Discover Alaska
2012 Cruise-Tour 14 Days / 13 Nights
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Celebrity's Millennium

Northbound - Vancouver to Fairbanks
Millennium departs May 30, June 13, July 11, August 8, 2012

Wed.

On arrival in Vancouver you will check in at the 4-Diamond AAA Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, the Number 1 rated airport hotel by Conde Nast.

Thur.

Enjoy a full day Sightseeing Tour to Victoria on Vancouver Island. This tour includes transportation by ferry, admission to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, and a Victoria tour with free time to explore.

Fri.

This morning you will tour the city of Vancouver taking you to Stanley Park for stunning view of Lion’s Gate Suspension Bridge at the beginning of the 1,100 mile inside passage, Elizabeth Gardens, Chinatown (the largest in North America), historic Gastown, and Canada Place where you will embark and enjoy lunch. Ship departs 4:30 PM.

Sat.

This is a relaxing day of cruising the Inside Passage where you will see land close by on both sides of the ship. Keep an eye out for wildlife and take time to explore and acquaint yourself with the ship, your outstanding floating resort for a full week.

Sun.

Ketchikan, AK, 7 AM - 4 PM.
After docking right in town, enjoy a scenic drive along the Tongass Narrows en route to Totem Bight State Park. Enjoy a short walk along a rain forest trail as your driver/guide brings to life the myths and legends depicted on the impressive collection of totems within the park. You will also have an opportunity to enter into a traditional Native clan house. Making your way back towards town, you will learn of the industries that helped to build Ketchikan and make it the "Salmon Capital of the World.”

Mon.

Icy Strait Point, AK, 9 AM - 6 PM
Located near the city of Hoonah, it is the largest native Tlingit Indian settlement in Alaska. Home to a historic cannery, the port's connection to the sea is strong. Locals share the sea with humpback whales, orcas, Dall porpoises, seals, sea otters, halibut and all five species of Pacific salmon. It is not uncommon to spot a humpback or an orca while walking along the shore. You will find a huge selection of optional tours available here.

Tue.

Juneau, AK, 7 AM - 8:30 PM.
Today’s included guided tour takes you through Juneau’s picturesque downtown and past the Capitol building on the way out of town. View the mighty Mendenhall Glacier, a river of ice with rugged crevasses and a distinctive blue color, which appears deceptively close because of its immense size. At the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center, take in the glaciology exhibits or listen to an interpretive talk by a Forest Service Ranger. A short walk along a nature trail brings you to within one mile of the face of the glacier for an excellent photo opportunity. Next we visit Juneau’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery.
Wed. Skagway, AK, 7 AM - 4 PM.
Enjoy a tour along the boardwalks of downtown's Historic District, and up to the scenic overlook for a panoramic view of the town, the ship, and surrounding glaciers and peaks. Hear the inside story about Skagway's geography and harsh winters and explore the Gold Rush Cemetery.

Thur.

 Cruising Hubbard Glacier 7 AM - 11 AM
The longest river of ice in North America, the Hubbard Glacier is also one of the most active glaciers of its kind in Alaska. And since the ships are designed to provide guests with the best viewing possible, you'll be able to see this massive natural wonder, with its 1,350 square miles of blue ice, from just about anywhere on the ship. Dress warmly (with that much ice, it's like standing in front of an open freezer) and don't forget your cameras and binoculars.

Fri.

 Arrive Seward 4 AM - Disembark the cruise ship in Seward and meet your Tour Director for the land tour portion of your trip. Board your exclusive restroom equipped motorcoach and enjoy a brief city tour of the coastal community of Seward with a stop at the Benny Benson Memorial. Ride in your luxury motorcoach from Seward for your trip north on the beautiful Seward Highway where you climb through mountains and then drop back down to the Turnagain Arm where the mountains rise out of the sea as you approach Anchorage. As you travel along Turnagain Arm you may see bald eagles on the shoreline, beluga whales in the inlet or sheep on the mountains. Upon arrival in Anchorage stop for a family style lunch at the Sourdough Mining Company. After lunch experience a city tour of Historic Anchorage including a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center with village sites which depict the type of housing used by native people in different parts of Alaska. Also during the city tour enjoy an exclusive visit to a bush pilot’s hanger and watch the float plane’s take off & land from his pier on Lake Hood. Bush planes are a key mode of transportation to the millions of acres in Alaska that have no roads. Arrive at the Sheraton hotel for check-in then transfer to dinner at the Snow Goose restaurant with great views of Cook Inlet.

Sat.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the rail depot for a ride on the world famous Alaska Railroad dome railcar from Anchorage to Denali. Lunch is included on board the rail. Keep an eye out for views of Mt. McKinley and wildlife, such as moose and bear along the Susitna River. The train travels at a leisurely pace and winds along the river. The railcar has an open air platform which is an excellent place to take photos. After settling in at the Grande Denali Lodge, enjoy an afternoon of exploring this pristine area at your leisure. Cabin Nite dinner theater is included tonight. Enjoy an evening of music and comedy. Your servers turn into performers as they tell the story of gold mining in Kantishna, the first people to climb Mt. McKinley and the establishment of Denali National Park. Overnight Denali.

Sun.

 After breakfast at hotel, travel into Denali National Park on the Denali Natural History bus tour where you will learn about this incredible park. The tour includes a visit to an old park service cabin and an interpretive Alaska Native presentation at a majestic view point. Be sure to look for moose, caribou, sheep, wolves and the elusive brown bear. (For $50 additional choose the 7-hour Tundra Wildlife Tour giving you additional opportunities to see wildlife - a box lunch is provided.) After the Natural History bus tour, lunch is included in Denali at the locally owned, Prospector Grill. This afternoon ride in your private deluxe motorcoach from Denali to Fairbanks. Stop in Nenana in route and visit the historical rail museum for a short break. This is where President Harding drove the golden spike and completed the connection of the 500 miles of rail in Alaska. Dinner is included this evening at your leisure an the Wedgewood Resort dining room. Overnight two nights in Fairbanks.
Mon. Breakfast at the hotel. Today, learn how the gold rush affected Alaska’s interior on a brief morning Fairbanks city tour including a visit to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Have your photo taken beside the pipeline where twenty-five percent of the daily US oil production travels from Prudhoe Bay via Fairbanks to Valdez. Visit the El Dorado Gold Mine, and learn about different methods of mining. Ride on a narrow gauge railroad through a permafrost tunnel. After a short demonstration try your hand at panning for gold. Lunch is included at the historic Pump House. The original building blasted the surrounding hillsides with water pumped out of the river which was then run through a sluice box to extract the gold. After lunch transfer to the Riverboat Discovery, a historic sternwheeler replica. Cruise the Chena & Tanana Rivers aboard this sternwheeler which will take you to see a sled dog demonstration and to a replica Athabascan Indian Camp where native interpreters will introduce you to Indian culture. Tonight enjoy dinner at the Alaskan Salmon Bake at Pioneer Park. Their prime rib and fish is freshly cooked over an open grill with a wonderful buffet of additional foods to enjoy. After dinner walk with the group to the Palace Saloon Show for a wild and rowdy time. This will be a fun action packed day to end your exploration of Alaska. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Tue.

After full American Breakfast, transfer to Airport for return flights

All itineraries and times are always subject to change.

 

 

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