Alaska

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.

Beneath an ice field that never melts, on a waterway that never freezes, Juneau is the most unusual and stunning of capitals. Home to 280 species of birds, brown and black bears, nature lovers can also watch out for orca and humpback whales here. Ashore, there’s an excellent theatre and range of clubs, bars restaurants to suit all tastes. The town that kick-started Alaska’s gold rush is rich with treasures of all varieties, from native Tlingit history and excellent seafood to an abundance of outdoor pursuits. It’s little wonder that most of Juneau’s residents arrived for a short stay and decided never to leave. If you’re feeling fit try exploring Alaskan-style amongst the glaciers by kayak or trekking with crampons and an ice axe. By far, one of the most popular excursions from Juneau is to Mendenhall Glacier. At half a mile wide, the glacier is one of the most accessible in Alaska and a visit here is high on many Juneau visitor’s wish lists.

Glacier Bay is the crowning jewel of Alaska's Inside Passage. Part of a 25-million-acre World Heritage Site, it's home to an array of wildlife and some of the world's most amazing tidewater glaciers.

Soaring peaks and temperate rainforest add to this city’s infinite charm. From historic forts and sculpture gardens to native art and Tlingit history, Haines is a celebration of Alaska’s culture and heritage. Located at the top of one of the world’s longest fjords, Haines occupies an area of natural beauty so picturesque you’ll be reaching for your camera at every opportunity. Soaring peaks, sweeping forests and expansive lakes add to the city’s infinite charm, while local distilleries, Tlingit culture and wildlife encounters offer just a taste of what you’ll discover in port. Top landmarks and sights in Haines - As Alaska port calls go, Haines unlocks scenery quite unique to this part of the world and you’ll find no shortage of ways to take it in. From guided mountain climbing and nature walks to glacier trekking, sea kayaking and flightseeing, the possibilities for outdoor adventures in Haines are far reaching.

Hubbard Glacier – all 76 awe-inspiring miles of it – is located 200 miles northwest of Juneau. Backed by looming mountains, this is the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent, and here you may witness icebergs carving with an earth-rumbling crunch before crashing to the mirrored waters. Chunks of ice the size of 10-storey buildings are not uncommon.

Icy Strait Point is an idea brought to life, a specially created hub of unparalleled Alaskan action and adventure. Watch for whales in the picturesque wilderness or enjoy warm hospitality and hearty food ashore. Built around a restored 1912 salmon cannery, the shops are 100% Alaskan-owned and there are restaurants, nature trails, a museum and even a beach. Bear watching is a big attraction on Chichagof Island which is home to more bears than humans.

Sitka is a hidden beauty located on the east coast of Baranof Island in south east Alaska. Towered over by snowy mountains in the distance, it was previously known as the Indian River Park and Totem Park. Sitka enjoys a blended history as diverse as its scenery. Russian, Tlingit and American settlers have all imprinted on the city. Art and culture thrive as richly as Pacific salmon here, and while small compared to other Alaskan communities, Sitka boasts countless treasures for visitors to admire. Visit Sitka’s Whale Park for one of the best opportunities for whale spotting in Alaska or the Sitka National Historical Park, the oldest national park in Alaska, a must-see destination. High-quality seafood sets the bar for Sitka’s restaurants. The surrounding waters offer some of the best fishing in Alaska, and every year visitors descend on Sitka for a chance to hook king salmon or an infamously weighty halibut. The warm welcome and natural wonders of Sitka simply cannot be missed.

Victoria is a unique blend of historic charm and contemporary charisma, offering an exquisite variety of sights, drawing visitors from around the world. Notable landmarks such as Craigdarroch Castle and the elegant Empress Hotel contrast with bohemian shops and restaurants ashore. You can also do a spot of whale watching and wildlife viewing on and around the water of this sophisticated seaside city.

Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop for this oh-so cosmopolitan city. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World's Fair. Seattle’s proximity to Alaska makes it an ideal starting point for your Alaska cruise holiday and that means you’ll spend less time sailing and more time exploring Alaska's charming towns and wilderness.