North Pacific Cruise - from Seward / Anchorage - 112605

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.

Homer, with a population of 4,000, lies at the south-western end of the American peninsula of Kenai and was named after the mountaineer Homer Pennock (*1896). During the Gold Rush the port served as a stopover and supply base for the gold diggers.

Hakodate, with a population of 320,000 lies at the southern point of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In 1859 it was among the five Japanese towns first opened for outside trade, representing the gateway to the outside world. Hakodate is also the traditional starting point for trips to Hokkaido, which can be reached either by ferry or by train through the underwater tunnel constructed in 1988. This Japanese port is also famous for its star-shaped fort.

Muroran is on the South coast of Hokkaido and used to be an important centre of the Japanese steel industry. The city attracts visitors primarily on account of its many natural resources, which include the skyline and the unforgettable views from Cape Chikyu. Visitors can also watch whales and dolphins here. Sights include: Hakucho Bridge, the longest suspension bridge on the island of Hokkaido.

Tokyo, the capital of Japan with a population of almost 8 million, combines tradition with progress. Buddhist temples stand side by side with Shinto cultural institutes and sky-scrapers. In the tiny streets you can find Kimonos, fans and miniature carvings, just a few streets away from the modern banking district and the grand architectural masterpieces. Visitors can relax in the Koraku Garden which has replicas of various features of the Japanese landscape. If it's a thrill you're after, a visit to the fish market is just the thing - and you could even bid on some fish!. More than 90,000 works of art are on display in the largest museum in Japan, the National Museum. In 1958 the Japanese built a replica of the Eiffel tower; At 333m high, 'Tokyo tower' would dwarf the original. Other sights include: the Meji shrine, the emperor's garden and palace, the town hall, the 'Capsule Hotel' where guests are accommodated in "drawers", Asakusa Kannon temple and the temple gardens in Kamakura.

Tokyo, the capital of Japan with a population of almost 8 million, combines tradition with progress. Buddhist temples stand side by side with Shinto cultural institutes and sky-scrapers. In the tiny streets you can find Kimonos, fans and miniature carvings, just a few streets away from the modern banking district and the grand architectural masterpieces. Visitors can relax in the Koraku Garden which has replicas of various features of the Japanese landscape. If it's a thrill you're after, a visit to the fish market is just the thing - and you could even bid on some fish!. More than 90,000 works of art are on display in the largest museum in Japan, the National Museum. In 1958 the Japanese built a replica of the Eiffel tower; At 333m high, 'Tokyo tower' would dwarf the original. Other sights include: the Meji shrine, the emperor's garden and palace, the town hall, the 'Capsule Hotel' where guests are accommodated in "drawers", Asakusa Kannon temple and the temple gardens in Kamakura.