Cruise The Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is the most popular cruise route in Alaska. Inside Passage cruises venture along Alaska’s southeastern coast, guarded from rough seas by hundreds of islands. Cruise itineraries are generally seven to ten days, typically departing from Seattle or Vancouver, BC. Alaska land and sea cruise packages include round-trip or one-way itineraries and often include post-cruise land tour options on a train or motorcoach for travelers wanting to continue their Alaska exploration. The most popular time to cruise is June – August, and cruises typically run May – September.
Cruising is the most popular way to explore the state for good reason. Cruise passengers travel in all-inclusive comfort on ships of all sizes and on itineraries of varying length, with abundant tour options in established ports of call. Cruise ships fall into two basic categories: large and small. Large cruise ships generally offer lavish entertainment, shopping, excellent meals, and extensive shore excursions to create a seamless travel experience. Small ships offer more individualized services with custom or specialty itinerary options, often with a focus on adventure or luxury experiences..
The Inside Passage is the most popular cruise route in Alaska. Inside Passage cruises venture along Alaska’s southeastern coast, guarded from rough seas by hundreds of islands. Cruise itineraries are generally seven to ten days, typically departing from Seattle or Vancouver, BC. Alaska land and sea cruise packages include round-trip or one-way itineraries and often include post-cruise land tour options on a train or motorcoach for travelers wanting to continue their Alaska exploration. The most popular time to cruise is June – August, and cruises typically run May – September.
Cruising is the most popular way to explore the state for good reason. Cruise passengers travel in all-inclusive comfort on ships of all sizes and on itineraries of varying length, with abundant tour options in established ports of call. Cruise ships fall into two basic categories: large and small. Large cruise ships generally offer lavish entertainment, shopping, excellent meals, and extensive shore excursions to create a seamless travel experience. Small ships offer more individualized services with custom or specialty itinerary options, often with a focus on adventure or luxury experiences..
Juneau
Alaska’s state capital is also one of its most beautiful cities and one of the most visited communities
in the state. With so much to see and do, there’s certain to be something for you in Juneau.
Downtown Juneau sits snugly between Mount Juneau, Mount Roberts, and Gastineau Channel, and is a
maze of narrow streets running past a mix of new structures, old storefronts, and quaint houses
featuring early 19th-century architecture from the town’s gold-mining days. The waterfront bustles with
cruise ships, fishing boats, and floatplanes zipping in and out. With no road access to Juneau, it is the
only state capital in the United States that can only be reached by airplane or boat.
Established before the big Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, Juneau also has gold in its past.
Alaska’s state capital is also one of its most beautiful cities and one of the most visited communities
in the state. With so much to see and do, there’s certain to be something for you in Juneau.
Downtown Juneau sits snugly between Mount Juneau, Mount Roberts, and Gastineau Channel, and is a
maze of narrow streets running past a mix of new structures, old storefronts, and quaint houses
featuring early 19th-century architecture from the town’s gold-mining days. The waterfront bustles with
cruise ships, fishing boats, and floatplanes zipping in and out. With no road access to Juneau, it is the
only state capital in the United States that can only be reached by airplane or boat.
Established before the big Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, Juneau also has gold in its past.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “first city” due to its location at the southern tip of the Inside Passage—it is the first city you reach as you cruise north, and for many visitors, their first introduction to the beauty and majesty of Alaska.Just 90 miles north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Ketchikan hugs the bluffs that form the shoreline along the southwest corner of Revillagigedo Island. Stretching 31 miles long but never more than 10 blocks wide, Ketchikan is centered on Tongass Avenue. On one side of the avenue, many businesses and homes are built on stilts out over the water, while on the other side they cling to the steep slopes and often have winding wooden staircases leading to their doors. The town of Ketchikan was founded as a salmon cannery site in 1885, and for years the city was known as the “Canned Salmon Capital of the World.” |
Skagway
A colorful gold rush history, beautiful setting, and a lot of cruise ships makes Skagway one of the most interesting and popular towns to visit in the Inside Passage. Location on traditional Tlingit land, Shgag̱wéi means “bunched up or roughed up water” and refers to the whitecaps that form from strong winds.
Beginning in 1897, Skagway and the nearby valley of Dyea were the starting place for more than 40,000
gold-rush stampeders who headed to the Yukon primarily by way of the Chilkoot Trail during the Klondike
Gold Rush. Today, visitors are transported back in time to the gold rush days along the seven-block
corridor on Broadway that features historic false-front shops and restaurants, wooden sidewalks, locals
in period costumes, and restored buildings, many of which are part of the Klondike Gold Rush
National Historical Park.
A colorful gold rush history, beautiful setting, and a lot of cruise ships makes Skagway one of the most interesting and popular towns to visit in the Inside Passage. Location on traditional Tlingit land, Shgag̱wéi means “bunched up or roughed up water” and refers to the whitecaps that form from strong winds.
Beginning in 1897, Skagway and the nearby valley of Dyea were the starting place for more than 40,000
gold-rush stampeders who headed to the Yukon primarily by way of the Chilkoot Trail during the Klondike
Gold Rush. Today, visitors are transported back in time to the gold rush days along the seven-block
corridor on Broadway that features historic false-front shops and restaurants, wooden sidewalks, locals
in period costumes, and restored buildings, many of which are part of the Klondike Gold Rush
National Historical Park.
Sitka
Sitka is the only Inside Passage community that fronts the Pacific Ocean, hugging Baranof Island's
west shore in the shadow of the impressive Mount Edgecumbe. Located on Sitka Sound, the city of
about 8,500 residents is known for its Tlingit culture and picturesque remnants of its Russian heritage, including the onion-shaped domes and gold-colored crosses of the beloved Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral. The city and borough limits include most of Baranof Island, where the city of Sitka
is located, along with south Chichagof Island and many other small, forested islands along the coast.
Russia sold Alaska to the United States on October 18, 1867, with a transfer ceremony held in
Sitka on Baranof Castle State Historic Site.
Sitka is the only Inside Passage community that fronts the Pacific Ocean, hugging Baranof Island's
west shore in the shadow of the impressive Mount Edgecumbe. Located on Sitka Sound, the city of
about 8,500 residents is known for its Tlingit culture and picturesque remnants of its Russian heritage, including the onion-shaped domes and gold-colored crosses of the beloved Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral. The city and borough limits include most of Baranof Island, where the city of Sitka
is located, along with south Chichagof Island and many other small, forested islands along the coast.
Russia sold Alaska to the United States on October 18, 1867, with a transfer ceremony held in
Sitka on Baranof Castle State Historic Site.
The information on this page and the following pages is from the Travel Alaska website
Viator is the world's leading operator for tours and activities
Please click on the imager to view everything that is available in Alaska on my Viator site
Viator is the world's leading operator for tours and activities
Please click on the imager to view everything that is available in Alaska on my Viator site
