Passport Required
Early Booking Reminder: The Alaska Cruise requires a very early reservation with final payment due by March 9, 2026. Reservations after March 9, 2026, will be made on a space available basis at the rate available at the time of booking. Late bookings may have an increase in cruise costs, which Jefferson Tours and Charters cannot control.
Our cruises are a wonderful time to explore the ship and ports on your own. This is a vacation opportunity that allows you to enjoy your time at sea without a set schedule or guides. Your time is your own. Please also note that cruise booking will not include your onboard tips or shore excursions.
Get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime as you board the elegant Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam for an unforgettable Alaskan cruise and land tour. Journey through the Last Frontier, where dramatic glaciers thunder into icy seas, snow-capped peaks stretch to the sky, and untamed wildlife roams freely across vast, pristine landscapes. From the breathtaking coastal beauty of Alaska’s Inside Passage to the towering majesty of Denali National Park, this once-in-a-lifetime experience blends the best of sea and land.
Day 1 – Flight to Vancouver, BC – Board Cruise Ship – Feel the anticipation build as we fly to Vancouver, BC. We’ll transfer to our Holland America Cruise Ship . We’ll have the entire evening to get acquainted with our floating accommodations.
Day 2 – Scenic Cruising the Inside Passage – Relax and enjoy a full day of scenic Inside Passage cruising and immerse yourself in the elegant amenities of our ship. Alaska’s Inside Passage is a renowned cruising route through a protected network of waterways, featuring glacier-cut fjords, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife. Stops along the route showcase Alaska’s rich history, including Native Alaskan culture in Ketchikan and Skagway’s Gold Rush-era legacy.
Day 3 – Ketchikan, AK – Explore this uniquely Alaskan port, famous for its rich native culture, salmon fishing, and scenic fjords. Alaska’s “First City” of Ketchikan is so named because it’s 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.
Day 4 – Juneau, AK – Enjoy a full day of exploring Juneau, the most remote, most beautiful and strangest state capital in the United States. Surrounded by water, forest and mountain sights, visitors seeking things to do in Juneau indoors and outdoors can hike a glacier, eat fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio and tour a grand capitol building all in one day.
Day 5 – Skagway, AK – At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the port town of Skagway served as the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement. It was then a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway—but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colorful history and pristine wilderness.
Day 6 – Cruising Glacier Bay – On your cruise to Glacier Bay, close your eyes and take in the sounds—the creaks and groans of “living” ice, the shrill cries of gulls and soaring eagles, the splash of a breaching humpback whale. Frosted peaks towering over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers (there are seven in the park), and marine wildlife are givens on Glacier Bay cruises, but every experience in this changing biosphere is unique. 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.
Day 7 – Cruising College Fjord – Today, we sail through the most storied Alaskan fjord where each glacier is named for an Ivy League college. We’ll cruise close to many glaciers, and pass a spot where you can see eight at once. Keep an eye out for “calving” – large chunks of ice breaking from a glacier and thundering into the water – as the Prince William Sound is one of the most active areas for this amazing phenomenon.
Day 8 – Denali National Park – Holland America Denali Lodge – We disembark our cruise ship in Whittier and transfer by motorcoach to Denali National Park for a two-night stay at Holland America Denali Lodge. Featuring modern amenities, comfortable accommodations, and warm northern hospitality at the edge of the wilderness, the hotel has everything you need for an unforgettable Denali vacation. Enjoy stunning views across the Nenana River into Denali National Park from virtually anywhere on the grounds, as well as multiple dining venues, quality entertainment, and local shopping.
Day 9 – Tundra Wilderness Tour – Today features the unforgettable Tundra Wilderness Tour. This fully-narrated sightseeing excursion takes you into the heart of Denali National Park. On this expertly guided adventure, you’ll likely spot some combination of Alaska’s Big Five: grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and wolves. Overnight Holland America Denali Lodge.
Day 10 – McKinley Explorer – Anchorage, AK – This morning, we board the luxurious domed rail cars of the McKinley Explorer bound for Anchorage. Enjoy the amenities and take in the scenic, panoramic views as we travel the Alaska Railroad. Overnight in Anchorage
Day 11 – Flight Home – We fly home from Anchorage with memories of the Last Frontier that will last a lifetime. Meals: All Onboard Cruise Ship Meals