Alaskan Explorer Cruise

Day 1: Juneau, AK

Settle into your hotel and prepare to explore the heart of Juneau. Downtown, you’ll find an array of unique shops offering local crafts and souvenirs, and excellent museums like the Juneau-Douglas City Museum and the Alaska State Museum showcasing the impactful culture of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. From nearly any point in Juneau, you can see the Mendenhall Glacier in the distance, a stunning expanse of ice that glows in the Alaskan sun.

Day 2: Afternoon of Cruising

Get settled in after embarkation and keep a keen eye on the horizon as you depart the dock, for these waters are renowned for their abundance of whales. With luck, you may catch sight of these magnificent creatures breaching the surface. Unpack in your stateroom—the largest in the industry—and join us for an array of onboard activities. Don’t miss cocktail hour and our engaging entertainment for the night.

Day 3: Haines, Alaska

Hidden between the towering peaks of the Chilkat Range and the deep blue waters of the Lynn Canal, Haines is a picturesque town known for its stunning natural beauty and extensive history. Once a trading post for the Tlingit people and later a key site during the Klondike Gold Rush, Haines offers a unique glimpse into Alaska’s past. Our expert guides will help you navigate this port and unveil its history. We’ll also escort you through the “Valley of the Eagles” where you can see Chilkoot Valley’s active wildlife.

Day 4: Glacier Bay, Alaska

Step into the profound beauty of Glacier Bay National Park, spanning 3.3 million acres. As your small ship glides through the 60-mile bay, cozy up with a warm cup of cocoa from our signature hot chocolate bar and be awed by the towering glaciers framing the snow-capped Fairweather Mountain Range.

American Cruise Lines is among the privileged few granted access to this extraordinary place. Enjoy the serene landscape with seals lounging on floating icebergs and the thrilling spectacle of glacier calving, where colossal ice chunks crash into the water. An onboard presenter will enrich your experience with engaging stories and fascinating facts about this remarkable region. Glacier Bay National Park is truly a spectacle unlike any other.

Day 5: Day of Cruising the Inside Passage

Wake up to the misty beauty of Alaska from your private veranda. Enjoy expert-led talks, workshops, and marine life sightings, all while our attentive crew ensures your comfort. Relax in spacious lounges, watching landscapes shift, or spot wildlife like humpback whales, orcas, and bears onshore. Let the journey unfold. 

Day 6: Sitka, Alaska

This charming coastal town is set against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and towering mountains. Known for its history as the former capital of Russian America, Sitka features landmarks like St. Michael’s Cathedral, the first Orthodox cathedral in the New World. The town offers breathtaking views of Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano rising from the sea, and the tranquil waters of Sitka Sound shimmering under the Alaskan sun. Explore the Sitka National Historical Park, where you can see totem poles standing tall amidst forests and walk trails that weave through ancient spruce and hemlock trees.

Day 7: Cruising the Inside Passage & Frederick Sound

After several days of thrilling adventures, take a day to unwind and rejuvenate as you cruise through Alaska’s stunning landscapes. Glide through fjords carved by glaciers, flanked by mountains that tower over 15,000 feet, creating a dramatic and unforgettable backdrop. Pass by countless islands, each draped in dense, emerald forests right down to the shoreline. Every second is a postcard-worthy moment along the Inside Passage and Frederick Sound.

Your captain will skillfully navigate the ship to offer the best close-up views of the abundant marine life, including whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises, and puffins. As you cruise along this calm waterway, its wildlife becomes a part of your journey.

Day 8: Petersburg, AK

Known as “Little Norway,” Petersburg is a charming town on Mitkof Island with a long Norwegian history and a bustling fishing industry. The town’s harbor is packed with commercial fishing vessels, processing the freshest salmon, halibut, and crab you’ll ever taste. Surrounded by the lush Tongass National Forest, Petersburg offers stunning natural beauty with its dense spruce and hemlock trees. You can spot humpback whales breaching in the nearby waters and bald eagles swooping down to catch fish right in front of you.

Day 9: Wrangell, Alaska

Established in 1834 as a Russian trading post, it is one of the oldest non-Native settlements in Alaska, with a rich history reflected in sites like the Chief Shakes Tribal House and Petroglyph Beach, where ancient rock carvings tell stories of the Tlingit people. Surrounded by the pristine waters of the Inside Passage and thick forests, the landscape is dominated by the stunning Stikine River, North America’s fastest free-flowing navigable river. Adventure awaits with opportunities for a jet boat ride on the Stikine River and exploring the untouched beauty of the Anan Wildlife Observatory, where you can watch as black and brown bears feast on salmon.

Day 10: Cruising the Wrangell Narrows

Feast your eyes on awe-inspiring glaciers, cascading waterfalls that shimmer like silver threads, and a rich tapestry of wildlife, including playful marine mammals and a variety of shorebirds and seabirds.

Day 11: Tracy Arm, AK

Tracy Arm Fjord’s 25-mile passage features towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks. Seals rest on ice floes near the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The crew serves hot chocolate as you glide through this wilderness, “shut in by sublime cliffs, nobly sculptured,” as John Muir described.

Day 12: Juneau, AK

You’ve seen some of Alaska’s most remarkable landmarks on this journey. When you arrive back in Juneau, join us for one last breakfast on board.