2027 Northern Passage & Glacier Discovery Cruise with Larry Gelwix

If you’re sailing on a cruise out of Vancouver, definitely spend a few days discovering all the cool sights and activities this vibrant Canadian city has to offer. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot. Located in British Columbia’s lower mainland region, hugging the Burrard Inlet, this northern gem offers the perfect mix of outdoor adventures and metropolitan delights. Start your day with a fresh and hearty breakfast at a local farmers’ market, then soar above the city on the Skyride cable car to Grouse Mountain’s 3,700-foot-tall summit and stay at the to enjoy one of the best of Vancouver views. If you’re craving adventure in the great outdoors, climb to St. Mark’s Summit for more incredible views of majestic Howe Sound. The trailhead is just a 30-minute drive from Vancouver. If you’d rather explore on the water, visit Horseshoe Bay and hop on a wildlife-spotting boat tour. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, dolphins and whales as you zip past towering cliffs and rocky isles.

Your ship departs promptly at 11:59 pm, so plan to arrive at least 2-3 hours early to account for checking in and boarding protocols. During this time, many of the ship’s amenities are open and operating, so feel free to start your vacation early.

While at sea, take time to recharge before the next adventure. Lounge by the pool, be spoiled at the spa, dine at any of the onboard restaurants or explore the thrills on each deck until we arrive at the next destination.

If you want to hang in Icy Strait Point, you’re going to have to get a little wild. Go whale watching in Point Adolphus and sea lion spotting . Or gear up to go soaring over mountain forests on the world’s longest zip line. Life here is all about the thrill factor.

At 76 miles long and seven miles wide, North America’s largest tidewater glacier makes even the largest ships in the region feel small. Watch massive chunks of Hubbard Glacier’s translucent blue ice crash into the bay with a bang like a cannon shot, a sound the Tlingit people call “White Thunder.”

Sitka truly offers the best of Alaska. Its small-town appeal stems from a unique blend of Russian, Tlingit and American history. Volcanic Mount Edgecumbe is postcard-worthy and its rare wildlife includes orange-beaked puffins. Whether you’re hiking Baranof Island trails or listening to tribal stories passed down for generations, in Sitka the midnight sun never sets on adventure.

Dubbed the canned salmon capital of the world, Ketchikan is rich in both fishing and culture. You’ll find more totem poles here than anywhere else in the world, and a Native spirit kept alive by three tribes of Northwest Coastal People. For some outdoor thrills, venture into the surrounding Tongass National Forest— the largest in the United States.

PRIVATE MORRIS COLUMBUS SHORE EXCURSION $ – Potlatch Totem Park, Herring Bay & Cove, Wildlife Viewing & Ketchikan City Tour (Pricing coming soon)

This is the most popular excursion in Ketchikan.  After a driving tour of Ketchikan, we continue through the lush and heavily wooded forests to Herring Bay, a quaint area that takes you far away from the crowds and people in town.  A small inlet cove allows the sights and sounds of the wildlife that only Ketchikan can offer.  (Being wild animals, wildlife sightings are common, but not guaranteed.) We continue to Potlatch Totem Park with 24 authentic totems carved by Tlingit natives. You can watch native master carvers working on totems, and visit the Clan House, Russian Museum, and gift shop. Once back in Ketchikan, we visit famous Creek Street, an infamous “red light” district in the gold rush days, and now an area of historic and boutique shops.

While at sea, take time to recharge before the next adventure. Lounge by the pool, be spoiled at the spa, dine at any of the onboard restaurants or explore the thrills on each deck until we arrive at the next destination.

Kick off the afternoon lunching on xiaolongbao buns in Chinatown. Then explore the city’s cultural offerings at the Bill Reid Gallery or Vancouver Art Gallery. Get into some active adventure, whether it’s water-biking False Creek or mountain-biking the North Shore. Evenings are best spent dining and drinking in Yaletown’s hip warehouse district.

The cruise might have ended, but there are still some great activities to enjoy in the area. If you flew into this port, be mindful of your departure flight time and plan accordingly.