Icons of Western Canada & Alaskan Cruise

Glide onto the icy expanse of the Athabasca Glacier on board an Ice Explorer, immersing yourself in the ancient beauty of this frozen landscape. Later, in Jasper, retreat to the cosy comforts of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, nestled amidst the awe-inspiring wilderness of Jasper National Park.

Scenic Freechoice Dining:
Select from a range of included restaurants at your hotel tonight, from Italian to a steakhouse.

Spanning an impressive area of approximately 11,000 square kilometres, World Heritage-listed Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Explore this stunning region today, choosing from a range of Scenic Freechoice experiences.

Scenic Freechoice:
Peak Nic Hike:  In July 2024, a massive wildfire burned over 33,000 hectares in Jasper National Park, the largest in over 100 years. A year later, the land is recovering, with new flora, wildlife, and a hopeful future. On the hike, you’ll trek 4 km through the fire-impacted area, learning about plant species, wildlife, and the natural history of the park. At the peak, enjoy panoramic views and a hot lunch while discussing the role of wildfires in nature’s cycle. It’s a unique experience to witness the power and recovery of nature firsthand.

Athabasca River rafting: Join an experienced guide and raft down the Athabasca River.

Maligne Canyon & Lakes Tour: Marvel at sheer cliffs and stunning vistas from the top of Maligne Canyon. Enjoy a scenic drive through Jasper’s stunning lake area.

Harley Davidson SidecarTM tour: Hit the open roads of Jasper National Park on a chauffeured motorcycle sidecar tour.

Snowshoeing: (Early season only) Put on your snowshoes and explore with an experienced guide through the pristine wilderness of Jasper National Park.

Nestled amidst British Columbia’s scenic beauty lies Sun Peaks, a bustling ski resort village. Surrounded by lush forests, winding rivers and sparkling lakes, it’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts year-round. Overnight at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel.

Travel through scenic landscapes past the Thompson and Fraser rivers to the town of Lillooet, steeped in gold rush history. Continue to the famous alpine resort of Whistler.

On arrival, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre which embodies the cultures and traditions of two unique Nations, the Squamish and Lil’wat.

Enjoy your two-night stay at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, a slice of alpine luxury at the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

Nestled in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Whistler is a renowned destination for outdoor enthusiasts. With its stunning alpine scenery, world-class ski slopes and vibrant village atmosphere, Whistler offers a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation in every season. Today, choose from a range of activities to explore this captivating town.

Scenic Freechoice:
Whistler helicopter flightseeing: Soar above Whistler on a 12-minute helicopter flight for awe-inspiring views of this mountain region.

Zip lining: Hold on tight and fly like an eagle over the Fitzsimmons Valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

Peak 2 Peak Gondola: Travel by gondola or chairlift on Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains, transferring between both on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

Whistler tasting tour: Explore the eclectic culinary scene. Enjoy a delicious multi-course lunch whilst visiting some of the best local eating spots. Indulge your sweet tooth at a chocolate shop.

Mountain adventure tour: Enjoy a mountain sightseeing tour of Whistler Blackcomb and the surrounding valley.

Sea to Sky Gondola: (Early season only) Reconnect with nature safely at the Sea to Sky Gondola. Enjoy the journey to the summit whilst taking in sweeping views of the stunning ocean and mountain vistas of Howe Sound.

Victoria, the capital of a province whose license plates brazenly label it “The Best Place on Earth,” is a walkable, livable seaside city of fragrant gardens, waterfront paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19th-century architecture. In summer, the Inner Harbour—Victoria’s social and cultural center—buzzes with visiting yachts, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainers, and excursion boats heading out to visit pods of friendly local whales. Yes, it might be a bit touristy, but Victoria’s good looks, gracious pace, and manageable size are instantly beguiling, especially if you stand back to admire the mountains and ocean beyond. At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria dips slightly below the 49th parallel. That puts it farther south than most of Canada, giving it the mildest climate in the country, with virtually no snow and less than half the rain of Vancouver. The city’s geography, or at least its place names, can cause confusion. Just to clarify: the city of Victoria is on Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island). The city of Vancouver is on the British Columbia mainland, not on Vancouver Island. At any rate, that upstart city of Vancouver didn’t even exist in 1843 when Victoria, then called Fort Victoria, was founded as the westernmost trading post of the British-owned Hudson’s Bay Company. Victoria was the first European settlement on Vancouver Island, and in 1868 it became the capital of British Columbia. The British weren’t here alone, of course. The local First Nations people—the Songhees, the Saanich, and the Sooke—had already lived in the areas for thousands of years before anyone else arrived. Their art and culture are visible throughout southern Vancouver Island. You can see this in private and public galleries, in the totems at Thunderbird Park, in the striking collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum, and at the Quw’utsun’Cultural and Conference Centre in nearby Duncan. Spanish explorers were the first foreigners to explore the area, although they left little more than place names (Galiano Island and Cordova Bay, for example). The thousands of Chinese immigrants drawn by the gold rushes of the late 19th century had a much greater impact, founding Canada’s oldest Chinatown and adding an Asian influence that’s still quite pronounced in Victoria’s multicultural mix. Despite its role as the provincial capital, Victoria was largely eclipsed, economically, by Vancouver throughout the 20th century. This, as it turns out, was all to the good, helping to preserve Victoria’s historic downtown and keeping the city largely free of skyscrapers and highways. For much of the 20th century, Victoria was marketed to tourists as “The Most British City in Canada,” and it still has more than its share of Anglo-themed pubs, tea shops, and double-decker buses. These days, however, Victorians prefer to celebrate their combined indigenous, Asian, and European heritage, and the city’s stunning wilderness backdrop. Locals do often venture out for afternoon tea, but they’re just as likely to nosh on dim sum or tapas. Decades-old shops sell imported linens and tweeds, but newer upstarts offer local designs in hemp and organic cotton. And let’s not forget that fabric prevalent among locals: Gore-Tex. The outdoors is ever present here. You can hike, bike, kayak, sail, or whale-watch straight from the city center, and forests, beaches, offshore islands, and wilderness parklands lie just minutes away. A little farther afield, there’s surfing near Sooke, wine touring in the Cowichan Valley, and kayaking among the Gulf Islands.

Explore the enchanting Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, renowned for its stunning floral displays and serene landscapes. Wander through vibrant flowerbeds, tranquil ponds and winding pathways, discovering the beauty of this botanical paradise.

This afternoon, choose from a selection of immersive Scenic Freechoice excursions to explore this region.

Scenic Freechoice:
Whale watching: Join a cruise on a boat or Zodiac and search for a variety of whales, including orcas, plus seals and bald eagles.

Scenic floatplane flight: Soar above for a bird’s eye view of Victoria and a literal ‘overview’ of all that Vancouver Island has to offer.

Bites & Sights Tour: An adventure through history, flavours, and hidden gems that will leave you in awe of this charming capital city!

Victoria Gorge Tour: A guided Victoria gorge boat tour that offers a unique glimpse into the city’s past and present.

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress: Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the Tea Lobby of the Fairmont Empress, a delightful experience that touches on the city’s British heritage.

This evening, join your Tour Director and fellow adventurers for a celebratory farewell dinner.

Vancouver is a delicious juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure. The mountains and seascape make the city an outdoor playground for hiking, skiing, kayaking, cycling, and sailing—and so much more—while the cuisine and arts scenes are equally diverse, reflecting the makeup of Vancouver’s ethnic (predominantly Asian) mosaic. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities, and it’s easy for visitors to see why. It’s beautiful, it’s outdoorsy, and there’s a laidback West Coast vibe. On the one hand, there’s easy access to a variety of outdoor activities, a fabulous variety of beaches, and amazing parks. At the same time, the city has a multicultural vitality and cosmopolitan flair. The attraction is as much in the range of food choices—the fresh seafood and local produce are some of North America’s best—as it is in the museums, shopping, and nightlife.Vancouver’s landscaping also adds to the city’s walking appeal. In spring, flowerbeds spill over with tulips and daffodils while sea breezes scatter scented cherry blossoms throughout Downtown; in summer office workers take to the beaches, parks, and urban courtyards for picnic lunches and laptop meetings. More than 8 million visitors each year come to Vancouver, Canada’s third-largest metropolitan area. Because of its peninsula location, traffic flow is a contentious issue. Thankfully, Vancouver is wonderfully walkable, especially in the downtown core. The North Shore is a scoot across the harbor, and the rapid-transit system to Richmond and the airport means that staying in the more affordable ’burbs doesn’t have to be synonymous with sacrificing convenience. The mild climate, exquisite natural scenery, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle keep attracting residents, and the number of visitors is increasing for the same reasons. People often get their first glimpse of Vancouver when catching an Alaskan cruise, and many return at some point to spend more time here.

Enjoy a day of rest today as you settle into your luxurious surrounds. Relax with a book, visit the spa or explore the restaurants and lounges on board the ship as we cruise northwards.

Juneau, Alaska’s capital and third-largest city, is on the North American mainland but can’t be reached by road. Bounded by steep mountains and water, the city’s geographic isolation and compact size make it much more akin to an island community such as Sitka than to other Alaskan urban centers, such as Fairbanks or Anchorage. Juneau is full of contrasts. Its dramatic hillside location and historic downtown buildings provide a frontier feeling, but the city’s cosmopolitan nature comes through in fine museums, noteworthy restaurants, and a literate and outdoorsy populace. The finest of the museums, the Alaska State Museum, is scheduled to reopen in May 2016 on its old site as the expanded Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum (SLAM) following several years of planning and exhibit research. Another new facility, the Walter Soboleff Center, offers visitors a chance to learn about the indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska–-Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Other highlights include the Mt. Roberts Tramway, plenty of densely forested wilderness areas, quiet bays for sea kayaking, and even a famous drive-up glacier, Mendenhall Glacier. For goings-on, pick up the Juneau Empire (www.juneauempire.com), which keeps tabs on state politics, business, sports, and local news.

Located at the northern terminus of the Inside Passage, Skagway is a one-hour ferry ride from Haines. By road, however, the distance is 359 miles, as you have to take the Haines Highway up to Haines Junction, Yukon, then take the Alaska Highway 100 miles south to Whitehorse, and then drive a final 100 miles south on the Klondike Highway to Skagway. North-country folk call this sightseeing route the Golden Horseshoe or Golden Circle tour, because it passes a lot of gold-rush country in addition to spectacular lake, forest, and mountain scenery.The town is an amazingly preserved artifact from North America’s biggest, most-storied gold rush. Most of the downtown district forms part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, a unit of the National Park System dedicated to commemorating and interpreting the frenzied stampede of 1897 that extended to Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon.Nearly all the historic sights are within a few blocks of the cruise-ship and ferry dock, allowing visitors to meander through the town’s attractions at whatever pace they choose. Whether you’re disembarking from a cruise ship, a ferry, or a dusty automobile fresh from the Golden Circle, you’ll quickly discover that tourism is the lifeblood of this town. Unless you’re visiting in winter or hiking into the backcountry on the Chilkoot Trail, you aren’t likely to find a quiet Alaska experience around Skagway.

Located in Southeast Alaska, west of the capital city of Juneau, Glacier Bay is a beautiful National Park full of snow capped mountains, tidewater glaciers and wildlife. Experience wildlife in all its beauty from boat trips for whale watching and hiking through the trails of the Park. It is a protected area full of wonder to be explored.

Ketchikan is famous for its colorful totem poles, rainy skies, steep–as–San Francisco streets, and lush island setting. Some 13,500 people call the town home, and, in the summer, cruise ships crowd the shoreline, floatplanes depart noisily for Misty Fiords National Monument, and salmon-laden commercial fishing boats motor through Tongass Narrows. In the last decade Ketchikan’s rowdy, blue-collar heritage of logging and fishing has been softened by the loss of many timber-industry jobs and the dramatic rise of cruise-ship tourism. With some effort, though, visitors can still glimpse the rugged frontier spirit that once permeated this hardscrabble cannery town. Art lovers should make a beeline for Ketchikan: the arts community here is very active. Travelers in search of the perfect piece of Alaska art will find an incredible range of pieces to choose from.The town is at the foot of 3,000-foot Deer Mountain, near the southeastern corner of Revillagigedo (locals shorten it to Revilla) Island. Prior to the arrival of white miners and fishermen in 1885, the Tlingit used the site at the mouth of Ketchikan Creek as a summer fish camp. Gold discoveries just before the turn of the 20th century brought more immigrants, and valuable timber and commercial fishing resources spurred new industries. By the 1930s the town bragged that it was the “salmon-canning capital of the world.” You will still find some of Southeast’s best salmon fishing around here. Ketchikan is the first bite of Alaska that many travelers taste. Despite its imposing backdrop, hillside homes, and many staircases, the town is relatively easy to walk through. Favorite downtown stops include the Spruce Mill Development shops and Creek Street. A bit farther away you’ll find the Totem Heritage Center. Out of town (but included on most bus tours) are two longtime favorites: Totem Bight State Historical Park to the north and Saxman Totem Park to the south.

Savour the final day of your cruise. Unwind and reflect on all the amazing places you visited as we sail southward.

Vancouver is a delicious juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure. The mountains and seascape make the city an outdoor playground for hiking, skiing, kayaking, cycling, and sailing—and so much more—while the cuisine and arts scenes are equally diverse, reflecting the makeup of Vancouver’s ethnic (predominantly Asian) mosaic. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities, and it’s easy for visitors to see why. It’s beautiful, it’s outdoorsy, and there’s a laidback West Coast vibe. On the one hand, there’s easy access to a variety of outdoor activities, a fabulous variety of beaches, and amazing parks. At the same time, the city has a multicultural vitality and cosmopolitan flair. The attraction is as much in the range of food choices—the fresh seafood and local produce are some of North America’s best—as it is in the museums, shopping, and nightlife.Vancouver’s landscaping also adds to the city’s walking appeal. In spring, flowerbeds spill over with tulips and daffodils while sea breezes scatter scented cherry blossoms throughout Downtown; in summer office workers take to the beaches, parks, and urban courtyards for picnic lunches and laptop meetings. More than 8 million visitors each year come to Vancouver, Canada’s third-largest metropolitan area. Because of its peninsula location, traffic flow is a contentious issue. Thankfully, Vancouver is wonderfully walkable, especially in the downtown core. The North Shore is a scoot across the harbor, and the rapid-transit system to Richmond and the airport means that staying in the more affordable ’burbs doesn’t have to be synonymous with sacrificing convenience. The mild climate, exquisite natural scenery, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle keep attracting residents, and the number of visitors is increasing for the same reasons. People often get their first glimpse of Vancouver when catching an Alaskan cruise, and many return at some point to spend more time here.