12 Night Sitka to Vancouver BC Cruise and Land Tour from Sitka

Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. For your convenience, American Queen Voyages Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and the friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Representatives from AQV and a local port/city partner will be available to provide you with dining, entertainment, and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

Sitka is a picturesque seaport sitting opposite snow-capped Mount Edgecumbe on the west coast of Alaska's Baranof Island. It is 185 miles northwest of Ketchikan. Sitka's original inhabitants were the Tlingit tribe, who called the village "Shee Atika". Sitka is a contraction of the Tlingit name, which translates to "People on the outside of Baranof Island". Sitka is a place of many traditions. You'll immediately recognize the distinctive Russian domes of the churches, but the downtown area was settled by the Tlingit people more than 10,000 years ago. Today, Sitka is known for its many historic visitor attractions and the wild creatures who make Alaska a place unlike any other. St. Michael's Redoubt trading post and fort were built here by the explorer Alexander Baranof of the Russian-American Company. The Tlingit burned down the fort and looted the warehouse in 1802. In 1804, the Russians retaliated by destroying the Tlingit Fort. This was the last major stand by the Tlingit against the Russians, and the Indians evacuated the area until about 1822. By 1808, Sitka was the capital of Russian Alaska. Baranof was governor from 1790 to 1818. During the mid-1800s, Sitka was the major port on the north Pacific coast, with ships calling from many nations. Furs destined for European and Asian markets were the main export, but salmon, lumber, and ice were also exported to Hawaii, Mexico, and California. After the purchase of Alaska by the U.S. in 1867, the Russian flag was replaced by the Stars and Stripes.

Immerse yourself in the Last Frontier with a journey to the Tlingit village of Kake and Frederick Sound. These two remote destinations offer the raw and hard-to-reach Alaska that those on an expedition voyage are yearning for. In Kake, Alaska, begin the visit with an onboard presentation by a local cultural ambassador to help orient you to the Tlingit cultural traditions before you step onto land to a warm welcome in the form of carved structures and totem poles, each representing a piece of Alaskan history and culture. When the salmon are running, keep your eyes open for bears as you head to the small town's Community Hall, where cultural demonstrations take place. Hear about authentic Alaska and the personal experiences of those indigenous to the Kake and Frederick Sound area. Learn from the perspective of local clan leaders as they offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear their stories.

The Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area is only 50 miles south of Juneau but it feels like you have left the present world and gone back in time when the Little Ice Age was covering the land with ice. The TAFT Wilderness is comprised of two glacially carved fjords: Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. While the Endicott Arm is not quite as narrow as the Tracy Arm it has fewer twists and turns, and both extend over 30 miles long. At the end of Endicott Arm is the spectacular Dawes Glacier and at the end of Tracy Arm is the South Sawyer Glacier. Alaska expeditions are full of adjectives like awe-inspiring, majestic, awesome, and incredible for good reason. The combination of the azure waters with sub-alpine vegetation, stunning rock formations, plunging waterfalls, and the drifting blue ice is thrilling and, at times, breathtaking! Cliffs soaring over 3,000 feet high above the Inland Passage is an experience to treasure. Glacier ice carved not only these mountain valleys but also the deep-water fjords of both Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm, scouring out the bottom of the sea. At the head of the fjord is the towering mountain of Dawes Glacier. Visitors often get to see chunks of ice break off in a thunderous dive into the water, called "calving". This magnificent process is how new icebergs are born. Fresh water floats on salt water, hence their buoyancy. In addition to icebergs, you will also observe small pieces of "brash ice". These bits of floating ice - called "bergy bits" - began as larger bergs but have melted down over time. Birds and seals often use them as life rafts especially in June when it is pupping season for harbor seals. Without question, your expedition vessel with its ice-strengthened hull, is one of the best-designed ships for exploring the ice-filled waters.

Nature will dictate our route here, as we spend the day exploring another incredible part of this wilderness area. Tracy Arm spans 30 miles in length, with a fifth of its area covered in ice all year long. During the warmer months, floating ice can range from the size of a hand to three-story sized ice boulders! Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness is host to distinct marine environments that we'll explore with experts via a Zodiac.

The shallow, protected harbor of Petersburg is home to Alaska's largest home-based halibut fleet. American Queen Voyages guests are among the privileged few to be in this authentic Alaskan village for a full day of exploration. The charming town was incorporated April 20, 1910. These abundant waters and an endless supply of ice from nearby LeConte Glacier led Norwegian fisherman Peter Buschmann to build the region's first cannery and invite his fishing countrymen to join him. Hence the town's name and strong Norwegian culture. Aspects of both Norwegian and Tlingit cultures still figure prominently in community activities. The population has remained stable with fishing still the main source of income. About 3,100 people live here year-round, with seasonal variation due to summertime cannery workers, deckhands, and fishermen. The commercial fishing industry is the largest employer, with others in retail business, borough, state and federal agencies, visitor industry, and logging. Our included tour offers a taste of the local Norwegian culture and delicacies at Sons of Norway Hall, on National Register of Historic Places.

Chatham Strait is a narrow passage of the Alexander Archipelago in the southeastern region of Alaska. It is 150 miles long and extends southward from the junction of Icy Strait and Lynn Canal to the open sea. The strait is deep and only 3 to 10 miles wide, making humpback whale spotting from the outer decks a fun activity. It separates Baranof and Kuiu Islands, both wildly beautiful and remote wilderness areas. If the conditions allow, our cruising area might be along Baranof Island's eastern coast which is also known as the "Waterfall Coast" due to the large number of waterfalls cascading down from the high mountain peaks. Or, it could be along Kuiu Island's remote shoreline where sea otters and black bears are abundant. Expedition is the order of the day. You can select from both indoor and on-deck observation perspectives aboard Ocean Victory, or if you prefer to be up-close, at the water level, you can jump in a kayak or aboard a Zodiac. We will find a well sheltered bay where its waters are fed by freshwater streams. In all instances, you will never be far from the learned narration of the Expedition Team. Keep your eyes trained along the lush temperate rainforest of the coast as it could reveal its secret treasures at any moment. Potential wildlife on our expedition day could include river and sea otters, deer, moose mink, and bald eagles.

Spend a full day in picturesque Wrangell as you are welcomed by Alaskans whose ancestors have lived on this island for thousands of years. On your included tour, discover the history and how the Tlingit culture continues to thrive here. Enter the Chief Shakes Tribal House, where you are invited guests. Here, each wooden plank was carved by traditional Tlingit methods. Then, at the Wrangell Museum, learn the events that led to the late 19th-century boom at the onset of the Gold Rush. Uncover mysteries at the 8,000-year-old site of Petroglyph Beach, home to more than 40 ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings). Take home your own petroglyph rubbing to remember your time combing through the sand. American Queen Voyages guests can choose from five premium excursions. 1) Travel via jetboat on the Stikine River through the Tongass National Rainforest to Shakes Glacier. Take a seat in the heated cabin or enjoy the open-air aft deck. 2) Experience the rich ecosystem of Tongass by walking the nature trail. From whales, salmon, and other aquatic animals to brown bears and eagles, the forest has allowed diverse wildlife to flourish for centuries. 3) Combine a trek through the rainforest with the Wrangell Museum and Petroglyph Beach. 4) When it is open for the season, venture by boat, then a "moderately difficult" hike to reach the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory. Watch as they soar through the skies, climb trees, and search for food in the creek. 5) Embark on a jet boat to travel to LeConte Bay, known for its bright blue icebergs, and abundant wildlife.

Bigger isn't always better. The large cruise ships that visit Alaska typically offer this as an extra-cost Tongass National Forest excursion from the port of Ketchikan, two hours each way by small boat. Your experience will be markedly different as Ocean Victory can deftly navigate the Revillagigedo Channel, transporting you directly to Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness in great comfort. Thank you, Mr. President; in 1978, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed over 2,200,000 acres as the Misty Fjords National Monument. In 1980, this acreage got reduced slightly to 2,142,243 acres but was now congressionally designated as Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness and still remains the largest wilderness area of the Tongass National Forest. Misty Fjords National Monument takes its name from the precipitation characteristic of the area. The soaring granite cliffs that greet you are 50 to 70 million years old. Yes, million. Ancient glaciers scrubbed deep troughs through this wilderness, leaving a scenic geological wonder. Today you will also see New Eddystone Rock - a basalt pillar rising from the sea - which is a remnant of long-ago volcanic activity that left the immense spire as a testament to the power of this place. Be on deck to experience the glistening waterfalls while gliding quietly beneath the glacier-sculpted granite fjords of Rudyerd Bay that jut 3,000 feet out of the ocean. You'll learn what a "deglaciated" fjord is from the team of dedicated naturalists who will accompany you ashore along the shoreline in Zodiacs and kayaks while in search of humpback whales, orcas, harbor seals, bears, and other species of sea and shore birds.

The adventure begins in Alaska's "first city" of Ketchikan. Savor the beauty of Ketchikan, Alaska, as you board a shuttle bus in Ward Cove, a historic timber mill that has recently been repurposed as Ketchikan's newest and most unique cruise ship dock. Visit the historic totem village of Saxman where you will have a chance to stroll amongst towering totem poles learning of the unique story behind each pole. You can experience the southernmost city of Alaska by visiting its quaint downtown boardwalk section of Creek Street which is suspended over a salmon stream that boasts all five species of spawning Pacific salmon. Indulge in fresh and native Dungeness crab at a crab brunch feast complete with smoked salmon dip, fresh fruit, cheese, and delicious mimosas.

The Inside Passage is one of the world's most beautiful cruising routes. It is formed where the mountains of coastal Alaska and British Columbia meet the Pacific Ocean. Over a thousand-mile chain of islands lie west of the mainland's edge and acts as a buffer against the open ocean swells of the Pacific. Thus, the ocean inside these islands is calm and protected, a sea farers' dream. This incredible stretch of coastline creates a rich marine environment, and the Inside Passage teems with marine life from humpback, fin and killer whales to dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, and all five species of salmon. The salmon rich waters also provide nutrients to the lush coastal rainforest which is habitat for the coastal brown bear, the black bear, and if we are lucky enough to spot one, the spirit or Kermode bear. Onboard naturalists and team of officers on the bridge are on wildlife watch in hopes of catching a glimpse of the blonde fur of one of these elusive bears. Another highlight on our wildlife checklist would be an orca sighting. Johnstone Strait is home to a resident pod of over 200 killer whales and with our provided binoculars and spotting scopes on the outer decks, we hope to catch the black and whites as they hunt for their next salmon meal. The British Columbia portion of the route includes the narrow, protected Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland, the Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland, as well as a short stretch along the wider and more exposed Hecate Strait near Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. As we sail these narrow protected waters we pass iconic white-and-red Canadian lighthouses, abandoned fishing villages, remote waterfalls, and shorelines full of vibrant green spruce and cedar trees. The views from your balcony or the deck eight observation lounge lend for a relaxing opportunity to watch the world float by under the safe watch of our captain and Canadian pilots. While the Ocean Victory has the latest of navigational equipment to help steer her through the inside passage, the area has a history of over 3,000 shipwrecks that stemmed during the early Gold Rush days as gold seekers from California brought wooden sailing ships through waters known for fast and unpredictable currents and uncertain weather.

With over 2 million visitors a year, tourism contributes significantly to local communities that dot the Canadian Inside Passage route. With constant influx of visitors (be it by air, sea, or land), the Inside Passage features a perfect combination of coastal mountains and remote islands. These support a multitude of wildlife and activities for adventure-seekers such as kayaking, camping, hiking, and boating. Explore and you may be awarded with wildlife sightings from brown bear sighting to whale watching and so much more.

As your American Queen Voyages journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town - whether it's an optional premier post-cruise experience or a quick transfer to the airport for your final trip home - your AQV team can pre-arrange everything for you.