Day 1 — Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Arrive in Vancouver and Board Your Cruise Ship
Welcome aboard your Alaska adventure as we depart today and fly into Vancouver, where we board our cruise ship and begin our “North To Alaska” adventure! Following embarkation we settle into our Holland America Ship, ms Ryndam, our home for the next three nights. Enjoy dinner and the evening events onboard. (D)
Day 2 — Thursday, August 14, 2008
Inside Passage Cruising
Today is your day to sit back, and relax and enjoy all the amenities of 5star cruising on Holland America. There will be fascinating scenery to view at every turn of our voyage as we travel through the inside passage. (B, L, D)
Day 3 —Friday, August 15, 2008
Tracy Arm, Glacier Scenic Cruising, Arrive In Juneau
Today enjoy exploring the Tracy Arm Glacier. Now that we have become familiar with our cruise ship, and all the pampering onboard, we will have the opportunity to experience our first encounter with the majestic glaciers. Today will give us the chance to get up close and personal with glaciers as our captain maneuvers our ship into position for spectacular views of Glacier National Park. Imagine coming face to face with a wall of ice six miles wide, over 40 stories high, and 76 miles long. This afternoon we arrive in the city of Juneau where you will have ample time to explore their capitol city. An adventure to consider is an optional whale watching or wildlife quest event. (B, L, D)
Day 4—Saturday, August 16, 2008
Skagway To Whitehorse
We arrive in Skagway this morning where we meet our local tour director and begin our sightseeing aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. Tonight we arrive in Whitehorse, the capitol of the Yukon Territory. (B)
Day 5 — Sunday, August 17, 2008
Explorer Coach To Dawson City
Today we trace the Yukon River north following the colorful Klondike Trail. Lunch is included in Minto before we arrive in Dawson City, a Klondike National Historic Site. (B, L)
Day 6—Monday, August 18, 2008
Optional Dawson City And Tombstone Park Adventures
Today we venture into the ancient land at Tombstone Park. Here you have the option to join local interpreters and explore natural marvels 2 billion years old on this wildlife viewing hike. This remote region is blessed with wildlife and dramatic landscapes. Or you may wish to stay in rollicking Dawson City, a National Historic site reliving the gold rush days. Another optional favorite is to visit Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall! (B)
Day 7— Tuesday, August 19, 2008
MV Yukon Queen II River Cruise, Eagle and Tok
Today we cruise 102 miles of the scenic Yukon River aboard our MV Yukon Queen II Catamaran — A Holland America exclusive. Enjoy lunch as we hear the tales of river pilots, mail carriers, mounties and prospectors. We disembark in Eagle for a guided tour. Later we visit the tiny town of Chicken and then onto the town of Tok for our overnight stay. (B, 1)
Day 8 — Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Explorer Coach To Fairbanks Via Alaska Highway
This morning, we travel this celebrated route, stopping at an authentic Alaskan roadhouse for a taste of frontier Alaska. At Gold Dredge No. 9, a National Historic Site, browse the mining exhibits, pan for gold and dine in the miner’s hall where we have lunch included. We travel on to Fairbanks for our overnight stay. Enjoy the evening in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska’s “Golden Heart” city. For those seeking a local flavor event you may want to consider taking in an authentic Alaska Salmon Bake. (B, 1)
Day 9—Thursday, August 21, 2008
McKinley Explorer Rail To Denali National Park
This morning, after checking out our hotel, we board the McKinley Explorer, the largest domed railcars on the historic Alaska Railroad route. Sit back and relax in the observation lounge. You’ll arrive and check into your comfortable lodge and later enjoy a 6 to 8 hour Tundra Wilderness Tour of Denali National Park — the best tour for wildlife viewing and dramatic Mt. McKinley viewpoints. Tonight, enjoy your Denali Park Lodge. An optional evening event available is the Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre. (B)
Day 10— Friday, August 22, 2008
McKinley Explorer To Anchorage
Enjoy dramatic sights and attentive service with a day of award winning rail experience. With the morning free for you to enjoy as you wish you may want to partake of an optional helicopter flight seeing event. After a morning at leisure re-board the McKinley Explorer on the way to Anchorage for our last overnight stay. Upon arrival we transfer to our downtown hotel in Alaska’s largest city where you will enjoy an included dinner and the rest of the evening at leisure. (B,D)
Day 11 — Saturday, August 23, 2008
Transfer To Airport, Return Flight Home
We transfer to the airport this morning and board our return flight back to the Midwest. We return home with many wonderful memories of our North to Alaska Adventure!