ultimate alaska

It's not hard to understand why Vancouver is so appealing. This vibrant metropolis caters to all age groups and interests; it's particularly friendly to pedestrians and bikers, and even the most navigationally challenged visitors can find their way around with ease. The area has been occupied by the Coast Salish people, claimed by the Spanish, and was visited for exactly one day by British Captain George Vancouver. In 1827, Hudson's Bay Company built a trading post on the Fraser River, and the company is still around today -- though now as a department store. After that, the fur traders, gold miners and lumber workers arrived and, eventually, the railroad. Before Vancouver was Vancouver, it was known as Gastown, built out of the need for a bar to serve thirsty lumber mill workers. In 1867, an enterprising man called Gassy Jack supplied a barrel of booze and poured drinks for the men who built him a saloon in a day. A community built up around the bar and, a few years later, incorporated as the town of Granville. In 1886, the town had a population of 1,000 and was renamed Vancouver -- then burned to the ground. The legacy of post-fire reconstruction is the lovely old brick buildings of the original Gastown neighborhood. Today, Vancouver is an ethnic melting pot, with 35 percent of the 2.3 million metro-region residents being foreign born. It's been consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit, with a large population inhabiting high-rises in the city center. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games gave the city a chance to shine in the world spotlight; the Olympic cauldron still stands near the port, at Coal Harbour. Arriving in Vancouver by air or sea gives visitors a sampling of what to expect from this Canadian seaport. Ships seem to barely clear the underside of the Lions Gate Bridge as they make their way past the massive green space of Stanley Park on the way to Vancouver Harbor (and in fact, the bridge's height restricts the largest cruise ships from entering). The park dominates the west side of the downtown area, and visitors and residents alike can be found walking or cycling on its seawall perimeter or paddling a kayak in the surrounding waters. Just 12 blocks east of the park, the Canada Place cruise ship terminal has its own distinct character. It was built to resemble a ship with its motif of five large sails on top of the pier. It's easy to explore Vancouver from Canada Place because the city's most popular attractions are located within a two-square-mile area referred to as the downtown peninsula. A unique selection of harbor ferries, hop-on-hop-off buses and light-rail transit (the SkyTrain) makes its easy to get around. Farther-flung attractions even offer free shuttles parked alongside the plaza. On the north side of the peninsula, Gastown lies just a 10-minute walk east of the terminal building, encouraging history-minded travelers to discover Vancouver's roots. An additional few blocks east will put you in Chinatown, North America's second-largest after San Francisco's. The southwest portion of the peninsula borders False Creek, where the hip and fashionable can check out the ultra-trendy ambience of Yaletown. And across the creek, everyone from foodies to art-lovers to maritime buffs can browse Granville Island's public market, artisan studios and nautical shops. From Granville Island, you can take a harbor ferry west to Vanier Park, located in Kitsilano, or to the east end of False Creek, where Science World sits. Wherever you roam, there are interesting restaurants -- from fresh seafood or dim sum to trendy eateries. With the coastal mountains as its backdrop, and just 24 miles north of the Washington state border, Vancouver serves as the leading gateway to Alaska, a reputation that has lasted for the past 30 years. Cruise passengers can take advantage of a city with world-class accommodations, international dining, varied attractions, easy accessibility and the notoriously friendly and contagious Canadian attitude.

Seymour Narrows is a 5-kilometre section of the Discovery Passage in British Columbia known for strong tidal currents. The average width of the narrows is just 750 meters. During extreme tides, the current through the narrows is subject to severe Venturi effect, resulting in an increased velocity that can reach 15 knots. For much of its modern history, there was an additional hazard in the narrows called Ripple Rock, a shallow obstruction that claimed no fewer than 119 ships and 114 lives. 

Cruising the Inside Passage offers an unforgettable journey through a stunning network of waterways, islands, and fjords.  With breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife viewing opportunities (think whales, eagles, and bears), and charming coastal towns, it's a truly remarkable experience.

Bella Bella is a First Nations community located on the Lama Passage in the Queen Charlotte Strait on Campbell Island in British Columbia. It is the home of the Heiltsuk First Nation, and approximately 1,400 persons. The strait is narrow at this point and offers ships’ guests passing views of the town arrayed along the shore with forested hills beyond. It is the largest community on the Central Coast of British Columbia. The town was formerly located further south on another island, but was moved at the end of the 19th century to the present site, which was near Fort McLoughlin, a defunct Hudson’s Bay Trading Company outpost. The Heiltsuk have twice hosted Canoe Festivals that have attracted ocean canoe teams from First Nations groups all along the coast to the town for races, demonstrations and festivities.

The Princess Royal Channel separates the largest island along British Columbia’s coast from the mainland. It is located roughly halfway between Bella Bella in the south and Prince Rupert in the north, in one of the province’s most remote areas. Princess Royal island was named in 1788 by Captain Charles Duncan, in honor of his ship, the Princess Royal. The island is uninhabited, although there are two small villages in the channel, the First Nations community of Klemtu on Swindle Island and Hartley Bay on the mainland. Wildlife, by contrast, is plentiful, including Kermode, black and grizzly bears, deer, wolves and foxes. Golden and bald eagles nest in the region, as well as the endangered marbled murrelet. In the waters, there are abundant salmon, elephant seals, whales, orcas and dolphins.

Grenville Channel is a delight to cruise through, providing scenic views along the northern British Columbia coast between the large Pitt Island and the mainland. The shores are mountainous on both sides, with two notable peaks about halfway through, Mt. Batchellor on the east side and Mt. Saunders on Pitt Island to the west.

Over the centuries, Sitka -- one of Alaska's most exotic ports -- has reinvented itself over and over again. It's been home to the Tlingit Native Americans, an outpost of the Russian empire and the one-time capital of Alaska. The region is still a centre for commercial fishing. Through it all, its residents have always figured out a way to get the best out of their resources. Today, roughly 8,900 locals still rely on their natural surroundings, but with an eye toward the burgeoning tourism market. From the moment you arrive, you'll notice that Sitka is different from the rest of Alaska. It's not just the Russian influence that makes the town unique. In addition to the usual commercial fishing and tourism, Sitka's economic livelihood also relies on drinking-water exportation, healthcare and education, including the Alaska State Trooper Academy. Sitka is located on the west side of Baranof Island -- a 100-mile-long island in the state's panhandle -- and is only accessible by air and sea. The vast Tongass National Forest covers the area outside of town, which only has a roadway along the Pacific coast about 7 miles in either direction. Watching over Sitka from across the sound is Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano and Mount Fuji lookalike. Although the port's more than 210,000 cruise passengers provide economic stimulus each summer, Sitka is primarily known for the quality and quantity of seafood harvested from its waters and processed in its plants. Sitka's historic attractions are located within walking distance of downtown. Lincoln Street is approximately 1 mile long, starting at the city's southeast corner (featuring the lookout at Castle Hill) and ending at the Sitka National Historical Park visitor centre to the north. The street passes by the historic onion-shaped domed architecture of St. Michael's Cathedral and the Russian Bishop's House as it follows the Sitka Sound waterfront and Crescent Harbor (the multi-slip marina). The other main street is Katlian Street, a road that follows the waterfront of the Sitka Channel, featuring colourful fishing boats, weathered houses and the essence of a working harbour town.

Hubbard Glacier is the largest glacier in North America, with a calving front that is over 6 miles wide. An extremely active glacier, there have been two major surges in the last 30 years alone.

A paradise for fishing enthusiasts, Valdez offers every kind of salmon, huge halibut and ample opportunity to reel them in. Rivers and streams spill into the Sound here and are ideal for kayaking

Known as the Emerald Isle of Alaska, Kodiak is one of the state's major fishing hubs. It encompasses the city centre and a handful of villages, as well as a base for the U.S. Coast Guard. Kodiak, like its fellow Alaska ports, offers scenic views, cultural experiences focusing on the history of the native Alutiiq people and amazing food that leans heavily on the fresh fish caught there. Popular pastimes for those visiting Kodiak include "flightseeing" -- sightseeing by plane -- and, of course, fishing. Animals native to the area include bears, moose and bald eagles, making wildlife-spotting another ideal activity.

Homer, "the end of the road," is located about 200 miles from Anchorage on the gorgeous Kenai Peninsula. The town's modern roots date to the 1890s, when con man Homer Pennock attempted to lure others with promises of gold. Homer saw brief success as a coal mining town but was eventually abandoned, due to lack of demand. By 1920, 46 people lived in an area designated as Homer Spit and Vicinity, but it wasn't until the 1940s that it took on the makings of a bona fide town with an airport and general store. These days, more than 5,000 people call the "cosmic hamlet" home, and it is often considered one of Alaska's jewels. On a clear day, Homer is straight out of a postcard, and from several vantage points, visitors might be able to see all five active volcanoes known as the "ring of fire." The Spit, a geological landform that stretches five miles into Kachemak Bay, has always been a place for travellers and drifters and is now home to campsites, tourism shops, bars and restaurants. Two theories exist for how the Spit was formed: tidal swells or receding glaciers. Either way, it is one of Homer's claims to fame -- that and halibut fishing. The Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby began in the summer of 1986, and since then, the city has been declared the "halibut capital of the world." The annual derby takes place in the summer, and on any given day, fishermen can be seen cleaning and preparing the fresh catch at the Spit. The mild-tasting fish can also be found gracing the menus of seafood restaurants. Homer has developed into an unpretentious foodie destination, and you'll find outstanding dining options with a wide range of cuisine -- many with local and organic products. The sustainability movement is established in the dining scene in Homer, but it has also found a place in tourism attractions and eco-adventures. Visitors can easily experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the area by kayaking, hiking and on boat trips to Alaska's first state park.

Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, has many personalities. A cruise traveller's first impression is often of a cliched tourist destination with rows of souvenir shops selling chocolate moose poop, Alaska T-shirts and native ulu knives. But, duck down a side street, and it oozes a Pacific Northwest hipster vibe with galleries selling original paintings and organic silk-screened T-shirts, coffee shops serving up monster breakfasts and spicy hot chocolate, and brewpubs churning out growlers of locally produced beer. The city can even get a bit highbrow at the fabulous Anchorage Museum, where the state's artists team up with the veritable Smithsonian to display native Alaskan cultural artefacts and modern art as indecipherable as moose tracks after heavy snow. When the rare sunny day comes along (and even when it doesn't), Anchorage puts on its outdoorsmen's hat. Nestled between the Chugach Mountains and the ocean, the city is ideally situated for outdoor play. On Flattop Mountain, blueberry-pickers, trail-runners, dog-walkers and even the occasional moose test themselves against the steep climb to the summit (or linger on the gentler, bottom slopes). In the city centre, bikers, walkers and rollerbladers stretch their legs on the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail that rims the city. You can't walk very far downtown without passing at least one bike rental place. And down at Ship Creek, not far from the port, fishermen attempt to catch their dinner in the form of big, meaty salmon. And, if Anchorage's multiple facets don't suit, the surrounding natural areas are available to anyone who doesn't mind spending a few hours on a bus, train or small plane. South of the city, Prince William Sound and the Kenai Fjords beckon with their dramatic glacial ice and variety of sea life. North of town, Talkeetna offers a glimpse into Denali National Park and the lofty Mt. Denali, especially if you can take to the skies. Wilderness hikes, salmon fishing and even bear watching are accessible in one very full day from Anchorage. Cruise passengers visit Anchorage in a variety of ways. Some book extra time in the city before or after a cruise into or out of Seward or Whittier. Others overnight there as part of a cruise tour, a combination cruise-and-land tour.

Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, has many personalities. A cruise traveller's first impression is often of a cliched tourist destination with rows of souvenir shops selling chocolate moose poop, Alaska T-shirts and native ulu knives. But, duck down a side street, and it oozes a Pacific Northwest hipster vibe with galleries selling original paintings and organic silk-screened T-shirts, coffee shops serving up monster breakfasts and spicy hot chocolate, and brewpubs churning out growlers of locally produced beer. The city can even get a bit highbrow at the fabulous Anchorage Museum, where the state's artists team up with the veritable Smithsonian to display native Alaskan cultural artefacts and modern art as indecipherable as moose tracks after heavy snow. When the rare sunny day comes along (and even when it doesn't), Anchorage puts on its outdoorsmen's hat. Nestled between the Chugach Mountains and the ocean, the city is ideally situated for outdoor play. On Flattop Mountain, blueberry-pickers, trail-runners, dog-walkers and even the occasional moose test themselves against the steep climb to the summit (or linger on the gentler, bottom slopes). In the city centre, bikers, walkers and rollerbladers stretch their legs on the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail that rims the city. You can't walk very far downtown without passing at least one bike rental place. And down at Ship Creek, not far from the port, fishermen attempt to catch their dinner in the form of big, meaty salmon. And, if Anchorage's multiple facets don't suit, the surrounding natural areas are available to anyone who doesn't mind spending a few hours on a bus, train or small plane. South of the city, Prince William Sound and the Kenai Fjords beckon with their dramatic glacial ice and variety of sea life. North of town, Talkeetna offers a glimpse into Denali National Park and the lofty Mt. Denali, especially if you can take to the skies. Wilderness hikes, salmon fishing and even bear watching are accessible in one very full day from Anchorage. Cruise passengers visit Anchorage in a variety of ways. Some book extra time in the city before or after a cruise into or out of Seward or Whittier. Others overnight there as part of a cruise tour, a combination cruise-and-land tour.

Photos don't do justice for Glacier Bay National Park. One of the most sought-after spots on Alaska's Inside Passage, Glacier Bay comprises ever-changing glaciers (including one of the most photogenic, Margerie Glacier), sheltered fjords, rainforests and an abundance of wildlife. Many cruise itineraries include Glacier Bay, although the experience varies depending on the cruise line, ship and time spent within the bay, as it is regulated and cruise ships don't actually dock in the National Park. Guides also are required to be present on every ship. While navigating through the park, keep your camera handy at all times. Glacier Bay is a popular hangout for humpback whales; grizzly, brown and black bears; sea otters; bald eagles; and more -- and there's a good chance you'll spot at least one of them.

Juneau, often described as America's most unusual state capital, is the only centre of U.S. government with no roads leading into or out of town. The city is surrounded by nature, namely towering mountains and the waters of Gastineau Channel. For most visitors, the only way in or out is by air or sea. Residents boast three routes: plane, boat or birth canal. Gold put Juneau on the map in the 1880s, though the mining camp went by several names before prospector Joe Juneau finally wrangled enough votes to get his name to stick. Juneau became a state capital when Alaska became the 49th U.S. state in 1959, and nearly 60 percent of the city's population works in government. The governor's mansion stands on a hillside overlooking the cruise docks, and anyone can take a walk up the hills via steep stairways. Juneau offers a wide range of shoreside activities, from whale watching, dog sledging and ziplining to touring the Capitol building or the Alaskan Brewing Company. Then, there's the state's most accessible glacier -- Mendenhall, an immense, 12-mile-long river of ice. Along with glacier viewing, there's always the chance of seeing a bear or two up close. The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council has a community calendar on its website that is jam-packed with events, so you can easily find out what's happening while you're in port.

Unlike other ports along Alaska's Inside Passage, Wrangell is one of the less travelled, but its small size and dedication to preserving its culture and history are a far cry from "less," as far as what you can explore.

Misty Ketchikan, the rainiest town in Southeast Alaska, is known as the "Salmon Capital of the World." The town offers the perfect blend of activities: kayak in Misty Fjords or hike up Deer Mountain in the morning, then poke in and out of fantastic galleries and shops in the afternoon. You're bound to visit Creek Street, a row of wooden buildings perched over the water on pilings. Brightly painted boutiques once catered to gentlemen seeking the company of "sporting women." The museum at Dolly's House gives you a glimpse into the bawdy ways of frontier life, though Ketchikan's red-light district wasn't shut down until 1953. Legends of a different sort are recorded on totem poles. Boasting the world's largest collection of Northwest totems, Ketchikan offers plenty of places to see these fascinating works of art.

The port city of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, is actually on an island at the mouth of the Skeena River, just 40 miles south of the Alaska border and 65 miles south of Ketchikan. Its name was decided in a nationwide contest at the time of its incorporation in 1910, but plans for the city to rival the Port of Vancouver, some 550 miles south, have never been realized.

Arriving into port by ship is breathtaking, as you skirt hundreds of islands and make your way through narrow, mist-shrouded passageways to this town of 16,000 residents. And, because of its moderate climate and mists, it is not unusual to see several rainbows a day, including double and triple rainbows that span the entire horizon.

The natural landscape provides most of the draw for this locale, but it also has a history as one of the oldest continuously occupied regions in the world, with a First Nations culture that dates back over 10,000 years. In fact, the area surrounding Prince Rupert was at one time one of the most densely populated regions north of Mexico. The Tsimshian Nation's sites and archaeological artefacts are available to visitors touring here, and there is a museum dedicated to the First Nations peoples.

If it's wildlife you seek, Prince Rupert is a dream location, home to Canada's only Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, the highest concentration of humpbacked whales in North America, white Kermode bears and soaring eagles. Your visit will leave you with a greater appreciation for the interaction between man and the natural world.

Cruising the Inside Passage offers an unforgettable journey through a stunning network of waterways, islands, and fjords.  With breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife viewing opportunities (think whales, eagles, and bears), and charming coastal towns, it's a truly remarkable experience.

It's not hard to understand why Vancouver is so appealing. This vibrant metropolis caters to all age groups and interests; it's particularly friendly to pedestrians and bikers, and even the most navigationally challenged visitors can find their way around with ease. The area has been occupied by the Coast Salish people, claimed by the Spanish, and was visited for exactly one day by British Captain George Vancouver. In 1827, Hudson's Bay Company built a trading post on the Fraser River, and the company is still around today -- though now as a department store. After that, the fur traders, gold miners and lumber workers arrived and, eventually, the railroad. Before Vancouver was Vancouver, it was known as Gastown, built out of the need for a bar to serve thirsty lumber mill workers. In 1867, an enterprising man called Gassy Jack supplied a barrel of booze and poured drinks for the men who built him a saloon in a day. A community built up around the bar and, a few years later, incorporated as the town of Granville. In 1886, the town had a population of 1,000 and was renamed Vancouver -- then burned to the ground. The legacy of post-fire reconstruction is the lovely old brick buildings of the original Gastown neighborhood. Today, Vancouver is an ethnic melting pot, with 35 percent of the 2.3 million metro-region residents being foreign born. It's been consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit, with a large population inhabiting high-rises in the city center. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games gave the city a chance to shine in the world spotlight; the Olympic cauldron still stands near the port, at Coal Harbour. Arriving in Vancouver by air or sea gives visitors a sampling of what to expect from this Canadian seaport. Ships seem to barely clear the underside of the Lions Gate Bridge as they make their way past the massive green space of Stanley Park on the way to Vancouver Harbor (and in fact, the bridge's height restricts the largest cruise ships from entering). The park dominates the west side of the downtown area, and visitors and residents alike can be found walking or cycling on its seawall perimeter or paddling a kayak in the surrounding waters. Just 12 blocks east of the park, the Canada Place cruise ship terminal has its own distinct character. It was built to resemble a ship with its motif of five large sails on top of the pier. It's easy to explore Vancouver from Canada Place because the city's most popular attractions are located within a two-square-mile area referred to as the downtown peninsula. A unique selection of harbor ferries, hop-on-hop-off buses and light-rail transit (the SkyTrain) makes its easy to get around. Farther-flung attractions even offer free shuttles parked alongside the plaza. On the north side of the peninsula, Gastown lies just a 10-minute walk east of the terminal building, encouraging history-minded travelers to discover Vancouver's roots. An additional few blocks east will put you in Chinatown, North America's second-largest after San Francisco's. The southwest portion of the peninsula borders False Creek, where the hip and fashionable can check out the ultra-trendy ambience of Yaletown. And across the creek, everyone from foodies to art-lovers to maritime buffs can browse Granville Island's public market, artisan studios and nautical shops. From Granville Island, you can take a harbor ferry west to Vanier Park, located in Kitsilano, or to the east end of False Creek, where Science World sits. Wherever you roam, there are interesting restaurants -- from fresh seafood or dim sum to trendy eateries. With the coastal mountains as its backdrop, and just 24 miles north of the Washington state border, Vancouver serves as the leading gateway to Alaska, a reputation that has lasted for the past 30 years. Cruise passengers can take advantage of a city with world-class accommodations, international dining, varied attractions, easy accessibility and the notoriously friendly and contagious Canadian attitude.