itinerary & excursions

Alaskan Explorations & Denali Cruise Tour

Vancouver to Anchorage (Seward), Alaska

Sat Aug 22, 2026 - Sun Sep 6, 2026,

15 days

on Star Seeker

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Starting from $10,499 USD

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OVERVIEW & ITINERARY

ITINERARY AND SHORE EXCURSIONS

The best on land brought to you by the best at sea. Get to the heart of local cultures with Windstar shore excursions. You don't want to just dip a toe in local culture, you want to dive into the deep end, and that's exactly what Windstar shore excursions are designed to do. All of our excursion are created to provide authentic local experience - the kind travelers like you are looking for. And with more than 2,500 excursions to choose from, you can experience your destination in whatever way is most meaningful to you. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie, a history buff, or someone who loves to get to know the faces behind the many places we travel.

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Date

Port

Arrive

Depart

Watersports
Platform

Shore
Excursions

Expand

Sat Aug 22

Vancouver

Arrive:

Depart:5:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Vancouver’s location at the mouth of the Fraser River and on the waterways of the Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet and all their tributaries makes this busy seaport an easy place for meeting. It is one of Canada’s most populated, most ethnically diverse cities that is a popular filming location. Visit the interesting neighborhoods of Gastown, Granville Island and Chinatown. Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge and stroll through Stanley Park. See the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology. There is an amazing variety of things to see and do here.

Sun Aug 23

AT SEA

Arrive:

Depart:

Watersports Platform:

Mon Aug 24

Ketchikan

Arrive:1:00 PM

Depart:10:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Dubbed the Salmon Capital of the World, Ketchikan is the southeastern-most town in Alaska and is home to the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles that are found throughout the city and at four major locations: Saxman Totem Park, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, and the Totem Heritage Center. Other attractions of Ketchikan are Creek Street, a boardwalk road built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek and the Waterfront Promenade that skirts the bustling shoreline with inviting whale-tail benches to take in the view.

Tue Aug 25

Misty Fjords/Rudyerd Bay

Arrive:7:00 AM

Depart:6:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Cruising Misty Fjords/Rudyerd Bay in Alaska offers an awe-inspiring adventure through one of nature’s most pristine landscapes. Towering granite cliffs rise dramatically from mirror-like waters. The mist-shrouded environment evokes a sense of ancient mystery and tranquility, while diverse wildlife, including seals and eagles, adds to the experience. Navigating these majestic fjords provides an unforgettable glimpse into Alaska’s raw, untouched beauty, where every turn reveals a new, breathtaking vista

Wed Aug 26

Wrangell

Arrive:8:00 AM

Depart:5:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

One of the oldest towns in Alaska, Wrangell is located near the mouth of the Stikine River. Much of its history can be seen in the impressive collection of totems scattered throughout the town. Highlights here are the amazing Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park where you can find primitive rock carvings and just 30 miles away is the Anan Wildlife Observatory with the largest pink salmon runs in the Inside Passage, and a platform from which you can look for eagles, harbor seals and black bears.

Thu Aug 27

Tracy Arm / Endicott Arm

Arrive:8:00 AM

Depart:8:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Depending on the day’s conditions, you will cruise Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm. Both glacial fjords feature icebergs drifting serenely by and towering granite cliffs, carved by millennia of glacial activity. Here, you can witness impressive calving events as icebergs thunder into the water. The surrounding wilderness, with its rugged terrain, offers a pristine backdrop for spotting wildlife like seals and mountain goats.

Fri Aug 28

Haines

Arrive:6:00 AM

Depart:6:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Haines is one of the most popular Alaska cruise ports and one of the best places for hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing, especially bald eagles. Within the Haines city limits Fort William H. Seward is a nationally recognized historic landmark, with some of its structures open to the public. Other cultural offerings in Haines include the Alaska Indian Arts Center where traditional craftsmen offer demonstrations of their work, the Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center where local Tlingit people are featured, the Hammer Museum, dedicated to the history of the hammer and the Tsirku Canning Company Museum with memories of Haines’ salmon canneries.

Sat Aug 29

Juneau

Arrive:7:00 AM

Depart:5:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Located on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaskan panhandle, Juneau sits at sea level below steep mountains between 3,500-4,000 feet high. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow, and two of them – Mendenhall Glacier and Lemon Creek Glacier are visible from the local road. A unique feature of Juneau is that it is the only U.S. capital that has no roads connecting it to the rest of the state.

Sun Aug 30

Sitka

Arrive:9:00 AM

Depart:5:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

Sitka is one of the oldest and most culturally significant communities in Alaska, filled with rich Tlingit, Russian, and early American settler history. Sitka is famous for its spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, the copper-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Pioneer Home and the Russian Bishop’s House. It contains 22 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is where the contract of sale was signed transferring Alaska from Russia to the United States.

Mon Aug 31

AT SEA

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Depart:

Watersports Platform:

Tue Sep 1

Kenai Fjords National Park

Arrive:9:00 AM

Depart:8:00 PM

Watersports Platform:

As you navigate through the park's pristine waters, you'll sail by majestic glaciers, where stunning ice formations and calving events captivate the eye. Towering cliffs frame the fjords, creating a dramatic contrast with the glacial blues. Wildlife enthusiasts will delight in spotting marine life against this stunning backdrop.

Wed Sep 2

Anchorage (Seward), Alaska

Arrive:7:00 AM

Depart:

Watersports Platform:

Seward, (Anchorage’s gateway) is sandwiched between the Kenai Mountains and the Kenai Fjords National Park. It is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities, with Mount Marathon rising majestically behind the town. Even though Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, it is also home to 1,500 moose, surrounded by national parks full of wildlife.

Wed Sep 2

Seward (Anchorage) Alaska to Talkeetna

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Incredible views of Turnagain Arm and the Kenai Mountains help soothe your sadness over leaving your small ship. Explore native cultures at the Anchorage Museum before proceeding to tiny Talkeetna for a Welcome Reception and informative talk about the town’s colorful past.

(Includes overnight at Talkeetna Hotel and Welcome Reception)

Thu Sep 3

Talkeetna to Denali National Park

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Depart:

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Stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery from your deluxe domed railcar as your train makes its way to Denali. Tonight, get your bearings with a Welcome to Denali Talk, followed by an all-you-can-eat salmon and barbecue ribs dinner and a show at Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater.

(Includes overnight at Denali Lodge, Breakfast, Cabin Nite Dinner)

Fri Sep 4

Denali National Park

Arrive:

Depart:

Watersports Platform:

Your 5-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour takes you deep into the park for the best opportunities to see both Denali’s famous wildlife and the iconic mountain. Back at the lodge, there’s time for an optional tour, or just relax and enjoy the lodge and scenery.

(Includes overnight at Denali Lodge, Breakfast, Bag Lunch and Snack)

Sat Sep 5

Denali to Fairbanks

Arrive:

Depart:

Watersports Platform:

Head north to the Golden Heart City of Fairbanks, a city shaped by gold and oil. Board the Riverboat Discovery for a cruise on the Chena River, sampling frontier life at an Athabascan village and meeting some powerful Iditarod huskies. Recount your favorite experiences with friends over a delicious Farewell Dinner.

(Includes overnight at Fairbanks Hotel, Breakfast and Dinner)

Sun Sep 6

Fairbanks and Departure

Arrive:

Depart:

Watersports Platform:

Today is yours to explore as you will. Various attractions let you pan for gold, or browse a goldmine of history at the Museum of the North before your flight home.

(Includes Breakfast)