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Alaska & the Inside Passage
This 11-day cruise from Vancouver to Seward (or the reverse) delves deep into seldom-visited gold rush ports, highlighting their Tlingit and Russian culture, and reveals the breathtaking wonders of the Inside Passage and the Yakutat Bay.
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Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska
11 Days | 7 Tours | 2 Countries
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The Alaska and Inside Passage Cruise with Viking
As a working photographer and a lover of active cruises, taking the Viking Alaska and the Inside Passage cruise in early June 2022 was a perfect opportunity to see the dramatic sights and scenes of this remote state. Over this, and the following articles, I’ll review the cruise from Seward to Vancouver and illustrate them with my favorite photos of the trip. I’m aiming these stories both at readers who love Alaska and those who are thinking of taking this cruise and want to know what to expect! Of course, if you have already taken the cruise, you might like the fond memories that these images might prompt!
Incidentally, we cruised with Viking for several years before I realized I was missing out on a discount. You can read more about that discount here .
June 2022 – an unseasonably warm start to the Alaska cruise
The weather had been unseasonably warm in Alaska but there was still snow on the mountains and we were generally lucky (I think) with the weather throughout the cruise. The ship was the Viking Orion, and while this isn’t really a review of this particular Viking cruise, we have been on cruises with them many times now, and I have nothing but praise for the quality of the ships, the experience on and off the boat, the food and the general peaceful and friendly conditions you find everywhere on board. Probably more expensive than other cruises but almost everything is included in the price and there is no “nickel and diming” that is common with other companies. This article is a summary of the cruise and links to all the separate stories I have written to describe and illustrate the voyage. I’ve enjoyed going through my images (and my memories) to put these stories together. I hope you will enjoy reading them, and, if you do, please comment and let me know what you think. You can also add your email to join my contact list and get updated whenever I add new posts to the site. I’m a professional photographer and so my best images are available as prints .
The cruise started in Seward although we had booked air using Viking and so we were taken by coach from Anchorage to Seward. If you are traveling with your own arrangements, the train from Anchorage pulls into Seward right by the ship, and so that seems to be a very easy way to get to the docks. The first day was registration and getting on board the ship and so our first real outing was the Resurrection Bay Wildlife cruise, which can be found via this link .
Day 3 was marked by the arrival in Valdez, which enjoys a breathtaking setting at the head of the fjord in Prince William Sound. We decided to take the Highlights of Valdez tour, which included the old town, the salmon hatchery and then a drive through Keystone Canyon to the Thompson Pass and Richardson Glacier . As a result, we didn’t get to walk around the town itself, although we could probably have fitted it in. The Norwegian pancakes were calling instead! I wrote a separate story about the waterfalls in Keystone Canyon which can be found here .
Hubbard Glacier
Leaving Valdez, we traveled through the night to end up, the following morning at the Hubbard Glacier. There was a real cold wind that came down off the ice and across the bay and, to be honest, it was cloudy and wet as we arrived. The clouds cleared at little, and we were able to see the full majesty of the glacier. Believe it or not, this is more than six miles wide where it meets the ocean and rises to 400 feet or so. The ship stayed around 2 hours in the bay, slowly rotating so that everyone could see the glacier and surrounding mountains before we cruised away for our next stop. The full story of the visit to the Hubbard Glacier can be found here .
That evening actually turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip! Firstly, we managed to get a window table in the Chef’s Table restaurant and watched the mountains glide by as the sun slowly set, and then we were treated to a magnificent sunset seen from the balcony of our cabin. A perfect end to the day that you can read about here .
By Monday morning, we had reached the small town of Skagway set in its glacial valley. Skagway was built to support the gold rush that created so much wealth (and destroyed so many lives) in the 1890s as it was one of main ways that miners aiming to try their luck in the Klondike started their journey in Alaska. The narrow-gauge railway was built in 1898 to get people over White Pass and it is now a key sightseeing opportunity in Skagway. However, it was raining when we arrived and so we chose to stroll around the town instead, checking out the historic buildings that still remain. Friends who went on the train ride were pretty impressed though, so perhaps this was a mistake! My story about Skagway can be found at this link .
Icy Strait Point and Hoonah
The reason the sail to Skagway takes so long is that it is way up a fjord and after visiting it, you basically reverse direction and sail back to the ocean to get to Icy Strait Point. So the Tuesday was spent in Icy Strait Point and Hoonah. For some reason, we were able to dock early in the morning and get off the ship, but then the ship went out into the bay and anchored as much larger cruise ships took our place at the dock! But arriving early meant that we could visit the various sights before the crowds descended from the other boats. We did take the shuttle to the small town of Hoonah, thinking it would be some sort of nice Tlinkit community, but it really has very little (OK, make that nothing) to make the journey worthwhile. Some people were walking there to save the cost of the shuttle bus, which must have been disappointing when they arrived. But Icy Strait Point now has two cable car/gondolas as well as a very fast zip line from the top of the mountain to the waterfront. I’ve written two stories about this day – one about the historic pier and salmon canning building , now a museum and shop and one about the cable car gondola ride up the mountain .
We pressed through the crowds leaving the Celebrity Eclipse to get back to the dock and caught the tender boats back to the Orion, thankful for two things – we had a free all-day pass to use the gondolas, and we had a small and friendly ship to go back to!
You will have seen the spectacular sunset that we had after leaving the Hubbard Glacier, and on the evening of the sail from Icy Strait Point (in a very similar part of the coastline), we had another. Not as spectacular, and we were also further from the coast, but who is complaining!
The next day was an early arrival in Sitka with its extinct volcano. Sitka is a lovely little town and after a presentation of a historic play/dance by the local community, we walked around the historic town – the site of the original Russian community in Alaska and also the site of the handover of Alaska to the USA following its purchase. There is the National Historical Park here with a collection of many totem poles carved by the local Tlinkit people installed in the forest as well as a Raptor rescue center, both of which are an easy walk from the town. Both well worth a visit and you can see my recollections of the place in this story about Sitka .
After Sitka, we sort of reversed direction again and made our way back up the fjords to Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Again, not a large place – nothing in Alaska is – but very interesting. We took the included tour to Mendenhall Glacier and Brotherhood Bridge although as the weather steadily improved as the day went on, I did regret not booking the Photo tour of the glacier and the whale watching. But it was all booked up when I made that decision. You can read my full story of a packed day in Juneau, from the glacier to the mountain top via the Gondola . All in all, a great day in Juneau!
By now, we were used to relatively cloudy conditions in the early morning with brighter sunny days later on, but our next visit to Ketchikan proved this wrong. We arrived on a very damp day with heavy rain. Luckily, we had packed our rain clothing and so we were able to trudge through the rain to the Potlatch Park and their demonstrations and stories of the Tlinkit people and their totem pole carvings. Interesting, indeed. Then we walked around the town, eventually finding the famous Creek Street houses and shops (and brothel). We thought this might have been on the coast, but it is actually just a little inland along the fast-running creek. I’ve written a story here about using digital painting techniques to bring some life and warmth back into the rather drab scene on Creek Street in the rain.
Ketchikan is rightly famous for being among the wettest places in Alaska and it lived up to that reputation for us. But still, an interesting place!
We were then at sea sailing in the Inside Passage towards Vancouver, and I was a little disappointed. The scenery was nice, but it was all a bit “the same” without as much drama as we had seen before. I do have some photos, but few of them are what I am proud of. The one below is of Campbell River, in Canada looking towards Vancouver Island:
After an overnight sail, we were in Vancouver early the next morning and on our way home. A very long day, but one filled with memories of where we had been. I hope you feel that you have learned something about this area via these articles and you can find all my Alaska prints here in my gallery . Please leave me a comment if you have!
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This post has 11 comments.
Alessandra Chaves
Sounds like a very nice trip through interesting places. The golden hour photos are particularly lovely. Skagway Would pass for a town on the west coast Sierra Nevada. The floating sea otter is adorable!
Thanks Alessandra – it was interesting and I’m enjoying reliving it and the photos. Yes, those sea otters were really cute – I bought a 100-400 lens just 3 days before travel and I’m certainly glad I bought and took it. Those otters were at full zoom. But as a result, I have some pretty high-resolution images of them. And thanks for commenting!
I am really enjoying your series on Alaska. Sun on the horizon is stunning and seeing those otters must have been a joy for you
Thanks Annie – it has been a pleasure writing it as well. Almost got to the end now and I will put links in each article so that you can read them in order I think.
A trip of a lifetime. You’ve been doing an excellent job of describing your adventures and supporting your words expertly with some outstanding imagery. Really been enjoying this series.
Thanks! It has been interesting for me as well, revisiting what I thought about these places, and I hope it will prove to be an entertaining and useful series of articles for people thinking of going on an Alaskan cruise in the future. I must get it finished!
Dan Hamilton
Guess what? My wife and I were on that exact cruise! We may have seen byou onboard. We had taken the pre excursion Fairbanks to Seward and stayed in Vancouver two extra days. Excellent article and I took the same sunset picture and use it on my PC. Only took two thousand shots on the trip! Do you remember the hostess Natalia? I gave her a few hundred pictures on a flash drive.
Hi Dan – that’s great! I came away with 2000 images as well, some of which I used for these articles. We only took the cruise, deciding that the extra days were more chance to test positive for the virus! I don’t think I recall Natalia – was that in the restaurant? Steve
Malcolm Jones
Hi Steve, Been really enjoying your pics and cruise stories. Just puts me even more in the mood for our trip next year. Got your site saved to my favourites now. Like Dan, am also doing the Fairbanks to Seward pre extension. Like you, I may have to purchase another lens before I go just for that trip to get just a little closer to what I’m taking.
Great! I hope you enjoy it – I’m planning to write about more cruises as you can see. You could subscribe to get an email when I create a new post!
Janet Bates
Great information! We have booked this cruise for May 2025. Can you offer some insight on the cost of the not-included excursions? I’m having a hard time finding any information on pricing for them. Also, can you do the included excursion and an add-on excursion … if both are shorter in time? Thanks!
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- Expeditions
- Complimentary Brochures
- Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska
- Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia
Alaska & the Inside Passage
- From $6,799
- 7 Guided Tours
- 2 Countries
- Dates & Pricing
- 2024 2025 2026
- Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia
- Day 1 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Day 2 Scenic Sailing: The Inside Passage
- Day 3 Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
- Day 4 Sitka, Alaska, United States
- Day 5 Juneau, Alaska, United States
- Day 6 Skagway, Alaska, United States
- Day 7 Icy Strait Point, Alaska, United States
- Day 8 Scenic Sailing: Yakutat Bay
- Day 9 Valdez, Alaska, United States
- Day 10 Seward, Alaska, United States
- Day 11 Seward, Alaska, United States
Skagway, Alaska, United States
Skagway was once the gateway to the gold-rich Canadian Yukon and is set in a stunning glacial valley. One remnant of its mining past is the narrow gauge railway that follows the original Yukon trail to the historic White Pass high in the surrounding mountains. Completed in 1900 as a means of transit for prospectors to reach goldfields during the Klondike gold rush, the route is preserved as a heritage railway. About 100 of the town’s buildings date from the gold rush era. Legend says that the town was named for a mythical woman who turned herself to stone at Skagway’s bay.
Shore Excursions
Historic Skagway & White Pass Summit
Discover Skagway’s colorful past during a scenic drive through town and up to the famous White Pass summit.
Scenic Yukon by Road & Rail
Delight in stunning mountain scenery as you journey across the White Pass summit and into the Yukon.
White Pass Summit by Vintage Rail Car
Retrace the steps of the Yukon’s fortune seekers in their 19th-century quest for gold.
White Pass Summit by Luxury Rail Car
Board a luxury rail car for a journey back in time to Skagway’s late 19th-century gold rush.
Skagway by Street Car
Step into the world of Martin Itjen as you board a restored 1920s bus for an entertaining tour of Skagway.
Klukwan Cultural Experience
Immerse yourself in the indigenous culture of Chilkat Valley and the Tlingit people during a visit to Klukwan.
Wilds of Alaska by ATV
Explore the backroads of Alaska during an exhilarating off-road ATV excursion through the Chilkat Peninsula.
Haines Wildlife Safari
Discover magnificent wildlife and inspiring natural views during an excursion through the Chilkoot Valley.
Wilderness Kayaking Experience
Paddle around picturesque Chilkoot Lake in a kayak during this idyllic excursion into the wilds of Alaska.
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve by Raft
Raft down the Chilkat River while experiencing the incredible beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.
Nine Holes at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Club
Enjoy a leisurely round of golf at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Club, located on the banks of the Chilkat River.
Chilkoot Trail Hike, River Raft & Summit Drive
Follow the gold rush trail of a bygone era, winding your way through its tranquil beauty.
Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Scale the smooth granite walls of White Pass during a rock climbing and rappelling excursion in the Alaskan wilds.
Alpine Lake by Canoe
Paddle through the waters of Summit Lake and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this pristine setting.
Flightseeing & Glacier Walk
Soar high above the wilderness as you take to the skies on a helicopter flightseeing tour.
Dogsledding & Glacier Flightseeing
Fly to the Denver Glacier to join man’s best friend and try your hand at Alaska’s favorite sport—dogsledding.
Chilkoot Trail by Bike
Pedal through the stunning Alaskan wilderness during a bike ride along the historic Chilkoot Trail.
Haines Wilderness Odyssey by Jet Boat
Cruise the Chilkat River on a leisurely jet boat ride in search of spectacular vistas and local wildlife.
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10 Night Alaska & The Inside Passage
Focusing their sailings on the culture of each cruises destination. Onboard each sailing you have lectures, demonstrations and tastings as part of a Culture Curriculum.
Gleaming walls of ice, pristine wilderness, charming seaside towns and misty fjords are a few breathtaking wonders of the cruise port of Alaska. Be led right into the heart of the Last Frontier on your Viking Oceans cruise to Alaska.
The beautiful small coastal town of Seward, which is most known for its picturesque scenic views and many visitors’ attractions, is a perfect addition for your next Alaska cruise.
- Viking Sea - Passenger Capacity: 930 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2016 Last Refurbished: N/A
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Seward, Alaska , Valdez, Alaska , Icy Strait, Alaska , Lynn Canal, Alaska , Juneau, Alaska , Sitka, Alaska , Ketchikan, Alaska , Vancouver, British Columbia
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10 Night Alaska & The Inside Passage sailing on the Viking Sea
Departure dates: may 2025 - aug 2026.
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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.
† Cruise ship fuel surcharge may apply. The cruise ship fuel surcharge is additional revenue to Viking Cruises, as are any additional charges relating to currency fluctuation other than for fully paid cruise fares and full fares.
Rates and offers are subject to select dates and categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, and include NCCF. Government taxes and fees are additional. All rates and offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability and confirmation, and may change without notice. Adjustments for currency and/or fuel fluctuations may apply. Air seats are limited; therefore, air fares are subject to change and not guaranteed until full payment is received. Optional shore excursions/tours/concerts, excess baggage charges, drinks, beverages and meals not included in the package are additional costs to the passenger. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.
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