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Cosmos Grand Alaskan Adventure with Alaska Cruise (8425)

13 days from Anchorage to Vancouver 
This Alaska tour is a dream come true for value-minded travelers seeking to experience Alaska's breathtaking scenery and thrilling experiences. You'll start and end your tour in Anchorage with overnights also in Denali National Park and Valdez. In between destinations, you'll have the opportunity to witness scenery unlike anywhere else, with untamed wilderness and exciting wildlife sightings.

A tour highlight is your cruise across the striking Prince William Sound. Witness the three-mile face of the Mears Glacier as you keep your eyes open for marine wildlife, such as otters, seals, and whales, all while you admire stunning glaciers. Another tour highlight is your journey to Talkeetna, a quaint town exemplifying small-town Alaska, from Anchorage, aboard the Alaska Railroad. On this train trip, you’ll travel through gorgeous wilderness and understand Alaska’s allure. Two nights in Denali National Park gives you the opportunity to explore this amazing park, home to six million acres and North America's highest peak (20,310-foot Denali). Perhaps go for a hike or participate in an optional outing, such as a wilderness tour to seek out grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and more. But that’s not all…on this Alaska vacation, you’ll witness stunning views as you travel over the top of Thompson Pass, where you’ll admire unforgettable scenery, and into Alaska’s interior across the Denali Highway. The Denali Highway is a seldom-traveled road through true wilderness with frequent wildlife sightings.

You’ll embark on your Alaskan cruise in Whittier and cruise the magnificent Inside Passage. Watch for seals lounging on the calved ice from Hubbard Glacier and orcas (killer whales) that patrol the waters here. Dock in Skagway and imagine the gold prospectors who braved the winters here. Explore its shops and saloons along the wooden walkways of this historic Alaskan town. Sail for Juneau—the Alaskan capital and home to Mendenhall Glacier on the Gastineau Channel. Visit Ketchikan along the rugged Tongass Narrows on the fjords of the Inside Passage with its rich cultural sights of the Native Alaskan cultures. Continue south through the spectacular Inside Passage from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. It is along this course of true wild beauty that humpback and killer whales may be spotted as well as bald eagles above or brown bears on the shore. Disembark in Vancouver with tales of the Alaskan wilderness to tell.

With magnificent scenery, opportunities to witness wildlife in the natural environment, and awe-inspiring experiences, this Alaska tour is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation!

Itinerary (2023)

Day 1ANCHORAGE
 Arrive in Anchorage and make your way to your hotel. This afternoon, you are free to explore the “Last Frontier” on your own.
Day 2ANCHORAGE–ALASKA RAILROAD TALKEETNA–DENALI NATIONAL PARK
 This morning, board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a memorable train journey to Talkeetna, the jumping-off point for climbers attempting to summit Denali Formerly known as Mount McKinley, Denali is the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet. Enjoy strolling along the shops in downtown or take a walk to the river. Early this afternoon, journey to Denali National Park for a 2-night stay.
Day 3DENALI NATIONAL PARK
 Denali National Park and Preserve, majestically dominates the park’s six million acres. Enjoy a free day for independent activities; a hike along the many wilderness trails might be of interest. Also take advantage of several optional outings, including a wildlife tour to seek out grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep; a raft trip down the Nenana River; or a helicopter ride over the park. Your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions.
Day 4DENALI NATIONAL PARK–THOMPSON PASS–VALDEZ
 Relish one last look at the outstanding scenery and wildlife of Denali, before traveling across the Denali Highway. This seldom-traveled road was the first road to allow access to Denali National Park—a true wilderness with frequent wildlife sightings and amazing views of the Alaska Range. Next, climb over the top of Thompson Pass, well-known for the annual snowfall in the winter months, the pass offers summer guests unforgettable views. End today’s journey in the town of Valdez, nestled between the waterfront and mountains, giving it the nickname, Alaska’s Little Switzerland.
Day 5VALDEZ–WHITTIER–PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND–ANCHORAGE
 Board a boat and travel across magnificent Prince William Sound. Explore the 3-mile face of the mighty Meares Glacier and hear tales of the region as told by the Alaskan crew. Keep your eyes open and cameras ready for marine wildlife such as otters, seals, and whales while viewing spectacular glaciers. Return to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.
Day 6ANCHORAGE–WHITTIER (EMBARKATION)
 This morning, a city sightseeing tour of Anchorage, with a visit to the Anchorage Museum, where you will see a fascinating display of artifacts of the native people of Alaska. After Anchorage sightseeing, return to Whittier to board Holland America’s MS Noordam or MS Nieuw Amsterdam for an unforgettable Inside Passage cruise. The remote village of Whittier is nestled along breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters and killer whales, so have your camera ready. (D)
Day 7CRUISING: HUBBARD GLACIER
 Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier (meaning it ends at the ocean) in North America. However, unlike nearly every other tidewater glacier on the continent, Hubbard is advancing, not retreating; it is forever pushing a little further into the bay. Chunks of ice that break off become floaties for seals. (B,L,D)
Day 8SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAY
 A relaxing day at sea provides time to explore the ship’s many amenities. With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Keep your binoculars and camera on hand as you cruise Glacier Bay to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, where you may have a chance to witness ice calving. Wildlife abounds in Glacier Bay, so stay ready—you never know when you will see the fluke of a humpback rise out of the water or spot a lone brown bear wandering a wind-swept beach. (B,L,D)
Day 9SKAGWAY
 In winter, the sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway, so you can imagine the frightful conditions endured by gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon. Take your time and poke your head into every little shop, from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy’s Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky-tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of ’98 Museum. (B,L,D)
Day 10JUNEAU
 Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska’s capital city of Juneau has massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Visit the rustic shops in town—or get out and kayak, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. There is no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. (B,L,D)
Day 11KETCHIKAN
 Alaska’s “First City” of Ketchikan is so named because it is the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. An important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries— visitors can try their luck on a sport-fishing excursion or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants. It is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. (B,L,D)
Day 12SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE
 Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orca plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline. (B,L,D)
Day 13VANCOUVER (DISEMBARKATION)
 Your vacation ends this morning. Please schedule homebound flights after Noon. (B)

Included Cosmos Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Related Cosmos Tours

8420 - Grand Alaskan Adventure

Cosmos Pricing Details

Gratuities for Tour Director and driver are available for pre-purchase. Gratuities for cruise are additional and paid on board ship.

Any applicable Goods and Service Tax (GST) and/or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for Canada are additional. Taxes will be calculated and listed at the time of booking, prior to payment being collected.

Taxes will be calculated and listed at the time of booking, prior to payment being collected. Cruise line non-commissionable fare, government taxes, and fees of $510 to $525, depending on ship/date, are additional and mandatory. These fees will be added to your Vacation Estimate.

Cosmos Notes

Cruise itineraries are provided by Holland America Line and are up to date at time of printing. Your travel documents will contain the most current information. Wildlife in Alaska is often seen in early season (May-early June). Visiting and participating in activities in these locations is subject to favorable weather conditions. Enjoy the spectacular colors of Alaska on our special Fall Foliage departure: August 30 (if Mother Nature permits). At least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.

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Cosmos Tour Dates


Guaranteed Departure  indicates Guaranteed Departure
*Tour Land StartCosmos RetailRequest Quote
Guaranteed Departure 06/18/2024 $3,549.00
Guaranteed Departure 07/02/2024 $3,649.00
Guaranteed Departure 08/13/2024 $3,549.00
08/27/2024 $3,349.00
Guaranteed Departure 09/03/2024 $3,299.00
05/27/2025 $3,499.00
06/10/2025 $3,829.00
06/17/2025 $3,829.00
06/24/2025 $3,929.00
07/01/2025 $3,929.00
07/15/2025 $3,929.00
07/22/2025 $3,929.00
08/12/2025 $3,829.00
08/19/2025 $3,729.00
09/02/2025 $3,579.00
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