Day 1 Flight to Vancouver/Cruise

Our journey begins with a flight from Minneapolis to Vancouver. We will board the Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam for a fun-filled 7 night cruise. There are many activities and entertainment to enjoy onboard the ship including local entertainment and live music, theme nights, cooking classes, wine classes, card games, enrichment lectures with location guides and more! A daily schedule with activities offered each day will be in your cabin every evening. We will dock at different locations throughout the cruise, you may stay on the ship or go to shore. The ship will offer many port excursions that you may join, these are at your own cost. All meals onboard the cruise ship are included. There are four restaurants onboard the ship which are included in your cruise. The Main Dining Room is Holland American's flagship dining featuring a sophisticated sit down meal serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are 2 formal evenings for dinner and the rest are considered smart casual attire in the main dining room. There is other dining options onboard the ship including the Lido Market which is more casual and cafeteria like option. Breakfast, lunch and dinner all served here. Other lunch and afternoon dining options include the Dive In which offers great burgers and dogs to-go. New York Pizza, a poolside option for personal sized pizzas and Italian salads. Room service is always available also for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (L, D)

Day 2 Cruising the Inside Passage

Today we’ll travel along the Alaska's scenic Inside Passage, a renowned cruising route through a protected network of waterways, featuring glacier-cut fjords, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife. Get outside and enjoy the scenery! This is also a great day to enjoy the all of the wonderful activities and entertainment onboard our ship. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Ketchikan, AK

This morning we will dock in Ketchikan, the town clutches the shores of the Tongass Narrows, with many shops and houses built right out over the water. The town calls itself the Salmon Capital of the World. Stroll and shop in the Creek Street Historic District, Alaska’s most notorious red-light district from 1902. (B, L, D)

Popular Port Excursions: The Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast, Misty Fjords by Float plane or Boat, Saxman Native Village Totem Pole Park, Totem Bight State Park, Salmon Fishing, Trolley Tour.

Day 4 Juneau, AK

No roads lead to Juneau, which gives the Alaskan capital a misty inscrutability. The massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields are at it's back door. The vast Tongass National Forest stretches away to the northeast. The adventures are as bountiful as the daylight. (B, L, D)

Popular Port Excursions: Whale Watching Salmon Fishing, Mendenhall Glacier & the Fish Hatchery, Glacier Gardens, Floatplane Tour, Helicoptor & Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier, Mendenhall Lake Float Trip, Mount Roberts Tram!

Day 5 Skagway, AK

At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the port town of Skagway served as the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields, and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement. It was then a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway—but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor, those looking to explore Alaska’s colorful history, pristine wildlife and unrivaled natural beauty. Walk the wooden boardwalks and see the restored buildings from the gold rush days while visiting the many shops and saloons in town. (B, L, D)

Popular Port Excursions: White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, Jewell Gardens, Gold Panning, Musher's Camp, Ghosts & Goodtime Girls Walking Tour, Skagway Street Car City Tour, “The Dangerous Days of ‘98” Show, Best of Skagway Tour & more!

Day 6 Glacier Bay, AK

Today we’ll cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, the glaciers practically terminate in your lap. When a chunk of ice splits off a glacier and thunders into the sea the impact shoots water hundreds of feet into the air. Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world. There will be commentary throughout the day along with park rangers onboard to answer questions and give information about this beautiful place. (B, L, D)

Day 7 College Fjord, AK

Discovered in the northwest corner of Prince William Sound during an 1899 research expedition, spectacular College Fjord and its glaciers were named after prestigious east coast schools by the college professors who first laid eyes upon their majesty. College Fjord not only boasts the world’s largest collection of tidewater glaciers, but it features magnificent snowcapped mountains as far as the eyes can see. Plus, during the summer, it’s not unheard of to catch a glimpse of one of the area’s 40-ton humpback whales feeding in the waters of the fjord. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Whittier/Anchorage, AK

We will disembark the ship in Whittier, a remote village is nestled along breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters and killer whales. Our Riley motorcoach will be waiting for us to continue on the land portion of our tour. We’ll travel the Seward Highway to Anchorage. A stop will be made in Girdwood, at the Alyeska Aerial Tramway where we’ll ride to the 2,300 foot level of Mount Alyeska. Take in panoramic views from the top of surrounding glaciers, Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains. Once we reach the top you can explore the area and have lunch on your own at the deli. Afterwards, we’ll continue to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. We’ll show you around the downtown area before dropping you off and giving you time to explore and have dinner. (B)

Day 9 Home

Today we say goodbye to our new friends and to this spectacular place. We will never forget the time we enjoyed in “the last frontier.”