon that exceed 70 pounds and humpback whales 50 feet long, the 49th state defies hyperbole. Traverse between near-vertical rock walls and cobalt-blue icebergs, discover snowcapped peaks, steep fjords, and plunging waterfalls, and prepare to be enchanted by a staggering array of wildlife on this exceptional cruise. Explore the last great frontier from July 13 – 20, 2023 with alumni and friends.

Cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star, all-suite Star Breeze, with 156 suites, most with a balcony. This small ship is ideal for traversing narrow fjords and isolated coves inaccessible to larger ships while carefully navigating through the marine ecosystem. Experience thrilling wildlife up close and the unforgettable scenery of southeastern Alaska and Northwestern Pacific Canada from observation decks and during Zodiac excursions.

Call at colorful Ketchikan, rich in Alaskan art and tradition, and historic Sitka, a cultural fusion of Tlingit and Russian heritage. Travel through the serene Inside Passage and into remote inlets in search of harbor seals, porpoises, sea lions, and sea otters. Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord and witness mesmerizing waterfalls and serrated peaks to the face of the monumental Dawes and South Sawyer Glaciers.

Experience the best of Alaska’s legendary landscapes on an unforgettable Alaskan adventure. Extend your journey with the Vancouver Pre-Program and Denali Post Program Options. This popular program is an excellent value with the finest accommodations and the ideal itinerary, so book now while space and early booking savings are available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details and to confirm your place today.

Dates and Rates:

Trip Dates: July 13 – 20, 2023
Rates: $4,995 – $13,795 per person based on double occupancy. Taxes are an additional $290 per person.

Traveling solo? Any available cabin may be reserved by single travelers at 160% of the per person double price (per person rate x 1.6),  or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Itinerary:

Day 1 Depart Home City / Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Arrive in dynamic Vancouver, originally built as a small 19th-century timber milling settlement and today the cultural and financial heart of Canada’s Pacific Northwest. Embark the Star Breeze.

Day 2 Cruising the Inside Passage
Experience the Inside Passage, one of the most scenic waterways in the world, from our small ship. Cruise amidst countless islands; thickly blanketed forests; hidden bays and coves; sandy beaches and lofty waterfalls. Be on deck to watch for cavorting sea lions and breaching orcas in the deep waters and look for Sitka black-tailed deer, mink, and river otters roaming the shores and mountainsides. Attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception this evening.

Day 3, Morning Ketchikan, Alaska
The fishing city of Ketchikan is known as the “salmon capital of the world.” Stroll the Gold-Rush-era boardwalks of Creek Street and watch spawning salmon swimming upstream along the well-known “Salmon Ladder.” See the art of Potlatch Totem Park, where a master craftsperson demonstrates the ancient technique of hand carving a totem pole.

Day 4 Wrangell
Walk through Wrangell’s quaint downtown to Kiks.ádi Totem Park and discover the history of these intricately carved totem poles. Transfer to Petroglyph Beach, a state historic beach home to rock carvings created 8,000 years ago. Later, visit the Wrangell Museum, where more than 5,000 artifacts and exhibits display the local trades in Alaska—fishing, mining, and logging.

Day 5 Sitka
In Sitka, visit the Alaska Raptor Center, Alaska’s foremost bald eagle habitat where more than 100 injured eagles are rehabilitated and released each year. Explore Sitka National Historical Park, where artists demonstrate their totemic art forms, and enjoy opportunities to walk the forest trails or converse with native artists. Visit St. Michael’s Cathedral, North America’s first Russian Orthodox church.

Day 6 Elfin Cove / Point Adolphus
Go ashore to explore pristine Chichagof Island and visit the small fishing community of Elfin Cove. Situated across from Glacier Bay National Park with a population of only 20 permanent residents, this hamlet flourishes in summer with fishing enthusiasts. From the observation deck, search for humpback whales and orcas feeding in the nutrient-rich waters of Point Adolphus while cruising through Icy Strait, where tidal waters teem with marine life. Watch for sea lions and bald eagles drawn by the abundance of salmon.

Day 7 Tracy Arm Fjord / Sawyer Glacier / Endicott Fjord / Dawes Glacier
Cruise into the deep and narrow fjord of Tracy Arm, where waterfalls cascade from bluffs, forests fade to sheer rock, and icebergs glint in the sunlight. In Endicott Arm Fjord, look for harbor seals hauled out on ice platforms, and inquisitive whales and bears hunting for fish. At the remote end of Tracy Arm, listen to ice calving off the soaring South Sawyer Glacier. Venture to the edge of Dawes Glacier aboard. Attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception on board the ship this evening.

Day 8 Juneau / Return to Home City
Disembark in picturesque Juneau, the sole American state capital accessible only by air or sea. Continue on the Fairbanks/Denali Post-Program Option or transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

INCLUDED FEATURES:

• Five-star accommodations, seven-night, exploration-style itinerary—the best way to experience the last of the great American frontiers.
• Enjoy an intimate experience aboard the five-star, all-suite small ship Star Breeze, as you are surrounded by the breathtaking Alaskan scenery and the awe-inspiring Inside Passage.
• Prepare for the unexpected—a pod of whales feeding, seals basking on icebergs, bald eagles soaring above—as your small ship can position or alter course for better wildlife observation.
• Experience incredible natural wonders every day—wildlife spotting, small expedition vessel excursions up close to glaciers, and narrow fjord cruises.
• Cruise British Columbia’s protected Inside Passage, one of the most spectacular coastal waterways in the world.
• Explore historic Ketchikan, “salmon capital of the world,” and its famous Gold Rush-era Creek Street.
• Visit the remote fishing village of Elfin Cove on pristine Chichagof Island.
• Cruise stunning Tracy Arm Fjord to see South Sawyer Glacier.
• Optional excursion to remotely situated Anan Bear Observatory.
• Vancouver and Victoria Pre-Program Option and Anchorage, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks Post-Program Option.
• Transfers and luggage handling abroad for participants whose arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s).
• All excursions and visits, as outlined in the brochure, led by experienced, English-speaking local guides.
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions.
• The services of an experienced team of professional travel directors throughout the program.
• Hospitality desk aboard the ship.

 

Not included:
 Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed int he “included features” section of the program brochure; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed in the “Included Features” section of the program brochure; and all other services not specifically mentioned in the “Included Features” section of the program brochure.

Vancouver Pre-Program Option
Start your adventure in Vancouver with a two-night prelude that includes a walking tour of historic Vancouver. See Chinatown, Gastown and Stanley Park—featuring a photo stop at the Totem Poles. Enjoy accommodations in the deluxe Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Fairbanks/Denali Post-Program Option
Our four-day tour extension includes a stop in Anchorage, where you visit the headquarters of the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, before traveling from Talkeetna on the deluxe Dome Rail Car to Denali. Spend one night at the deluxe Marriott Anchorage and two nights at the Grand Denali Lodge.

Pre-Program and Post-Program Options are available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.