7-night Northern Passages and Glacier Bay Cruise

There's nothing like a hearty greeting from your crew and some bon voyage bubbly. With all souls settled in onboard, you're underway. From the bow, Southeast Alaska welcomes you with Coast Mountain views. (D),

Lynn Canal or Chatham Strait, your captain makes the call. Either choice, go with the flow. The water is fine. The guides help you gear up, and lead your adventure along the rocky outcroppings. By kayak or paddle board, take in the size of this wilderness. Bald eagles dot the tree tops. Harbor seals bob up and under. Pods of orcas—the largest in the dolphin family—skim along the water's surface. (BLD),

A 67-mile waterway with breathtaking vistas of forests, wildlife and snow-capped mountains.

What a privilege. At 3.3 million acres, this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is massive. Orange-beaked puffins, guillemots, marbled murrelets are just a few possible sightings. Keep a tally—the list will grow. Arriving at South Marble Island, you can hear and smell 'em before you see 'em—it's a haul-out for sea lions. Perched above around the bend, watch for mountain goats, and lower along shore, foraging bears. Up bay, glacial silt turns the water a milky white. Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers—one holding steady, the other retreating. Lounging harbor seals laze on bits of bergs. And if time allows, tuck up in Tidal Inlet. End this very full day with your feet up for the sail into Icy Strait. (BLD),

What a privilege. At 3.3 million acres, this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is massive. Orange-beaked puffins, guillemots, marbled murrelets are just a few possible sightings. Keep a tally—the list will grow. Arriving at South Marble Island, you can hear and smell 'em before you see 'em—it's a haul-out for sea lions. Perched above around the bend, watch for mountain goats, and lower along shore, foraging bears. Up bay, glacial silt turns the water a milky white. Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers—one holding steady, the other retreating. Lounging harbor seals laze on bits of bergs. And if time allows, tuck up in Tidal Inlet. End this very full day with your feet up for the sail into Icy Strait. (BLD),

What a privilege. At 3.3 million acres, this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is massive. Orange-beaked puffins, guillemots, marbled murrelets are just a few possible sightings. Keep a tally—the list will grow. Arriving at South Marble Island, you can hear and smell 'em before you see 'em—it's a haul-out for sea lions. Perched above around the bend, watch for mountain goats, and lower along shore, foraging bears. Up bay, glacial silt turns the water a milky white. Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers—one holding steady, the other retreating. Lounging harbor seals laze on bits of bergs. And if time allows, tuck up in Tidal Inlet. End this very full day with your feet up for the sail into Icy Strait. (BLD),

Nearly to the Pacific Ocean, Icy Strait is remote and wild. The plan? Whales and marine mammals. Spouts and fin slaps are certain giveaways. More rollicking sea lions and birds. But don't forget to look straight down. Porpoises and dolphins may hitch a ride on the bow wave. And don't worry about missing any wildlife; it's a favorite mission of the crew to point out any creatures they spot. Make a break for it and head for a quiet pocket along the rugged coastline. A different sort of wild than the open strait, muskeg leads to forest bushwhacks. Skiff the shore and down along kelp-threaded channels. (BLD),

Visit the waters of the Icy Strait area in the summer and there’s a good chance of seeing endangered humpback whales and other mammals gorging themselves on their annual northern feast of plankton. Each year in late spring to early summer, an extraordinary bloom of plant plankton occurs for about two weeks. Animal plankton, starfish, sea urchins, worms and clams feast on the plankton, and many of these species time their reproduction to occur at the height of the plankton concentration. Vast shoals of small fish, including herring and capelin, are drawn to the animal plankton, and salmon, birds, and marine mammals such as sea lions and seals join in the feast, feeding on the profusion of small fish. The terrestrial plant communities of the Icy Strait area are also an important component of the area’s biological diversity, and the site is one of the best places in the world to study how plants return to a landscape after glacial retreat.

Kick off the morn with on-deck yoga stretches (your guides love it when you join them). Meander through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Then stop. It's a prime time to lower the kayaks and skiffs. Camera in hand, set off on land and sea explorations. Closer inspection by skiff, moss-dripping trees run right down to the water. Any bears in there? With one of the world's largest populations of bears, it's possible. Go searching for giant trees and tidal pools. Hiking in the Tongass, it won't take long to find them. Your eagle-eyed guides lead the pack—and pull up the rear. Later, wend along a twisting channel known for dramatic currents. Peril Strait runs 50 miles to Salisbury Sound. (BLD),

Chichagof Island's coastline is one of the most remote and interesting islands in Alaska.  The island is know for its world class streams and rivers, and salmon fishing,  which attracts anglers and fishing enthusiasts from all around. Adventure seekers may want to explore abandoned gold mines, hot springs, and remote trail systems along the island as well.

There's an eerie, enigmatic feeling in these woods. Morning fog catches like cotton balls on trees. The aptly named narrows squeeze to only 300 feet wide in one spot and a shallow 24 feet deep. The shorelines are close and it's good territory for play. Skiff ashore and hike into the backcountry. Otters back float working to crack snacks resting on their bellies. Wind into Neva Strait. Watch the scenery change in the late fading light—from the hot tub of course. (BLD),

There's an eerie, enigmatic feeling in these woods. Morning fog catches like cotton balls on trees. The aptly named narrows squeeze to only 300 feet wide in one spot and a shallow 24 feet deep. The shorelines are close and it's good territory for play. Skiff ashore and hike into the backcountry. Otters back float working to crack snacks resting on their bellies. Wind into Neva Strait. Watch the scenery change in the late fading light—from the hot tub of course. (BLD),

There aren't many straight lines along Baranof Island. Its western side is spattered with remote, uninhabited islands. These features mean endless opportunities for adventure. Secluded coves. Tree-covered islets. Drop anchor, pick your modus operandi, and get going. Kayak, paddle board, or skiff—you're on the level with curious sea lions and possibly whales. Rocky intertidal zones make good beach combing. Turn a stone or two to see what's underneath. There are no groomed trails here—get out on a guided hike John Muir would approve of. Toast your voyage with a Farewell Dinner and a "photo journal" of your trip. A gift to you, from your expedition team. (BLD),

There aren't many straight lines along Baranof Island. Its western side is spattered with remote, uninhabited islands. These features mean endless opportunities for adventure. Secluded coves. Tree-covered islets. Drop anchor, pick your modus operandi, and get going. Kayak, paddle board, or skiff—you're on the level with curious sea lions and possibly whales. Rocky intertidal zones make good beach combing. Turn a stone or two to see what's underneath. There are no groomed trails here—get out on a guided hike John Muir would approve of. Toast your voyage with a Farewell Dinner and a "photo journal" of your trip. A gift to you, from your expedition team. (BLD),

Cruise into Sitka this morning over breakfast. Farewell new friends! Disembark and transfer to the airport or your UnCruise hotel stay or land tour. (B),