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North to Alaska
Seattle
Museum of Flight
Port of Call: Ketchikan
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Alaska Native Culture
©Alaska Native Heritage Center
Head “North to Alaska” with a 7-night luxury cruise aboard Holland America Line®’s elegant Nieuw Amsterdam ship. Delight in verandah staterooms featuring private balconies and all meals included onboard. Our adventure begins with two nights in Seattle before traveling to Vancouver, where we board the beautiful cruise ship for a week of relaxation and otherworldly scenery. Our route takes us through three spectacular ports of call: Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. In Skagway, embark on a historic rail journey aboard White Pass & Yukon Route Railway to follow the gold rush path through remote areas that are otherwise inaccessible. With a plethora of optional excursions available, from regional cooking lessons to whale watching, there’s time to pursue individual interests at each port. We also enjoy two days of scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park and Prince William Sound’s College Fjord. Disembarking in Whittier, we stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center before continuing into Anchorage and concluding with a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
Trip overview may vary by departure.
Highlights
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
Travel into the heart of Alaska’s untamed wilderness on a round-trip scenic rail journey to the White Pass summit and back down to Skagway. Completed in 1900, this route was an extraordinary engineering feat built in response to the Klondike Gold Rush and later served as the chief supplier for the Alaska Highway construction during World War II. Relax in comfortable, vintage coaches while learning about rich history and taking in vistas of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, historic sites, and more. We also see the original Klondike Trail of ‘98 worn into the rocks!
Holland America Line’s Noordam
This award-winning vessel is part of Holland America Line’s Vista Class which dazzles guests with museum-quality art, elegant spaces, and world-class amenities. Watch a show on the World Stage’s two-story screen, dance to classics in the Rolling Stone Lounge, try your luck at the casino, and more. Every stateroom has a floor-to-ceiling glass door overlooking a verandah for unrivaled views. With 24-hour room service and all meals included, you can indulge in exceptional cuisine, such as grilled salmon, whenever you wish.
Juneau
Discover Alaska’s unique and remote capital city, formed after a gold strike in Gold Creek. Explore independently with a walk down Franklin Street to visit locally owned shops or ascend Mount Roberts by cable car for bird’s-eye views of downtown, the Gastineau Channel, and the Chilkat Mountains. You may also purchase excursions, such as exploring tidewater glaciers on Tracy Arm Fjord or humpback whale watching.
College Fjord
Enjoy a scenic cruise into this breathtaking fjord on the north end of Prince William Sound for a front-row seat to a remarkable collection of tidewater and valley glaciers. Marvel at the shimmering blue hues of Yale and Wellesley Glaciers, plus the famous Harvard Glacier, spanning over 20 miles long and 300 feet deep. Keep your eyes peeled for ice calving, playful sea otters, seals, and majestic bald eagles soaring overhead!
- Day 1: Fly to Washington StateOur adventure begins with a flight to Seattle, our home for the next two evenings.
- Day 2: SeattleAfter breakfast, we’re off to explore the vibrant “Emerald City” with a local guide aboard our motorcoach. Soak up iconic landmarks and gold rush history in areas like Pioneer Square and the Seattle Waterfront. This afternoon, enjoy lunch at the Museum of Flight, followed by time to marvel at dozens of exhibits with thousands of artifacts at the world’s largest independent, non-profit air and space museum. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 3: Board the NoordamThis morning, we enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing to Vancouver, Canada. We board our cruise ship, Holland America Line®’s elegant Noordam, loved for its smaller size, museum-quality art, and stylish design. Settle into your beautifully appointed stateroom that features lavish furnishings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out to a private balcony. All meals are included on board, beginning with today’s lunch. Your Tour Director will host dinner on several evenings, allowing you an opportunity to become better acquainted with fellow travelers.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4: Inside PassageToday, we cruise the legendary Inside Passage, steeped in stories of the Klondike Gold Rush. Enjoy vistas of soaring mountain ranges, dense forests, and coastal inlets as we glide through this calm, fjord-like waterway. This is a great day to become acquainted with our ship’s fabulous amenities. Delight your taste buds with a variety of culinary options, dance the night away in the Rolling Stone Lounge, watch a show on the World Stage, try your luck at the casino, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or simply soak up peaceful views with a cocktail on your private balcony.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5: KetchikanWe dock in Ward Cove of Ketchikan today, coined the Salmon Fishing Capital of the World. With Tongass National Forest surrounding us, it’s the perfect port to explore Alaska’s stunning wilderness with an excursion such as a rainforest nature walk or canoeing. You may also board a shuttle bus to downtown Ketchikan, where you can immerse yourself in Alaska Native culture, grab a photo by the iconic “Welcome to Ketchikan” sign, or browse the colorful shops along historic Creek Street.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6: JuneauToday’s port of call is Alaska’s capital, Juneau, a city that can only be reached by air or sea due to its natural setting between the waters of Gastineau Channel, coastal mountains, and forest. Take this opportunity to pursue individual explorations, such as a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area, or book one of Holland America Line®’s optional excursions to soak up breathtaking sights, like Mendenhall Glacier.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7: SkagwayStep back in time this morning as we dock in Skagway, once a booming town serving thousands of stampeders during the Klondike Gold Rush. Nestled within the St. Elias Mountains, this area boasts beautiful scenery and intriguing history. Enjoy an included shore excursion aboard the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway, which follows the gold rush path through remote areas with incredible panoramas of glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls. There is also time to independently tour the Skagway Museum, visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center, or take a scenic bike ride.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8: Glacier Bay National ParkToday, our ship provides front-row seats to some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. We maneuver easily along the pristine shores of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve for views of glaciers, inlets, lush forests, and snow-capped mountains within this 3.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site. A National Park Ranger and an Alaskan Native climb aboard to share fascinating insight into this wild and historically significant corner of Alaska with special programming. In addition to watching for captivating wildlife, keep an eye out for tidewater glaciers calving and crashing into the water as we cruise to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 9: College FjordGet your camera ready for another day of capturing Mother Nature’s spectacular scenery as we cruise into storied College Fjord, located on the north end of Prince William Sound. We glide up close to many glaciers and revel in the opportunity to see eight at once! Learn how most are named after a renowned East Coast college, the largest being Harvard Glacier. This area is known for frequent glacial calving and some incredible marine life may also make an appearance, such as sea otters back floating while pups rest on their stomachs.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 10: Disembark & AnchorageAfter breakfast on board, we disembark the ship in Whittier and take a relaxing drive to Anchorage. En route, we stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for a stroll through the sanctuary and come face-to-face with majestic wildlife. Upon arriving in Anchorage, we enjoy a delicious Farewell Lunch with fellow travelers and celebrate our adventures. We then visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center to immerse ourselves in the local culture and history. This evening, we begin our journey home with an overnight flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 11: Arrive HomeWe arrive back home with fond memories of our time in the Last Frontier.
What's Included
All Accommodations
- 2 nights at DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport
- aboard Holland America Line®’s Noordam with Verandah Staterooms
Attractions & Highlights
- Museum of Flight
- Seattle guided city tour
- Tongass National Forest
- Ports of Call: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway
- Included Shore Excursion: White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
- Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
- College Fjord
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- Alaska Native Heritage Center
25 Excellent Meals
- All meals included aboard the Noordam with “As You Wish Dining”
- Farewell Lunch in Anchorage
Learn more about what's included with the Holiday Advantage.
Birmingham - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport