Western Journey & Alaskan Cruise

Tour Information

Journeying from sky to sea you will travel through craggy Rocky Mountain passes and tour Pacific coastlines with stunning vistas of fjords and glacial valleys. Marvel at sparkling glaciers, plunging canyons and fierce rivers. You will explore the wild paths of fur traders, gold prospectors, cowboys and the mounted officers that policed them. Search for elk, mountain goats, bears and whales. Experience the romance and hospitality of the West in charming mountain resorts, prairie frontier towns and sophisticated port cities. Urban excitement and breathtaking natural wonders combine to make western Canada an unforgettable discovery. Cruise to Alaska from Vancouver aboard Holland America’s Zuiderdam, you will see the Inside Passage, Tracey Arm, Glacier Bay with visits to Juneau, Skagway and Kectchikan.

Day 1

Arrival in Calgary
Arrive at Calgary’s International Airport and transfer independently to your downtown hotel. After an individual check-in, the remainder of the day is free to explore the streets of this dynamic city, famous for its annual Stampede. The tour director will contact you in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Calgary at Sandman Hotel Downtown.

Day 2

Calgary to Banff National Park/Canmore
This morning we set out to meet fellow travellers at breakfast before we tour the sights of Calgary. We admire such modern and historic landmarks as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary and the skyscrapers of the commercial district. Leaving Calgary behind we set our sights on the Rocky Mountains, which can already be seen, far off in the distance. Experience the majesty of the mountains as we first travel through the foothills and then enter Banff National Park. We tour the region around Banff amidst snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald green lakes and see landmark Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain.
Overnight in Canmore at Radisson Canmore.
Full Canadian breakfast included.

Day 3

Canmore/Banff National Park
The entire day is at leisure to tour Banff and browse through the many boutiques and specialty shops along Banff Avenue. An optional full-day tour is offered to the Columbia Icefield. The tour starts with a visit to the turquoise waters and spectacular glacier of Lake Louise, the jewel of the Rockies. From the unsurpassed beauty of Lake Louise we enter rugged wilderness as we travel up the world famous Icefields Parkway. At every turn of the road, we encounter breathtaking vistas of dramatic mountain ranges, lush valleys and alpine meadows. At the spectacular Columbia Icefield we board a Ice Explorer that will take us onto the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. We return to Banff late in the afternoon.
Overnight in Canmore at Radisson Canmore.
Continental breakfast included.

Day 4

Canmore to Kamloops
Our drive today is on the famed Trans-Canada Highway, following a route charted by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid 1800s. We continue our tour of the Canadian parks system as we cross the jagged Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. From the highway, we are treated to a dazzling display of vast icefields, deep canyons, dense forests and glacier-fed streams. One awe-inspiring landscape follows another en route to Glacier National Park. We continue through the Monashee and Selkirk mountain ranges to the rugged interior town of Kamloops.
Overnight in Kamloops at Ramada Inn.
Continental breakfast included.

Day 5

Kamloops to Whistler
We can expect a day of dramatic scenery changes when we drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. An optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over Garibaldi Park gives you an inspiring view of a natural preserve of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes and meadows. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Whistler at Whistler Village Inn & Suites or Holiday Inn Sunspree.
Continental breakfast included.

Day 6

Whistler to Vancouver
We drive south along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway through a dramatic landscape of jagged fjords and glaciated mountain peaks. We leave the countryside behind and explore the metropolis of Vancouver on a sightseeing tour. Highlights include Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historic Gastown, bustling Chinatown and much more. The afternoon is free to discover more of this coastal gem.
Overnight in Vancouver at Sandman Hotel Downtown.
Continental breakfast included.

Day 7

Vancouver
The Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains form the backdrop to your day at leisure in Vancouver. You might want to do some shopping down on Robson Street, relax in Vancouver’s playground Stanley Park or stroll through the markets of Granville Island. If you prefer to explore the outdoors, take a gondola ride to the summit of Grouse Mountain. You can also go on an optional full-day tour to Victoria, the charming provincial capital that is proud of her maritime heritage. See the beautiful 19th century landmarks and enjoy its lively atmosphere. Before taking the ferry back to Vancouver, you will visit Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s great floral displays set in a reclaimed stone quarry.
Overnight in Vancouver at Sandman Hotel Downtown.
Full Canadian breakfast included.

Day 8

Embarkation
Transfer early this afternoon to the Vancouver cruise terminal where you board your ship.
Overnight on Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam. Dinner included.

Day 9

Cruise the Inside Passage
Enjoy sailing through the dramatic Inside Passage. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 10

Port of Call Juneau, Alaska
Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on the Gastineau Channel, the town of Juneau has the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields at its back door. Juneau is the place to let your imagination run wild. Explore the lush Tongass National Forest, visit the rustic shops in town, set out and whale watch, flightsee, hike, kayak, raft or fish. Due to the long daylight hours, there’s plenty of time for your perfect Juneau adventure. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 11

Port of Call Skagway, Alaska
Take your time and poke into every little store from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy’s Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie and other vintage characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of ’98 Museum. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park boasts restored buildings and wooden boardwalks that invite you to take a stroll into the past. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 12

Glacier Bay Scenic Cruise
As Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Glacier Bay National Park protects a unique ecosystem of plants and animals living in concert with an ever-changing glacial landscape. Bring out the camera and listen for the thunderous sound of a monumental chunk of ice that has split from a glacier as it crashes into the sea. The impact shoots water hundreds of feet into the air. Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 13

Port of Call Ketchikan, Alaska
Built out over the water and climbing weathered stairways, Ketchikan clings to the shores of Tongass Narrows and drapes the mountains with a cheerful air. Take time to explore Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Village, Ketchikan’s main attractions. Deep water fjords created by retreating glaciers has left behind stunning granite cliffs towering thousands of feet above the sea and countless waterfalls cascading into placid waters. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 14

Cruise the Inside Passage
Enjoy sailing through the dramatic Inside Passage. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 15

Vancouver
After breakfast you will disembark the ms Zuiderdam in Vancouver, where your vacation concludes. Breakfast included.

Day 16

Arrive back to the UK.

What's Included

• Transatlantic flights on scheduled airlines.
• Domestic flights (if applicable)
• Accommodation in hotels as described above or similar standard
• Services of a professional Tour Director throughout the tour
• Transportation in deluxe motorcoach
• 7 breakfasts
• Banff sightseeing tour
• Calgary sightseeing tour
• Vancouver sightseeing tour
• Baggage handling (1 piece per person)

• ON THE CRUISE:
• Inside Stateroom
• Luxurious beds featuring Sealy Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens
• Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage
• 100% Egyptian cotton towels
• Premium massage showerheads
• 5x magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers
• Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure
• Complimentary fresh fruit on request
• Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages
• Flat-panel TV and DVD player
• Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

• Not Included
• Arrival transfers from airport to Calgary hotel, transfer from Vancouver hotel to port and port to Vancouver airport for your flight home.
• Gratuities
• Optional excursions on the tour and cruise