The Alaska’s Inside Passage is a coastal water route for cruise ships and boats between the Gulf of Alaska and the northwestern coast of the U.S. known as Puget Sound. The Inside Passage cruise ship’s route stops at a few of the Alaskan ports such as Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines, and British Columbian ports like Vancouver and Victoria. The Inside Passage route is a round-trip cruise from Seattle or Vancouver. This scenic maritime route over 500 miles long featuring the vast Tongass National Forest, the largest in the U.S is famous for its spectacular glaciers, wildlife-filled fjords, waterfalls, and lush green island scenery. This area is also culturally rich, showcasing the heritage of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples through totem poles and art. Sailing through the Inside Passage is the most wonderful memorable experience.
These photos were taken during our round-trip cruise from Seattle to Alaska in the last week of August 2013!
Quick Facts and Tips
- Best time to visit: June to September
- Ports: Seattle, USA and Vancouver, Canada
- Cruises: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Disney, Holland, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania
- Clothing
- It is cool, so plan to dress in layers. Comfortable jeans, shorts, T-shirts, warm jackets, coats, scarfs, caps, gloves, rain gears, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes.
- What to Expect
- Glaciers, Snow-capped mountains, Fjords, Waterfalls, Iceberg-dotted lakes, Valleys, Wildlife, Rugged coastlines, Lush Green Islands
- Explore the Inside Passage on a luxurious cruise ship, ferry, or private boat, or experience Alaska like a local on the state ferry system (Alaska Marine Highway), which has stops at 35 ports ranging from Bellingham, Washington, to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands.
- If you are going to be traveling on a cruise ship, be sure to book your excursions in advance. The most popular excursions fill up fast.
- If you are traveling on a ferry, be sure to check the schedule carefully. Ferries can be delayed due to weather conditions.
- Dress in layers. Weather is unpredictable in Alaska.
- Choose shoulder season (late April, May or September), or select a ship that embarks midweek to avoid crowds.
- The itineraries that sail through the Inside Passage travel two full days on the open Pacific Ocean, which can be rough. Be prepared for sea sickness/motion sickness. Carry some motion sickness medicine.
- Watch closely for whales, bears, eagles, seals, and otters.
- Visit the towns and villages along the Inside Passage, once bustling hubs of the fur trade and gold rush era.
- It is a good choice to choose a balcony stateroom on the 7-nights or longer cruises which provide more time to relax and enjoy scenery in the private balcony area.
- Visit the Alaska Travel Industry Association for more on the Inside Passage.
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