Explore Vancouver and Anchorage with your guide. View two of the most pristine glaciers: Bay National Park and College Fjord. Embark on an incredible cruise journey up North America's west coast, sailing between Canada's most western megacity, Vancouver, and the United States' most northern major city, Anchorage, Alaska. Take the famed Inside Passage en route to three of Alaska's most iconic towns - Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Enjoy majestic views of snow-capped mountains and glaciers as you sail through Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. Your luxurious cruise ship provides stately comfort, pure relaxation, and premium activities and entertainment to enjoyably pass the time on your northern voyage.


Available Cruise Departure Dates (2012):

From Vancouver to Anchorage
May 23, Jun 06, Jun 20, Jul 04, Jul 18, Aug 01, Aug 15, Aug 29, Sep 12

From Anchorage to Vancouver:
May 30, Jun 13, Jun 27, Jul 11, Jul 25, Aug 08, Aug 22, Sep 05, Sep 19

Vancouver is a coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is consistently ranked one of the most livable cities in the world, based on its warm climate, beautiful scenery, modern infrastructure, and social community. Vancouver is ethnically diverse, with 52% of city residents having a first language other than English. The economy has traditionally relied on forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture; although, tourism has grown rapidly as more people discover this gem on the Pacific Ocean.

Enjoy a private transfer in a luxury vehicle with professional driver. 

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (4*) is nestled between the majestic coastal mountains of British Columbia and the tides of the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver, one of Canada’s most cosmopolitan metropolises. Sumptuously styled and fully equipped rooms are what await you at this spectacular hotel, designed to provide all the elegance and charm of an English castle. Among their commodities you will find first-class accommodations but also, amazing facilities and amenities. Griffins Restaurant is the most popular bistro in the city of Vancouver, with an extensive and plentiful buffet and dramatic décor, highlighted by arched windows which overlook the Vancouver Art Gallery. 900 West Lounge is Vancouver’s hottest address of the moment, with award-winning cocktails and sultry sounds of live jazz music. For your leisure moments, the hotel also provides a lovely indoor pool and the luxurious Absolute Spa, the perfect place to pamper yourself with some well deserved rest and relaxation.

Overnight at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (4*).

Discover the highlights of Vancouver, a city of mountains, seascapes, forests and unique architecture, including the soaring cedars of Stanley Park, exotic Chinatown and historic Gastown. You can choose to start your tour in Stanley Park, which covers 1,000 acres, of which 800 acres are forested. Stop at the totem pole collection before you continue past Brockton Point Lighthouse to Prospect Place for a glimpse of the North Shore Mountains, West Vancouver and the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Meandering through the park toward English Bay, you will travel though downtown Vancouver to historic Gastown, the city’s oldest neighbourhood. On your way out of the downtown area, you will pass through the second largest Chinatown in North America. With your private driver and professional tour guide, you can customize your tour to your interests. Take your time and see the sights that interest you, and find some hidden gems!

Overnight at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (4*).

Enjoy a half day (6 hrs) private tour discovering the outskirts of Vancouver in North Shore where you will get into stunning nature in the area of Grouse Mountain. After being picked up at your hotel, you will cross Lions Gate Bridge to the North Shore, see Cleveland Dam and Capilano Reservoir, the source of Vancouver’s drinking water, get to experience Grouse Mountain Skyride where you rise to a viewpoint of 1200 metres (3,700 feet) above the city in an enclosed gondola. At different times of the year there are special exhibitions on such as a lumberjack show, grizzly bears at the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, theatre presentations, sleigh rides, ice skating, and a great view (admission included). Then brace yourself for the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park (admission included). Cross the world’s longest suspension foot bridge and experience the new “Treetops Adventure” forest canopy walkway. Then enjoy the atmosphere at Lonsdale Quay - a market for shopping, with crafts, as well as seafood etc. At the end of the tour you will be brought back to your hotel.

Overnight at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (4*).

Breathtaking. Dramatic. Majestic. With nearly 34,000 miles of shoreline, an Alaska cruise is the ideal way to see and enjoy the great land of Alaska. A cruise will allow you to experience Alaska's grandeur and unspoiled beauty while providing opportunities for passengers to explore the quaint and charming seaside towns, get up close to tidal glacier, discover the outlying wilderness, and witness wildlife in their natural surroundings.

In the afternoon, enjoy some time on your own to relax.

Meet your driver for a private pier transfer with vehicle.

Welcome aboard the Island Princess!

Take some time to get settled in and explore the ship's facilities. Tonight your welcome dinner will create an opportune moment to meet some of your fellow cruisemates.

Port charges are included in your itinerary price.

Island Princess was built to Panamax size – this means she can offer you the exclusive experience of sailing through the Panama Canal. A high percentage of balcony staterooms give passengers the chance to view this feat of engineering up-close, or take in stunning views of spectacular glaciers during cruises to Alaska. Featured on just one other Princess ship, the Bayou Café and Steakhouse is a unique dining venue onboard in which to enjoy authentic New Orleans cuisine accompanied by live jazz.

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

Today is a day spent at sea, en route to your first Alaskan port destination, Ketchikan. Fill your day with activities aboard your luxurious cruiseliner. Take a personal enrichment class, do yoga, go duty-free shopping, or just relax with a dip in one of the pools or spas. There is plenty to do aboard the Island Princess.

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, 90 miles (145 km) north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and 235 miles (378 km) south of Juneau, Alaska. Ketchikan's economy is based upon tourism and fishing, and the city is known as the "Salmon Capital of the World." The Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the area's major attractions. Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. Ketchikan comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean "the river belonging to Kitschk"; other accounts claim it means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle."

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

Juneau is located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. The economy is based on government, tourism, mining, and fishing. Juneau is named after gold prospector Joe Juneau, though the place was for a time called Rockwell and then Harrisburg after Juneau's co-prospector, Richard Harris. Downtown Juneau sits at sea level, with tides averaging 16 feet (4.9 m), below steep mountains about 3,500 to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) high. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; two of these, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Lemon Creek Glacier, are visible from the local road system. Juneau is one of the most beautiful state capitals in the nation.

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. The port of Skagway is a popular stop for cruise ships, and the tourist trade is a big part of the business of Skagway. The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad, part of the area's mining past, is now in operation purely for the tourist trade and runs throughout the summer months. Skagway (originally spelled Skaguay) is from the Tlingit name for the area, "Skagua" or "Shgagwèi" meaning "a windy place with "white caps on the water."

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

The area around Glacier Bay in southeastern Alaska was first proclaimed a U.S. National Monument on February 25, 1925. It was changed to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve on Dec. 2, 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a United States National Park in the southeastern part of Alaska west of Juneau. The park area was included in an International Biosphere Reserve in 1986 and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park covers 5,130 mi² (13,287 km²). Most of the park is a designated wilderness area which covers 4,164 mi² (10,784 km²) of the park.

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

College Fjord is a fjord located in the northern sector of Prince William Sound in the U.S. state of Alaska. The fjord contains five tidewater glaciers (glaciers that terminate in water), five large valley glaciers, and dozens of smaller glaciers, most named after renowned East Coast colleges. College Fjord was discovered in 1899 during the Harriman Expedition, at which time the glaciers were named. In 1964 College Fjord was the epicenter of the Good Friday Earthquake, the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history. It is a popular destination for cruise ships. From one place, it is possible to see eight of College Fjords Glaciers at once.

Overnight at Island Princess (7N).

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, located in the South-central region. Downtown is the historic core of the city located at the northwestern tip next to the waterfront; home to most of the tourist activities, gift stores, hotels, and the railroad depot. Attractions in town include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Wildlife Conservation Center, and Museum of History and Art. Nearby there is excellent wildlife viewing, skiing, and walking and biking.

This morning you will disembark your ship and bid farewell to your fellow cruisemates, as your Alaskan cruise journey has now come to its conclusion.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to Anchorage.

Meet your driver for a guided tour of Anchorage, Alaskas largest city. Full of interesting sites, picturesque scenery, and history, Anchorage makes for a great half-day tour. Your tour will pass attractions like the Log Cabin Visitor Center, the Alaska Railroad Depot, and the Museum of Art & History. Visit Resolution Park and the Captain Cook Monument as well as Ship Creek Viewpoint, which overlooks Cook Inlet.

Sheraton Anchorage Hotel is on the eastern edge of downtown and is 3 blocks from the Museum of History and Art, and within 8 blocks of the Egan Convention Center and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa’s Ptarmigan Restaurant serves all meals, while Josephine’s, with panoramic views, serves a lavish Sunday brunch. Also on site are a 24-hour business center and 24-hour health club. All Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa guestrooms have signature Sweet Sleeper beds and views of the city, mountains, or Cook Inlet. Amenities include cable TVs with pay movies, and high-speed Internet access. Dogs are welcome.

Overnight at Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa (4*).

Travel from Anchorage to Seward on this shared tour by coach and depart on 6-hr boat cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, famous for its rich marine wildlife, beautiful fjords, coastal landscapes and numerous glaciers. Keep watch for stellar sea lions, puffins, harbor seals, sea otters and birds; you may even see a whale or bald eagle! Tour includes: lunch, port fee and taxes.

Overnight at Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa (4*).

Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.

 End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart .