Baranof Island Alaska Cruise from Sitka to Juneau — 8 Days

Sitka, USA

Set between forested mountains and the Pacific, Sitka occupies the west coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska. Here, Tlingit history and Russian influence meet in a compact town reached chiefly by air or sea. Walk Sitka National Historical Park’s coastal trail among carved totem poles. The park interprets the 1804 conflict between Tlingit people and Russian forces. St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Sheldon Jackson Museum add depth, while nearby waters invite wildlife watching.

Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Icy Strait Point, USA

Icy Strait Point sits beside Hoonah on Chichagof Island, Alaska. A restored salmon cannery anchors the waterfront, with exhibits, local shops and Tlingit cultural experiences. Whale-watching boats venture into Icy Strait, where humpbacks feed in summer and sea lions and eagles are often seen. Ashore, forest trails, a gondola and a long zipline offer a change of pace. Hoonah brings an authentic community within easy reach of the cruise dock.

• Inian Islands Alaska (Scenic Stop)

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)

Chatham Strait 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.

Tracy Arm Fjord, USA

Tracy Arm is a 30-mile glacial fjord in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, about 45 miles south of Juneau. Its steep granite walls rise above teal water, while waterfalls stream down the cliffs in summer. At the fjord’s head, the twin Sawyer Glaciers calve ice into the water, often sending small bergs drifting past. Ships move slowly here; the best views are from deck, where wildlife may include seals and eagles.

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.