18-Nt Japan, Alaska & Pacific Crossing

Set along the east coast of the Iwate Prefecture, Miyako is a picturesque port town known for its rugged coastal scenery and fresh seafood. The highlight is Jodogahama Beach, famous for its striking white rock formations and crystal-clear waters, often considered one of Japan’s most beautiful beaches. Visitors can enjoy peaceful coastal walks, scenic boat cruises along the cliffs, and sample local specialties such as freshly caught seafood.

Hakodate is one of the most popular city destinations in Japan. Here you can experience diverse dynamic architecture, the last Shogun battlefield and enjoy shimmering night views from Mount Hakodate.

Kushiro is surrounded by breath-taking natural beauty, which is often overlaid with a thick mist, giving it a surreal feel.

There’s no experience quite like crossing the International Date Line on an ocean voyage. This imaginary line stretches around the world, and the date changes along the line. Crossing the International Date Line is a time-honoured travel milestone. Heading east across this imaginary line sets the clock back 24 hours, effectively gaining a day. Raise a glass to the event!

Known as the Emerald Isle, Kodiak is a heaven for all kinds of wildlife. Kodiak’s mountains more or less glint with the same luminous green as the stone they resemble, while the water that laps the island’s shores is positively sapphire in its blueness. The island is two thirds national park and is dedicated to the protection of its native brown bears, 250 species of birds and six kinds of Pacific salmon. Explore the good choice of bars and restaurants or join an entertaining tour of the island’s microbrewery. Discover the native heritage museums and explore breathtaking historical trails either by organised excursion or at your own pace.

Tiny Ketchikan is just 3 miles long and 3 blocks wide, but here you’ll find Alaska’s busiest waterfront, buzzing with float planes, fishing boats and pleasure craft. Once colonised by Tlingit and Haida tribes, Ketchikan is a thriving fishing town with colourful stilted houses, a rich Alaskan culture and a throng of trawlers hauling in fresh crab and salmon. You’ll witness local life with hardy fishermen working on crab trawlers catching local delicacies like King Crab, octopus, shark, prawns and Rock fish. It is not only known as Alaska’s First City due to geographically being the first place travellers stopped when heading north, it is also a figurehead of the outstanding natural beauty of Alaska. Many visitors to Ketchikan use the city as a base from which to visit Misty Fjords National Monument, just 22 miles east of the city. Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is one of Southern Alaska’s most beautiful natural wonders, combining sheer sea cliffs, towering rock faces and expansive fjords. Seaplane offers one of the best ways to take in this magnificent scene, and is sure to provide a memorable highlight of your Alaska holiday.

The Inside Passage consists of over 1,000 islands, bays and fjords. With boundless, ever-changing scenery, it's one of the most spectacular maritime journeys in the world.

The Seymour Narrows is a 3-mile/5 km stretch of the Discovery Channel north of Vancouver Island, British Columbia that is notorious for the strength of the tidal currents flowing through it. The average width of the narrows is just 750 meters. During extreme tides, the current through the narrows is subject to severe Venturi effect, resulting in an increased velocity that can reach 15 knots.

Vancouver provides stunning scenery to discover in endless outdoor fashion all year-round. Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge are just two of the top highlights. British Columbia’s marine parks offer remote fjords and vast lakes perfect for whale-watching and hiking, or swimming and kayaking from May to September. Vancouver’s Gulf Islands are teaming with wildlife, keep your cameras close and binoculars at the ready for spotting pods of dolphins, seals, eagles, whales, otters and sea lions.