September 1 – 9, 2016
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Special Features
- 8 Days and 7 Nights on the Celebrity Solstice
- Overnight in Seattle, WA with an included Seattle City tour
- Ketchikan, AK with an included KETCHIKAN CITY AND TOTEM BIGHT TOUR
- Tracy Arm Fjord scenic cruising
- Juneau, AK with an included MENDENHALL GLACIER AND JUNEAU TOUR
- Skagway, AK with an included WHITE PASS SUMMIT TOUR
- Scenic Cruising of the Inside Passage
- Victoria, British Columbia with gardens and charm galore
- Airfare to Seattle and Return from Vancouver, BC
You have the opportunity to take the adventure you always dreamed of. Witness dramatic displays of ice-shelves breaking off into icebergs. Visit cultures that have lived and loved the land for thousands of years. Marvel at moose and bear on the land, bald eagles soaring above, and humpback whales peacefully rolling with the sea. And, if nature cooperates, gaze upon the backdrop of a million stars showcasing the miracle of the Aurora Borealis.
Prices – Cruise with Airfare based on Double Occupancy
Interior: $3,125/pp
Verandah: $3,525/pp
Deluxe Balcony: $3,895/pp
Trip Protection Gold Ask for a Quote
Airfare is included in the above pricing.
Deposit: $250/pp due at time of booking
Final Payment Due: June 1, 2016
Day 1, Thursday, September 1
We begin our journey to the great north with group air from Springfield, MO to Seattle, WA where we will have overnight accommodations in a Seattle area hotel. Use this time on your own to explore Seattle’s vibrant downtown with its Space Needle, many scenic neighborhoods or visit the famous Pike Fish Market to see the fish being thrown.
Day 2, Friday, September 2
Today we will enjoy a tour of Seattle to include downtown Seattle, Seattle Waterfront and Pioneer Square. We will pass through many unique neighborhoods, like Chinatown, Queen Anne, and Fremont, and enjoy outstanding views of the city. Visit Ballard Locks with ladders for the spawning salmon, see the Giant Bridge Troll, and eye the famous “Sleepless in Seattle” floating home. As we drive through downtown Seattle, we will learn about Pike Place Market and the first Starbuck’s. Later in the afternoon we will board our fabulous cruise ship, the Celebrity Solstice, to begin our cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage. Dinner will be on board the ship tonight. (D)
Day 3, Saturday, September 3
Today we are at sea. Use today to get to know your cruise ship and all of its amenities. Take advantage of the Spa, Ice Cream selection, many bar and meal venues and, of course, take in the beautiful ocean scenery. Bring your swim suit as the ship does boast an indoor pool. (B, L, D)
Day 4, Sunday, September 4
Today we are in Ketchikan, Alaska. You’ve never tasted salmon so fresh. Known as the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’, Ketchikan is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, who have carved the world’s largest collection of totem poles. Sunnyland is including the KETCHIKAN CITY AND TOTEM BIGHT TOUR with your cruise. This tour will take you to the outskirts of Ketchikan, as Totem Bight is a lovely 15 minutes from downtown. It was originally the site of a traditional fishing camp and has proven to be a peaceful spot on the edge of Tongass Narrows. The short walk through the woods to the location of the totems provides both an aesthetic and educational experience. This tour last about 2.5 hours leaving you ample time to enjoy Ketchikan’s delightful downtown area or include another shore excursion such as a sea plane tour of the Misty Fjords. (B, L, D)
Day 5, Monday, September 5
Today we enjoy the scenic cruising of the Tracy Arm Fjord. Book-ended by two of Alaska’s most dramatic glaciers, the North and South Sawyer, and surrounded by granite walls that rise 3,000 feet from the emerald colored seas, this area has everything you’ve come to Alaska to experience. With luck we’ll see whales and sea lions and get to see the glaciers calving, the point in time when a piece of the glacier breaks off and becomes an iceberg.
Later today we make our way to Juneau, Alaska, a city that gracefully balances frontier ruggedness with cosmopolitan flair. Sunnyland is providing a shore excursion – MENDENHALL GLACIER AND JUNEAU TOUR After an interesting tour of the distinctive architecture and angled streets that mark historic downtown Juneau, you will visit the remarkable Mendenhall Glacier. Here, you will spend one hour appreciating one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. At some times of the year, you can even witness bears catching fish from a stream. Your return will take you on a different route, through Auke Lake and the University of Alaska-Juneau. This tour is unique because of the length of time in each location and the native guides who add their insight to your experience. (B, L, D)
Day 6, Tuesday, September 6
Our port today is Skagway, Alaska, a charming little town with a frontier spirit. Skagway was the starting point for prospect miners for the Yukon Gold Rush of the late 1890’s. Sunnyland is including a shore excursion – WHITE PASS SUMMIT TOUR Your comfortable motorcoach parallels the train en route to the White Pass Summit and will pick you up and deliver you right back to the cruise ship pier. Mountain glaciers and waterfalls will set the scene as you imagine those goldminers trekking on foot. Stops will include Pitchfork Falls, the Moore Bridge, the famous White Pass Summit, Tormented Valley, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Gold Rush Cemetery (where the legendary Soapy Smith was laid to rest), plus a stop at the Skagway scenic overlook. This should be called the Best of Skagway! The tour is approximately 2.5 hours leaving you time to visit the Red Onion Saloon or enjoy a brew at the Skagway Brewery.
Later in the day we will cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage where we will sail into the more protected area of the passage, a complex labyrinth of fjords and bays where whales and sea lions find refuge during the summer months. (B, L, D)
Day 7, Wednesday, September 7
Today is a relaxing day at sea to enjoy our ship and the surrounding scenery. (B, L, D)
Day 8, Thursday, September 8
Today our port of call is Victoria, British Columbia. The capital of British Columbia is also its largest island. This one-time British colony has retained much of its colonial splendor. Victoria is a seaside enclave that enjoys a temperate climate. Which is great, because you’ll want to explore all the museums, parks and perhaps venture to Butchart Gardens to see one of the finest gardens in North America. (B, L, D)
Day 9, Friday, September 9
Our debarkation port today is Vancouver, British Columbia. We will say good-bye to our lovely ship and transfer to the Vancouver International Airport for our flight back to Springfield, Missouri. (B)