The Rockies & Alaska Cruise

Explore Alberta and British Columbia on the Rocky Mountaineer train before boarding your cruise ship northward along the Canadian Pacific coastline

The Rocky Mountaineer train will bring you through a dramatically changing countryside while travelling through valleys, canyons and mountain passes. See lush forests, marvel at pristine lakes, and take in the sight of the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountains. In both Vancouver and the Rockies, local sightseeing tours are included to enhance the experience. Departing from Vancouver, you travel on board a Holland America Line cruise ship northward along the Canadian Pacific coastline into the fjords and inlets of Alaska. The forested shores and towering glaciers will delight and astound you on this eight-day cruise before returning to the port of Vancouver

DAY 1 – Arrival in Calgary/Banff 
Arrive at Calgary’s International airport and board your transfer to the idyllic parkland town of Banff. Check into your hotel and take the rest of the day to explore the many unique shoppes, eateries and attractions around town. 
Overnight in Banff.

DAY 2 – Banff 
The full day is at leisure to discover what one of Canada’s most famous mountain resort towns has to offer. Perhaps arrange a wildlife tour to view one of the many unique large animals in their natural environments or consider a guided hike along the myriad of trails that depart either from the town, or from the nearby trailheads along the highway.
Overnight in Banff.

DAY 3 – Banff to Jasper including Columbia Icefield Excursion
Depart on your full-day sightseeing transfer to Jasper including a stop at the incredible Columbia Icefield along the famous Icefields Parkway. The huge Columbia Glacier covers nearly 325-kms and dominates the surrounding landscape. An Ice Explorer ride will take you onto the ancient Athabasca Glacier and is followed up by a walk on the Glacier SkyWalk – a glass-floored platform extending 30m out over the Sunwapta Canyon. Continue to arrive in Jasper late in the afternoon. 
Overnight in Jasper.

DAY 4 – JASPER
Take the day to create your own adventure in Jasper! Perhaps you may wish to arrange for a thrilling rafting trip down the Athabasca River or climb aboard a motorcycle sidecar for a different touring experience along the park’s scenic roads. 
Overnight in Jasper.

DAY 5 – Rocky Mountaineer Jasper to Kamloops
After your hotel shuttle to the Jasper train station, board the Rocky Mountaineer train for a spectacular rail excursion from Jasper to Kamloops. This unique daylight service allows you to view some of the most spectacular sights in Western Canada. The route departs the Rocky Mountains through the Kicking Horse Pass. By late afternoon, you are in the arid ranch land of interior British Columbia, where you disembark for the night. Upon arrival in Kamloops, the evening is at your leisure. 
Overnight in Kamloops. Breakfast and lunch included.

DAY 6 – Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Vancouver 
You will set out on the last leg of your spectacular rail experience today. The Rocky Mountaineer takes you through the ‘cowboy country’ ranchlands and along the rushing torrents of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. You are now truly in pioneer territory and enroute you can listen to the history and legends of the West while enjoying all the comforts of your luxury train. The last stretch takes you through lush farmlands and past historic towns to Vancouver. 
Overnight in Vancouver. Breakfast and lunch included.

DAY 7 – Vancouver including Victoria Excursion 
This full-day trip to Victoria begins with a cruise through the scenic Gulf Islands and includes a visit to the acclaimed Butchart Gardens. Afterwards continue to Victoria for a city sightseeing tour that encompasses Victoria’s stately homes and gardens as well as historic landmarks. You will see the University of Victoria and Beacon Hill Park and pass the Royal British Columbia Museum, Thunderbird Park, the Parliament Buildings and the exclusive homes of the Uplands and Oak Bay. You will return to Vancouver in the early evening. 
Overnight in Vancouver.

DAY 8 – Vancouver / Alaskan Cruise 
Today you check out of your hotel and transfer individually to the Vancouver cruise terminal where you board Holland America Line’s cruise ship and are welcomed by the crew who will be your hosts for your cruising adventure. Familiarize yourself with amenities of the ship and watch the sun set over the water from the wide decks of this magnificent craft. The ship weighs anchor and sets sail this afternoon for one of the most famously beautiful passages in the world. 
Dinner included. Overnight on board the Volendam.

DAY 9 – Inside Passage 
Enjoy the fantastic scenery on the first full day of cruising, travelling through the Inside Passage. Just beyond the deck rails, the gems of Alaska are laid open in a spellbinding vista of rain forests, glaciers, fjords, and white-capped peaks. Along the way it is common to view whales and sea lions at play along the coastlines as well as a near countless assortment of marine bird life. 
Overnight on board the Volendam. Full board included

DAY 10 – Port of Juneau
Travel the Stephens Passage as it flows into the Boundary Ranges at Tracy Arm, a narrow, twisting, 48 -kilometre-long fjord that ends at the twin Sawyer glaciers. Lush rain forest gives way to ancient stone as the land dramatically rises to 2100m towering peaks, the waterway ending at the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Arriving in the port of Juneau, take some time to explore this unique state capital and its frontier culture and spirit. 
Overnight on board the Volendam. Full board included.

DAY 11 – Port of Skagway
Cruising to the Gold Rush stopover town of Skagway, travel in the footsteps of the prospectors that either continued on to the gold fields or remained to create the historic town that still thrives today. Perhaps take some time to ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway, step into the Red Onion Saloon or peruse the restored buildings and wooden boardwalks of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. 
Overnight on board the Volendam. Full board included.

DAY 12 – Glacier Bay 
An exciting day cruising ahead, exploring the famous waters of Glacier Bay - home to Glacier Bay National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park boasts a unique ecosystem of plants and animals living in concert with an ever-changing glacial landscape. When a monumental chunk of ice splits off a glacier and thunders into the sea, the impact shoots water dozens of metres into the air. Glacier Bay has more active ‘calving’ (splitting off) tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world. 
Overnight on board the Volendam. Full board included.

DAY 13 – Port of Ketchikan
Cruise into the port of Ketchikan today, set along the shores of the Tongass Narrows, unique for its many shops and houses built suspended above the water. Known as the Salmon Capital of the World, this lively town also is home to Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park and the Saxman Village. The town is surrounded by natural wonders, inviting all visitors to discover their wild side amidst the wilds of the Alaskan landscape. 
Overnight on board the Volendam. Full board included.

DAY 14 – Inside Passage 
Today the ship slowly retraces its voyage along the Alaskan and British Columba coast lines. Watch how the landscape slowly and subtly changes as you descend into the more southern and warmer climate of the Pacific Northwest temperate area. 
Overnight on board the Volendam. Full board included.

DAY 15 – Vancouver / End of Tour
Early this morning you arrive in the port of Vancouver and disembark the Volendam. Your transfer individually to Vancouver’s International Airport in time to check in for your return flight. Breakfast included.