Alaska Cruise & Rockies Express to Chicago

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Fly from London, UK to Seattle, USA
  Transfer to your hotel for an overnight hotel stay. Seattle is perhaps not the best-known American city for British cruisers but it is a city which has lots to offer during a short stay. The shopping here is excellent, as is the dining and bars for some lively nightlife. Pike Place Market is a focal point in the downtown area and just steps away from the waterfront.
• Day 2-3 - Seattle, USA
  A further two nights' hotel stay. three fabulous attractions are must-see and are included during your stay here. Pioneer Square marks Seattle's original downtown area dating back to 1852 and is home to art galleries, cafes, sports bars and nightclubs. The Seattle Underground Tour is based here and is well worth it as you have a chance to visit eerie sunken store fronts and forgotten streets which were at the original ground level before the Great Fire of 1889. These were covered up and built on in an effort to clean up the city in the second half of the 19th century. For the best views of the city visit the Space Needle which was built for the World's Fair in 1962. This 605 foot tower is the equivalent to 60 floors high and houses the revolving Sky City restaurant open for lunch a dinner daily. Plus -we have a bonus tour included which has just reopened - The Boeing Factory at Everett (25 miles outside Seattle). This is the largest building in world - this 80-minute guided tour gives you a fascinating insight to aircraft construction.
• Day 4 - Seattle, USA
  Embark the ship.
• Day 5 - At Sea
  Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
• Day 6 - Sitka, Alaska
  Sitka is situated on Baranof Island - in Alaska's Inside Passage and located at the heart of the world's largest temperate forest - The Tongass National Forest. This is the nation's largest national forest, covering most of Southeast Alaska and surrounding the famous Inside Passage. It offers the chance to view eagles, bears, spawning salmon, and the breath-taking vistas of "wild" Alaska. Sitka has a unique blend of Tlingit culture and Russian heritage and is surrounded by island studded waters , jagged mountains and a towering volcano.
• Day 7 - Juneau & Dawes Glacier, Alaska
  Juneau is the capital of Alaska perched on a hillside where the historical downtown buildings give it a somewhat frontier feel. 4000ft mountains create a dramatic backdrop to the city, beyond which lies the Juneau Icefield from which 30 glaciers flow, the most famous being the Mendenhall Glacier.
• Day 8 - Icy Straight Point, Alaska
  Icy Straight Point is a privately own owned island by the native Tlingit nation. Located the village of Hoonah there are breath-taking waterfront restaurants, walking trails, a free museum, a live native show, and shopping. Icy Strait Point even has a beach.
• Day 9 - Ketchikan, Alaska
  Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world, is a quaint village, three miles long, just three blocks wide and wedged between the water and the forested slopes of Deer Mountain. The native American village is partly propped up on wooden pilings and the Totem Heritage centre houses more totem poles than anywhere else in the world. Perhaps or take a tour of the surrounding area with a very good chance of spotting majestic bald eagles that soar effortless over the inlet in their search for salmon.
• Day 10 - Victoria (British Columbia), Canada
  Victoria (British Columbia) was once a British colonial post and is full of historic sites, public parks and groomed gardens. Here, the locals appear more British than the British. The beautiful town centre features the impressive government buildings, the Fairmount Hotel and the harbour area where pleasure boats navigate past seaplanes as they take-off and land.
• Day 11 - Seattle, USA
  Disembark the ship after breakfast and board the Amtrak Empire Builder train service and spend overnight on board the train in a cosy sleeper roomette.