Explore Alaska with Alaska Dream Cruises

I am headed north to Sitka, Alaska with Sophia to experience small ship cruising with Alaska Dream Cruises.  Our home for the next week will be on an expedition ship catering to adventure travelers looking for an off-the-beaten-path Alaska cruise experience. We will meet up with the crew tomorrow in Sitka where we will cast off from Sitka’s Jamestown Bay.

Our Amazing Adventure in True Alaska

We will be posting on social media throughout the journey and then preparing a comprehensive review to help our fans, followers, and fellow cruisers understand the ship, the itinerary, and the overall experience. Exploring Alaska with locals is going to be a treat. The cruise line is owned by Alaska locals who are proud to show off their ancestral home and to share their life’s passion, and our legacy with guests. For over 40 years, the Allen Family has showcased Southeast Alaska and Sophia and I are excited to get an insider’s look from the locals.  Highlights that we are looking forward to including learning about the wildlife, native culture, geography, and history of the region.

The Itinerary: Sitka to Juneau

Day 1 – Sitka

Prior to embarking on the ship later in the day, we will make the most out of Sitka, Alaska. The following tours are part of the inclusive price.

•  Alaska Raptor Center
•  Sitka Sound Science Center and Totem Park
•  Fortress of the Bear

Day 2 -Kuiu Island’s Saginaw Bay

Enjoy kayak and DIB (shallow water expedition craft) exploration in northern Kuiu Island’s Saginaw Bay. Beachcomb or hike along the beautiful secluded coastline of the area, where marine fossils are sometimes found.

Day 3 -Mitkof Island, Petersburg

Discover the charming Mitkof Island fishing town of Petersburg. Founded by Norwegian fishermen in the late 1800s, Petersburg is nicknamed Alaska’s “Little Norway.” Experience this Scandinavian culture with a folk dance show by local youth at the iconic Sons of Norway Hall. Later, enjoy a narrated bus tour and take time to explore the vibrant community at your own leisure.

Scout for humpback whales and other marine mammals in the world-renowned whale waters of Frederick Sound. Humpbacks are famous for behavior that lends itself to incredible viewing and photography, such as tail lobbing, lunge feeding, pectoral slapping, breaching, and picturesque dives that showcase their massive flukes.

Day 4 – Scenic Cruises Tracy Arm Fjord

Journey through Tracy Arm Fjord, an area the famous naturalist John Muir referred to as, “A wild, unfinished Yosemite.’ This glacial fjord is renowned for its pristine waterfalls, towering icebergs, abundant harbor seals, and granite cliffs that rise from sea level to 4,000 feet. At 32-miles long and averaging just a mile wide, the unique features of Tracy Arm are contained in a relatively small geographical space, adding to the dramatic beauty of the area. As ice conditions permit, we’ll navigate the entire length of the fjord, stopping in view of both the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers. DIB excursions provide the opportunity to view the majesty of the area in even greater detail.

Day 5 – Cruising, Mendenhall Glacier, dinner at Orca Point Lodge on Colt Island

Spend the day visiting highlights of the scenic capital city of Juneau, including the world famous Mendenhall Glacier, before enjoying a dog sled demonstration. End the day’s adventure with a relaxing evening at Orca Point Lodge, our own exclusive day-lodge on Colt Island. Enjoy the beautiful grounds, beach, and marine life touch-tank. Dine on Alaskan salmon, Alaskan king crab, or prime rib from the warmth of the lodge, or nestled next to a beachside bonfire.

Day 6 – Glacier Bay National Park

Southeast Alaska Discovery – with a flexible itinerary, we will see what the day brings. The captain and crew will take us on a hike in an old-growth forest or we may do a beach landing on an unspoiled shoreline to explore a tidal flat or track along with a foraging bear from the safety of our DIB. Regardless of the activity, you’ll experience the magic of the archipelago’s many remote coves, bays, and inlets. In the afternoon, we’ll sail into the beautiful Glacier Bay National Park to begin our first day of extended park exploration. Unique opportunities during our voyage through Glacier Bay include a beach trek near the Reid Glacier, a visit to the new Huna Tribal House, and rainforest trails surrounding Glacier Bay Lodge.

Day 7 – Glacier National Prak

This remarkable national park fjord extends 65-miles, contains eight tidewater glaciers, and provides pristine habitat for a wide array of wildlife, including both brown and black bears, wolves, mountain goats, Steller sea lions, and humpback whales. The highlight for many is the Margerie Glacier, known for its dramatic calving displays. A Glacier Bay National Park Service Ranger narrates the day’s program and a Native Huna Tlingit interpretive naturalist joins us to reveal traditional cultural ties to this ancient treasure

Day 8 – Juneau, Alaska

Disembark in Alaska’s capital city of Juneau.