Alaska’s Islands, Whales & Glaciers
Explore wild Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park and rarely visited places along the Inside Passage on this 6-day Alaska’s Islands, Whales & Glaciers small ship cruise. The small 10-guest Misty Fjord is home base, cruising between Sitka and Juneau. Many nights are spent at anchor or on a mooring, enabling even more activity. Travelers experience complete immersion in the wild lands and waterways of Southeast Alaska on an exciting itinerary that can be customized to specific interests.
Enjoy a morning taking in Sitka’s fascinating cultural and historic sites, or visiting highlights of Juneau including the newly renovated Alaska State Museum. Seek out opportunities to experience a beautiful rainforest path, intimate coves and inlets or natural hot springs around the eastern coast of Baranof Island. Scour the Icy Strait for humpback whales before an extended exploration of Glacier Bay National Park. View John Muir’s wild, unfinished Yosemite with time in Tracy or Endicott Arm and relax beside a beach fire with king crab for dinner beside the world-renowned whale waters of Frederick Sound. Ply the waters of Chatham Strait watching abundant marine wildlife and stunning mountain scenery. Inside the Lynn Canal accept an invitation to an exclusive William Henry Bay beachfront property.
In addition to the main 6-day itinerary, there is also a reverse itinerary and a 6-day Alaska’s Spring Wilderness & Wildlife Safari aboard the 12-guest Kruzof Explorer or 10-guest Misty Fjord. This flexible itinerary departs round-trip from Sitka, Alaska, exploring Sitka Sound during one of the most dynamic times of the year: the annual Pacific herring migration. As the Pacific herring concentrate in Sitka Sound, humpback whales, eagles and humans alike congregate to enjoy the seasonal wonder of the migration. Many locals prefer this season over any other time of year, with its crisp mornings, lengthening daylight hours and flora and fauna springing to life. The route for the Alaska’s Spring Wilderness & Wildlife Safari departures is flexible to allow the ship’s captain and onboard naturalist to choose the best activities based on each day’s unique circumstances and guest interests.
The Misty Fjord and Kruzof Explorer expedition vessels enable a flexible itinerary, with the captain welcoming opportunities to delve deep into the heart of the Alaskan wilderness. Kayaking, hiking and expedition watercraft adventures provide numerous opportunities for travelers to get off the ship and explore Southeast Alaska as much as possible. Due to their small size, the Misty Fjord and Kruzof Explorer are each an ideal vessel to turn this trip, one of our Alaska family cruises, into one of our private Alaska yacht charters.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Alaska trips, small ship Alaska cruise options and Glacier Bay cruise and Inside Passage cruise itineraries.