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Our itinerary & experience make the most of your time & curiosity
On our Alaska cruise excursions, each week aboard is crafted to offer you the most in-depth experience of Alaska possible. Flexibility is a hallmark of our expeditions, and often the day-by-day itinerary will change when we take advantage of a sighting of a pod of whales or linger near shore to watch a brown bear sow and her cubs forage. Extraordinary adventure is a guarantee.
Encounter legendary wildlife
See humpback whales, brown bears, and bald eagles—the iconic wildlife of Southeast Alaska. Search for killer whales in the wildlife-rich channels between islands and sure-footed mountain goats in steep fjords.
Travel in excellent company
Explore under the sure guidance of an expedition leader, five veteran naturalists, including a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor, plus a wellness specialist––the largest and most knowledgeable expedition team in Alaska. Their knowledge and passion for Alaska is the key to your once-in-a-lifetime experience. Meet the team.
Embark: Juneau
Disembark: Ketchikan
The ship travels from Juneau to Ketchikan on the itinerary below.
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Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, spread out on the banks of the Gastineau Channel at the base of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts. Transfer to downtown Juneau and visit the Alaska State Museum to learn about the history and culture of this incredible region of the world, then, settle in aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion. (D)
Today we explore the LeConte Glacier, one of the most active glaciers in Southeast Alaska and the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Icebergs regularly break off from the glacier face, getting caught in this shallow moraine and along the shoreline. Take advantage of spectacular photographic opportunities, practicing tricks and tips from our certified photo instructor. Our experienced captain will read the ice and bring us as close as possible to the glacier, where we’ll set out by expedition landing craft to navigate among these surreal floating sculptures. (B,L,D)
Navigate the stunning Wrangell Narrows, an area inaccessible to larger ships, and then cruise into the Sumner Strait, keeping watch for humpback whales surfacing and sea otters gliding through the clear water around our ship. Explore the coast by kayak or expedition landing craft and go ashore to trace bear trails through forests intersected by crystalline salmon streams as you learn about the rain forest ecosystem from our naturalists. Fix your binoculars on the banks to spot Sitka black-tailed deer and moose, as well as black bears, wolves, and bald eagles that frequent the shoreline in search of plentiful salmon. (B,L,D)
Visit the rarely visited town of Wrangell, situated on the northern tip of Wrangell Island. The indigenous Tlingit people have made their home on this island for thousands of years. In the 19th century, Russian fur traders established one of the oldest non-native settlements in Alaska at the site of present-day Wrangell. Spend the afternoon exploring the town, including a visit to a tribal house and a beach famous for native petroglyphs, or set out on an optional jet boat excursion up the Stikine River. (B,L,D)
Wake up this morning to catch the sunrise over the stunning cliffs of Misty Fjords National Monument, rising more than 2,000 feet above the deep blue waters of the fjord. Watch wisps of cloud drift down the winding waterway and drape over green peaks as we cruise through the mists that give this extraordinary landscape its name. Set out by expedition landing craft and kayak to get close to the forested banks and the many dramatic waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. (B,L,D)
Arrive in Ketchikan, the southeasternmost city in Alaska, spread at the base of forested slopes on Revillagigedo Island. Its many monikers, from “salmon capital of the world” to “rain capital of Alaska,” capture the spirit of this city, famous for its colorful buildings and abundant fishing boats and canneries. Visit the Totem Heritage Center to view a unique collection of 19th-century Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian totem poles from abandoned villages around Ketchikan before transferring to the airport to connect with your flight home. (B)
Please note: All day-by-day breakdowns are a sampling of the places we intend to visit, conditions permitting.