Experience wild and wondrous Alaska with Holland America Line

Shore excursions in the spotlight

Whale watching & wildlife quest: Scour Stephens Passage on a catamaran in search of humpback whales, Dall’s porpoises, Steller sea lions and orca. Wilderness sea kayaking adventure: Paddle through a patchwork of reefs and kelp forests, glimpsing brown bears, Sitka black-tail deer and eagles along the way.

Exclusive access

Since 2024, Holland America has partnered with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a sanctuary that protects and rehabilitates the state’s wildlife. Clients can visit this refuge on the 12-day Signature Alaska & Denali and 14-day Ultimate Alaska & Denali cruise tours and see first-hand the excellent work it does rehabilitating animals such as moose, bears and bison. Clients on an Alaska cruise that includes Anchorage or Whittier can visit the centre on an optional shore excursion.

Alaska nature calendar

If clients ask for the best times to see wildlife and wonderful scenery in Alaska, here’s your snapshot guide to the seasons:

May to September

• Best time for whale watching, birdwatching and to see bald eagles

Mid-May to early August

• Best time to see bears (lasts until mid-September in Denali National Park)

August to September

• Best time for glacier calving and to see silver salmon 

September to October

• Best time for northern lights sightings and vibrant fall foliage

Ports of call

Four Alaska cities are featured on Holland America’s seven-day itineraries – Glacier Discovery, Inside Passage and Alaska Explorer – and they’re more than just places to pause at, they are fascinating portals into Alaskan culture.

Ketchikan

Clinging to the Tongass Narrows coastline, Alaska’s ‘First City’ is the first place passengers encounter in the verdant fjords of the Inside Passage. A hotbed of the salmon-fishing industry, Ketchikan is also brimming with the Native Alaska culture of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian nations.

Key excursion: Totem Bight State Park & Ketchikan Highlights: Explore the Indigenous heritage of the northwest coastal region among forested Totem Bight State Park, through its large collection of totem poles brought to life with colourful stories retold by guides.

Sitka 

Echoes of Russia’s occupation of Alaska set Sitka apart, something clients can see in its onion-domed St Michael’s Cathedral or among the collections of Russian and Native Alaskan artefacts in Sitka National Historical Park. For outdoor-loving clients, the wilds of Tongass National Forest are on Sitka’s doorstep.

Key excursion: Authentic Alaska: Tongass Rainforest Hike: Clients will tread through the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest on a guided hike, weaving through old-growth spruce as they forage for berries and see how the Indigenous Tlingit people traditionally used the land.

Skagway 

During the Klondike Gold Rush’s zenith, Skagway was the primary port town for fortune-seekers. Though its gilded age is gone, visitors can still tap into Skagway’s Gold Rush heritage, or admire the neighbouring nature to understand why it’s called the ‘Garden City of Alaska’. 

Key excursion: White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad: Hop aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and wind through rugged valleys, cross vertiginous bridges, spy snow-fed Bridal Veil Falls and soak up the area’s Gold Rush heritage. 

Juneau 

Alaska’s state capital, Juneau, is made for outdoor enthusiasts. Encased by mountains, forest and the waters of the Inside Passage, Juneau is a jumping-off point for alfresco adventure, whether it’s hiking on a glacier, ascending Mount Roberts or a whale-watching tour in Auke Bay. 

Key excursion: Five Glacier Seaplane Exploration: Trade sea for sky on this flightseeing tour, where clients soar over lush Tongass National Forest in search of a majestic quintet of glaciers: Hole-in-the-Wall, Norris, the East and West twin glaciers and five-mile-wide Taku.