SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Cruise on the Wilderness Explorer expedition vessel through Misty Fjords, a waterway that ancient glaciers carved out of the rugged landscape, leaving behind a natural wonderland of sheer vertical cliffs, roaring waterfalls and endless beauty. To reach the fjords, you will pass through Revillagigedo Channel and proceed into the Behm Canal, a waterway where orcas, seals and porpoises are often spotted. Occasional stops will be made along the way to view an active bald eagle’s nest, a pictograph that the Tlingits etched into a stone cliff and New Eddystone Rock, an immense volcanic spire that rises above the sea. While cruising through Rudyerd Bay, the naturalist will describe the natural history and point out seabirds that may be nesting in the soaring granite cliffs. You will also have the opportunity to delve into the Tlingit culture by listening to a tribal storyteller-artist or by watching a video presentation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through beautiful glacially formed Misty Fjords.
• Look for whales, orcas, seals and other marine life.
• Pause to see a bald eagle nest, a Tlingit pictograph and a volcanic spire.
• Listen while a Tlingit storyteller explains the tribal culture.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

This tour provides an overview of Alaska's capital city and it's scenic attractions, including one of the world's only drive-to glaciers, the Mendenhall. Your guided tour drives through Juneau's picturesque downtown waterfront. Visit Mendenhall Glacier, a moving river of ice with rugged crevasses and distinctive blue hues in the ice. Stroll the walkways to the Visitor Center and take in one of the glaciology exhibits, and interpretative talk with a Forest Ranger, or simply enjoy the panoramic view of the glacier. Afterward your drive takes you to Juneau's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery and Visitor Center. There you will learn the value of ocean ranching to Juneau's commercial and sport fishing industries and the hatchery's role in keeping the area salmon population at sustainable levels.

At the White Pass & Yukon Route Depot, board a vintage railcar for a ride up the White Pass Summit. View at the incredible scenery as your train ascends dramatic mountains and your guide shares colorful stories and the history of the gold rush. Marvel at the waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites you pass on your journey to the summit of the White Pass and beyond. In Fraser, disembark the train and board a motorcoach for a dramatic journey past the Tormented Valley and Pitchfork Falls en route to Skagway. Your Driver-Guide will regale with a colorful account of the history of Klondike Gold Rush. Taking views of the surrounding mountains, waterfalls and glaciers may be captured during the many photo stops. Stop at Alaska 360 where you will 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. Finally returning to your ship with your loot and newly acquired "gold fever."

Enjoy the highlights of Victoria and visit the spectacular Butchart Gardens. Departing Ogden Point your guide will point out the highlights including the majestic legislative buildings, Empress Hotel, Royal British Columbia Museum, and Beacon Hill Park.

At Butchart Gardens, see how the Butchart family transformed a barren rock quarry into what is now one of the world’s best-known horticultural attractions, covering more than 55 acres. The gardens are a lush paradise of flowers, rare trees and winding paths, that were created more than 100 years ago. Enjoy the cascading fountains and footbridges connecting you to the many themed gardens, including the beautiful Sunken Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. Multi-language maps will assist you on your self-guided tour.

The gardens are illuminated by thousands of hidden lights in the evening.

This unique Alaska excursion explores the historical highlights of this former "Russian" capital city and includes a wildlife tour through the Alaska Raptor Center. The Raptor Center operates with bird care professionals assisted by volunteers to rescue birds, provide them with rehabilitative care and hopefully release them back into the wild. After your introduction to the center, a presentation with one of the Center's educational birds will take place. Time will be available to view the flight center, clinic window, outside deck habitat areas and gift shop.

Next, you'll visit the Sitka National Historical Park, where the 1804 "Battle of Alaska", was fought. The park hosts totem lined trails, cultural exhibits and carving rooms where native Alaskan artisans demonstrate their totemic art form. Walk the nature trail, view cultural exhibits and video presentation, or talk with local native artists about their cultural art form.

The final stop is visiting the Fortress of the Bears, which allows you to get within 25 feet of Alaska’s brown and black bears in a naturalized setting. You will enjoy observing 3 populations of bears from a covered viewing platform and interact with an experienced naturalist.

Cruise into waters teeming with humpback whales and other marine life, and then dine on traditional Alaskan dishes at a seafood feast. Point Adolphus has the highest concentration of humpback whales in the Alaskan panhandle, so be on the lookout for these majestic and intelligent creatures. They will be breaching the water’s surface, waving their flukes up and down as they dive, and feeding voraciously to fatten up for their winter migration south. You might also observe frolicking Dall’s porpoises, Stellar Sea Lions, curious Harbor Seals and Orca whales, which sometimes feed on infirm or wounded humpbacks. Be sure to look skyward for majestic bald eagles, too. Following the whale-watching adventure, you too will have the opportunity to feast. A sumptuous meal of classic Alaskan dishes awaits you back in Hoonah. The menu will include seasonal shrimp and crabs, Andouille sausage and all sorts of sides. Afterwards, you can roast marshmallows around the campfire.

Raft down the gently flowing Chilkat River through a bald eagle preserve known for its virgin wilderness and abundant wildlife. To reach the launch site, you will travel along a stretch of road so beautiful that it has been designated a National Scenic Highway. You will then board an 18-foot raft with a naturalist guide and begin slowly floating down the river, which the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve borders. The waters are teeming with salmon that come to spawn, and their sheer numbers provide an endless supply of food for the eagles. You will have a front-row seat to observe this annual rite of nature, which ensures a healthy and abundant eagle population. The Chilkat Valley is home to as many as 400 bald eagles, and dozens of nests have been spotted in the preserve alone. You may also see bears feasting on salmon along the riverbank and enormous moose, some weighing up to 1,600 pounds.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Float down the meandering Chilkat River in an 18-foot raft.
• Pass through a natural preserve with the world’s largest concentration of bald eagles.
• Watch for bald eagles and bears feasting on salmon by the riverside.
• Travel a National Scenic Highway on the way to and from the preserve.

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

Enjoy a comprehensive tour of the Aomori Prefecture, taking in landmarks that include a castle, a museum of parade floats, a district devoted to Zen temples and a beloved garden.

Settle in for a scenic drive to Hirosaki Castle, a fortification that Lord Tsugaru built when he governed this region in the early 17th century. It is a magnificent seemingly impenetrable structure, as it sits atop a sloped stone wall surrounded by fortified moats. The original castle grounds are now a sprawling park dotted with thousands of cherry trees that bloom in the spring.

Nearby, you will find Tsugara Nebuta Village, a museum devoted to the Nebuta summer festival in Hirosaki, during which enormous floats depicting Japanese gods, historical figures and mythological beings are paraded through the streets. The museum also includes exhibits of cultural items such as three-string shamisen musical instruments, local handicrafts and antique toys. Browsing the museum will be a visually delightful experience that you will not soon forget.

Following lunch, you visit Zenringai, a district of Soto Zen temples. Incredibly, nearly three dozen of them line one street. The region’s 17th-century lord ordered the bulk of them to be moved here to help fortify the area.

Another stop during your day is Siebien, a garden created in 1902 in the Bugaku style that combines formal and semi-formal plantings. Don’t miss the yew tree pruned in the shape of a revered god.

Welcome to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; the shining light of the Northwest and consistently ranked as one the world’s most livable cities. Join this scenic tour of Vancouver and discover why it was chosen to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Departing the cruise pier, you’ll head into the heart of downtown, a bustling urban environment surrounded by water and mountains. This tour will pass by the popular Gastown District, home to the antique-style Gastown Steam Clock that whistles to tell the time. You will also pass by Vancouver’s vibrant and historic Chinatown, the second largest in North America, before arriving at Stanley Park. Stanley Park is where the locals come to relax and play and considered one of Canada’s most beautiful national historic sites. The park is larger than New York City’s Central Park and home to old growth trees plus a spectacular display of First Nation Totem Poles. You’ll have some free time to discover Stanley Park and take photos of the North Shore Mountain Range rising just outside of the city before concluding your tour at the Vancouver International Airport.

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

PREBOOK ONLY. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING ONBOARD. The luau is an essential part of the Hawaiian experience, and the cultural extravaganza at the historic Kilohana Plantation is a feast for all the senses. You’ll have the option to gather around the traditional fire pit and watch the roast pig emerge, a special treat to accompany the already lavish buffet of local delicacies and desserts. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you, and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song.

This tour combines the splendor of visiting Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area with a comfortable trip into the rainforest at Glacier Gardens. Your journey begins with a visit to Alaska's most accessible glacier, the Mendenhall. There you will be able to view the glacier, tour the adjacent visitor center, and explore the outlying trails and viewpoints during your 75 minute stay. Next you're off to Glacier Gardens where you'll board a guided tram vehicle and climb up through the temperate rainforest to a scenic viewing platform that offers alpine views of the surrounding mountains, waterways and islands. Upon your return to the base area, you'll have time to visit the Gardens pavilion and view the variety of botanical plants that thrive in the local climate.

At the White Pass & Yukon Route Depot, board a vintage railcar for a ride up the White Pass Summit. Take in the incredible scenery as your train ascends dramatic mountains and your guide shares colorful stories and the history of the gold rush. Marvel at the waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites you pass on your journey to the summit of the White Pass and beyond to Fraser, British Columbia. In Fraser, disembark the train and board a motorcoach for a dramatic journey past the Tormented Valley and Pitchfork Falls en route to Skagway. Your Driver-Guide will regale with a colorful account of the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. Taking views of the surrounding mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers may be captured during the many photo stops. Next, you will head to Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp for a salmon bake buffet. Enjoy wild Alaska salmon grilled over an open wood fire, baked chicken, a variety of salads, beans, rice pilaf, cornbread and dessert while in the destination of the recreated tent city from 1898. After your meal, wander through the Liarsville camp, named for the journalists that reported from the area during the height of the Gold Rush. The final stop will be the world famous Red Onion Saloon. Enjoy a drink with one of the "madames" as they regale you with tales of the girls who worked in these historic rooms. Walk through the Brothel Museum and take a step back into Skagway during the historical Gold Rush. Finally, depart the Red Onion Saloon and return back to the ship.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a wild Alaskan salmon bake buffet
• Pan for gold much like the prospectors during the gold rush.
• Ride a private railway car to the White Pass, following a route that the prospectors took.