Fri, June 19: Fly to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Upon arrival, transfer to your downtown hotel and check-in for one night. The extra daylight hours will allow plenty of time to wander and catch a great photograph of the surrounding Chugach Mountains. Enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. (Meals: Dinner)

Sat, June 20: After an included breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a city tour of Anchorage featuring Lake Hood, the largest float plane base in the world, Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 Earthquake, the Historic Downtown Area, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center where you will have a chance to absorb the history and culture of Alaska. Travel south along the breathtaking Seward Highway to the resort town of Girdwood. Upon arrival in Girdwood enjoy a scenic tram ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska. Check-in for one night stay at Alyeska Resort—a chateau-style resort nestled in a lush valley with stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks and glaciers. (B)

Sun, June 21: Bid farewell to Girdwood after breakfast as you travel by deluxe motorcoach on a scenic transfer to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Visit with the local residents—bison, elk, bear, caribou, moose—that live in a sanctuary of spacious habitats on over 200 acres. Lunch is included at Bison Hall. Continue the adventure with a one-hour cruise to Portage Glacier and stand in awe in the face of a mighty relic of the Ice Age. Watch for calving glaciers, ice pieces that break off and crash into the water below, to put on a show. Transfer to Whittier and embark on Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Amsterdam, your home for the next seven nights. Relax and settle in your stateroom, explore the ship, and enjoy dinner onboard. The ship departs this evening. (B,L,D)

Mon, June 22: Sleep in, relax and indulge in the ships amenities as you cruise. Scenic cruising this afternoon towards Hubbard Glacier, earning the nickname “the Galloping Glacier” as its rapidly advancing ice margin increases up to seven feet in one day! (B,L,D)

Tue, June 23: Cruise Glacier Bay National Park. Spend the day on deck to see seals and sea lions and keep an eye out for whales! Sail up close to some the most actively calving glaciers, known as “white thunder”. National Park Rangers will board the ship and provide interesting and educational commentary. (B,L,D)

Wed, June 24: Experience the activities in and around Skagway, a picturesque Gold Rush town. An Ambassadair included excursion is the not-to-be-missed White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway. Relax in vintage passenger coach as you retrace the original route to the White Pass Summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch with breathtaking panorama views of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and original Klondike Trail of 1898 worn in the rocks. (B,L,D)

Thu, June 25: Cruise to Juneau, the state capital of Alaska, accessible by air or water only. With its bounty of water, forests, mountains, and glaciers, Juneau offers a variety of optional activities. Highlights include the Taku Glacier Lodge, Feast & Five Glacier Seaplane excursion, a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefields, whale watching, rafting, fishing, dog sledding, and hiking. (B,L,D)

Fri, June 26: Spend the day in Ketchikan, located in the Tongass National Forest. The forest is named for the Tongass group of the Tlingit people, who inhabited the southernmost areas of Southeast Alaska, near what is now the city of Ketchikan. Choose to explore on your own or book an optional excursion.* Immerse yourself in Tlingit Indiana culture and view the world’s largest collection of totem poles, see the Lumberjack Show or stroll the boardwalk through Creek Street, the former “red light” district—now filled with delightful galleries and artisan shops. (B,L,D)

Sat, June 27: Spend a relaxing day partaking in the ship’s amenities and onboard activities as you sail through Alaska’s Inside Passage. Sail through the smooth water shaped by glaciers and snow-capped mountains, putting you closer to land that is home to native wildlife including whales, sea lions, bears, bald eagles, otters, and puffins. (B,L,D)

Sun, June 28: Disembark in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada this morning and transfer to the airport to fly home. (B)

Note: Additional costs apply for optional excursions.