A route well-traveled by cruise ships, Alaska's Inside Passage reveals lush forests, mountains, towns vibrant with history and personality, and Glacier Bay National Park, where relics of the Ice Age calve and crash continually.
Most ships call first at Ketchikan, Alaska's southernmost city and salmon capital of the world. Expect rain here, but don't let that deter you from admiring the collection of authentic totem poles at Totem Heritage Center.
Further north, Sitka, once the capital of Czarist Russia, holds fast to its Russian roots. The main attractions are an onion-domed cathedral, folk-dance performances, and native crafts on display.
Reachable only by sea or air, Juneau, Alaska's capital, is home to Mendenhall Glacier, the state's easiest to reach. For a panoramic view, take the Mt. Roberts tram up 2,000 feet to the observatory.
Skagway, preserved as an 1890s gold-rush town, still maintains its "bawdy" saloons and horse-drawn buggies. The town cemetery marks the graves where con men and thieves, prostitutes and prospectors came to rest a century ago.
A cruise ship dedicated exclusively to Alaskan travel, World Explorer Cruises' SS Universe Explorer departs from Vancouver on 9- and 14-night summer sails. A different kind of cruise experience and one of the best values at sea, the ship hosts experts who lecture on the art, history, culture, and geography of these and other ports of call.
More of this feature:
Intro: America's Last Frontier >
Inside Passage
Southcentral >
Southwest >
Interior >
Far North >
