2008 Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Calgary / Transfer to Banff
Upon arrival at the Calgary International Airport you transfer by regular scheduled motor coach to the mountain resort town of Banff. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs - Junior Suite
Day 2 - Discover Banff Tour
Build a connection to this World Heritage Site on this trademark sightseeing tour as you visit Banff's landmarks and historic places and hear how the 11,000 year old human history of the Bow Valley changed when three railway workers rediscovered the Cave & Basin, now a National Historic Site. Your time will be spent enjoying the sights, taking photos, and participating in short walks to view points, on the many stops of the tour. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the town site and visit the many museums, art galleries, & boutiques.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Junior Suite
Day 3 - Banff National Park Private Tour / Helicopter Tour with Gourmet Picnic Lunch
This morning you will be met by your private sedan for a personal tour of Banff National Park. Your driver will offer suggestions of places to visit, including Hole-in-the-Wall, Johnston Canyon, and Castle Mountain. Visit the Banff Gondola, where you will take a spectacular 8-minute gondola ride (included) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. From this vantage point at the summit, you will enjoy amazing panoramic views of Banff town site and the surrounding peaks of the Bow Valley.
Helicopter Tour including Landing & Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Included in your tour is a 25-minute helicopter sightseeing flight over the Wilson Icefield. This spectacular flight will allow you to discover not only 6 glaciers but also the Wilson Icefield where you will be able to see down into the many crevasses of the deep blue crowfoot at its base. From above the Wilson Icefield, at 10,500 feet, you will view glaciers and icefields as far as the eye can see! Your pilot will make a landing and you will have time to go for a leisurely walk with your pilot in the high alpine. A walk never to be forgotten! Enjoy a mountaintop picnic in the high alpine. The picnic includes a deluxe sandwich (meat eater or vegetarian - let us know) along with an appetizer tray and dessert. On arrival at Lake Louise check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Moderate: Overnight Lake Louise Inn – Executive Queen
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - Fairmont Lake view room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – Fairmont Gold Lake view (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 4 - Lake Louise to Jasper Tour
Enjoy a narrated tour from Lake Louise through the 'heart' of the Canadian Rockies to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. You will be inspired by rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks create an ever-changing montage of mountain wilderness. This tour along the Icefields Parkway takes you through Jasper and Banff National Parks, stopping at the Columbia Icefield. Included in your package is the 'Ice Age Adventure', a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed Ice Explorer to the middle of the glacier, on a 5-kilometre round- trip journey. Your driver-guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point out interesting geological features as you travel in comfort and safety. The trip affords many opportunities to see mountain wildlife and photograph the spectacular views. Late afternoon you will arrive in Jasper.
Moderate: Overnight Amethyst Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lake view Junior Suite
Day 5 - VIA Rail - Jasper to Vancouver
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, you will transfer (on own) to the Jasper train station. Here you will board VIA Rail's 'Canadian' train. Enjoy private bedroom accommodation, meals in the private dining car and relax in the 'Silver & Blue Lounge' or Dome car. You will depart Jasper National Park. You will pass Mt. Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, and you will see glaciers, mountain peaks and lush forests.
Moderate: Overnight VIA Rail in a Private Bedroom
Superior: Overnight VIA Rail in a Private Bedroom
Deluxe: Overnight VIA Rail in a “Romance by Rail" Suite
Day 6 - Vancouver City Tour
In the early morning the train will arrive in Vancouver. Upon arrival in Vancouver, you will transfer by private sedan to your hotel. At the hotel, you will store your luggage with the bell desk and depart on a 4 hour morning city tour while you wait for your hotel check-in time. You will see Stanley Park, Gastown, Robson Street, English Bay, Queen Elizabeth Park and Granville Island. A visit to the Lookout Tower is included, providing you with a bird's-eye view of Vancouver. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
Moderate: Overnight Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Vancouver (includes buffet breakfast)
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont Gold (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 7 - Vancouver Exploring / Depart Vancouver aboard Holland America's ms Statendam
You have the morning at leisure to explore Vancouver. Take a water taxi to the market on Granville Island get your designer duds on Robson Street get your culture fix in Chinatown and get splashed by a beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium. And when you're all done, get sand in your shoes at English Bay before you head back uptown for fusion cooking at the vibrant restaurant scene of Gastown. This afternoon, you will set sail for new adventures on board the exciting ms Statendam. The ms Statendam dazzles guests with more of everything they desire on a cruise ship: more staterooms with verandahs for private dining, sunning and relaxing more dining choices from fancy dress-up dinners to casual pool-side dining more ways to be pampered in The Greenhouse Spa and Salon. This spectacular cruise ship delights guests with unforgettable onboard experiences.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 8 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Today is at sea. Journey deep into one of nature's most isolated monuments accessible only by sea and air and encounter the magnificence of the Ice Age as you slowly glide through the Inside Passage. Expect the unexpected on your Alaska cruise - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. With guaranteed views of sky-splitting peaks, glaciers and vast wilderness.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 9 - Tracy Arm & Juneau, Alaska
In the morning you will cruise through this narrow, 26-mile long fjord is another of Alaska's most dramatic glacier settings. Stand on deck as the lush forest recedes and you enter a stunning canyon of bare rock. The panorama of 7,000 foot mountain peaks and nearly vertical rock cliffs is astounding. Waterfalls appear at every turn. Icebergs make their way to the sea in all sorts of wondrous shapes. And tucked away at the end of this remarkable waterway are two very active reminders of the Ice Age - the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The face of the South Sawyer Glacier stretches one-third of a mile and calves icebergs big and small. Harbour seals dot the floating platforms. Kittiwakes and mountain goats are a common sight. Whales and bears may even make an appearance in this magical place where closeness and intimacy make visitors a part of the scene.
In the afternoon, arrive Juneau. For years Juneau's livelihood, like that of many cities in Alaska, was tied to mining. The city itself is built on tailings from the A-J mine whose shafts perforate the hillside above town. Because it is Alaska's capital, Juneau prospers through government work and tourism. This is a great place to sample salmon baked over an alderwood fire, pan for gold, and hike the massive Juneau Icefield. If you feel the need for speed, hop on a sled and let a dog team pull you across the surface of a glacier. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Alaska-style Salmon Bake, Glacier View Sea Kayaking, Gold Panning at Gold Creek.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 10 - Skagway, Alaska
The sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway come winter, so you can only imagine the frightful conditions endured by the gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, with a mandatory ton of supplies to be hauled with them over the steep and treacherous Trail of '98. 21st-century summertime visits to Skagway require nothing of the sort, but you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces, past Deadhorse Gulch, to see what it was like back then. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): White Pass Summit Scenic Railway, Biking, rock- climbing and flight seeing adventures.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 11 - Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising
Cloistered in the rocky recesses of Alaska, Glacier Bay is a world still emerging from the Ice Age. Sixteen dazzling tidewater glaciers creep back and forth by millimeters, chiseling great masses of moraine onto their pristine surfaces.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 12 - Ketchikan, Alaska
In the heart of the Tongass National Forest, immerse yourself in Tlingit Indian culture and view the world's largest collection of totem poles kayak the colorful waterfront and stroll the boardwalk that once led to Ketchikan's red light district. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Adventure Kart & Jet Boat Expedition, Misty Fjords by Floatplane, snorkeling adventure, Totems & Town Tour.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 13 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Today is at sea as you continue your cruise back to Vancouver. You set the pace and choose your pleasure: Start your day early with a brisk walk around the teak deck or enjoy a long, lazy morning with breakfast served in your stateroom. Relax away the afternoon by the pool or participate in one of many classes or speaker presentations. Dress for another stylish dinner or enjoy an excellent meal at one of our more casual restaurants. In the evening, watch a great show, try your luck in the casino or dance into a moonlit night at sea.
Moderate: Overnight ms Statendam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Statendam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Statendam in a Veranda Suite (BB class)
Day 14 - Arrive Vancouver
Arrive back into Vancouver in the early morning. Upon arrival, transfer by private sedan from the cruise ship terminal to the Vancouver International Airport in time for your flight departure home.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 1 night bedroom accommodation and meals on VIA Rail
- 5 nights accommodation, room tax and any mandatory service charges
- 7 night Alaska Glacier Bay Holland America cruise aboard the ms Statendam including onboard meals & entertainment, taxes and port charges
- Discover Banff Tour including admission to Cave & Basin
- Sulphur Mountain Gondola ride
- Full day private sedan tour of Banff & Lake Louise including gratuities
- Wilson Icefield helicopter tour (25 minutes) including a landing and gourmet picnic lunch
- Lake Louise to Jasper Tour including a 1 1/2 hour Ice Explorer ride
- Vancouver City Tour including visit to the Lookout Tower
- Motor coach transfer between Calgary Airport & Banff
- Private sedan transfers between Vancouver train station & hotel, hotel & cruise ship terminal and cruise ship terminal & Vancouver Airport including gratuities
- National Park Entrance Fee
- Alaska State Cruise Tax
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Shore Excursions
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities not listed as included (including meals & cabin attendants onboard the ms Statendam)
- Meals not listed as included
- Transfers not listed as included
- Optional activities not listed as included
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)
2009 Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Calgary / Transfer to Banff
Upon arrival at the Calgary International Airport you transfer by regular scheduled motor coach to the mountain resort town of Banff. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – Fairmont Gold View room (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 2 - Discover Banff Tour
Build a connection to this World Heritage Site on this trademark sightseeing tour as you visit Banff's landmarks and historic places and hear how the 11,000 year old human history of the Bow Valley changed when three railway workers rediscovered the Cave & Basin, now a National Historic Site. Your time will be spent enjoying the sights, taking photos, and participating in short walks to view points, on the many stops of the tour. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the town site and visit the many museums, art galleries, & boutiques.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – Fairmont Gold View room (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 3 - Banff National Park Private Tour / Helicopter Tour with Gourmet Picnic Lunch
This morning you will be met by your private sedan for a personal tour of Banff National Park. Your driver will offer suggestions of places to visit, including Hole-in-the-Wall, Johnston Canyon, and Castle Mountain. Visit the Banff Gondola, where you will take a spectacular 8-minute gondola ride (included) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. From this vantage point at the summit, you will enjoy amazing panoramic views of Banff town site and the surrounding peaks of the Bow Valley.
Helicopter Tour including Landing & Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Included in your tour is a 25-minute helicopter sightseeing flight over the Wilson Icefield. This spectacular flight will allow you to discover not only 6 glaciers but also the Wilson Icefield where you will be able to see down into the many crevasses of the deep blue crowfoot at its base. From above the Wilson Icefield, at 10,500 feet, you will view glaciers and icefields as far as the eye can see! Your pilot will make a landing and you will have time to go for a leisurely walk with your pilot in the high alpine. A walk never to be forgotten! Enjoy a mountaintop picnic in the high alpine. The picnic includes a deluxe sandwich (meat eater or vegetarian - let us know) along with an appetizer tray and dessert. On arrival at Lake Louise check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Moderate: Overnight Lake Louise Inn – Executive Queen
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - Fairmont Lake view room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – Fairmont Gold Lakeview (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 4 - Lake Louise to Jasper Tour
Enjoy a narrated tour from Lake Louise through the 'heart' of the Canadian Rockies to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. You will be inspired by rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks create an ever-changing montage of mountain wilderness. This tour along the Icefields Parkway takes you through Jasper and Banff National Parks, stopping at the Columbia Icefield. Included in your package is the 'Ice Age Adventure', a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed Ice Explorer to the middle of the glacier, on a 5-kilometre round- trip journey. Your driver-guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point out interesting geological features as you travel in comfort and safety. The trip affords many opportunities to see mountain wildlife and photograph the spectacular views. Late afternoon you will arrive in Jasper.
Moderate: Overnight Amethyst Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lakeview Junior Suite
Day 5 - VIA Rail - Jasper to Vancouver
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, you will transfer (on own) to the Jasper train station. Here you will board VIA Rail's 'Canadian' train. Enjoy private bedroom accommodation, meals in the private dining car and relax in the 'Silver & Blue Lounge' or Dome car. You will depart Jasper National Park. You will pass Mt. Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, and you will see glaciers, mountain peaks and lush forests.
Moderate: Overnight VIA Rail in a Private Bedroom
Superior: Overnight VIA Rail in a Private Bedroom
Deluxe: Overnight VIA Rail in a “Romance by Rail" Suite
Day 6 - Arrive Vancouver / Depart Vancouver aboard Holland America's ms Zuiderdam
In the early morning the train will arrive in Vancouver. Upon arrival in Vancouver, you will transfer by private sedan to the cruise ship terminal. You have the morning at leisure to explore Vancouver. Take a water taxi to the market on Granville Island get your designer duds on Robson Street get your culture fix in Chinatown and get splashed by a beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium. And when you're all done, get sand in your shoes at English Bay before you head back uptown for fusion cooking at the vibrant restaurant scene of Gastown. This afternoon, you will set sail for new adventures on board the exciting ms Zuiderdam. The ms Zuiderdam dazzles guests with more of everything they desire on a cruise ship: more staterooms with verandahs for private dining, sunning and relaxing more dining choices from fancy dress-up dinners to casual pool-side dining more ways to be pampered in The Greenhouse Spa and Salon. This spectacular cruise ship delights guests with unforgettable onboard experiences.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 7 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Today is at sea. Journey deep into one of nature's most isolated monuments accessible only by sea and air and encounter the magnificence of the Ice Age as you slowly glide through the Inside Passage. Expect the unexpected on your Alaska cruise - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. With guaranteed views of sky-splitting peaks, glaciers and vast wilderness.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 8 - Tracy Arm & Juneau, Alaska
In the morning you will cruise through this narrow, 26-mile long fjord is another of Alaska's most dramatic glacier settings. Stand on deck as the lush forest recedes and you enter a stunning canyon of bare rock. The panorama of 7,000 foot mountain peaks and nearly vertical rock cliffs is astounding. Waterfalls appear at every turn. Icebergs make their way to the sea in all sorts of wondrous shapes. And tucked away at the end of this remarkable waterway are two very active reminders of the Ice Age - the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The face of the South Sawyer Glacier stretches one-third of a mile and calves icebergs big and small. Harbour seals dot the floating platforms. Kittiwakes and mountain goats are a common sight. Whales and bears may even make an appearance in this magical place where closeness and intimacy make visitors a part of the scene.
In the afternoon, arrive Juneau. For years Juneau's livelihood, like that of many cities in Alaska, was tied to mining. The city itself is built on tailings from the A-J mine whose shafts perforate the hillside above town. Because it is Alaska's capital, Juneau prospers through government work and tourism. This is a great place to sample salmon baked over an alderwood fire, pan for gold, and hike the massive Juneau Icefield. If you feel the need for speed, hop on a sled and let a dog team pull you across the surface of a glacier. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Guide’s Choice Adventure Hike, Underground Juneau Gold.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 9 - Skagway, Alaska
The sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway come winter, so you can only imagine the frightful conditions endured by the gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, with a mandatory ton of supplies to be hauled with them over the steep and treacherous Trail of '98. 21st-century summertime visits to Skagway require nothing of the sort, but you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces, past Deadhorse Gulch, to see what it was like back then. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): White Pass Summit Scenic Railway, Dogsledding & Glacier Helicopter Flight.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 10 - Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising
Cloistered in the rocky recesses of Alaska, Glacier Bay is a world still emerging from the Ice Age. Sixteen dazzling tidewater glaciers creep back and forth by millimeters, chiseling great masses of moraine onto their pristine surfaces.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 11 - Ketchikan, Alaska
In the heart of the Tongass National Forest, immerse yourself in Tlingit Indian culture and view the world's largest collection of totem poles kayak the colorful waterfront and stroll the boardwalk that once led to Ketchikan's red light district. Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Adventure Kart & Jet Boat Expedition, Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 12 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Today is at sea as you continue your cruise back to Vancouver. You set the pace and choose your pleasure: Start your day early with a brisk walk around the teak deck or enjoy a long, lazy morning with breakfast served in your stateroom. Relax away the afternoon by the pool or participate in one of many classes or speaker presentations. Dress for another stylish dinner or enjoy an excellent meal at one of our more casual restaurants. In the evening, watch a great show, try your luck in the casino or dance into a moonlit night at sea.
Moderate: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Inside Cabin (J class)
Superior: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in an Outside Cabin (D class)
Deluxe: Overnight ms Zuiderdam in a Veranda Suite (VB class)
Day 13 - Arrive Vancouver
Arrive back into Vancouver in the early morning. Upon arrival, transfer by private sedan from the cruise ship terminal to the Vancouver International Airport in time for your flight departure home.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 1 night bedroom accommodation and meals on VIA Rail
- 4 nights accommodation, room tax and any mandatory service charges
- 7 night Alaska Glacier Bay Holland America cruise aboard the ms Zuiderdam including onboard meals & entertainment, taxes and port charges
- Discover Banff Tour including admission to Cave & Basin
- Sulphur Mountain Gondola ride
- Full day private sedan tour of Banff & Lake Louise including gratuities
- Wilson Icefield helicopter tour (25 minutes) including a landing and gourmet picnic lunch
- Lake Louise to Jasper Tour including a 1 1/2 hour Ice Explorer ride
- Motor coach transfer from Calgary Airport to Banff
- Private sedan transfers between Vancouver train station & cruise ship terminal and cruise ship terminal & Vancouver Airport including gratuities
- National Park Entrance Fee
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Shore Excursions
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities not listed as included (including meals & cabin attendants onboard the ms Zuiderdam)
- Meals not listed as included
- Transfers not listed as included
- Optional activities not listed as included
- Goods and Services tax (GST)
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)