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Alaska’s Glaciers and the Inside Passage

Program Overview

A land of pure, natural beauty, Alaska is the last great American frontier. Discover the wonders of Ketchikan; Wrangell; Sitka; and Elfin Cove on this carefully curated expedition itinerary. Look for humpback whales at Point Adolphus and navigate isolated inlets inaccessible to larger vessels for superlative views of Alaska’s spectacular scenery. Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord to majestic South Sawyer and Dawes Glaciers. Enjoy lectures on board by naturalists that highlight the wildlife and extraordinary landscapes you will see along the way. Enhance your expedition with the Vancouver Pre-Program and/or Fairbanks and Denali Post-Program Options.

Program Details

July 13 to 20, 2023 (Star Breeze)
From $4,995 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Created in Gohagan & Company’s tradition of innovative programming and educational travel.
  • Five-star accommodations, seven-night, exploration-style itinerary—the best way to experience the last of the great American frontiers—available only through Gohagan & Company.
  • Enjoy an intimate experience aboard the five-star, all-suite small ship Star Breeze, as you are surrounded by the breathtaking Alaskan scenery and the awe-inspiring Inside Passage.
  • Prepare for the unexpected—a pod of whales feeding, seals basking on icebergs, bald eagles soaring above—as your small ship can position or alter course for better wildlife observation.
  • Experience incredible natural wonders every day—wildlife spotting, small expedition vessel excursions up close to glaciers, and narrow fjord cruises.
  • Cruise British Columbia’s protected Inside Passage, one of the most spectacular coastal waterways in the world.
  • Explore historic Ketchikan, “salmon capital of the world,” and its famous Gold Rush-era Creek Street.
  • Visit the remote fishing village of Elfin Cove on pristine Chichagof Island.
  • Cruise stunning Tracy Arm Fjord to see South Sawyer Glacier.
  • Optional excursion to remotely situated Anan Bear Observatory.
  • Vancouver and Victoria Pre-Program Option and Anchorage, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks Post-Program Option.

Day 1 - Depart home city / Arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada / Embark Star Breeze

Day 2 - Cruising the Inside Passage

Day 3 - Ketchikan, Alaska, U.S.

Day 4 - Wrangell

Day 5 - Sitka

Day 6 - Elfin Cove / Point Adolphus

Day 7 - Tracy Arm Fjord / Sawyer Glacier / Endicott Fjord / Dawes Glacier

Day 8 - Juneau / Disembark ship / Return to home city

View detailed program itinerary >

Star Breeze

Exclusively Chartered, Five-Star, All-Suite

The five-star, all-suite Star Breeze offers the ultimate small ship cruising lifestyle. Newly renovated in 2021, each of the 156 suites features one queen bed (some convertible to two twin beds), a private bathroom with granite-accented countertops and shower (some with full bathtub), and the amenities of a fine hotel—including luxurious Egyptian cotton linens, individual climate control, and a flat-screen satellite TV with DVD player. Each suite also offers a freshly stocked minibar, safe, hair dryer, dressing table, plush robe and slippers, and complimentary Wi-Fi access (conditions permitting). Complimentary welcome flowers and fruit are provided in each suite upon arrival.

Learn more about the Star Breeze >

Vancouver Pre-Program Option

Start your adventure in Vancouver with a two-night prelude that includes a walking tour of historic Vancouver. See Chinatown, Gastown and Stanley Park—featuring a photo stop at the Totem Poles. Enjoy accommodations in the deluxe Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Fairbanks/Denali Post-Program Option

Our four-day tour extension includes a stop in Anchorage, where you visit the headquarters of the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, before traveling from Talkeetna on the deluxe Dome Rail Car to Denali. Spend one night at the deluxe Marriott Anchorage and two nights at the Grand Denali Lodge.

Pre-Program and Post-Program Options are available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

Program Rates

Gohagan & Company reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees, promotions and surcharges at any time.

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Program Itinerary

Day 1 Depart Home City / Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Arrive in dynamic Vancouver, originally built as a small 19th-century timber milling settlement and today the cultural and financial heart of Canada’s Pacific Northwest. Embark the Star Breeze. 

Day 2 Cruising the Inside Passage

Experience the Inside Passage, one of the most scenic waterways in the world, from our small ship. Cruise amidst countless islands; thickly blanketed forests; hidden bays and coves; sandy beaches and lofty waterfalls. Be on deck to watch for cavorting sea lions and breaching orcas in the deep waters and look for Sitka black-tailed deer, mink, and river otters roaming the shores and mountainsides. Attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception this evening.

Day 3, Morning Ketchikan, Alaska

The fishing city of Ketchikan is known as the “salmon capital of the world.” Stroll the Gold-Rush-era boardwalks of Creek Street and watch spawning salmon swimming upstream along the well-known “Salmon Ladder.” See the art of Potlatch Totem Park, where a master craftsperson demonstrates the ancient technique of hand carving a totem pole.

Day 4 Wrangell

Walk through Wrangell’s quaint downtown to Kiks.ádi Totem Park and discover the history of these intricately carved totem poles. Transfer to Petroglyph Beach, a state historic beach home to rock carvings created 8,000 years ago. Later, visit the Wrangell Museum, where more than 5,000 artifacts and exhibits display the local trades in Alaska—fishing, mining, and logging.

Day 5 Sitka

In Sitka, visit the Alaska Raptor Center, Alaska’s foremost bald eagle habitat where more than 100 injured eagles are rehabilitated and released each year. Explore Sitka National Historical Park, where artists demonstrate their totemic art forms, and enjoy opportunities to walk the forest trails or converse with native artists. Visit St. Michael’s Cathedral, North America’s first Russian Orthodox church. 

Day 6 Elfin Cove / Point Adolphus

Go ashore to explore pristine Chichagof Island and visit the small fishing community of Elfin Cove. Situated across from Glacier Bay National Park with a population of only 20 permanent residents, this hamlet flourishes in summer with fishing enthusiasts. From the observation deck, search for humpback whales and orcas feeding in the nutrient-rich waters of Point Adolphus while cruising through Icy Strait, where tidal waters teem with marine life. Watch for sea lions and bald eagles drawn by the abundance of salmon.

Day 7 Tracy Arm Fjord / Sawyer Glacier / Endicott Fjord / Dawes Glacier

Cruise into the deep and narrow fjord of Tracy Arm, where waterfalls cascade from bluffs, forests fade to sheer rock, and icebergs glint in the sunlight. In Endicott Arm Fjord, look for harbor seals hauled out on ice platforms, and inquisitive whales and bears hunting for fish. At the remote end of Tracy Arm, listen to ice calving off the soaring South Sawyer Glacier. Venture to the edge of Dawes Glacier aboard. Attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception on board the ship this evening. 

Day 8 Juneau / Return to Home City

Disembark in picturesque Juneau, the sole American state capital accessible only by air or sea. Continue on the Fairbanks/Denali Post-Program Option or transfer to the airport for your return flight home.