Rudyerd Bay is one of the highlights of the Misty Fiords, 40 miles east of Ketchikan, along the Inside Passage. This fjord cuts through steep-sided mountainous terrain and extends far into the mainland. The scenery is stunning, with dramatic thousand-foot waterfalls plunging down rainforest covered cliffs to the water below.

Klawock is a city in Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, on Klawock Inlet, across from Klawock Island. The population was 755 at the 2010 census, down from 854 in 2000.

Embrace the thrill of wild Alaska  

Start your day looking out for whales in the pristine waters of Frederick Sound. The next two days are exploration days, so the Captain and Expedition Team will use their expertise to choose the best destination.

We might go ashore for a nature landing, take to the water in our expedition boats and investigate the secluded coves and forested shorelines of the 150-mile-long Chatham Strait, or sail into Icy Strait, where opportunities for kayaking may present themselves if the conditions are right. Wherever we explore, keep a lookout for wildlife as bald eagles, bears and humpback whales can be spotted in this region.

As ever, we will gauge the weather conditions and wildlife spotting opportunities to decide upon the best location.

Spot wildlife in these glacier-fed waters

Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall – each feed ice into the bay’s waters to give it its name. If conditions allow, you’ll explore in our small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.  

From Icy Bay, you can admire striking, jagged Mt. St Elias. Known for its steep vertical relief, it is the second tallest peak in the US and third tallest in the US and Canada at over 18,000 ft.  

In the Gulf of Alaska, we’ll scout for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, and harbour seals which are often seen in these waters. 

Learn about the rich history of Valdez

Today you’ll see a region that was in the news for all the wrong reasons when the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in 1989, but which today has made a remarkable recovery. After significant clean-up efforts, the coastline has largely recovered — a testament to what can be done to heal damaged ecosystems.

On a visit to the Valdez Museum, you’ll see exhibits of Native Alaskan art and culture as well as artifacts from the Gold Rush era, and learn about the history of Alaska’s Bush Pilots. As we travel around this region, look out for wildlife such as beavers, moose and bears.  

College Fjord in the northern sector of Prince William Sound, is considered one of the most scenic fjords in the world with spectacular glacier viewing. . There are over a dozen major glaciers in the fjord, all surrounded by rugged snow-capped mountains. It is possible from one point to see eight glaciers at once. College Fjord was discovered in 1899 during the Harriman Expedition. Edward Henry Herriman, a millionaire railroad tycoon, set sail with 125 other passengers and crew, including 23 of esteemed scientists from several Ivy League schools, to explore the fjords of Alaskan. The scientists named the glaciers in this fjord after their Ivy League alma maters and their sister schools. Those names include Amherst, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Harvard, Smith, Vassar, and Yale. The glaciers of the northwest side feature names of women's colleges and those of the southeast side are names of men's colleges.

The tiny city of Whittier has just over 200 residents. It’s around 58 miles southeast of Anchorage in Alaska.