EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Enjoy this well rounded view of Alaska's capital city as you experience the splendor of Mendenhall Glacier, and dine Alaska-style at Gold Creek Salmon Bake. First you'll have time to explore the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area -- home to Alaska's only "drive-up" glacier. Here you'll want to explore the Visitor Center, various viewpoints of the glacier, and outlying trails as your visit time permits. Take a short ride to the Gold Creek Salmon Bake where you'll dine on grilled wild Alaska salmon and a variety of side dishes as fixings under a canopy. After your meal it's a short drive via shuttle back to the ship.

Board your motorcoach for a scenic 10 minute drive to Knudson Cove, a private waterfront estate in the Tongass National Forest. Upon arrival, guides will instruct and outfit you with safety equipment in an open air forest pavilion. Your adventure begins as you ascend into the trees and gravity pulls you along the ziplines. Nestled on a platform in the park, keep an eye out for eagles and ocean views. You can take an optional challenge route that leads you across swinging logs and rope bridges. Feel the speed and acceleration of the ocean zip, where you'll land above the water on a freestanding platform. Then take the final zip to the take the UTV up the hill to the 50 foot climbing tower where guides will show you techniques to climb to the top and safely auto belay to the ground. For those that are less adventurous, guides can assist you in skipping elements if you choose. You'll complete 6 ziplines, with time to shop for souvenirs before returning to the pier.

The adventure begins with a tour down the historic streets of Skagway out to Alaska 360 where you will enjoy an authentic smoked BBQ lunch including ribs, chicken and various side dishes. Dine inside or on the riverside patio or rooftop deck surrounded by mountain views. Learn the art of gold panning and practice your technique in warm-water troughs. Gold is guaranteed in every pan! Haul your treasure into the Gold Shack and have it weighed. Then, browse a collection of gold nugget jewelry and discover unique, souvenirs in the gift shop. Next board for a scenic motorcoach ride along the Klondike Highway, paralleling the route used by prospectors during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. You'll ascend to the 3,290-foot White Pass Summit, while you take in the magnificent scenery surrounding you. Finally, enjoy the panoramic views from the Scenic Overlook of the city of Skagway before returning to the ship.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive through Skagway’s historic district, which thrived during the Klondike Gold Rush.
• Take a ride to White Pass Summit and stop for photos overlooking the city of Skagway.
• Pan for gold just like the Gold Rush prospectors and dine on a hearty BBQ lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Look for wildlife while zipping along the rugged coastline in an open-air, high-speed boat. You will ride in a Rigid Hull Inflatable vessel that is 27 feet long and designed to race through the sea with maximum maneuverability. The exact route will depend on the weather conditions, but you can expect to enjoy close-up views of tidal flats and land animals such as brown bears and Sitka black-tailed deer. The seas here are also teeming with iconic Alaskan animals. You may spot humpback whales breaching the water's surface, pods of orcas, frolicking sea otters and sleek seals. Be sure to look up, as bald eagles and puffins also make their homes in the area. Along the way, the captain will throttle back and elaborate on the importance of the waterways to the native Tlingit, many of whom still follow a traditional lifestyle around Icy Strait Point.

Enjoy Victoria's Highlights with a twist, combined with the exhilaration of the wildly popular escape room experience. Board your coach for a fun-filled narrative through the city's oldest neighborhood, James Bay, before arriving to Ross Bay. Experience the charm of one of Victoria's most historic places and as your guide shares stories of its most notable characters.

Continue through downtown's Inner Harbor with the iconic Empress Hotel and BC Legislative Building, and then Chinatown before visiting Bastion Square. Stroll the cobbled streets for haunted stories of the old jail and courthouse before visiting the Escape Room. Here you will have 45 minutes to uncover a mystery in a detailed escape room set, finding clues, solving puzzles, triggering high tech props & unlocking your way into multiple room with your small group of fellow guests.

Once completed, explore Victoria on your own (if port time permits), or return on your coach back to the ship.

Taste & experience what makes Alaska such an awesome place to visit on this Alaskan style crab cracking & Lumberjacking tour. Enjoy one hour of Alaskan Lumberjacks battling it out in chopping, sawing, tree climbing, axe throwing, history and much more. Meet the Jacks after the show for pictures and then loosen your belt and grab your camera as you sightsee your way to the rustic yet elegant George Inlet Lodge for a steaming hot Dungeness crab feast. You'll see Alaska's frontier lumberjacks battle British Columbia's premier woodsmen in a no-holds-barred competition for the title "Bull of the Woods." These world champion athletes compete in 12 athletic events that utilize seven-pound axes, six-foot razor sharp saws, tree climbing gaffs and souped up chainsaws. Your cheers will turn to roars of excitement as axes fly through the air, men free fall from tall trees and then run atop spinning logs floating in the water. The show is held in a covered, heated and cushioned grandstand that includes a rustic log gift shop and full concession. This will be one hour of action, excitement and laughs that is unique to all of Alaska. After the show you will take a narrated coach tour through Ketchikan, travelling past some of the iconic landmarks and popular attractions of this charming waterfront town. Your knowledgeable guide will entertain you with stories and tall tales of Ketchikan's boisterous history and fascinating Native culture as you wind your way through Ketchikan's downtown district. The scenic drive continues along the coast arriving at the George Inlet Lodge for a feast of fresh Dungeness crab. Rounding out the menu is a fresh oriental salad and a scrumptious cheesecake with blueberry topping for dessert. The return drive to your ship provides additional opportunities to enjoy the scenic landscape and learn about local history, native culture, the pristine Tongass Forest and then arriving back in picturesque Ketchikan for some free time to shop.

Travel along the incredibly photogenic Klondike Highway to the Canadian border, while pausing along the way to snap pictures of the gorgeous wilderness. The road pretty much follows the trail that prospectors carved out during the Gold Rush of 1898. The countryside is still largely undeveloped, except for a few bridges and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway that parallels the road. Roadside stops will be made to view natural attractions such as ancient glaciers and Pitchfork Falls, a lovely cascade that splits into branches that resemble the tines of a pitchfork. After pausing at the Canadian border at White Pass summit, you will travel back down the Klondike Highway toward Skagway. Commentary will enhance your understanding of the attractions and the area's history.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Travel a picturesque highway that follows a trail created during the Gold Rush of 1898. • Snap pictures while pausing at scenic lookouts with views of glaciers and waterfalls. • Stop at the summit of White Pass, which marks the U.S. and Canadian border. • Hear enlightening commentary that describes the area’s history and attractions.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in layered clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience the grandeur of Juneau and the Inside Passage in an exclusive new way during this unforgettable, first-class yacht experience. Your half-day excursion features whale-watching, wildlife-spotting, and a delightful selection of food and drink whilst cruising aboard a luxury yacht. Depart the pier in a Mercedes Sprinter for the scenic, narrated drive through downtown Juneau en route to Auke Bay. Upon arrival and after a comfort stop, take a short walk to your awaiting yacht. After receiving your safety briefing, embark your vessel, the only whale-watching yachts in Alaska, and begin your approximately three-hour whale-watching and wildlife adventure in comfort and style. Along the way, your USCG master captain and expert naturalist, take you to the best locations, and share their local knowledge of the area and its wildlife. Marvel at your beautiful surroundings, and look for humpback whales, orcas, porpoise, harbour seals, steller sea lions, bald eagles and seabirds. Whilst your captain navigates the Inside Passage, your naturalist guide discusses the natural history of southeast Alaska. Enjoy an opportunity to hold real baleen and learn how they identify individual humpback whales by name. Memories will be made while sailing past a stunning backdrop of glaciers and snow-capped mountains. This first-class, exclusive whale-watching experience indulges you with a selection of refreshments. Included are Alaskan beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, juice, water, coffee, local salmon dip, a beautiful charcuterie board. With a maximum capacity of eight guests, this crowd-free, exclusive and personal experience is the best way to embrace the grandeur of Alaska. After disembarking the yacht, re-board your Mercedes Sprinter and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

Your 4x4 adventure begins in Sitka and takes you to a remote island, where you will ride Polaris Rangers. You'll enjoy exploring wildflower meadows, beautiful scenery while searching for wildlife such as Alaska Brown Bear and Sitka Black Tail Deer. You'll be greeted at the tender pier by your van driver who will take you to an aluminum landing craft for a high speed boat ride to Kruzof Island where your 4x4 ride begins. Upon arrival, you'll meet your guides who will have your 4x4's warmed up and ready to go. After a quick safety orientation and operating instructions, you're ready to set off on your adventure.

Your guide leads you along an off highway vehicle trail though muskegs and forest on the way to Iris Meadows estuary where wildlife are frequently seen. Stops will be made along the way for interpretive sessions and photographic opportunities. When you arrive at the estuary you can park the 4x4 to walk around and enjoy the scenery, watch for wildlife and take photes. After a snack, it's time to ride back and catch the boat back to Sitka.

Ride a window-walled gondola to the mountaintop that looms behind Icy Strait Point and spend the day enjoying the outdoors as you please. As you ascend over the forested slopes, the views will be spectacular in every direction, especially once you reach the summit, which is more than a quarter mile above sea level. Glacier Bay stretches out before you and Tongass National Forest goes on as far as the eye can see. If you wish to hike through the woodlands, feel free. Wherever you wander, be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife as bald eagles and deer are abundant. You won't have to rush your time at the summit because your all-day gondola pass allows you to descend whenever you wish.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Take in the breathtaking views while riding a gondola up the mountain behind Icy Strait Point.
• Spend as much time as you wish at the summit and descend on the gondola when you’re ready.
• Look for wildlife such as Sitka black-tailed deer and bald eagles while hiking through the woods.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Take in the gorgeous scenery within the pristine Misty Fjords National Monument while flying in a DeHavilland floatplane as the bush pilot elaborates on the natural wonders below. This completely undeveloped wilderness sprawls across more than two million acres in the Tongass National Forest, America's largest national forest. Majestic beyond imagination, the landscape is a mosaic of sea cliffs, misty mountains, deep fjords, thundering waterfalls, jewel-like lakes and dense rainforest, all of which you will gaze down upon from your own window seat. The exact route for the flight will depend on the weather. If you fly south, you will likely see shimmering Big Goat Lake and New Eddystone Rock, an immense volcanic spire that rises above the sea. The northern route usually passes over Neets Bay and Bell Island Hot Springs. Be sure to look for brown and black bear, Sitka black-tailed deer and bald eagles as wildlife is abundant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fly over the Misty Fjords National Monument wilderness in a DeHavilland floatplane.
• Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of a pristine landscape that glaciers sculpted centuries ago.
• Pass over dense rainforest, cliff-lined fjords, majestic mountains and sparkling lakes.
• Keep an eye out for bears, deer, bald eagles and other iconic Alaskan wildlife.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Drive through nearby Hoonah in an open-air tram that presents unobstructed views of this former logging town that is also Alaska's largest Tlingit village. Commentary will describe how centuries ago advancing glaciers forced the Tlingits from Glacier Bay to present-day Hoonah, a word that means "where the wind doesn't blow." Another life-changing event occurred in 1944, when a fire broke out destroying much of the village. The federal government helped rebuild the downtown with housing that was supposed to be sent to Hawaii during World War II. These homes are still referred to as war houses. While riding through Hoonah, you will likely see depictions of ravens and eagles on many of the buildings, which represent the two complementary Tlingit social clans. Hoonah lies on the Alaska Marine Highway, a coastal route that ferries travel to give locals easy access to the southeastern part of the state.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through Hoonah in an open-air tram and hear commentary that describes the highlights.
• Learn about momentous events in the history of Hoonah.
• Gain an understanding of the indigenous Tlingits that have lived in this area for centuries.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.