Mind’s Eye Travel
Enriching the lives of people who are visually impaired or blind
Alaska Inside Passage Cruise on the Viking Star
10 Nights, 8 Guided Tours, 2 Countries
June 3-13, 2024
Introduction
Immerse yourself in a world of Tlingit heritage and experience the outpost atmosphere that prevails in charming, mountain-ringed seaside towns. As you cruise this pristine wilderness of misty fjords, lush forests and gleaming walls of ice, pan for gold like prospectors of old, meet local Tlingit who have fished these waters for centuries, and hear tales both tall and true of a region where a Wild West spirit still feels very much alive.
Prices starting at $7990.
Deposit $25 & Airfares starting at $599, expires April 30, 2023. Starting May 1, 2023 deposit is $1000.
Itinerary
DAY 1, June 3
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Vancouver is one of Canada’s most diverse cities and the influence of its multi-ethnic society is reflected in the city’s multitude of restaurants and public settings, such as the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden at the heart of Chinatown. The city’s cultural treasures reflect its indigenous community and embody the influence of European and Asian settlers. Its vibrant institutions run the gamut, from bustling markets to museums that chronicle the region’s anthropology and rich art heritage.
DAY 2, June 4
Scenic Sailing: The Inside Passage
Stretching some 500 miles along the Alaska Panhandle, the Inside Passage is a pristine wilderness of fjord-like channels. It winds its way through a vast maze of islands laden with emerald-green forests and strewn with glistening glaciers. Nature is at her most magnificent here, tranquil and hushed. Unspoiled waterways weave their way past tiny coastal villages and a breathtaking array of snowcapped mountains and pine-covered hills. Sea lions and otters reside in these waters, and moose and brown bears are often spotted as they wade along the coast.
Day 3, JUNE 5
Ketchikan, United States
Discover Alaska’s “first city,” as it is known to travellers coming by ship from the south. Ketchikan was home to the Tlingit long before the arrival of white settlers, as you feel the many old and new totem poles that grace the town. Learn about Alaska’s native legacy and discover the legends behind their designs during your included tour. If you would like to venture beyond the town, perhaps visit the Misty Fjords National Monument or Tongass National Forest, where seaplanes and 4x4 vehicles take you beyond the beaten path.
Day 4, June 6
Sitka, United States
Glimpse the Russian influence in Sitka, once the capital of Russian Alaska. Enjoy an enlightening tour of the city, learning more about the fur trade that first brought the Russians to its shores. Marvel at the beauty of Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano that has lain dormant for millennia, and the verdant islands of Sitka Sound peppered prettily along the water. Admire Sitka’s fascinating totem poles and immerse yourself in its heritage during your time in this scenic city.
day 5, June 7
Juneau, United States
Call on Alaska’s capital of Juneau on the Gastineau Channel. Named for an early prospector, it is the only US capital inaccessible by road, and so all goods and visitors must arrive via sea or air. Marvel at its fjord-like, dramatic setting between mountains and sea as you take a drive to pan for gold in the spirit of the city’s early days. Embark a small boat to the Mendenhall Glacier, spotting porpoises and whales along the way.
day 6, June 8
Skagway, United States
Visit Skagway, named for a mythical woman who turned herself to stone at Skagway’s bay. Gateway for prospectors arriving to reap the benefits of the Klondike gold rush in the Canadian Yukon, the town today evokes an Old West spirit. Enjoy a brief tour before taking a scenic drive up to White Pass like the gold diggers of old, pausing at the Canadian border for photos. You may choose instead to make the journey aboard the fabled White Pass Railroad, or visit a sled dog camp to learn about a generations-old tradition.
day 7, June 9
Icy Strait Point, United States
Discover the old canning station at Icy Strait Point today. Fully restored by the Native American Tlingit community from nearby Hoonah, it is an exquisite time capsule revealing how locals once earned a living from the rich fishing grounds. Celebrate the Tlingit culture during a cultural presentation by locals in traditional ceremonial dress.
day 8, June 10
Scenic Sailing: Yakutat Bay
Surrounded by glacier-carved mountains and fed by the enormous Hubbard Glacier, Yakutat Bay spreads some 18 miles across at its widest point. On calm days, snow-covered slopes are reflected in the mirror-like bay, casting the entire scene in a soft, icy azure glow. Disenchantment Bay extends farther inland like a finger; at its farthest point, Hubbard Glacier creeps seaward from its source five miles away. The ice at the water’s edge began its journey from near Mt. Walsh more than 400 years ago in the early 1600s. Today would be a good day to have a facial or a massage at the spa or enjoy the pool and hot tubs.
day 9, June 11
Valdez, United States
Valdez enjoys a breathtaking setting at the tip of a deep-cut fjord in Prince William Sound. The glacial Chugach Mountains rise up all around the city, adding to its scenic allure. In its early days, the promise of gold attracted explorers and seekers of wealth, but the land proved barren. The town finally experienced its economic boom as North America’s northernmost ice-free port. Today, it is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that carries oil south from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic coast.
day 10, June 12
Seward, United States
Seward enjoys a magnificent setting between snowcapped peaks and Resurrection Bay, a pristine harbor ringed by mountains. The Alaskan city was named after Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of state who defied public opinion to pursue the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Seward is steeped in marine culture, from its busy fishing port to the excellent exhibits and preservation efforts of the Alaska SeaLife Center. It is also the famed starting point of the Iditarod Trail, the dogsled race route originally laid to link Seward to inland Alaska.
day 11, June 13
Seward, United States
Disembark your ship this morning and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or transfer to Anchorage and begin the trip to Denali National Park.
The Details
-
Prices starting at $7990.
-
Deposit $25 & Airfares starting at $599, expires April 30, 2023. Starting May 1, 2023 deposit is $1000.
Please Note
-
A $25.00 deposit per person is required to hold space; after May 1, the deposit becomes $1000. The balance will be due June 10, 2023, after which fees will no longer be refundable.
-
On optional activities and any free time you will need to pay for expenses and food for your sighted guide.
-
Viking Cruises charges $100 cancellation fee. Any changes to your booking will also have $100 change fee.
-
Price is for double occupancy and does not include airfare, alcoholic beverages, personal items or any gratuities.
-
Mind’s Eye Travel recommends trip insurance.
-
Our trips are non-smoking and not combinable with any other offer.
-
Until further notice Mind's Eye Travel clients and guides must be fully vaccinated (including booster shots) against COVID-19.