A Journey through Sapphire Shores & Ice-Carved Paths
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Ports of Call & Itinerary
9-night voyage departing Vancouver, British Columbia.
Printable Itinerary (PDF)Route Map
A Journey through Sapphire Shores & Ice-Carved Paths
8 ports plotted · click a marker for details
Day 1
Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
Thursday, 31/08/2028
Surrounded by mountains, vibrant Vancouver is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and cosmopolitan adventurers alike. Meandering oceanside pathways surround eclectic neighbourhoods – Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, Chinatown. A major global city, it is renowned for its cultural diversity and thriving art, theatre, music and food scenes. Its perfectly picturesque setting makes it popular filming location – with old-growth cedar forests, mountains covering 75% and two-thirds of Canada's bird species and land mammals. A big, bustling city perched on the edge of wilderness.
Day 3
Ketchikan, Alaska , United States
Saturday, 02/09/2028
Ketchikan is famous for its colorful totem poles, rainy skies, steep–as–San Francisco streets, and lush island setting. Some 13,500 people call the town home, and, in the summer, cruise ships crowd the shoreline, floatplanes depart noisily for Misty Fiords National Monument, and salmon-laden commercial fishing boats motor through Tongass Narrows. In the last decade Ketchikan's rowdy, blue-collar heritage of logging and fishing has been softened by the loss of many timber-industry jobs and the dramatic rise of cruise-ship tourism. With some effort, though, visitors can still glimpse the rugged frontier spirit that once permeated this hardscrabble cannery town. Art lovers should make a beeline for Ketchikan: the arts community here is very active. Travelers in search of the perfect piece of Alaska art will find an incredible range of pieces to choose from.The town is at the foot of 3,000-foot Deer Mountain, near the southeastern corner of Revillagigedo (locals shorten it to Revilla) Island. Prior to the arrival of white miners and fishermen in 1885, the Tlingit used the site at the mouth of Ketchikan Creek as a summer fish camp. Gold discoveries just before the turn of the 20th century brought more immigrants, and valuable timber and commercial fishing resources spurred new industries. By the 1930s the town bragged that it was the "salmon-canning capital of the world." You will still find some of Southeast's best salmon fishing around here. Ketchikan is the first bite of Alaska that many travelers taste. Despite its imposing backdrop, hillside homes, and many staircases, the town is relatively easy to walk through. Favorite downtown stops include the Spruce Mill Development shops and Creek Street. A bit farther away you'll find the Totem Heritage Center. Out of town (but included on most bus tours) are two longtime favorites: Totem Bight State Historical Park to the north and Saxman Totem Park to the south.
Day 4
Hoonah , United States
Sunday, 03/09/2028
Day 5
Cruising Tracy Arm Fjord
Monday, 04/09/2028
This place is epic: humpback whales; bountiful dens of bears; legends of the Tlingit told for thousands of years. A rugged paradise big on nature: kayak the coast; hike the Tongass National Forest; flight-see Glacier Bay. Cook up a feast with coho salmon, king, snow, and Dungeness crab.
Day 5
Endicott Arm, Alaska , United States
Monday, 04/09/2028
Endicott Arm is a long fjord branching off Stephen’s Passage, the major inner passage heading southeast from Juneau. The easternmost tip of Endicott Arm nearly reaches the Canadian border. Like all the fords in this region, it was carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age which ended about 11,000 years ago. One either side of the fjord the steep, nearly vertical walls, rise to a height of about 370 meters or 1,200 feet. Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees manage to cling onto the rock faces, adding to the breath-taking beauty of the landscape.
Day 6
Juneau, Alaska , United States
Tuesday, 05/09/2028
Urban and wild, the juxtaposition of Juneau is both homeland to the Dena’ina Athabascan peoples and Alaska’s modern capital. Here, rivers become runways for floatplanes to access the bears of Admiralty Island or the five glaciers of the Juneau icefield (tip: don sunglasses and step softly across a white ice wonders). Board boats seeking whales in Auke Bay with or scout hotspots for halibut and salmon. Lichen draped trees, flying squirrels, fox, deer and truffles; its rich rainforest creates a micro-climate that sustains stunning botanical gardens. Juneau has it all.
Day 7
Sitka, Alaska , United States
Wednesday, 06/09/2028
Lace up your hiking shoes for Sitka won't let you down. A true wilderness of volcanoes, mountain forests, islands and glaciers. Fishing is famous; whale and wildlife sightings epic; stories of battles between Russian fur traders and Tlingit are legendary. Thrills that go beyond: flight-seeing Mount Edgecumbe; kayak Sitka Sound; hike former WWII installations; step inside the Fortress of Bears; and find peace in the blue-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Day 8
Prince Rupert, British Columbia , Canada
Thursday, 07/09/2028
Just 40 mi (66 km) south of the Alaskan border, Prince Rupert is the largest community on British Columbia's north coast. Set on Kaien Island at the mouth of the Skeena River and surrounded by deep green fjords and coastal rain forest, Prince Rupert is rich in the culture of the Tsimshian, people who have been in the area for thousands of years. As the western terminus of Canada's second transcontinental railroad and blessed with a deep natural harbor, Prince Rupert was, at the time of its incorporation in 1910, poised to rival Vancouver as a center for trans-Pacific trade. This didn't happen, partly because the main visionary behind the scheme, Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad president Charles Hays, went down with the Titanic on his way back from a financing trip to England. Prince Rupert turned instead to fishing and forestry. A port of call for both BC and Alaska ferries, but relatively new to cruise ships, this community of 15,000 retains a laid-back, small-town air.
Day 10
Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
Saturday, 09/09/2028
Surrounded by mountains, vibrant Vancouver is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and cosmopolitan adventurers alike. Meandering oceanside pathways surround eclectic neighbourhoods – Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, Chinatown. A major global city, it is renowned for its cultural diversity and thriving art, theatre, music and food scenes. Its perfectly picturesque setting makes it popular filming location – with old-growth cedar forests, mountains covering 75% and two-thirds of Canada's bird species and land mammals. A big, bustling city perched on the edge of wilderness.
Room Type & Prices
All prices per person based on double occupancy. Solo traveller prices — single occupancy. Contact our cruise experts for the latest availability and best fares.
Ocean Terrace Suite
377–420 sqft · Up to 3 guests
Ocean Grand Terrace Suite
377–420 sqft · Up to 3 guests
Penthouse
463–732 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Deluxe Penthouse
463–732 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Premier Penthouse
463–732 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Grand Penthouse
463–732 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Cove Residence
753–1604 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Cove Residence with Whirlpool
753–1604 sqft · Up to 2 guests
Retreat Residence
753–1604 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Serenity Residence
753–1601 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Cocoon Residence
753–1604 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Owner's Residence
3014 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Owner's Residence by Patricia Urquiola
3014 sqft · Up to 4 guests
Suite
| Cabin | Grade | Per Person | Avail. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft | OT1 Ocean Terrace Suite OT1 | Enquire → | ||
| OT2 Ocean Terrace Suite OT2 | Enquire → | |||
| OT3 Ocean Terrace Suite OT3 | Enquire → | |||
| OT4 Ocean Terrace Suite OT4 | Enquire → | |||
| Ocean Grand Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft | GT | Enquire → | ||
| Penthouse · 463–732 sqft | PH | Enquire → | ||
| Deluxe Penthouse · 463–732 sqft | DP | Enquire → | ||
| Premier Penthouse · 463–732 sqft | PP | Enquire → | ||
| Grand Penthouse · 463–732 sqft | GP | Enquire → | ||
| Cove Residence · 753–1604 sqft | CO1 Cove Residence CO1 | Enquire → | ||
| Cove Residence with Whirlpool · 753–1604 sqft | COJ Cove Residence COJ | Enquire → | ||
| Retreat Residence · 753–1604 sqft | RR | Enquire → | ||
| Serenity Residence · 753–1601 sqft | SR | Enquire → | ||
| Cocoon Residence · 753–1604 sqft | CR | Enquire → | ||
| Owner's Residence · 3014 sqft | OR1 Owner's Residence OR1 | Enquire → | ||
| Owner's Residence by Patricia Urquiola · 3014 sqft | OR2 Owner's Residence OR2 | Enquire → |
Ocean Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft
OT1 Ocean Terrace Suite OT1
Ocean Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft
OT2 Ocean Terrace Suite OT2
Ocean Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft
OT3 Ocean Terrace Suite OT3
Ocean Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft
OT4 Ocean Terrace Suite OT4
Ocean Grand Terrace Suite · 377–420 sqft
GT
Penthouse · 463–732 sqft
PH
Deluxe Penthouse · 463–732 sqft
DP
Premier Penthouse · 463–732 sqft
PP
Grand Penthouse · 463–732 sqft
GP
Cove Residence · 753–1604 sqft
CO1 Cove Residence CO1
Cove Residence with Whirlpool · 753–1604 sqft
COJ Cove Residence COJ
Retreat Residence · 753–1604 sqft
RR
Serenity Residence · 753–1601 sqft
SR
Cocoon Residence · 753–1604 sqft
CR
Owner's Residence · 3014 sqft
OR1 Owner's Residence OR1
Owner's Residence by Patricia Urquiola · 3014 sqft
OR2 Owner's Residence OR2
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Your Ship
EXPLORA III
Maybe the ocean has a new address
EXPLORA III Sailing Now
