Grand Alaskan Cruise & Tour

Grand Alaskan Cruise & Tour - Northbound

Tours Starts: Vancouver, BC

Tours Ends: Fairbanks, Alaska

Day 1

Arrive in Vancouver & Embarkation (Departs at 4:30 PM)

Today your adventure begins upon arrival in Vancouver. If you purchased your airline tickets from YMT, you will be welcomed by a representative. Embark on Holland America’s ms Noordam in the afternoon.

Day 2

Cruise the Inside Passage

Cruise along Vancouver Island and Alaska's spectacular Inside Passage. The Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sea lanes in the world. Look for marine animals while you pass turquoise glaciers, forests in a hundred shades of green, and coastal villages.

Day 3

Ketchikan (7:00 AM - 3:00 PM)

This distinctive frontier town is famous for its bawdy history and wooden boardwalk, which has remained perched on stilts above Ketchikan Creek for over a century. Take a stroll along Creek Street, the former “Red Light” district.

Day 4

Juneau (10:00 AM - 10:00 PM)

Nestled at the feet of snowcapped Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts, Alaska's state capital is nicknamed "Little San Francisco" because of its narrow streets and multicolored houses built into the hillsides.

Day 5

Skagway (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM)

Skagway, where the Gold Rush began, was the turbulent staging point for prospectors determined to find riches in the Klondike gold fields. Even today, Skagway's well-preserved history and atmosphere can transport you back to the 1898 Gold Rush like no other Alaskan city.

Day 6

Scenic Cruising Glacier Bay National Park

Covering 3.3 million rugged acres, Glacier Bay National Park is one of the most scenic sections of Alaska's massive 25-million-acre protected World Heritage Site. Spend the day cruising through a 60-mile passage rich with glaciers, exotic wildlife, and pristine nature. Your route is the frequent site of glacier calving, where great chunks of ice fall into the bay with a deafening crash. You'll never forget the sight or sound.

Day 7

College Fjord Scenic Cruising

Cruise through the Gulf of Alaska and enjoy a relaxing day at sea. Today the ms Noordam sails through Prince William Sound to College Fjord, which contains five tidewater and large valley glaciers, a spectacular site. Take full advantage of your last night aboard the ship; the daily newsletter outlines a variety of shipboard activities and the experienced crew will be happy to help with suggestions.

Day 8

Disembark in Whittier (Arrives at 7:00 AM) & Anchorage City Tour

Disembark in Whittier and begin your land tour. Stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage. You can see wolves, bears, moose, lynx, bald eagles, and prickly porcupines, the world’s third largest rodent. Take a deluxe motor coach tour of Alaska’s largest city, home to nearly half of Alaska’s population. See highlights of the city and learn about life in Anchorage from its turbulent past up to the present.

Crowne Plaza Anchorage - Midtown or similar

Day 9

Anchorage to Denali via Talkeetna

After a final morning in Anchorage, stop for lunch on your own in the community of Talkeetna. There’s plenty to see and do here. Along with excellent dining, great shopping, and a charming museum, the Talkeetna Historic District is on the register of National Historic Places. Some of its buildings are from the early 1900s, including Nagley's General Store and the Talkeetna Roadhouse.
Guests who choose an optional Alaska Railroad Upgrade will board the train in Talkeetna, then rejoin the rest of the group in Denali. Enjoy an evening of free time in Denali.

Denali Park Village or similar

Day 10

Denali Natural History Tour

Get a deeper look at this amazing park on a Denali Natural History Tour. With a focus on the rich cultural history of Denali National Park, this memorable tour provides insight into the diverse native and early pioneer influences in and around the park. Your dedicated naturalist will provide a great introduction to Denali's landscape, geology, and past. Visit Savage Cabin, the original ranger's cabin that is still used by the Park Service today.

This afternoon you will have free time to spend in the park at your leisure. Along with awe-inspiring mountain views, it’s not rare to see some combination of Alaska’s Big Five. Look for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall Sheep, and wolves, along with other animals such as wolverines and countless songbirds.

Denali Park Village or similar

Day 11

Denali to Fairbanks

Take a scenic drive down the George Parks Highway towards Fairbanks.

Enjoy a guided tour of Fairbanks. Learn the secrets of the “Golden Heart City,” built as a gold rush boomtown in 1902 after the precious metal was discovered on the banks of the Chena River. See the highlights of the city, and view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Springhill Suites or similar

Day 12

Depart for Home

Note:Arrival flights from Vancouver from some cities are overnight and arrive the following day. Most flights out of Fairbanks require at least two connections.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.

Grand Alaskan Cruise & Tour - Southbound

Tours Starts: Fairbanks, Alaska

Tours Ends: Vancouver, BC

Day 1

Arrive Fairbanks

Today your adventure begins upon arrival in Fairbanks, the largest city in the interior of Alaska. If you purchased your airline tickets from YMT, you will be welcomed by a representative and transferred to your hotel.

Springhill Suites Fairbanks or similar

Day 2

Fairbanks

Today begins with a guided tour of Fairbanks. Learn the secrets of the “Golden Heart City,” built as a gold rush boomtown in 1902 after the precious metal was discovered on the banks of the Chena River. See the highlights of the city, and view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Then, take a scenic drive down the George Parks Highway to Denali National Park. At 6 million acres, Denali is one of the world's great frontiers for wilderness adventure.

Denali Park Village or similar

Day 3

Denali Natural History Tour

Get a deeper look at this amazing park on a Denali Natural History Tour. With a focus on the rich cultural history of Denali National Park, this memorable tour provides insight into the diverse native and early pioneer influences in and around the park. Your dedicated naturalist will provide a great introduction to Denali's landscape, geology, and past.

Visit Savage Cabin, the original ranger's cabin that is still used by the Park Service today.
This afternoon you will have free time to spend in the park at your leisure. Along with aweinspiring mountain views, it’s not rare to see some combination of Alaska’s Big Five. Look for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall Sheep, and wolves, along with other animals such as wolverines and countless songbirds.

Denali Park Village or similar

Day 4

Denali to Anchorage via Talkeetna

After a final morning in Denali, stop for lunch on your own in the community of Talkeetna. There’s plenty to see and do here. Along with excellent dining, great shopping, and a charming museum, the Talkeetna Historic District is on the register of National Historic Places. Some of its buildings are from the early 1900s, including Nagley's General Store and the Talkeetna Roadhouse.
Guests who choose an optional Alaska Railroad Upgrade will board the train in Denali, then rejoin the rest of the group in Talkeetna. Enjoy an evening of free time in Anchorage.

Crown Plaza Anchorage Midtown or similar

Day 5

Anchorage to Whittier for Embarkation (Departs at 8:00 AM)

En route from Anchorage, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This sanctuary in Portage is home to wolves, bears, moose, lynx, bald eagles and more— including porcupines, the world’s third largest rodent.
Continue to Whittier, the gateway to Prince William Sound. Whittier is nestled between breathtaking mountains, emerald forests, and the sparkling blue sea. Embark on Holland America’s ms Noordam in the afternoon. Get settled into your stateroom and explore the ship’s many available amenities and activities.

Day 6

Hubbard Glacier

Cruise along the Hubbard Glacier in Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve. America's largest national park, it covers more land than Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined. This rugged, isolated 13-million-acre wilderness is home to dazzling blue glaciers, spruce forests, and 9 of America’s 16 tallest mountains.

Day 7

Scenic Cruising Glacier Bay National Park

Covering 3.3 million rugged acres, Glacier Bay National Park is one of the most scenic sections of Alaska's massive 25-million-acre protected World Heritage Site. Spend the day cruising through a 60-mile passage rich with glaciers, exotic wildlife, and pristine nature. Your route is the frequent site of glacier calving, where great chunks of ice fall into the bay with a deafening crash. You'll never forget the sight or sound.

Day 8

Skagway (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM)

Skagway, where the Gold Rush began, was the turbulent staging point for prospectors determined to find riches in the Klondike gold fields. Even today, Skagway's well-preserved history and atmosphere can transport you back to the 1898 Gold Rush like no other Alaskan city.

Day 9

Juneau (8:00 AM - 6:00 PM)

Nestled at the feet of snowcapped Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts, Alaska's state capital is nicknamed "Little San Francisco" because of its narrow streets and multicolored houses built into the hillsides.

Day 10

Ketchikan (11:00 AM - 7:00 PM)

This distinctive frontier town is famous for its bawdy history and wooden boardwalk, which has remained perched on stilts above Ketchikan Creek for over a century. Take a stroll along Creek Street, the former “Red Light” district.

Day 11

Cruise the Inside Passage

Cruise along Vancouver Island and Alaska's spectacular Inside Passage. The Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sea lanes in the world. Look for marine animals while you pass turquoise glaciers, forests in a hundred shades of green, and coastal villages.

Day 12

Disembark in Vancouver and Depart for Home

Note: Most flights into Fairbanks require at least two connections. Departure flights from Vancouver to some cities are overnight and arrive the following day. Guests booking their own airfare for Northbound cruise need to arrive no later than 12:30 PM into Vancouver; guest on the Southbound cruise need to depart no earlier than 12:30 PM out of Vancouver.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.