What's Inside...
Alaska's Ports
of Call
Destinations
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An Alaska Cruisetour offers
a cruise voyage, land-based lodging, and rail travel all in one itinerary.
So, you can get the most out of your Alaskan adventure -- by land and sea.
The best of both worlds! Combine the 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise
with a 3 to 8 night stay on land. You just have to decide where you want
to go. After you have
reviewed the ports of call below ,
click on the cruise line's name
above to explore the many options
you have for your Alaska vacation. |
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Alaska!
Whether you prefer the historic gold
rush town of Skagway or the
energetic modern art scene in
Vancouver, there's always something
new to discover at each port call.
Listed below are selected ports for
most Alaska voyages. Read the cruise
line's brochure for the planned port
stops for your cruise. |
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Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska |
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San Francisco, California |
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College Fjord, Alaska
(Scenic Cruising)
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Seattle, Washington |
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Glacier Bay Nat. Park,
Alaska (Scenic Cruising)
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Seward, Alaska
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Haines, Alaska
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Sitka, Alaska
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Icy
Strait Point, Alaska
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Skagway, Alaska
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Juneau, Alaska
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Tracy
Arm Fjord, Alaska (Scenic
Cruising)
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Ketchikan, Alaska
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Vancouver, British Columbia |
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Kodiak, Alaska
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Victoria, British Columbia
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Prince William Sound, Alaska
(Scenic Cruising)
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At the base of the
Chugach Mountains in the shadow of a
towering glacier and surrounded by
snowcapped peaks, the tiny town of Whittier
is the gateway to the spectacular Prince
William Sound and the city of Anchorage.
Whittier exists on thriving fishing and
tourism industries. Its 290 residents enjoy
a near wilderness state, as it was
inaccessible by road until 2000.
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The Anton
Anderson Memorial Tunnel
accommodates highway traffic as well
as rail, and at two and a half
miles, it is the longest highway
tunnel in North America.
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With its
3,000 miles of shoreline, this
pristine waterway is one of the most
scenic archipelagoes of tidewater
glaciers in the world. It also hosts
the largest gathering of migratory
birds and a wealth of marine
wildlife. |
Located at
the mouth of Whittier Creek, the new
20,000 square foot passenger
terminal and floating dock is the
perfect launching pad for our
exclusive Direct to the Wilderness
rail service with same-day service
to Denali. |
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Some of the best
glacier viewing in the state can be seen
tucked into the northwest corner of Prince
William Sound at College Fjord. Winding down
from mountains and through valleys and
fjords, these massive rivers of ice are
often on the move, periodically dropping
their bounty into the sea.
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The process
known as "calving" is when the
mammoth glaciers shed enormous
chunks of ice, making a thundering
noise as it crashes into the sea. In
most cases, the cascading wall of
ice is several hundred years old.
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This fjord
boasts the largest collection of
tidewater glaciers in the world.
There are 16 glaciers named after
Ivy League colleges by the Harriman
Expedition that discovered them in
1899. |
For those who
venture far enough north there's
nothing like the sight of a 40-ton
humpback whale breach. During the
summer, more than 2,000 of these
magnificent giants of the sea are
known to feed in the waters off
Alaska. |
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This spectacular
national park and preserve displays massive
glaciers that stretch 3.3 million acres from
the St. Elias and Fairweather mountain
ranges to the ends of the fjords. It is home
to an amazing world of marine life,
including humpback whales, sea otters,
porpoises and harbor seals. It also
possesses the highest concentration of
tidewater glaciers on the planet. And access
is extremely limited. |
At the head
of Glacier Bay is the Tarr Inlet,
where scientists have found exposed
rock that is believed to be more
than 200 million years old. The Tarr
Inlet is also home to the active
Grand Pacific Glacier.
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The
northeastern edge of the Fairweather
Range is home to nine glaciers.
Framed by rocky slopes that stretch
for more than 6,000 feet, these
wondrous bodies are eclipsed only by
Mt. Fairweather itself, which, at
more than 15,300 feet, is the
highest point in southeast Alaska. |
In the
northeastern corner of Glacier Bay,
the snow-covered Takhinsha Mountains
feed the active Muir Glacier, which
regularly sheds walls of ice into
the bay. The brilliant blue glow of
a calving glacier and the thunderous
roar of ice crashing into the water
are unforgettable. |
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Cradled at the base
of the Chilkat Peninsula, this picturesque
town of Haines is located on America's
longest fjord and boasts the largest annual
gathering of American bald eagles. Home of
the Tlingit people, this area was settled
and renamed by missionaries in the late
1800s. |
Upwards of
4,000 bald eagles gather here to
gorge on spawning salmon along the
Chilkat River each fall. Naturalists
and photographers from all over the
world come to witness the sight.
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This
organization serves to educate the
public about our national symbol,
the majestic eagle. They offer a
variety of interesting and
informational exhibits.
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During the
1900s a U.S. army post was built. It
was the first in Alaska and can
still be easily seen from the sea.
The installation was abandoned in
1946 and has since become a national
historic site. |
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Icy Strait Point is
22 miles southeast of Glacier Bay National
Park and down the road from the traditional
homeland of the Huna Tlingit people. Its
premiere location allows for spectacular
wildlife viewing as well as a unique glimpse
into the history and culture of Alaska.
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Icy Strait
Point's Native Heritage Center
offers visitors a look at genuine
Tlingit artifacts, plus fascinating
ways to learn about Tlingit history
and culture through exhibits and
live performances.
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Once one of
the world's most productive salmon
canneries, today it is a visitor
attraction. Its halls are now filled
with shops, a museum, and a
mid-1930s cannery line display that
brings that past beautifully to
life. |
Nearby Hoonah
is where the largest Tlingit Indian
village in Alaska resides and where
one can discover Native Alaskan
culture, old growth forests and all
the wildlife this area has to offer.
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Perched on a thin
strip of land at the mouth of Gold Creek,
Juneau is arguably one of America's most
beautiful state capitals, with the looming
summits of Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts
providing a gorgeous backdrop.
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Scenic
Admiralty Island has the world's
highest concentration of brown
bears. If you are lucky enough to
see one, it is a memory of a
lifetime. |
This amazing
glacier is 12 miles long and 1.5
miles wide, and worth the view from
a float trip or by air. There are
hiking trails into the area, and the
Mendenhall Visitor Center is a
wealth of information.
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For a
bird's-eye view, the Mt. Roberts
Tramway offers a short, six-minute
trek to the top of Mt. Roberts,
1,800 feet above the city. |
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This southern-most
Alaskan port city is known as Alaska's First
City because it was the first major
community travelers came to heading north.
Founded as a fishing camp, Ketchikan is
built on steep hillsides and is billed as
the salmon capital of the world. A quaint
village, the town is just three miles long
and three blocks wide. |
With the
world's largest collection of totem
poles, these wood-carved creations
portray colorful, intricate tales,
often showing a family's history or
depicting a local legend.
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With its
historic cable car and quaint
boutiques, Creek Street is
Ketchikan's most famous and
photographed section, as well as a
great place to spend a relaxing
afternoon. |
Seaplanes
provide the most breathtaking
vantage point for an exploration of
the majestic Misty Fjords National
Monument. |
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Known as Alaska's
Emerald Isle, Kodiak explodes in lush
greenery every summer. Its many islands
feature rocky cliffs, marshlands and forests
that play host to an abundance of wildlife,
including the famous Kodiak brown bear. And
Kodiak's sport fishing rivals that of any
place in the world. It's also one of the
largest commercial fishing ports in the
nation. |
Charters are
available for all the salmon fishing
you can handle — king, sockeye, coho,
pink and chum. Plus, others, such as
halibut, steelhead, rainbow trout,
rockfish and ling cod.
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Explore 7,500
years of the Alutiiq peoples' —
traditions and culture.
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Enjoy
spotting more than 215 species of
birds and over 20 species of marine
mammals in the waters around Kodiak.
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With its 3,000 miles
of shoreline and islands that form a natural
breakwater between the Sound and the Gulf of
Alaska, Prince William Sound is one of the
most scenic archipelagoes in the world.
Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, it
hosts the largest gathering of migratory
birds in America. |
The Sound is
home to an abundance of marine
mammals, such as orcas, Beluga
whales and Pacific white-sided
dolphins, as well as seals, sea
lions and otters.
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Prince
William Sound is an annual gathering
place for hundreds of migratory
birds; two signature birds that
thrive on the western end of the
Sound are the wonderful horned and
tufted puffins. |
Comprised of
5.5 million acres, the Chugach
National Forest is the largest
forest in the United States.
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One of America's most
attractive cities, San Francisco differs
from other metropolitan areas in many
charming ways. You'll find plenty of
picture-perfect moments in this "City by the
Bay," with its hilly streets, famous bridges
and historic cable cars. |
Once home to
San Fran's fishing fleet, today it
hosts seafood vendors, souvenir
shops and tourist attractions, such
as the Wax Museum, vintage sea craft
from World War II, and a historic
maritime park. |
The graceful
Golden Gate Bridge is a national
landmark and icon to many travelers.
In 1897, San Francisco saw many
ships set sail through its famed
Golden Gates to seek gold in the
Yukon. |
San
Francisco's cable cars are not just
a fun way to get around; they are a
great way to view the city's
innumerable charms from Nob Hill,
Union Square and Chinatown, to
Fisherman's Wharf.
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Situated on Puget
Sound, surrounded by the Olympic and Cascade
mountain ranges, the Seattle city skyline is
impressive with shimmering glass high-rises
and 100-year-old buildings standing side by
side. This beautiful port city came into its
own after gold was discovered in the
Klondike and 100, 000 people passed through
the Northwest in 1897 and 1898 on their
quest for wealth in Alaska.
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At the
Klondike Gold Rush Museum find
gold-dust history as well as a
vibrant jazz nightlife in
turn-of-the-century Pioneer Square
where the city first took root.
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As ferries
crisscross the Puget Sound, nature
steals the show with the Olympic
Mountains to the west, the Cascade
Range to the east, and towering Mt.
Rainier to the south.
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The
observation deck of the Space Needle
offers panoramic views, from the
Pike Place Market to the waterfront
and the Cascade and Olympic mountain
ranges. |
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Founded in 1903,
Seward was the southern terminus of the
Alaska Railroad. In 1964, an earthquake
caused a tidal wave over 100 feet tall to
wash away much of the waterfront,
devastating the town. But its residents,
embodying Alaska's famous spirit and
fortitude, rebuilt. Today, the town of
Seward is a thriving port for commercial
fishing, tourism and the rail system.
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Soaring
cliffs overlook Resurrection Bay, so
named by a band of Russian explorers
who found this calm spot along the
storm-tossed Gulf of Alaska on
Easter Sunday. |
Seward is
also the gateway to Kenai Fjords
National Park, with its distinctive
rock formations, massive glaciers
and abundant wildlife, including a
colony of 40,000 puffins.
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Resting between
snowcapped mountains and the Pacific Ocean,
Sitka is easily one of the most beautiful
seaside towns in Alaska, and has a unique
blend of Russian history and Tlingit
culture. It's also the biggest town in
Alaska, encircling 4,710 square miles on
Baranof Island. |
Once the site
of a two-story log mansion known as
Baranof's Castle, today, only the
stone walls and mounted cannons
remain as reminders of Russia's
bloody battles against the native
Tlingit people. |
The Sitka
National Historical Park offers a
wealth of information and artifacts
relating to the indigenous Tlingit
people, including totem poles that
chronicle early life on and around
this fertile ground.
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The Alaska
Raptor Rehabilitation Center cares
for dozens of bald eagles and other
rare birds that have been injured.
Once nursed back to health, the
rehabilitated birds are released
back into the wild.
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Few one-time
boomtowns retain the flavor of the gold rush
days like Skagway. This gateway to the
Klondike is preserved as a national historic
park with its rustic boardwalk and
frontier-style storefronts. Due to its
geographic location, Skagway enjoys a drier
climate compared to the rest of southeastern
Alaska, with an average annual precipitation
of only 22 inches. |
Possessing
one of the oldest narrow-gauge
railroads in the world, Skagway
retains the flavor of days gone by
and remains an important link to
Alaska's rich history.
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The Arctic
Brotherhood Hall is the only
remaining example of
turn-of-the-century Alaskan
driftwood architecture. Other
buildings like the Trail of '98
Museum, Corrington's Museum of
Alaskan History and the Alaskan
Wildlife Adventure and Museum
present different facets of
prospecting times. |
Before
hitting the famous Chilkoot Trail,
there are other well-marked trails
to try. Hiking to Lower Dewey Lake
is an easy, 20-minute climb to break
in your sea legs.
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Located 50 miles
southeast of Juneau, this spectacular
glacier-carved fjord has sheer vertical
walls that clearly showcase nature's
artistry. Linger in this magical place to
watch blocks of ice calving off the glaciers
towering faces. |
Alaska's
glaciers are constantly crumbling
and yet their powerful effect is
never diminished. Witness the white
thunder as the Sawyer Glaciers
release into the waters of Tracy Arm
Fjord. |
Ice calving
off the glacier's faces have created
this fjord's steep granite canyons.
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The perfect
vantage point to take in the beauty
of these dazzling waterfalls is
onboard our ships.
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Often thought of as
Canada's most beautiful city, Vancouver is a
gorgeous thriving metropolis that's
fortunate enough to be flanked by the ocean
and mountains. With its numerous parks,
beaches, gardens, museums, art galleries and
ethnic diversity, Vancouver is one of those
rare places that actually lives up to its
promise of offering something for everyone.
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Few locations
offer a more spectacular view of
this dynamic city than Stanley Park.
The park offers miles of walking
trails and bike paths, including an
aquarium, outdoor pool, tennis
courts and more. |
Robson Street
and the surrounding downtown offer
the best shopping and
people-watching in town. Stores with
European flair share the avenue with
delicatessens, modern boutiques,
coffee houses, and a myriad of
ethnic eateries. |
Granville
Island's public market on
Vancouver's west side is a wonderful
place to grab a quick bite, shop for
a gourmet meal and find unique
souvenirs with its variety of shops,
stalls and galleries.
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At one time, a
British colonial post, Victoria is full of
historic sites, public parks and groomed
gardens. Due to its location, this quaint
yet sophisticated little seaside city boasts
the mildest climate in Canada.
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This
Victorian-style hotel carries on a
longstanding British tradition,
serving up high tea. Dining is
formal, complete with a dress code,
but anyone can wander through the
palatial lobbies, dining rooms and
lounges. |
Visitors from
all around the world are drawn to
these 55 acres of spectacular floral
displays. There are thousands of
varieties of flowers, trees, shrubs
and exotics, with four main gardens
and seasonal attractions.
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This towering
Victorian mansion, complete with a
tower and turrets, is a local
landmark, and the beautiful garden
nearby is impressive.
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Discounted
savings off cruise fare only. Port charges (NCF), taxes,
airfare, air taxes, transfers and any other costs associated
with your cruise are not discounted. Discount limited to select
cruises including holiday sailings. Not every ship, not every
sailing is discounted. Call us to find out about your cruise
selection. Travel Direct Corporation is not responsible
for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or
any errors or omissions in the content of this web site. Some
restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply. * shipboard
credit and or cabin upgrades as offered by the cruise line for
select sailings or departures only. Call us for details.
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