10 Day Denali Explorer
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Billy Belknap
Brunswick, MD Travel Agent· 3 Years of Experience
Billy Belknap, an independent agent with WorldVia, a Travel Leaders Agency
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I told him my idea and he made the plan. It’s was easy for me which was great. He thought of everything which made it even... Read More >
COUNTRIES VISITED:Alaska, British Columbia
PLACES VISITED:Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Vancouver, Whittier
SUGGESTED DURATION:11 Days
Embark on an unforgettable 10-day Alaskan Explorer Cruise Tour that combines the best of Alaska's rugged wilderness and breathtaking coastal scenery. Begin your journey in Fairbanks, where you'll discover the rich history of Alaska's gold rush era. Travel to Denali National Park for a chance to spot iconic wildlife like grizzly bears, moose, and caribou while taking in stunning views of North America's tallest peak. Then, board a scenic rail journey to Whittier, where you'll set sail on a luxurious cruise through Alaska’s legendary Inside Passage.
Your cruise adventure includes breathtaking glacier views and charming coastal towns. Experience the towering majesty of Hubbard Glacier and the serene beauty of Glacier Bay National Park, where calving glaciers create a dramatic spectacle. Explore the historic charm of Skagway, the vibrant culture of Juneau, and the rich Native heritage of Ketchikan. Conclude your journey in the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, BC.
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DAY1
Fairbanks
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Fairbank Princess Riverside Lodge
Alaska's "Golden Heart City" of Fairbanks is a great introduction to the heart of this unique state. Check in to your hotel and get ready for the beginning of your adventure.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit Gold Dredge 8 and Pan for Gold
DAY2
Denali National Park
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Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
A cruise along the Chena River on a Sternwheeler Riverboat is about as authentic as it gets. Later, you'll head for Denali National Park via a scenic motorcoach trip to the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. Check in with the Guest Service Desk for help in planning your own Denali adventure. Or you may enjoy the spectacular main lodge, river view deck, and Princess Village with the popular Christmas cottage and sugar shack. Be sure to check out Fannie Q's Saloon, named after a famed local homesteader.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Cruise the Chena River on a Sternwheeler Riverboat
DAY3
Denali National Park
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Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Start your morning with a quick stop at Fannie Q's saloon for a hearty buffet breakfast. Explore Denali National Park on a Natural History Tour, watching for glimpses of Denali as well as Denali's "Big Five"; moose, caribou, bears, wolves and Dall sheep. Later today, you may want to simply relax with a glass of wine on the deck overlooking the Nenana River.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit Denali National Park and look for the Big Five
DAY4
Whittier
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Rail Journey through Picturesque Alaska
Enjoy the scenic rail journey through some of the best wilderness in the Great Land on our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service. Once in Whittier, you'll step from the train onto your ship for the beginning of your unforgettable cruise. Arrive onboard the cruise ship and prepare to depart for your cruise.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Enjoy a rail journey to Anchorage
DAY5
Hubbard Glacier
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Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising), Alaska
Nicknamed the "Galloping Glacier," this east Alaskan glacier is rapidly advancing toward the Gulf of Alaska into a pristine area known as Disenchantment Bay. In fact, its movement temporarily formed a natural dam that twice closed off nearby Russell Fjord from the bay, but the intense water pressure building within the fjord-turned-lake has thus far been enough to explode through the wall of ice.
The largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier measures 76 miles long and plunges 1,200 feet into the depths of the bay. Its immense beauty and phenomenal blue hues are enchanting, even from afar. But it's when your cruise ship draws closer that its towering surface really impresses, dwarfing even the uppermost deck on your ship at a whopping 40 stories high. There, with the snowcapped mountains serving as a glorious backdrop, you'll have a prime viewing spot from which to witness the glacier calving.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Cruise Hubbard Glacier and watch for sea life
DAY6
Glacier Bay
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Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising), Alaska
Princess is one of a select few cruise lines permitted to cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, the highlight of our 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. Just west of Juneau, this breathtaking national park and preserve boasts some of the world's most spectacular tidewater glaciers, such as Margerie Glacier, which often drops colossal chunks of ice into the sea. Not surprisingly, Glacier Bay National Park and its epic ice giants are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising Alaska's magnificent park system.
During your scenic cruise, friendly Park Rangers will join the ship to share their knowledge of this amazing place and host a fun Junior Ranger program for kids. They may even be able to help you identify Glacier Bay's abundant wildlife, including humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles and large colonies of seabirds.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Cruise Glacier Bay and experience the natural beauty of Alaska
DAY7
Skagway
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Skagway, Alaska - Shore Excursions
Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasn't the easiest.
Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail.
The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaska's largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome.
Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavor of the gold rush era.
HIGHLIGHTS:
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
DAY8
Juneau
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Juneau Alaska - Shore Excursions
In 1880, it was slow going for Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they searched for gold with the help of Native guides. After climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties, they found nuggets "as large as beans."
From their discovery came three of the largest gold mines in the world. By the end of World War II, more than $150 million in gold had been mined. Eventually the mines closed, but the town Joe Juneau founded became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the business of government.
Some 30,000 people live in Juneau. Its total area makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden, and Sitka, Alaska, exceed Juneau's 3,248 square miles.
Today Juneau is famous not only for gold and government but also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both water and mountains.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Mendenhall Glacier and Dog Sledding
DAY9
Ketchikan
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Ketchikan, Alaska - Shore Excursions
Ketchikan is known as Alaska's "First City" because it's the first major community travelers come to as they journey north. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name Ketchikan comes from a Tlingit phrase that means "eagle with spread-out wings," a reference to a waterfall near town.
In the early 1900s, when gold was Alaska's claim to fame, fishing and timber industries were established in Ketchikan. The growth of these industries helped make this Inside Passage port Alaska's fourth-largest city.
Visitors to Ketchikan will be intrigued by its rich Native heritage, which includes the world's oldest collection of totem poles at Totem Heritage Center. The Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian are all a part of the city's colorful history. Ketchikan, with its abundance of salmon, is also a sportfishing paradise. Sightseers will be impressed with both the scenic town and its surroundings, especially Misty Fjords National Monument.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Misty Fjords National Monument
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
DAY10
Alaska
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Day at Sea
Relax on the cruise ship and enjoy all the amenities and activities the ship has to offer.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Original Musical Productions
DAY11
Vancouver
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Vancouver, BC
It seems unlikely that a character named "Gassy Jack" Deighton would be responsible for one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. But that's history for you.
During the gold rush, Gassy Jack saw a chance to make money from the hordes of miners on their way to the Yukon. The saloon he built became the focus of the shanty town known as Gastown. From that ragtag group of shacks, modern Vancouver was born. The provincial government persuaded settlers to change the name of the town to Vancouver, after Captain George Vancouver, who sailed the region's waters in 1792.
Canada's third-largest city, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan place with a European feel and a personality all its own. It's a community with a rich ethnic mix - including the second-largest Chinatown in North America - and stunningly beautiful parks.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Granville Island
Vancouver Aquarium
FINAL THOUGHTS
Experience an unforgettable Alaskan Cruise Tour that combines the best of Alaska's rugged wilderness and breathtaking coastal scenery. Contact me to book your Alaskan adventure!