Denali Explorer - Pre-Cruise Cruisetour

This morning enjoy a cruise on the Riverboat Discovery, a three-hour journey that will take you into the heart of Alaska. Operated by a family who has made the Alaskan rivers home for five generations, you’ll witness a Bush Pilot take off and land beside the boat and hear stories of flying into remote Alaska firsthand. Halfway through the experience, you’ll be immersed in frontier living with a guided walking tour of a re-created Athabascan Indian village. See cabins made of spruce logs, along with indigenous dwellings that have allowed the strong Athabascan people to survive for thousands of years in this harsh environment. Afterwards, board your deluxe motorcoach for a city tour of Fairbanks before stopping in historic downtown for lunch on your own. This tour includes a stop at the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline and gives you a great overview of the Fairbanks community. Open afternoon and evening to explore Fairbanks or take an optional tour.

Overnight: Fairbanks

This morning, board your deluxe motorcoach to travel to Denali National Park. More than just a mountain, Denali National Park is six million acres of wild land. After lunch on your own, your tour will take you into this pristine region of Alaska on the only road into and out of the park. Along the way, enjoy a fully narrated ride learning about the flora and fauna of the area while looking out for the wild animals that roam freely and call this park home. While in this beautiful area, set aside time to experience the solitude and tranquility that vast wilderness can provide.

During your Denali Natural History Tour, travel into Denali National Park, enjoying the incredible scenery and learning about the history of the park. The remaining part of the day is open for optional activities.

Overnight: Denali

Today’s itinerary includes a morning kennel tour. Learn about the Alaska state sport of dog mushing with an included stop at a local Iditarod sled dog kennel. You’ll be amazed to learn about this fascinating sport, the musher, the dogs and even get to hold a future champion puppy in your arms. After this authentic visit, we won’t be surprised if you are ready to run “The Last Great Race” yourself. Late morning, continue south by motorcoach to the town of Talkeetna. Continue on your journey south while traveling along the rails of the world-famous Alaska Railroad from Talkeetna to Anchorage in a deluxe dome railcar. Full bar and meal service are available for purchase during your rail journey.

Overnight: Anchorage

Transfer to the Anchorage International Airport for your flight to Seattle to embark on Norwegian Bliss. Transfers in Anchorage as well as Seattle are included in the tour. Economy class flight from Anchorage to Seattle is included in the tour. Flight upgrades are not available.

Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop for this oh-so cosmopolitan city. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World's Fair.

Its Tlingit Indian name, Kach Khanna, means “spread wings of the eagle.” Chances are you'll see one of these magnificent birds perched atop a Sitka tree. Thanks to its abundant rainfall, Ketchikan is surrounded by some of the world's most lush wilderness.

Juneau has been called “Alaska's peak experience,” certainly due in part to its unparalleled glacier viewing from such places as Tracy Arm Fjord, the Juneau Icefields and Glacier Bay National Park. Kayak up one of the area's many protected waterways, go flightseeing, tour historic downtown or try your hand at panning for gold. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier lies nearly 12 miles outside Juneau, a treck worthwhile.

This is why visitors come to Alaska—to see glaciers as magnificent as Dawes—and getting there is half the excitement. From Stephens Passage, your ship will turn into the glacially carved fjord of Endicott Arm, the southern sister fjord to Tracy. However, Endicott is special. It’s the fjord less travelled, and at its head, Dawes Glacier. But first, the 31-mile fjord. Sheer granite walls. Plunging waterfalls. Spruce and hemlock trees clinging to the steep sides. It is the definition of pristine. Look for “bergy bits,” floating chunks of glacial ice, some looking more like sculptures, some with resting seals on top. Keep an eye open for bears, mountain goats and whales, too. As we approach the glacier, listen for thunderous cracks and have your camera ready. Dawes is an active tidewater glacier that recedes daily causing calving, where huge hunks of ice plunge into the sea. At 600 feet tall and a half-mile wide, this blue-hued, powerful glacier may be the highlight of your Alaska cruise.

Venture “where the north wind doesn’t blow.” Known for this famous saying, Icy Strait Point is the ideal landing spot for adventurers seeking a new experience. Breathtaking and exciting, Icy Strait Point truly takes you where the wild things are. It’s one of the few places in the world where wildlife outnumbers the human population. A trip here certainly satisfies your taste for adventure. Take a cruise from Icy Strait Point and enjoy Alaska's awe-inspiring scenery and the many excursion options that Norwegian Cruise Line has to offer.

Roam the spacious lawns of stunning Butchart Gardens with its exotic flora, unusual topiary and exquisite fountains. Explore historic Bastion Square, the treasures of Chinatown and the many sights and sounds to be found along the boardwalk of the Inner Harbour.

Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop for this oh-so cosmopolitan city. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World's Fair.