May 14, 2008 - 11 days, 10 nights
from Seattle, WA to Juneau, AK
Enjoy our value-priced Gold Rush Inside Passage cruise early and late in the Alaska travel season, before the crowds arrive, and when the scenery is often at its dramatic peak.
Day 1 - ARRIVE IN SEATTLE
Transfer to your ship to begin your cruise following the path of the Gold Rush. D
Day 2 - CRUISING THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS
Explore the charming resort village of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, once an important whaling center. BLD
Day 3 - STRAIT OF GEORGIA
Cruise among pristine islands nestled between Vancouver Island and the mountainous mainland of British Columbia, home to harbor seals, bald eagles, and orcas. BLD
Day 4 - CRUISING NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Along this remote coastline, you will enjoy pristine and quiet reaches past ancient glacially carved fjords. Cruise by old growth forests, quiet coves, and nutrient-rich waters that support many mammals and seabirds in the Great Bear Rainforest. BLD
Day 5 - KETCHIKAN
Cruise into sparkling Alaskan waters and visit Ketchikan, the "Salmon capital of Alaska," and home of impressive collections of Tlingit totem poles and Native and local art. BLD
Day 6 - PETERSBURG
Accept a warm welcome at the Norwegian-heritage fishing village of Petersburg, where no large cruise ships visit. Explore iceberg-filled LeConte Bay or nearby wilderness waterways such as the mysterious Thomas Bay. BLD
Day 7 - FREDERICK SOUND AND TRACY ARM FJORD
Humpback whales abound in Frederick Sound. Cruise under Tracy Arm’s sheer 1,500-foot-high vertical cliffs to the twin Sawyer Glaciers. BLD
Day 8 - SITKA
Only small ships can negotiate Peril Strait and Sergius Narrows, the “inside” route to beautiful Sitka. A guided walk through Sitka’s National Historic Park offers towering totems and thriving wildlife in the forest. BLD
Day 9 - GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE CRUISING
First established as a National Monument by presidential proclamation in 1925, Glacier Bay has since enjoyed the honored and highly protected status of National Park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Glide through this awesome wonderland, closely approaching the “rivers of ice.” A National Park Service Ranger and a Native Cultural Interpreter offers insightful narration and helps you spot wildlife such as harbor seals, mountain goats, brown and black bears. BLD
Day 10 - SKAGWAY AND HAINES
Relive the Gold Rush of 1898 in the picture-perfect setting of Skagway, the jumping off place for thousands of early gold seekers. Visit charming Haines, renowned for its remote beauty. BLD
Day 11 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAU
Travel through impressive Gastineau Channel to Juneau. Transfer to the airport or choose to spend a few days exploring Alaska’s capital city and the activities available there. B
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
Spirit of Yorktown
Measuring 257 feet long, 43 feet wide, and with a draft of just eight feet, the Spirit of Yorktown offers unique itineraries. Dine in casual, intimate, open-seating while never missing the scenery through the large picture windows
138 guests
257 feet in length
All cabins feature private facilities
American crew
Bed sizes vary from standard
Cabin proportions as illustrated are approximate
Cruising speed of 10 knots
Registered in the United States
Satellite phone
The cost of your cruise-tour includes service charges for land-based personnel and $575 per person which covers taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services for double-occupancy cabins and $610 for single-occupancy cabins. Onboard gratuities are neither required nor expected. Prices are per person, double-occupancy, U.S. dollars. Single-Triple rates available upon request where applicable. Airfare extra.
PORTS AND PLACES:
Frederick Sound is a body of water approximately 45 miles wide in the central part of Southeast Alaska, at the confluence of Portage Bay (West), lower Stephens Passage (North), and Chatham Strait between the communities of Juneau (North) and Petersburg (South). Frederick Sound is only accessible by boat or air.
Abundant krill (small, shrimp-like crustaceans), zooplankton and herring thrive in the glacially-fed waters of Frederick Sound, making it one of the premier places in Alaska to observe feeding humpback whales. It is estimated that over 500 of the 1,000 humpbacks that migrate annually to Alaska from Hawaiian breeding grounds head particularly to Frederick Sound to feed in its super nutrient rich waters. Marine mammal abundance in the sound also includes orcas (killer whales), Steller's sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, and harbor seals. A variety of seabirds thrive in this region as well and can be observed flying overhead or flocking after the whale’s watery leftovers, creating a great clue to where the humpbacks might be. Surrounding the sound are the majestic craggy snow-covered mountains of the Coast Range rising from the sea to grand heights of 10,000 feet.
Tracy Arm quickly becomes a favorite place for those who visit. It is perhaps one of the most dramatic locations in all of North America. This fantastic fjord rivals if not surpasses the fjords of Norway and New Zealand. Completely protected within the Tongass National Forest, this fjord stretches some 25 miles up into the Coastal Range Mountains. These snow- and glacier-filled mountains over 7,000 feet tall drop immediately to sea level. We will be surrounded by sheer 1,500-to 2,000-foot walls of granite falling into the extremely narrow passage, creating countless waterfalls and strange rock formations covered in forest, and trees hanging onto precipices at impossible angles. Bears, mountain goats, and other fur-bearing animals live here, on a terrain you would think has to be devoid of such large animals. You might spot a bear in a spot that does not look possible.
Twisting and turning, not being able to see what is around the next corner, you will be presented with a continual flow of scenery that could only be compared to Yosemite National Park but filled with over 1,000 feet of water! Here killer whales come to prey upon harbor seals who think they have safely hauled out on the ice to give birth or molt their fur. Each turn will present a new view of waterfalls and “u”-shaped valleys, carved out by ice in the not-so-distant past.
At the head of the arm is our true destination, the two Sawyer glaciers that carved out the fjord. As we make our way to the head of the fjord, we will pass through a field of icebergs that will bump into the ship as we push them out of the way. We will be entering a surreal world you could not imagine, with ice more blue than the sky itself. When we arrive at the face of the glaciers, we will no doubt see hundreds of harbor seals laying on the ice. If we are fortunate, a building-size piece of ice will break off the glacier's face only to crash and thunder into the water below, creating massive waves that will rock our ship as our guests cheer.
Glacier Bay Park and Preserve is reportedly the most sought after park to visit in the United States and it is no wonder. Where else will you find a 25 mile-long river of ice still carving the land just as it has for the past several thousand years? When Captain Cook and George Vancouver sailed by in 1879, they saw a 20-mile wide glacier where today the entrance of the park lies, as well the wilderness lodge and park headquarters. Over the past 200 years, this wall of ice has retreated an astonishing 65 miles north, splintering into a vast number of tributaries spaced throughout the entire park. Each glacier has its own name and character; our captain will decide which to visit for the day depending on ice conditions and wildlife sightings.
Visiting Glacier Bay Park is also like visiting a wildlife park. Here bears, goats, moose, whales, sea otters, and all the creatures of the water and forest flourish, completely protected from man. A National Park Interpreter will join us on this day for our entire journey. He or she will explain the park's geology, glaciology, wildlife, and its deep roots in Tlingit culture, bringing the park alive on a level that will keep you engaged the entire time we are there.
Sitka lies in the shadow of the Mt. Edgecumbe volcano. This dormant volcano is unlikely to erupt in your presence, as it has not done so in 6,000 years. The ancient crater adds to the energy of a landscape that is interwoven with the Tlingit and Russian cultures that make up Sitka’s past and present. Sitka was the Russian Capitol of Alaska before it was sold to the United States in 1867. The remnants of its architecture, also known as the “Paris of the Pacific,” are all still apparent, especially with St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral which dominates the town’s skyline. In the middle of town, the Tlingit ceremonial long house will also capture your attention. It is these two cultures, the Russian and the Tlingit, that in times past clashed and fought fiercely in Sitka. The Tlingit ultimately were defeated in their right to govern themselves here, however it is the Tlingit who persisted and live here today.
No visit to Sitka is complete without visiting the Sheldon Jackson Museum. This museum represents a vast collection of artifacts from all over Alaska, presented in an intimate and fun way you can explore on your own. Immediately adjoining the museum is the Sitka National Historic Park, where many totem poles stand in the mist-shrouded forest. When you walk here among the icons of the Pacific Northwest in their natural setting, it is as if you are stepping back to a time long forgotten. Sitka is situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, and it is here that the raw swells can be seen crashing on the islands protecting its inner harbor and fishing fleet.
While in Sitka, there are options to kayak, hike, bike, and/or visit the world famous Raptor Rehabilitation Center where you can come within inches of bald and golden eagles, just to name a few. These birds are here for medical attention and recovery from injury. Some may not have the ability to re-enter the wild. A guided tour of the facilities and a demonstration showing how magnificent and noble these raptors are will be available, and often leaves our guests speechless.
Visiting Petersburg is like visiting a little bit of Scandinavia. In 1890, Norwegian immigrant Peter Buschmann arrived and saw that he could use the ice from the nearby LeConte Glacier to build a mill and fish-packing plant at the head of Wrangle Narrows on Mitkoff Island. He chose this location because it reminded him of his beloved homeland. This tiny town, with a population of about 3,300, makes its living off salmon and halibut fishing, and still holds much of the Old World charm and character of a small European town. Homes are decorated with flower boxes and other Scandinavian traditions. Here we will be introduced to Norwegian culture at the Sons of Norway Hall, where we will meet the town children dressed in traditional clothes, and enjoy a performance of time-honored Norwegian dances along with homemade food. The water’s edge and the rainforest surround this tiny town, making you feel as if you are in a tiny slice of Europe. Remnants of old Tlingit fish traps and ancient petroglyphs lie just outside of town. There will be opportunities for free time, flightseeing, and rainforest walks. Only Cruise West can deliver such an intimate visit to this small town.
As we cruise our way up to the towns of Skagway and Haines, we will be within one of the largest fjords in the world, Lynn Canal. Lynn Canal stretches many miles and provides a very dramatic backdrop that makes it appear as if we are taking our ship through the Swiss Alps. It is not uncommon to see whales or Steller's sea lions in this stretch of water. We will also pass the Eldred Rock Lighthouse, a lonely sentinel surrounded by jagged peaks of snow, rock, ice, and green-silted waters, and one of the most scenic lighthouses anywhere. This stretch of Lynn Canal, including Haines and Skagway, provides some of the most intense scenic beauty, wildlife sightings, and human history Alaska can offer.
When we finally see Haines, it will be at the base of the mighty Chilkat mountain range, with glaciers seemingly flowing down to the edge of town. The setting in Haines is breathtaking. Cruise West’s founder, Chuck West, was so taken with Haines’ beauty and tranquility that he owned a family cabin here. This sleepy little village is dominated by Fort Seward and its colonial structures at the center of town. In 1993, Haines was used to film Jack London’s "White Fang." This small town is quiet and sincere, and its residents make their living by fishing and guiding local visitors by horse, raft, and nature walks. Haines is and has been a Tlingit clan site. Haines provides a very real look at small town life in Alaska.
During the winter, up to 4,000 bald eagles congregate in just a few square miles to snatch spawning salmon from the Chilkat River. This spectacle attracts wildlife enthusiasts from around the world, for this happens nowhere else but Haines, Alaska!
Lynn Canal is a spectacular fjord in Southeast Alaska, 90 miles long and 7 to 12 miles wide. Its southern border connects with Chatham Strait and Stephens Passage and carves north between majestic mountains into the inlets of the Chilkoot and Chilkat Rivers. This navigable passageway connects Skagway, Haines, and Juneau, Alaska, and was the last leg of the voyage north to the gold fields in 1896. Lynn Canal remains an important water transportation highway within northern Southeast Alaska, with stunning scenery of jade-green water lined with jagged mountain peaks topped by icy blue hanging glaciers.
As you sail into Skagway, you are immediately transported back to 1898. You gaze from the bow of the ship and can just imagine the bustling streets teeming with Stampeders buying last-minute supplies from the multitude of false-fronted businesses that line the boardwalk.
In 1898, Skagway was a destination hot spot for over 20,000 men and women with dreams of hiking either the Chilkoot Trail or White Pass to reach their final destination, the gold fields of the Klondike.
Today, Skagway is again a preferred destination, popular with history buffs wanting to explore parts of the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park, one of the longest in the world, encompassing the whole Inside Passage from Pioneer Square in Seattle all the way to Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. Skagway is also a hit with train enthusiasts who dream of riding the narrow gauge rails of the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad, an International Historical Civil Engineering Landmark, built in 1898 and completed 110 miles later in 1900.
This narrow waterway is the southern portion of Peril Straits. It provides an approximately 30-mile-long waterway shortcut to Sitka, Alaska, between Baranof and Chichagof islands. Sergius Narrows is a very narrow, zigzag course approximately 300 feet wide, with the tide rushing through at up to 9 to 10 miles per hour. Ships must pass through during “slack tide,” meaning that time when the water is most still between high and/or low tides. Sergius Narrows leads to Kakul Narrows, Salisbury Sound, and the Pacific, narrowing again to lead through Neva and Olga Straits to Sitka Sound and again to the outer west coast of the Pacific and the community of Sitka, Alaska.
The exciting passage through Sergius Narrows offers a stunning view of remote, serene forested islands, great opportunity to view many bald eagles and Sitka black-tailed deer along its shores, and sometimes sea otter floating in and around the shallow kelp beds and rocky shorelines.
Ketchikan has a rich and diverse history, all of which you can see elements of today. This includes its beginning as a fish saltery and salmon cannery - the salmon still spawn in the river that runs through the middle of town. Hanging above this salmon stream are the pilings supporting the buildings that once housed the red light district and helped bootleggers move their whisky unseen at high tide. Today, these same structures hold souvenir shops, bookstores, and restaurants, and await your exploration. In the surrounding hills, gold, copper, and molybdenum were mined. (Molybdenum is a silver metallic element used as an alloy to make high-speed cutting tools.) Ketchikan was crucial during WW II for supplying lightweight cedar for the construction of airplanes. For the next half century, Ketchikan was synonymous with the timber industry.
Within the city limits of Ketchikan is the Tlingit village of Saxman, a historical town site that still displays totem poles and a proud sense of its past. You may choose to visit the multimedia center or clan house for an in-depth introduction to the Tlingit culture, including dancing and storytelling. There are also a number of museums that tell the history of this town from a pioneer, native, and modern perspective.
Ketchikan is also a favorite for shoppers. Here you will find one of the largest selections of jewelery, native carvings, art, souvenirs, and folk art. The most unique point of interest in Ketchikan is the Tongass National Forest Discovery Center. This first-class education center has true-to-life displays of temperate rainforest, salmon streams, and native structures. It's as if you are stepping into the temperate rainforest! You will leave with an understanding of just how complex an ecosystem the temperate rainforest is.
Although Juneau is the state capital of Alaska, it seems to be situated in the middle of nowhere. Juneau is only reachable by plane or boat. This small, isolated city must be the most picturesque state capital in North America, with mountains and waterfalls visible right behind downtown and the Capitol building. Only a few minutes walk from the Capitol building and you are in the woods on a mountain slope. Bears have been spotted in downtown Juneau at night--note that all the downtown garbage receptacles are “bear proof.”
There is much excitement in Juneau as it is the hub for state politics, cruise ships, and still has the taste of an old mining frontier town. This allows a number of services to exist in Juneau like no other town you will visit. Kayaking, hiking, nature walks, salmon bakes, and flightseeing combined with ice climbing, glacier trekking, dog mushing, and bear viewing are just some of the things you can explore. Or perhaps you would like time on your own to visit one of the many museums, cafes, and bookshops downtown. If you want to get away from it all, the tram up Mt. Robert's will whisk you out of town to the mountain tops. There is so much to do in this small city in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness.
For thousands of years, the coastal First Peoples lived in abundance along the shorelines that now surround Elliott Bay and the city of Seattle. The city is named for Chief Sealth, a respected local elder who befriended the first non-native settlers of the Denny party who landed in 1851.
Logging of the great forests surrounding Elliott Bay commenced almost immediately upon arrival of the first white pioneers, who began to supply the building demands of the city of San Francisco and other developments along the west coast. This was Seattle’s first link to becoming a key import and export arena along the Pacific Rim. By the time gold was discovered in Alaska in the late 1800s, Seattle became the foremost launching pad and supply center for gold and adventure seekers to the “Last Frontier” of the Alaskan wilderness.
Today, Seattle’s multi-cultural population is a little over one-half million. Lumber and other exports are still important to the regional economy, as is the pioneering spirit that fostered the development and success of high-tech companies such as Microsoft and Boeing. Take a stroll along the Emerald City’s bustling waterfront and see a grand mixture of old wooden piers now housing restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and the like with a view of the modern shipping docks in the background. Soak in the surrounding natural beauty of Mt. Rainier, rising to a height of 14,411 feet, and the Olympic Mountains to the west across Elliott Bay. Green and white Washington State Ferries constantly ply the southern Salish Sea (aka Puget Sound) to and from outlying water-bound areas.
To the north of downtown, the 1962 World’s Fair icon, the Space Needle, touches the skies at 600 feet. Have a meal in the Needle’s revolving restaurant and gain a spectacular 360-degree view in an hour. (In its early days, the restaurant revolved faster – but that didn’t work so well for the diner’s digestion!)
Sip a latte in the heart of coffee culture at Pike Place Market and watch the "flying fish" while inhaling the colorful array of fresh-cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Local artisan stalls offer their interpretation of arts and crafts, while all through the market casually-clad folks in their Seattle-based REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) and Eddie Bauer sportswear are looking for that special gift or perhaps deciding on what to have for dinner. Many have moved to Seattle to enjoy the attributes of the city while being close to the ocean or an hour away from skiing, hiking, or biking the beautiful Cascade or Olympic Mountains.
Visit Seattle’s first neighborhood, Pioneer Square, with historical brick buildings brimming with art galleries, boutiques, and the large Elliot Bay Bookstore. Seattleites are distinguished as the number one readers in the U.S. Although some may attribute that statistic to Seattle’s rainy reputation, this city actually receives only about 35 inches of rain annually – less than all the major cities on the Eastern seaboard! That is because the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula absorb much of the moisture from the Pacific before it reaches Seattle. The marine air does moderate the temperature in Seattle and is cause for days of overcast skies – thus its reputation for rain. Summer temperatures range from the 70s to 80s F and winters range from the 40s to 50s. Seattle enjoys about 16 hours of daylight in the summer and 16 hours of darkness in the winter. Aha! perhaps that's
Friday Harbor is located on the eastern side of San Juan Island, the second largest island in the San Juan Islands group. It fronts a natural, protected harbor and is now one of the main commercial centers for the islands. Originally, this and many other San Juan Islands were temporary summer fish camps for the Coast Salish. Utilizing cedar canoes, they would travel to key locations such as San Juan Island and set up camp to capture and preserve salmon traveling to their spawning grounds from the open ocean. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is the main thoroughfare from the Pacific Ocean to the Salish Sea, making San Juan Island an ideal location to capture salmon. The Lummi, a Coast Salish people, lived on San Juan Island but were subsequently moved to Orcas Island and then to a reservation at Gooseberry Point on the mainland north of Bellingham. Spanish explorers named some of the islands and waterways in this area, but the British and Americans were the primary non-native settlers on San Juan Island, providing colorful accounts for the history books.
The big story here is about the “Pig War” that was started in 1859, significant in many ways although rooted in what some would consider insignificant circumstances. It all started when a pig owned by Englishman Charles Griffen broke into the tasty garden of American Lyman Cutlar one too many times. Cutlar shot the pig, admitted to shooting the pig, refused a trial by the British, and sought the United States’ protection.
Since it was unclear at that time exactly where the U.S./Canadian border really was, a 12-year standoff ensued. The English garrison was established on the northwestern side of the island; an American garrison was set up on the southern tip. In 1872, a German arbitrator, Kaiser Wilhelm, settled the debate by establishing the U.S./Canadian boundary and “gave” the San Juan Islands to the United States.
The San Juan Islands therefore came to be the last currently-American soil held by Britain. But this would not be the last colorful story to be told. The islands were settled in an initial bawdy “wild west” fashion. Even into the 1930s, as some communities claimed to be "civilized," the islands had plenty of bootleggers who were utilizing the intricate waterways around the islands to trade their goods during Prohibition.
Ship navigators would refer to this protected harbor after its first settler, Joe Friday, and the name stuck – “Friday’s Harbor.” One local legend, however, tells of how the harbor got its name through a misunderstanding of the question, “What bay is this? misinterpreted as, “What day is this?" However it got its name, Friday Harbor was incorporated in 1909 and is now the county seat for the islands. It is a small, charming community with public access via Washington State Ferries and floatplanes.
The public marina is homeport to a multitude of yachts, sailboats, and whale watching charter boats. A five-minute walk uphill from the marina or ferry landing brings you into the heart of town and a variety of boutiques, galleries, gift shops, and the ever-essential and practical grocery and hardware stores. You can even find every possible kind of salsa and hot sauce made and known to humankind in one of the shops! Entertainment includes the naming of some of these sauces. This is not an activity for the faint of heart.