Essentials

Tour Info

Summary of nights

Vancouver 1; Expedition vessel 16; Seattle 1.

Meals

Breakfast in Vancouver and Seattle; full board on the expedition cruise.

Trip suitability

Our expedition cruise ships have well equipped cabins and passengers are welcome on the bridge. This voyage is for flexible, independent-minded travellers looking for an expedition-style experience.

The cruise:
Alaska is very remote: once committed to your journey, you are at the mercy of the weather and ocean conditions, and potentially the movement of icebergs. This is expeditionary cruising, meaning your itinerary is subject to change and no landings or excursions are guaranteed. You will be facing the same environmental challenges as the early explorers, albeit in much greater comfort, and with the assistance of modern technology and communications.

You must be in good health generally and you should be able to walk over slippery and rocky terrain for several hours per day. Although most people spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs and expedition boats. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice.

There is a doctor on board, but if you fall ill while on the cruise or have an accident it could be a long time and maybe an arduous journey before you return to a destination with good medical facilities, so bear this in mind if you have a pre-existing condition.

Clothing & special equipment

You will receive a wind-and-water-resistant parka onboard and will be loaned waterproof boots and walking poles for use during the voyage. There is no dress code on board, so comfort and layers should be your focus when packing. A waterproof backpack is needed for excursions and sun protection, sunglasses and walking boots are highly recommended. European power outlets are used on the ship, so a universal adapter that can also be utilised in the pre-and-post cruise hotels (where there are north American power outlets), work best. Most major credit cards can be used for purchases onboard, but a small amount of cash can be useful when on land.

Weather

June to July is the best time to travel to Alaska and British Columbia with average temperatures above 10°C, and daylight only briefly making way for the darkness of night. Conditions can be changeable however, with strong winds capable of blowing multiple different weather fronts across your path each day.

Altitude

Although the region is home to many imposing mountains and volcanoes, the nature of your voyage is such that you will spend most of your time at, or around sea level.