While nature is the inevitable focus of an Alaskan cruise, there’s a lot to connect modern travellers to the gold prospectors of the past. 

Hiking Ketchikan 

Rainforest, Raptors and Totems

As long as you take time to explore remarkable Creek Street, head out of Ketchikan on this tour, which includes a guided nature walk in an exclusive reserve where bears may be found, a visit to the new Raptor Center and the chance to watch a totem carver at work.

Cruise Line: Holland America Line

Duration: 2.75 hours

Juneau Coach Tour

Mendenhall Glacier

A narrated tour takes you outside town to this expansive glacier, where you have more than an hour to explore by yourself walking the trails, looking for wildlife or taking photographs at an overview point before returning to the centre of Juneau.

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Duration: 2.5 hours

Catamaran Cruise Tracy Arm

Fjord and Glacier

This is the chance to get up close and personal with Tracy Arm, part of the South Sawyer Glacier, located in one of the most beautiful fjords of this part of Alaska. The colours and majesty of the huge river of ice is matched by the drama of calving if large chunks fall from the front of the glacier as you watch.

Cruise Line: Holland America Line

Duration: 5.5 hours

Coach Tour Dutch Harbour

Historic Highlights 

Aleutian Islands extend towards Russia and across the International Dateline, so there’s fascinating history to explore, from the Russian influence seen in the cathedral to a painting from Captain Cook’s third voyage, and a battery used to repel World War II attacks.

Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises

Duration: 3.5 hours

Victoria Coach Tour 

City Sights and Picnic

After a tour of the main attractions of the very attractive small city of Victoria you continue out to the colourful floral abundance of The Butchart Gardens, a quarry converted into one of the world’s most impressive formal gardens, for a gourmet picnic.

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Duration: 4 hours

Sitka Coach Tour

Russian America 

There’s a visit to the Alaska Raptor Center, but most of this tour focuses on Sitka’s Russian colonial past. As well as St Michael’s Cathedral with its ancient icons, you see Castle Hill, where Alaska was transferred to the USA.

Cruise Line: Oceania Cruises

Duration: 4 hours