ALASKA GUIDE Celebrity Edge at Dawes Glacier
Prince Rupert The Canadian port city was founded in 1910 as the western terminus for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Narrated tours by vintage trolley cars visit the key sights and tell of the town’s history – and excessive rainfall. Cruisers can also go hiking, kayaking and whale watching. For those feeling fit, Carnival Cruise Line offers a trek to the top of Mount Oldfield for views over the ocean and coast (four hours; from $180).
Inside Passage This is the sheltered seaway that runs nearly 1,000 miles from Puget Sound in the US along the west coast of Canada and into Alaska, ending at Haines and Skagway. It was one of the sea routes from Seattle and California used by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. Today it is used by cruise ships navigating to and from the 49th state. The sailing takes passengers past islands, coves and fjords that are a favourite haunt of whales, bears, eagles and other wildlife.
Icy Strait Point Owned by the Huna Totem Corporation, an enterprise owned and run by people with Native Alaskan heritage, Icy Strait offers everything from authentic Tlingit history and demonstrations to kayaking and whale-watching tours. There are also sightseeing trips to the nearby fishing village of Hoonah. For those feeling adventurous, Celebrity Cruises takes passengers for a ride on ‘the world’s largest ZipRider’, a zipline which drops riders – as many as six at a time – more than 400 metres from Sky Peak down to sea level at speeds of up to 60mph (1.5 hours; £155).
Dutch Harbor/Unalaska The setting for TV series Deadliest Catch, Unalaska – often referred to by the port’s name of Dutch Harbor – is in the Aleutian Islands and a small player on Alaska itineraries, but there is lots of history to discover for those with time to explore. An Orthodox cathedral recalls the days when Russia owned Alaska, while the town’s museum tells of the Battle of Attu fought in the islands – the only Second World War campaign to take place on US soil.
Kodiak
Situated just south of the northern tip of the Aleutian Islands, Kodiak is a popular stop for adventure lines such as UnCruise and HX, with other companies sometimes visiting when relocating ships from Japan to Alaska. A museum tells the island’s history, but it is most famous for the 3,500 or so Kodiak brown bears that live here. HX goes in search of sightings on an island expedition (included).
Victoria, British Columbia Cruise ships registered outside America and sailing from Seattle to Alaska have to call into a non-US port, and most choose BC capital Victoria on the southern side of Vancouver Island. There are craft beer tastings, trips to the Butchart Gardens and thrilling zipline adventures. NCL also has an e-bike tour of Victoria after dark to see its impressive parliament buildings and the oldest Chinatown in Canada (two hours; from £103).
Glaciers
Scenic glacier cruising is a huge part of every Alaska adventure. Favourites include Dawes Glacier (Endicott Arm), the twin Sawyer Glaciers (Tracy Arm), Hubbard Glacier and the glaciers in College Fjord named after Harvard, Yale and other Ivy League colleges. Cruise lines that are allowed into Glacier Bay must pick up a local ranger, who comes on board to give a commentary about the glaciers and to keep an eye out for bears, whales, sea otters and other wildlife. Once in the bay, ships make a beeline for the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, while some also visit John Hopkins Glacier (pictured).
Kodiak is known for its bear population
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23 JANUARY 2025
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Michel Verdure/Celebrity Cruises; Shutterstock/BCBimages, thetidewatertales
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