Alaska Cruise - from Seward / Anchorage - 109228

The harbour town of Seward lies framed by the Kenai Mountains on the south coast of Alaska. The attractions of this small town include Kenai Fjords National Park and the nearby Exit glacier as well as a huge number of wild animals, such as sea otters, orcas, white-headed sea eagles and puffins. Other attractions for visitors include the fishing harbour, St. Peter's Church, the Alaska Sea Life Center - where you can even watch ocean dwellers below the surface - and the Seward Museum.

In the northern part of Prince William Sound in Alaska, nature lovers can admire the unique College Fjord. The name "College Fjord" describes a multitude of glaciers discovered in 1899 during an expedition and named after major colleges. For example, Harvard or Yale Glaciers are just one of over 10 major glaciers in the fjord. Some smaller glaciers can also be found in the area. You can view 8 glaciers from a single vantage point. In addition to seals and otters, even whales can be admired at certain times of the year.

The Icy Strait is the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in Alaska and is not far from Glacier Bay National Park, which lies in the south-east of Alaska. Icy Strait is known for its rich diversity of fish species; visitors can watch hump-backed whales, sea-eagles, Steller sea-lions, sea otters and killer whales.

Hidden in the forests of South East Alaska and at the northern end of the longest fjord in America is the little town of Haines. Imposing mountain ranges, glaciers and wide rivers and lakes provide a magical backdrop for a paradise for birds hidden in the untouched wilderness. The port of Haines is dedicated to comfort - it is extremely well kept and does not have any busy streets; it does, however, have lots of cozy restaurants.

This area measures around 890,000 ha of wilderness and is around 35 km (as the crow flies) from Ketchikan. The wilderness of Alaska is part of the natural heritage of the United States of America. The fjords, with steep cliffs stretching around 900 m high, many turquoise-blue mountain lakes, countless rivers and formidable waterfalls are similar to those found in Scandinavia. The area also boasts a vast variety of wildlife - mountain goats, black and brown bears, river otters, porpoises, whales and sea-lions and many species of birds which can all be found in the thick forests and clear waters off the coast.

Prince Rupert is the most northerly city on Canada's Pacific coast, just a few kilometres from the border with Alaska. Sights include first and foremost the 18 totem poles of the North-West coast Indians, which are scattered around the city. Some are in front of the Museum of Northern British Columbia, a building built in the style of an Indian long-house, providing information on 5,000 years of regional history. Artefacts from the indigenous peoples and the white settlers provide an insight into the way of life and the history of the native Indian tribes prior to and after the arrival of the white man. North Pacific Cannery Village Museum in Port Edward, 20 km South of Prince Rupert, provides information about commercial fishing and the techniques of preserving and canning foods. Guided tours and staff wearing costumes bring one of the oldest fish canning factories on the West coast in 1889 back to life. In the Summer, visitors can also set out on whale watching trips from Prince Rupert.

With a population of almost 500,000 Vancouver in British Columbia is the most important port at the Pacific. It is considered to be one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world and, on account of its sheltered location, it has a mild climate all year round. A special attraction at the northern edge of the city is Vancouver's Hausberg Grouse Mountain, which can be reached by a cable-car and has excellent facilities for winter sports and hillwalking as well as a wonderful view of the city. Capilano Suspension Bridge, measuring 137 m in length and suspended 70 m above a river gorge, which visitors can cross, is also nearby. Sights include: Gastown, Stanley Park, Chinatown, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, Harbour Centre with its viewing platform, the waterfront with a sea bus.