Cruising through the Inside Passage is really what has made Alaska cruising so popular. This trip captures so much of what people love about Alaska. There are glaciers the size of Rhode Island. Misty rain forests and ghostly blue fjords.  And spirited communities that celebrate their varied heritage. Be sure to take in every view as you sail through one of the most beautiful parts of Alaska.

The One Thing You Don't Want to Miss
The highlight of any cruise through the Inside Passage has to be Hubbard Glacier. It is one of the most active glaciers in the area and a great place to experience the majesty of a glacier up close. Sheets of ice separate themselves from the ice field in a process known as "galloping." When the ice finally crashes into the sea, you can hear a loud cracking sound, similar to a starter pistol. This process is known as "calving," and the sound echoes for miles

Cities, towns and villages of the Inside Passage
Here's a quick tour of Southeast Alaska, moving from south to north.
  • Metlakatla (1,421 residents) has Alaska's only Indian reservation.
  • Ketchikan (7,845) plays up its boisterous history of timber, gold and fishing.
  • Craig (1,227) is a fishing and timber town, but many people like it for its kayaking possibilities and access to the many caves on Prince of Wales Island, the country's third largest island.
  • Hyder, (89) where bears dine in Fish Creek, is accessible through British Columbia.
  • Wrangell (2,144) features petroglyphs and access to the Stikine River and to Anan Creek's salmon-eating black bears.
  • Petersburg, (3,146) a fishing town, enjoys its Scandinavian heritage.
  • Sitka, (8,894) the only Southeast town facing the Gulf of Alaska, has Sitka National Historical Park to remember its Native and Russian background, and lots of whales near shore.
  • Juneau (30,981) has a mountain tram, a salmon hatchery, the state museum and the governor's mansion.
  • Hoonah (868) is the main home of the Huna, a Tlingit tribe that has lived in the Glacier Bay/Icy Strait area since prehistory.
  • Haines (1,714) has Fort William H. Seward, dancers, the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, and a road that connects with the Alaska Highway.
  • Skagway (841) was the debarkation point for stampeders heading over Chilkoot Pass in the Klondike gold rush of 1897-98. A great deal of town is now part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
  • Gustavus (421) is the front door to Glacier Bay National Park. Watch for bears and whales on your way to the glaciers.
  • Yakutat, (724) where steelhead trout and salmon fill the streams, is on the way to Hubbard Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Water and wildlife
Kayakers love the Inside Passage for its islands and coves. Anglers love the fishing -- the trout, the halibut and especially the big runs of salmon, which at one time allowed Ketchikan to boast that it was the salmon capital of the world.

Whales, especially humpbacks, thrive in the lush, cold waters of Southeast. Whale-watching tours are available in many towns, and scientists come from around the world to study cetaceans near Petersburg and Sitka. This is an area full of wildlife.

List of all Alaska Ports:

Disclaimer      Privacy Policy    Cancellation Policy