Alaska Cruise from Juneau to Tacoma — 16 Days

Juneau, USA

Juneau is Alaska’s capital, yet no road connects it to the rest of Alaska. Most visitors arrive by sea or air. Set between the Gastineau Channel and steep, forested mountains, the city makes an unusually compact base for exploring Southeast Alaska. From downtown, visit the Alaska State Museum, ride the Mount Roberts Tramway, or travel about 12 miles to Mendenhall Glacier. Whale-watching trips can reveal humpbacks feeding in nearby waters.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Haines, USA

Haines occupies a striking position on Lynn Canal, where forested mountains rise straight from the water. Its compact streets lead to Fort William H. Seward, a restored military post with galleries, shops, and local history. Beyond town, the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve protects a major winter gathering place for bald eagles. Explore by road, river, or trail, with wildlife, Tlingit heritage, and expansive Alaskan scenery close at hand.

Skagway, USA

Skagway is a small Alaska town with a large place in gold-rush history. In 1898, prospectors crowded its waterfront before setting out for the Klondike. Today, restored storefronts and wooden boardwalks preserve the feel of that hurried boomtown. The White Pass & Yukon Route climbs from the harbor through steep mountain scenery on a celebrated narrow-gauge railway. Beyond town, trails and glacier-fed rivers bring the scale of Alaska’s wilderness close.

Glacier Bay, USA

Glacier Bay is Alaska at its most elemental: a vast marine wilderness where tidewater glaciers meet the sea. Cruise ships enter this protected national park, often with a park ranger aboard to interpret the landscape. Watch for calving ice, humpback whales, sea otters and bald eagles. The bay is also the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit, whose connection to this changing coast reaches back generations. Bring binoculars, and stay on deck.

Frederick Sound Alaska (Scenic Area)

Petersburg AK, USA

Petersburg sits on Mitkof Island, where fishing boats still outnumber tour buses and Norwegian heritage shapes the town’s character. Walk the compact waterfront to see a working fleet, seafood processors and mountains rising beyond Frederick Sound. Boat trips explore nearby LeConte Glacier, with seals and eagles often spotted along the way. On shore, forest trails and local museums offer a closer look at life in this self-reliant Southeast Alaska community.

Wrangell AK, USA

Wrangell occupies the northern tip of Wrangell Island, where the Stikine River meets the sea. Tlingit heritage and a layered past come into focus at Chief Shakes Island and the local museum. At Petroglyph Beach, ancient carvings appear between tides. In summer, boat trips reach Anan Wildlife Observatory, where bears gather to feed on salmon. Here, Indigenous history and untamed river country remain close at hand.

Ketchikan, USA

Set on Revillagigedo Island in southeast Alaska, Ketchikan is a working fishing town framed by the Tongass National Forest. Its waterfront rises steeply above the Inside Passage, where fishing boats and floatplanes share the harbor. Walk Creek Street, a former red-light district built over Ketchikan Creek. At the Totem Heritage Center, see Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian art. For wilderness, boat or fly to Misty Fjords National Monument.

Inside Passage

Alaska’s Inside Passage is not a single port, but a sheltered coastal route threading southeastern Alaska’s islands, channels and fjords. From the ship, watch for bald eagles, whales and mountains rising straight from the water. Calls may include Juneau, Ketchikan or Skagway, each with a distinct story, from Tlingit heritage to Gold Rush history. Bring binoculars; here, the finest moments often unfold between destinations.

Queen Charlotte Sound BC (Scenic Area)

Georgia Strait Canada (Scenic Area)

Friday Harbor WA, USA

Friday Harbor is the San Juan Islands’ lively small-town hub, set on San Juan Island’s sheltered eastern shore. Ferries arrive beside a compact waterfront, where galleries, cafés and independent shops make an easy first stroll. Beyond town, quiet roads lead past farms, shoreline parks and views across the Salish Sea. Join a whale-watching trip or visit the Whale Museum, then return in time for a locally caught dinner.

Anacortes WA, USA

Anacortes sits on Fidalgo Island, where Washington’s mainland meets the Salish Sea. Its ferry terminal connects the town with the San Juan Islands. Deception Pass State Park is a short drive south. Explore historic downtown, browse independent shops, or follow the waterfront to Cap Sante Marina. Allow time for island views and local history. The harbor offers a close look at working life on the water.

Tacoma WA, USA

Tacoma pairs a working waterfront with a lively arts scene and clear-day views of Mount Rainier. Downtown, the Museum of Glass and Washington State History Museum make an easy cultural doubleheader. The Bridge of Glass, adorned with Dale Chihuly’s work, links the museum district with downtown. Along Ruston Way, waterfront paths, seafood restaurants, and views across Commencement Bay invite a slower pace. Point Defiance Park offers forest trails and gardens within city limits.

• Puget Sound WA (Scenic Area)