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ALASKA FROM VANCOUVER

Jul 30-Aug 6, 2027
Celebrity Solstice

Seven nights from Vancouver to Seward, and you only unpack once. A limited number of staterooms are held at group pricing, and I help plan the rest.

Reserve Your Spot

Day by Day Overview

Day 1 of 8
Canada Place cruise terminal, Vancouver
Fri, Jul 30, 2027

Vancouver, Canada

Departs: 4:00 PM
You'll board right at Canada Place, downtown. I recommend arriving 2 to 3 hours early, it makes check-in easy and gives you time to settle into your cabin and grab a drink before we pull out. Your trip starts the moment you walk up the gangway, not eight hours later at a connecting airport.

Shore excursions in Vancouver

5hr 30minEasy

Best of Vancouver and Bridge

A city tour from Canada Place through downtown, Lions Gate Bridge, and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

13hr 30minModerate

Victoria and Butchart Gardens

A full-day trip to Vancouver Island, Butchart Gardens, and Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Excursions are priced separately from your cruise fare. Once your cruise is confirmed, I'll help you choose and set up the right ones for your family, based on your kids' ages, activity level, and how much time you want on land.

Inside Passage scenic cruising, Alaska
Sat, Jul 31, 2027

Cruising Inside Passage

A full day easing through southeastern Alaska's Inside Passage, a maze of fjords, bays, and forested islands that's home to orcas, mountain goats, bald eagles, and sea otters. With daylight running long this time of year, it's a genuinely good day for wildlife watching from the deck, keep an eye out for humpbacks, they're known to breach right out of the water here. No agenda otherwise. Spend it at the spa, or just watching the coastline go by with a coffee in hand.

Sea day, no excursions today. Enjoy the ship and the coastline.

Sitka, Alaska harbor and totem poles
Sun, Aug 1, 2027

Sitka, Alaska

Docked from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Here's the thing about Sitka: it's the one port on this sailing you'll tender into, which naturally keeps the crowds smaller. It was Russian territory until the 1867 Alaska Purchase, and that history is still visible downtown at St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Whale Park's waterfront promenade is a solid spot for watching humpbacks breach, and Sitka Historical Park has century-old totem poles set right into the coastal trails.

Shore excursions in Sitka

2hr 30minDifficult

Small Group Sitka Aerial Adventure and Rainforest Lunch

Rope courses through the rainforest canopy, a Tlingit cultural talk, and a grilled salmon lunch.

3hr 30minEasy

Private Wildlife Photo Safari by Expedition Boat

A private, captain-guided boat tour through Sitka Sound with a chance to step ashore.

2hr 30minMild

Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest

A close-range wildlife tour through Southeast Alaska's narrow island passages, easy pace, mild activity.

2hr 30minMild

Native Cultural and Historical Tour

Sitka National Historical Park, a Tlingit dance and song performance, and time in downtown Sitka.

Excursions are priced separately from your cruise fare. Once your cruise is confirmed, I'll help you choose and set up the right ones for your family, based on your kids' ages, activity level, and how much time you want on land.

Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier, Alaska
Mon, Aug 2, 2027

Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier

Sightseeing from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
A scenic cruising day through a 30-mile fjord marking the edge of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, granite walls, waterfalls, and drifting icebergs the whole way. It's one of the largest harbor seal breeding grounds anywhere, so watch for pups riding the ice. The day builds to Dawes Glacier at the far end, over 600 feet tall, and it calves often enough that you'll likely see chunks break off in real time. Nothing to book, just be on deck and dress warm, it's colder out on the water than it looks.

Scenic cruising day, no excursions. Be on deck for the glacier.

Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Tue, Aug 3, 2027

Icy Strait Point, Alaska

Docked from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Home to the Tlingit people for thousands of years, near the small town of Hoonah. It's built around a historic cannery, and it's a quieter stop than the bigger port towns, good for families who want a slower day mixed into the itinerary. Whales, orcas, seals, eagles, and brown bears all show up in the waters and hillsides around here.

Shore excursions in Icy Strait Point

3hrEasy

Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure

A small-group boat tour through Icy Strait, hosted by Hoonah Tlingit owners and crew, whale sighting guaranteed.

At your leisureMild

Sky Peak Gondola

A gondola ride to the top of White Alice Mountain, followed by time to walk, dine, and shop at Icy Strait Point.

2hr 30minStrenuous

Small Group: Wilderness Hike

A 2-mile guided hike through private native lands above Hoonah, ending at a viewpoint over Port Frederick.

2hrMild

Seafood Feast and Tribal Connections

A Huna Tlingit cultural performance followed by a local seafood feast overlooking Port Frederick.

2hr 30minModerate

Small Group: Icy Strait Point Kayaking

A guided paddle along the Hoonah shoreline and the calm waters of the port, watching for wildlife along the way.

5hrModerate

Whales, Wildlife and Brown Bear Search

A high-speed boat ride through Icy Strait paired with a boardwalk stroll along the Spasski River.

Excursions are priced separately from your cruise fare. Once your cruise is confirmed, I'll help you choose and set up the right ones for your family, based on your kids' ages, activity level, and how much time you want on land.

Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska
Wed, Aug 4, 2027

Juneau, Alaska

Docked from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Alaska's capital, and it's only reachable by boat or plane, no roads in. This is where you can book a glacial dogsledding excursion if that's on your list, along with the more classic Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching combos. If you'd rather keep it simple, downtown Juneau is walkable straight off the ship.

Shore excursions in Juneau

3hr 30minStrenuous

Small Group Helicopter Glacier Trek

A helicopter flight over the Juneau icefields, followed by a walk on the glacier itself.

3hr 30minEasy

Whale Watching Tour

Guaranteed humpback whale sightings out of Auke Bay, family-friendly and suitable for all ages.

3hrEasy

Glacier Shuttle Tour

A narrated ride to Mendenhall Glacier with two unhurried hours to explore, including the walk to Nugget Falls.

Excursions are priced separately from your cruise fare. Once your cruise is confirmed, I'll help you choose and set up the right ones for your family, based on your kids' ages, activity level, and how much time you want on land.

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska
Thu, Aug 5, 2027

Hubbard Glacier, Cruising

Sightseeing from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Your last scenic cruising day, and it's worth setting an alarm for. Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier in the world, about 7 miles wide and 76 miles long, named for the founder of the National Geographic Society. The ship sails into Disenchantment Bay to get close, and the currents there keep it calving daily, so you're genuinely likely to see and hear ice crashing into the water. No excursion to book, just be on deck.

Scenic cruising day, no excursions. Be on deck for the glacier.

Seward, Alaska harbor
Fri, Aug 6, 2027

Arrive Seward, Alaska

Arrives: 6:00 AM
Your cruise ends in Seward, not Vancouver, since this is a one way sailing. It's the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and the Harding Icefield, where around 40 glaciers calve straight into the sea. Most guests continue on to Anchorage from here, about a 2.5 hour drive by train, coach, or rental car. If a land extension into Denali or Anchorage sounds appealing, let me know early, it's much easier to plan alongside your cruise than to add on afterward.

Shore excursions in Seward

4hrModerate

Scenic Byway and Wildlife Experience with Downtown Drop Off

A drive through Turnagain Pass to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, ending with drop-off in downtown Anchorage.

12hr 30minMild

Kenai Fjords National Park and Cruise with Airport Transfer

A boat cruise to two tidewater glaciers, ending with transfer straight to the Anchorage airport.

5hrMild

Turnagain Pass & Portage Glacier Adventure

A scenic drive along Seward Highway with a boat cruise to Portage Glacier along the way.

Excursions are priced separately from your cruise fare. Once your cruise is confirmed, I'll help you choose and set up the right ones for your family, based on your kids' ages, activity level, and how much time you want on land.

Ready to join Alaska this 2027

Spots on these sailings are limited to keep each group manageable. Reserve your spot and I'll be in touch within a day to go over cabin options with you.

Celebrity Solstice

July 30 to August 6, 2027

7 nights from Vancouver to Seward, plus Anchorage or Denali if you want more.

Included for every guest

  • Classic Beverage Package
  • Wi-Fi
  • Shore day guide, port by portSo you know what is worth doing in Sitka, Icy Strait Point and Juneau.
Premium Inside
and up

Starting from

$2,651 CAD

Per person, based on double occupancy, taxes and fees included.

Reserve your cabin by March 27, 2027

Deposit is $530 CAD per stateroom.

Choose how you would like to start

Whether you are ready now or just beginning to look, there is an easy next step.

Still exploring

Get the Alaska One-Way Planner

A simple guide to flights, getting from Seward to Anchorage, and easy ways to add Denali. Free, sent straight to your inbox.

Just your first name and email.

Ready to talk it through

Check cabin availability

Send me a quick email with who is traveling and I will reply within a day with cabin options that fit.

Hubbard Glacier from the deck of a cruise ship
Email me to check availability

Opens an email with a short message ready for you to fill in. No obligation. Or write to patricio@wonderwithpat.com.

Prices are in CAD, per person based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Excursions are priced separately from your cruise fare.

Why I Chose a One-Way Cruise to Seward?

Most Alaska cruises return to Vancouver. This one doesn't, and that changes the whole week. You get more time with the glaciers, your trip ends in Alaska instead of back at the terminal, and Denali becomes a few easy days away instead of a second trip.

I wrote an article that covers how it compares with a round trip, how to get from Seward to the Anchorage airport, and who I think it fits (and who should stay with a round trip).

Read the full article here.

Questions I get asked

  • You'll fly into Vancouver before the cruise and out of Anchorage or Seward after. I'll help you figure out timing on both ends so you're not stuck with a tight connection.

  • Seward, not Vancouver. Most guests continue on to Anchorage from there, about a 2.5 hour drive, coach, or train ride.

  • Yes, and it's a natural fit since the ship already drops you close to it. Let me know early so I can build it in alongside your cruise booking instead of adding it on separately later.

  • Yes. Most of the excursions I've listed are family-friendly, and the ship itself has kids' programming onboard. A few excursions do have minimum age or height requirements, I'll flag those for you.

  • Just ask, I can check availability across categories and find what fits your group and budget.

  • Your cabin, meals in the main dining venues, and access to most onboard amenities. Flights, hotels, excursions, gratuities, and specialty dining are separate.

  • You can browse and reserve them once your cruise is booked. I'd recommend booking early for anything popular, spots on things like glacier helicopter tours and small-group hikes fill up.

  • I'll walk you through deposit and final payment dates on your Planning Call, so there are no surprises.

  • Cancellation terms depend on the fare type you book. I'll explain your options clearly before you commit to anything.