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Cities Within Alaska - Northbound

Destinations » Alaska » Alaska - Northbound

Anchorage (Whittier)

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, and it's no accident that many of our cruisetours begin and end in this major metropolis. As locals say, "Anchorage is great. It's only 20 minutes from Alaska." Here, you'll find everything you would find in a city in the lower 48. But it serves as a great introduction to Alaska, too.

British Columbia Coast

The ocean surrounding the west coast of British Columbia provides unique leisure and recreational opportunities. The unspoiled waters and miles of undulating coastline, in addition to the numerous species of land and marine wildlife, make it the perfect location for water-based activities.

College Fjord

At College Fjord, an inlet rimmed by icy crags, you sail past glacier after ghostly glacier. The first serious explorers here were financed by a group of Ivy League colleges, hence the name.

Cordova

Cordova is a hidden gem in the midst of lofty peaks located on eastern Prince William Sound. The Copper River Delta, home to millions of migratory waterfowl during spring migration, and the Copper River's prized King salmon have put the City of Cordova on the map. Commercial fishing has been the mainstay for the city over the past several decades.

Dutch Harbor

The historic town of Dutch Harbor sits on a tiny island in the middle of Unalaska Bay. The spectacular bay cuts deep into mountainous Unalaska Island, part of the Aleutian chain. Sample fresh fish caught by local fisherman and visit the Russian Orthodox church, built by fur traders.

Elfin Cove

Elfin Cove, Alaska, Alaska's sport fishing paradise, lies just east of Port Althorp on the northwest corner of Chichagof Island. It has had that name since June 1935 when a post office was established there. Prior to that it had been known to fishermen in the area as The Gunk Hole. A "gunk hole" is an East Coast fisherman's term for any safe harbor, and Elfin Cove fills that bill. The cove, which is divided in two by an island, forms the outer harbor. Inside is a large basin with a very narrow entrance, so that it is nearly landlocked.

Esther Passage

Blessed with natural wonders, Alaska gloves the superlatives hurled at it with deserving grace, capturing the imagination of visitors and inhabitants alike. The expansive grandeur of the state will help you put the size of your snowshoes in perspective as you marvel at the sight of a brown bear at full amble, or kayak through the dreamy blue wonder of a deep fiord. Despite a reputation for high prices, it's possible to see Alaska on an oil baron's small change - as the hordes flocking to amenable towns and prime wilderness areas every summer have already discovered.

Fredrick Sound

Blessed with natural wonders, Alaska gloves the superlatives hurled at it with deserving grace, capturing the imagination of visitors and inhabitants alike. The expansive grandeur of the state will help you put the size of your snowshoes in perspective as you marvel at the sight of a brown bear at full amble, or kayak through the dreamy blue wonder of a deep fjord. Despite a reputation for high prices, it's possible to see Alaska on an oil baron's small change - as the hordes flocking to amenable towns and prime wilderness areas every summer have already discovered.

Glacier Bay

Cruise quietly, watching as giant pinnacles of ice crack off the face of the glacier and float off as icebergs.

Haines

This historic town occupies a breaktaking setting on a peninsula along the deep blue waters of the Lynn Canal. Its Tlingit Indian heritage is preserved through art and dance at the Chilkat Center for the Arts. Visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve to see Alaskas most magnificent birds.

Homer

Homer is known as an artists outpost, and its no wonder. A cruise to the sea rookery on Kachemac bay will turn you into an artist with your camera.

Hubbard Glacier

The longest river of ice in North America, the Hubbard Glacier is also one of the most active glaciers of its kind in Alaska. And since our ships are designed to provide our guests with the best viewing possible, you'll be able to see this massive natural wonder, with its 1,350 square miles of blue ice, from just about anywhere on the ship.

Hyder

Hyder was originally called Portland city, and the name was changed in 1914 after Frederick Hyder, a Canadian mining engineer who predicted a bright future for the area. Hyders boom years occurred between the years 1920 and 1930, and the Riverside Mine extracted gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and tungsten until 1953. By 1956, all major mining had closed except for Granduc Copper Mine in Canada, which operated until 1984. Hyder is known as the "Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska." Hyder's economy is based primarily on tourism today.

Icy Strait

Icy Strait Point is located near the city of Hoonah, the largest native Tlingit Indian settlement in Alaska, and very near Glacier Bay National Park. Home to a historic cannery, the port's connection to the sea is strong. Locals share the sea with humpback whales, orcas, Dall porpoises, seals, sea otters, halibut and all five species of Pacific salmon. It is not uncommon to spot a humpback or an orca while walking along the shore.

Inside Passage

Enjoy such stunning sights as green islands, sparkling glaciers, and a coastline that features the most majestic of mountains as you cruise the Inside Passage.

Juneau

Juneau, the capital of Alaska, was founded during a gold rush in 1880. Today, the former gold-mining town counts among its riches some of Alaska's most spectacular scenery. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Juneau in the Alaska Panhandle, it faces the water from the mainland side of Gastineau Channel. Several magnificent fjords are located along the channel coast, and the majestic Mendenhall Glacier, a favorite of visitors, is nearby.

Katmai National Park

A National Park & Preserve since 1980, today Katmai is still famous for volcanoes, but also for brown bears, pristine waterways with abundant fish, remote wilderness, and a rugged coastline.

Kenai Fjords

The fjords are long, steep-sided, glacier-carved valleys that are now filled with ocean waters. A mountain platform, one mile high, rises above this dramatic coastline. The mountains are mantled by the 300-square mile Harding Icefield, 35 miles long and 20 miles wide. Only isolated mountain peaks interrupt its nearly flat, snowclad surface.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan originated as an Indian fish saltery, but the town's major growth began when it became a supply base and entry port for miners during the 1898 Gold Rush to the Klondike. Much of the town's colorful past is still in evidence, especially in the nearby Indian villages, where you'll see colorfully carved totem poles and hear the fascinating legends that surround them.

Kodiak

Kodiak is home to a multi-million-dollar fishing fleet that supplies markets around the world, but the rest of the island´s mountainous terrain belongs to the bears, foxes, otters and eagles.

LeConte Bay

LeConte Glacier Bay is a 12 mile-long fjord carved out of the coastal mountain range by glaciers over the course of thousands of years. LeConte Glacier is North America's southern most tidewater glacier and can be viewed from a kayak after paddling by awe-inspiring icebergs.

Lynn Canal

Lynn Canal lets you view glaciers clinging to mountains as you cruise by. Lynn Canal is also home to many species of wildlife, so don't be surprised if a playful sea lion or humpback whale decides to escort your ship on to your next port of call.

Metlakatla

Metlakatla is the only native reservation in Alaska, home to approximately 1,400 of the only Tsimshian Natives in the state, and a unique introduction to the native people of the Pacific Northwest. Situated on Annette Island just a short distance away from Ketchikan and right across the border from Canada, the residents of Metlakatla work together to provide for their community. Commercial fishing and processing is the lifeblood of the town, and you will see Annette Island Packing Company perched on stilts over the water. This small community represents a unique example of how ancient rituals can be interwoven with modern life and the values of the west.

Misty Fjords

You'll be overwhelmed by sheer scenic beauty and you'll feel closer than ever before to the untouched serenity of the natural world.

Nome

Nome Alaska, with a population of approximately 3,800, is located on the south coast of the Seward Pennisula in western Alaska. Visitors to Nome can pick from a variety of activities, cultural experiences, and events.

Petersburg

Visiting Petersburg is like visiting a little bit of Scandinavia. In 1890, Norwegian immigrant Peter Buschmann arrived and saw that he could use the ice from the nearby LeConte Glacier to build a mill and fish-packing plant at the head of Wrangle Narrows on Mitkoff Island. He chose this location because it reminded him of his beloved homeland. This tiny town, with a population of about 3,300, makes its living off salmon and halibut fishing, and still holds much of the Old World charm and character of a small European town. Homes are decorated with flower boxes and other Scandinavian traditions.

Pribilof Islands

There are five islands, two of which are inhabited: St. George and St. Paul. The area is home to the largest seabird population in the Northern Hemisphere. An estimated 2.5 million seabirds nest on the cliffs of St. George; 210 species have been identified. In addition, more than one million fur seals congregate on the islands every summer. There are 14 fur seal rookeries on St. Paul, with designated viewing areas from where to see them. Upland wildlife includes songbirds, snowy owls and blue foxes. A resident reindeer herd is located on St. Paul. A deep-water port and fish processing plants are located in both communities. As far as human inhabitants, the village of St. Paul is the largest Aleut community in the world.

Prince Rupert

Located on Kaien Island in British Columbia's far north, Prince Rupert is both a commercial center and a traditional fishing village. In fact, many of the city's restaurants, shops and galleries are housed in the pioneer buildings of its early days. Beyond the city limits, rugged coasts, sandy beaches, rain forests and mountains collide to form some of the most dynamic landscapes in the Northwest.

Prince William Sound

Millions of years of glaciation created Prince William Sound, a deep coastal waterway consisting of tributaries, fjords, passageways, islands and rocky shores. The 3,000 mile coastline has all the ingredients for creating unforgettable Alaskan memories.

San Juan Islands

The island averages only about half as much yearly rainfall as Seattle. San Juan also sees the sun an average of 247 days a year, something unheard of in the rest of the Pacific Northwest. There is so much more to San Juan Island than fantastic weather, though. San Juan Island is an enchanting place where gentle breezes push the smell of sea air across fields of lavender and alfalfa; orca whales splash through sparkling seas just over the bluff from your unbelievably beautiful picnic site; majestic bald eagles soar through unparalleled sunsets and your Jacuzzi suite waits to soothe you. The pace of life is different here, and San Juan Island is a place you will return to again and again.

Sawyer Glacier

There it stands before you, moving slowly to sea. Ice chunks as big as a city block and as tall as a three-story apartment building have been know to split and fall into the sea.

Seward

Seward is not only one of Alaska's oldest communities, it's also one of its most scenic. Visit and discover this picturesque town known as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. You'll find a historic downtown district filled with quaint shops and art galleries, and some of the most exciting outdoor adventures imaginable.

Shumagin Islands

Sitka

Sitka, the site of Russia's initial foray into Alaska, has perhaps the richest history of any Alaskan town. Explore the melding of Russian and Native American cultures, while enjoying the unspoiled landscape at the gateway to remote Southeast Alaska. Both the local residents and abundant wildlife add to Sitka's authentic feel.

Skagway

When gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon Territory (just across the border from Alaska), it resulted in the historic Gold Rush of 1898. As thousands of gold-crazed adventurers sought the best starting point for their arduous trek, they found the deepest penetration possible by boat was at the northern tip of the Lynn Canal. This is how Skagway was born.

Straits of Georgia

The Strait of Georgia (also known as Georgia Strait and the Gulf of Georgia) is a 240 km (150 mi)-long strait between Vancouver Island (as well as its nearby Gulf Islands) and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Tracy Arm

Nestled between 3,000-foot high granite walls, the narrow, twisting slice of ocean called Tracy Arm Fjord weaves through the Tongass National Forest for roughly 35 miles. The shoreline is spotted with waterfalls created by melting snowcaps and trees sprouting at odd angles from rocky outcroppings. You will have ample time to admire the landscape and perhaps catch sight of a few native animals as you cruise through this port.

Valdez

Valdez, called the "Switzerland of Alaska" is the Southern terminus of the TransAlaska Pipeline. It is rimmed by mountains and looks out at Prince William Sound.

Vancouver

Most of Canada's imports from and exports to the Orient and Australia pass through Vancouver, Canada's gateway to the Pacific. From the harbor entrance, you can see the Lion's Gate, made up of twin mountain peaks closely resembling crouching lions. Visitors enjoy discovering this cosmopolitan city, from the shops of Robson Street to historic Gastown.

Ventura

Fuerteventura is a balm for the tired spirit. The miles and miles of golden sands in Janda, the clear blue sea, the cloudless open horizons only broken by the occasional palm-tree or broom bush around a tiny hamlet: everything is designed to relax the wearied soul. Nothing further removed from the constant bustle of everyday life than to stroll along the beach, dragging your feet through the golden sand and to sit, looking out over the calm blue sea whilst lapping up the sunshine and enjoying the magnificent seafood delicacies of the island.

Victoria

Located on the southern tip on the island of Vancouver in British Columbia, the city of Victoria is probably best known for its mild climate and active outdoor lifestyle. (In fact, the city has been named the "fittest city" in Canada more than once.) As the capital of British Columbia, the city is very tourist-friendly. Among the many attractions are world-famous gardens, its 150 years of British history, gourmet dining and fantastic shopping.

Whittier

Whittier is nestled at the base of mountains that line Passage Canal. a fjord that extends into Prince William Sound. The surrounding peaks are snowcapped much of the year and a glacier hangs above the town to the west. Just across from Passage Canal from Whittier is Kittiwake Rookery, largest of its kind in the world. Whittier is also a berry picker's paradise with blueberries and salmonberries growing in abundance at the edge of town.

Wrangell

Wrangell is the only place in Alaska to be once ruled by the the Russians, British and Americans. Prehistoric rock carvings or petroglyphs, dating as early as 8,000 years ago, have been found here.

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

The present day Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, incorporating the previously established Clarence Rhode, Nunivak and Hazen Bay Refuges, was consolidated in 1980 under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Here, the waters of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers flow through a vast "treeless plain," or tundra. Almost 70% of the refuge is below 100 feet in elevation, and consists of a broad, flat delta stitched through with rivers and streams and dotted with countless lakes, sloughs and ponds. Bordering the expanse of tundra and wetlands are 2.5 million acres of forest and shrub habitat, and uplands sporting mountains more than 4000 feet high. The refuge also includes two large islands - Nelson and Nunivak. In terms of both density and species diversity, the Yukon Delta is the most important shorebird nesting area in the United States. Birds from six major flyways, from the Atlantic Ocean to the east coast of Asia, nest on the refuge or stop to rest and feed on their way to more distant nesting grounds. The Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, and their many tributaries that weave their way through the refuge, provide hundreds of miles of spawning and rearing habitat for fish. A total of 44 species use the refuge's fresh and marine waters; including all five North American Pacific salmon, Dolly Varden char, northern pike, sheefish, arctic grayling, several species of whitefish, burbot and rainbow trout. The drier upland habitats boast populations of both brown and black bears, caribou, moose and wolves. Offshore, Nunivak Island supports a herd of muskoxen introduced in 1935 to successfully re-establish the species in Alaska. Muskox can also be found on Nelson Island and occasionally on other parts of the refuge. Along the coast of the refuge, the waters of the Bering Sea host a variety of marine mammals, including harbor, ribbon and bearded seals and walrus. Several species of whales pass along the refuge's coast during migration

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