Southeast Alaska
aboard the
Island Spirit
16-24 May, 2011
Also Featuring
Optional Cruise to Skagway with
White Pass Railroad excursion to
Carcross, Yukon
24-26 May, 2011
The lure of the sheltered waters of Southeast Alaska is legendary. Marine mammals flourish here--otters, seals, several species of whale and more, while eagles soar overhead and bears prowl the shoreline. Glaciers flow down from the Coast Range, depositing bergs in the icy waters of the fjords, while a myriad of islands host countless photogenic coves and inlets.
More like a private yacht than a cruise ship, the 33 passenger Island Spirit hosts us for our exploration of marine by-ways which are inaccessible to larger ships. You'll get to know Captain Jeff Behrens and his American crew on a personal basis. On board amenities include lounge, bar, dining room, a top deck observation area, and both zodiacs and kayaks for excursions at our secluded anchorages. At night the ship operates on battery power; the engines are shut off so the only noise is the water lapping against the hull.
At the conclusion of our cruise aboard the Island Spirit, guests have the option of continuing to Skagway through the scenic Lynn Canal. At Skagway we board the White Pass Railroad, built for the gold rush of 1898, for the ride over the Coast Range into the Yukon Territory. You'll see first hand why the railroad's slogan Scenic Railway of the World aptly describes our route.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier
• Ford's Terror, a remote and seldom visited fjord in the Coast Range, with dramatic cliffs soaring over 1000 feet above, with countless waterfalls cascading down from the icefields above.
• Norwegian heritage in the fishing community of Petersburg
• Jet boat excursion to LeConte glacier
• Visit Tenakee Springs (pop. about 100 more or less), and Baranoff Hot Springs, two quaint villages accessible only by sea
• Whale watching in Frederick Sound
FARE: $3295 per person based on double occupancy. Skagway & White Pass extension $540 per person. Fare includes all transportation from Juneau and return, all shore tours, admission fees at all attractions visited as a group, 23 meals, port fees, taxes. Skagway & White Pass extension includes transportation from Juneau and return, two nights lodging based on double occupancy, White Pass Excursion to Carcross, 3 meals.
Photos: left - Dawn at Petersburg, courtesy Joe Shine Right - White Pass Railroad