MS Westerdam - June 9, 2024

Christened "The Emerald City", Seattle is known as one of the most livable cities in the world and actually receives less annual rainfall (36 inches) than New York and Atlanta. Surrounded by lakes, rivers, Puget Sound, and mountains, Seattle is a recreation enthusiasts' dream. In the summer, water sports are only 10 minutes away and winter sports, such as snow skiing, are only 45 minutes away.

Alaska's Inside Passage is awash with pristine water mountain views. A cruise among the fjords and islands takes you into prime habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, and whales. The Inside Passage is home to the totem poles of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Indians, and Russian setters, as well as prospectors, lumberjacks, and fishermen. All have added to the tapestry of this area's history.

The first cruise ship appeared in Ketchikan 114 years ago, and it has been a favorite port ever since. You can tour the area by boat, bus, horse-drawn trolley, or even a restored 1955 Chevy. The most famous part of town is Creek Street. The homes once comprising the red light district are now filled with arts, crafts and gift shops. Totem poles are everywhere, with 24 at Saxman Native Totem Park.

Sitka is considered Alaska's most beautiful seaside town, with views of island-studded waters and stately spruce forests reaching to the water's edge. Sitka offers a combination of Native culture, Russian history, and Alaskan wilderness which provides a diverse and unequaled Alaskan experience. The mild climate and dense forests make Sitka one of the best places to view wildlife in Alaska.

Valdez, Alaska, a small seaside Alaskan community where the mountains meet the sea, is a magical area packed with things to see and do. The view is amazing, and in every direction the mountains rise into the air, frosted in white in the winter, and sparkling green in the summer. Everything from giant halibut fishing to sea kayaking around the Columbia Glacier is available.

Tucked into the corner of Prince William Sound, College Fjord is surrounded by over a dozen glaciers and is easily the equal of the more famous Glacier Bay. Some of these glaciers have spruce forests growing right up to the edge of the ice, giving a sense of scale not seen in Glacier Bay. These glaciers were named by the members of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition.

Seward, Alaska is a port city and an alpine resort town. Imagine a sparkling body of water, Resurrection Bay, with towering mountains lining its shores. Mt. Marathon, where the famous Fourth of July race is held, lies in front of the Harding Icefield which extends down the coast. Marine life abounds, eagles and seabirds fill the air, and mountain goats, bear and moose, all inhabit the surrounding forest.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Twenty miles from the busy town of Mo i Rana, sits an area of stunning scenery and spectacular views. Here in this heavenly location lies Svartisen Glacier or "Black Ice," the second largest ice area in Norway. Measuring some 180 square miles, the plateau also features individual peaks that spiral upwards of 5,174 feet.

Located in northwestern Alaska on the Seward Peninsula, Nome is the center of commerce and government for northwestern Alaska. Sight of the Bering Sea Ice Classic, a six hole golf tournament played on the ice, Nome also hosts the Polar Bear Swim on Memorial Day, the Midnight Sun Festival in June, and is the endpoint for the Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race in March.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Kodiak, Alaska is famous for huge Kodiak brown bears, world-class sport fishing and the magnificent green that the island turns during the summer, which is why Kodiak is called Alaska's Emerald Isle. The Kodiak Island Archipelago and the Katmai Coast are rich in sea, land and bird life, and Kodiak's vast wilderness serves as the ideal backdrop for everything from sport fishing to a leisurely hike.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Haines, Alaska is located in northern Lynn Channel, and has a population of 1,260 people. Haines has the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world at the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Another popular attraction is the recreated gold rush town of "Dalton City." There are also native history performances by the Chilkat Indian Dancers at the Chilkat Center for the Arts.

Alaska's capital city, Juneau, is located in Southeast Alaska. The Tongass Rain Forest climate provides Juneau with lush terrain and wildflowers. Visitors can find unparalleled glacier viewing from Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier, the Juneau Icefield and Glacier Bay National Park, and outdoor enthusiasts will love Juneau's kayaking, dogsledding, rafting, biking, hiking and glacier hiking.

Tracy Arm, a classic fjord, has it all: snow capped peaks, shear rock palisades, rainbows and tidewater glaciers. Drift among icebergs and waterfalls that cascade 1,000's of feet for the most close-up view of Sawyer Glacier. You'll see incredible mountains and emerald green water, and be able to watch for whales, bear, eagles and mountain goats, and seals

Almost unknown until a decade ago, Misty Fiords National Monument is 115 miles long and 50 miles wide, and has 2.3 million acres of deep, narrow fiords, steep-walled canyons, waterfalls and bowl-shaped lakes. The fiords' rock walls have been scoured by glaciers, and the park is home to bald eagles, bears, wolves, moose, sea lions, killer whales, beavers, and mink.

Prince Rupert is on the northwest coast of British Columbia. The area features plentiful shopping, restaurants, arts, cultural attractions, and a rich history. The abundant wildlife and pristine wilderness are attractive as well. Catch a salmon. Walk the waterfront. Visit the museums and Performing Arts Center. Go whale watching.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Christened "The Emerald City", Seattle is known as one of the most livable cities in the world and actually receives less annual rainfall (36 inches) than New York and Atlanta. Surrounded by lakes, rivers, Puget Sound, and mountains, Seattle is a recreation enthusiasts' dream. In the summer, water sports are only 10 minutes away and winter sports, such as snow skiing, are only 45 minutes away.