Alaska's Inside Passage, Bears and Aleutian Islands (Southbound) (Tour code: 12209)

MS Roald Amundsen is a state-of-the-art vessel featuring new environmentally sustainable hybrid technology and that offers premium expedition comfort.

The stunning scenery is reflected in a rich and comfortable interior design. Scandinavian materials from nature, such as granite, oak, birch and wool are used to create relaxed and stylish cabins and public areas. All cabins are outside cabins, of which 50% have private balconies, and aft suites feature private outdoor hot tubs with spectacular views.

One of the most eye-catching exterior design features is the two-level indoor/outdoor Observation Deck. It is an ideal place to scan the scenery and watch for wildlife with your binoculars.

The Polar Outside cabins are primarily on the middle decks with windows, most are spacious, have flexible sleeping arrangements and TV for excellent and high standard accommodation. Can accommodate two to four passengers.

*MS Roald Amundsen will set sail on July 7, 2024.

Polar Outside Cabin | Credit: Hurtigruten / Agurtxane Concellon

MS Fridtjof Nansen is one of the newest custom-built ships—and the next generation expedition ship that will explore some of the world's most stunning regions. 

The stunning scenery will be reflected in a rich and comfortable interior design. Scandinavian materials from nature, such as granite, oak, birch and wool will be used to create relaxed and stylish cabins and public areas. All cabins are outside, 50 % will have private balconies, aft suites will feature private outdoor hot tubs with spectacular views.

MS Fridtjof Nansen's three restaurants will host a variety of dining options, with menus drawn from our rich Norwegian and Nordic tradition, as well as international cuisine and local inspiration.

The Polar Outside Cabins are primarily on the middle decks with windows, most are spacious, have flexible sleeping arrangements and TV for excellent and high standard accommodation. Can accommodate two to four passengers.

*MS Fridtjof Nansen will set sail on September 8, 2024.

Polar Outside Cabin | Credit: Hurtigruten

The expedition cruise starts with an overnight stay in Seattle. Arrive early and see what the Emerald City has to offer. Head to the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. Or for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go.  

For a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers! 

Overnight stay in Seattle

Pike Place Market | Credit: Ishaan Kansal

You'll start the day flying from Seattle to Nome in Alaska. Set at the tip of the Seward Peninsula, overlooking the Bering Sea, Nome is perhaps the most famous Gold-Rush town in Alaskan history. There are artifacts from this era to be seen everywhere, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the-century steam engines, and old railroad tracks. 

Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions, including an attempt by air to reach the North Pole in 1926. It’s a fitting place to launch your grand Alaska adventure.  

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Norton Sound Nome | Credit: State of Alaska / Michael DeYoung

Spend your first day at sea chatting with fellow explorers or just watching the world sail by out on deck. You’ll have plenty of time to get to know your expedition ship, so perhaps now’s the time to take advantage of its facilities as you settle into expedition mode.  

Along with talks by the Expedition Team about what to expect on the voyage ahead, delve into the books in the onboard library and get to know the Science Centre. Natural wonders abound here, so keep an eye out for humpback whales and seabirds wheeling through the skies. 

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Science Centre aboard Roald Amundsen | Credit: Hurtigruten / Oscar Farrera

Part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, 200 miles from the nearest village, St Matthew Island is wild, remote and isolated. You'll see traces of abandoned buildings between black sand beaches and wildflower-dotted tundra. A few hardy souls have tried – and failed – to make a home here.  

Today, the only inhabitants are birds, including thousands of puffins, murres and cormorants. On the nature landing, if you're lucky, you’ll see the rare McKay’s Bunting, which breeds almost exclusively here — and listen out for the sound of the singing vole, named after its unusual warning cry.  

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin​

Credit: Hurtigruten / Ashton Ray Hansen

The windswept island of St Paul is home to the largest Aleut community in the US, numbering around 400. You can visit the historical remains of barabaras here – traditional dwellings built half underground to protect against the sea winds.

St Paul is also designated an Important Bird Area. Around 300 species of migrating birds use it as a resting point. Keep a lookout for Horned and Tufted Puffins, the Pribilof Sandpiper and the rare Red-legged Kittiwake.

By the shore, you'll also find northern fur seals waddling and playing – half the world's population of these charming animals live on these islands.

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

St Paul | Credit: Hurtigruten Expeditions / Oscar Farrera

Continue south through the Bering Sea, from the Aleutian Islands and towards the next stop of Dutch Harbor. The Expedition Team will prepare you for your upcoming destinations and continue their lecture series. 

Keep scanning the seas and skies for puffins, auklets, and murrelets, especially closer to the coast. If you’re lucky, you might glimpse the Red-legged Kittiwake, only found in this part of the world. 

If you’d like to take it easy, you can take in the panoramic views from our Explorer Lounge & Bar, from the infinity pool or the outdoor hot tubs. 

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin.

Red-legged Kittiwake | Credit: Hurtigruten / John Chardine

America's largest fishing port, Dutch Harbor is a fascinating place to visit. As you sail towards it, you may see Mount Makushin, a sometimes-steaming volcano reaching almost 6,000 ft.  

Here, you’ll learn about the local Indigenous Unungan people at the Museum of the Aleutians. Visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral or tour the WWII museum commemorating the battle that took place here in 1942.  

Scout for Bald Eagles and puffins. Foxes, lemmings and wild horses thrive on land and whales, sea lions and porpoises in the waters. Dutch Harbor is where the reality television series The Deadliest Catch was filmed, following crab fishermen at work under extreme conditions. 

Overnight stay onboard in Polar Outside Cabin

Dutch Harbour | Credit: Hurtigruten / Ashton Ray Hansen

Wild and deserted, Unga Village is an abandoned yet picturesque settlement on the southern end of Unga Island.  

It was settled by the Unangax̂ people in 1833 but was abandoned in 1969 as subsistence fishing proved insufficient to support living here. Today, the few wooden buildings that remain are the only evidence that people once lived here.  

A carpet of pink lousewort, fireweed and other wildflowers surrounds the abandoned shacks as nature has gradually taken over. Experience the eerie beauty of this place during a nature landing with our small expedition boats. 

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Unga Island | Credit: Hurtigruten / Oscar Farrera

The Alaska Peninsula is an untamed wilderness and a haven for wildlife. The region is characterised by its raw coastal landscapes, towering mountains and secluded bays.  

Join your Expedition Team for close exploration of hidden bays and inlets along the shoreline, offering the opportunity to scout for bears, Bald Eagles, and marine species like sea otters and humpback whales. Learn about the geological evolution of the region, appreciating how natural forces have sculpted the unique topography around you. 

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Credit: Hurtigruten / Ashton Ray Hansen

Your adventure continues in the four-million-acre Katmai National Park, which has over a dozen active volcanoes. Katmai is also home to more than 2,000 protected brown bears – the largest concentration in the world.

Accompanied by an experienced bear guard, you'll safely scout for bears from the deck or in small expedition boats. They might be foraging for berries, digging for clams, or catching fish in the stream.

Depending on conditions, you might visit either Geographic Harbor, Kinak Bay, or Kukak Bay.

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Katmai National Park | Credit: Hurtigruten Expeditions / Oscar Farrera

Kodiak Island got its nickname the ‘Emerald Isle’, due to its Spruce forests and grasslands, and it's the second-largest island in the US.

The island’s most famous inhabitants are Kodiak brown bears. Around 3,500 of them live in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which covers two-thirds of the island.  

Search for these powerful creatures in their natural habitat, marvelling at their size and grace from the safety of our small expedition boat. This perspective offers a rare glimpse into the lives of these bears against the backdrop of Alaska’s breathtakingly rugged landscape. 

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Kodiak | Credit: Hurtigruten / Ashton Ray Hansen

Your cruise continues across the Gulf of Alaska. It's the ideal time to enjoy onboard facilities such as the infinity pool, hot tubs, and sauna. Go for a run, hit the gym, or enjoy a massage in the spa.

In the Science Centre, the Expedition Team will invite you to join lectures on topics such as Alaska’s wildlife, geology, glaciology, history, and culture.

Relax in the Explorer Lounge & Bar and share a drink with your fellow guests, or just sit back and enjoy the view. See if you can spot all three species of North Pacific albatross. The Laysan and Black-footed Albatross are often sighted, but the Short-tailed Albatross is harder to spot.

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Aune | Credit: Hurtigruten / Agurtxane Concellon

Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall – regularly calve into the bay. If conditions allow, you’ll explore in small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing yourself in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.

Wildlife abounds in the Gulf of Alaska, offering unrivalled photography opportunities. Humpback whales, orcas, Steller sea lions, sea otters, and harbour seals lazing on floating chunks of ice are often seen in these waters.

​Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin​

Icy Bay | Credit: Hurtigruten / Oscar Farrera

Surrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea and air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe Volcano.

Inhabited by the Łingít people for 10,000 years, the town was settled by Russian explorers around the turn of the 19th century before being sold to the United States after Russia lost the Crimean War. Today, Sitka has roots in all three cultures.  

A visit to the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House is recommended. Admire ornate Haida and Łingít totem poles at Sitka National Historical Park and enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.  

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Sitka | Credit: Hurtigruten / Ashton Ray Hansen

Continue cruising the Alaskan islands towards Wrangell. Only a mile out of town, Petroglyph Beach is where you'll see ancient rock carvings among the sand. 

Visit the local museum to learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past. Now part of the United States, it was once governed by Britain, Russia and the Łingít people. Cross to Shakes Island, where the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the story of the Indigenous Łingít people.  

Hikers will enjoy the nature trails, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River, and the foot of Mount Dewey at the edge of the rainforest.  

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin​

Wrangell | Credit: Hurtigruten / Oscar Farrera

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snowcapped peaks. The revered naturalist writer John Muir described the area as one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen.  

Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in small expedition boats or take kayaks out. 

Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You’ll scan for mountain goats, black and brown bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall’s porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles. 

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin​

Misty Fjords | Credit: Oscar Farrera

The Inside Passage coastal route takes you through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long. Unlike other cruises, which pass through at night, you’ll be able to view the sublime scenery in all its glory during the day.

The smaller expedition ship allows you to reach areas that larger vessels can’t, giving you the chance to explore lesser-travelled channels with breathtaking scenery. Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of whales, including humpback, fin, minke, and perhaps even orcas.

Overnight stay onboard in a Polar Outside Cabin

Wildlife at Sea | Credit: Hurtigruten / Credit Ashton Ray Hansen

Your expedition cruise ends in Vancouver, a beautiful city at the foot of the Rockies. Visit Gastown, the city's oldest neighbourhood, and climb Vancouver Lookout for a citywide view overlooking neon-lit Granville Street, the West End beaches, and the towering cedars of Stanley Park.  

Vancouver has a flavour all its own – and so does its global cuisine. Before your onward journey, we recommend you dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy for a taste of the city's buzzing atmosphere.