My 'safari Explorer'

Spend your day viewing humpback whale, porpoise, sea lion, sea otter and other wildlife, marveling at the grand scenery of Alaska as your crew expertly guides you through the off-the-beaten-track areas that all the locals know. Join the captain on the bridge or out on deck in search of marine mammals. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Enter Glacier Bay, one of America's crown jewel national parks, and stop at the lodge at Bartlett Cove for an interpretive nature walk. Amid the park's 3.2 million acres are tidewater glaciers that sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating in the waters of Glacier Bay. If conditions permit, lower the inflatable raft and weave among the icebergs that have fallen from the face of the glaciers. In the mornings, paddle kayaks or go beachcombing with your naturalists and a park ranger. Spend your days paddling kayaks or beachcombing, with your onboard naturalists and park ranger. Keep on the watch for puffin, bald eagle, murre, sea lion, mountain goat, bear, moose and whale. MY 'Safari Explorer'

After breakfast, pull into the quaint community of Tenakee Springs, a town of about 100 people, where most of the buildings are perched on stilts. Walk along an orderly trail to a suspension bridge and stroll through the town. Then continue your cruise to Pavlof Harbor, where you can kayak in the calm waters, hike to a hidden lake or be on the watch for bear. If you prefer, stay on board to relax in the Wine Library, soak in the hot tub or schedule your complimentary massage. MY 'Safari Explorer'

If tides permit, stop in Basket Bay to kayak under sea-carved marble rock arches in hidden inlets and wander misty coves where colorful sea life clings to the inter-tidal rocks. Return to 'Safari Explorer' and cruise along the "waterfall coast." Discover numerous hidden hot springs along your route. Go ashore in Warm Springs Bay and hike to a pool of naturally heated water while a rushing waterfall flows beside you. Then drop the skiffs for a closer inspection to watch and listen at a refuge and haul-out for hundreds of Steller sea lion as they vie for space among the islands' limited outcroppings. This evening, enjoy a relaxing nightcap in the Wine Library or in the upper level hot tub. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Set sail toward Frederick Sound this morning, a prime whale-watching area. Spend the day cruising among some of the richest whale waters in southeast Alaska, searching for the telltale blow of the humpback whale, as well as Steller sea lion and Dall's porpoise. Your expedition leaders and crew are on hand to provide insight about the wildlife and landscapes in this part of the world. This evening, anchor in serene Thomas Bay. If you like, hike Cascade Creek trail for a closer inspection of Alaska's temperate rainforest, the most extensive in the world. View the majestic Sitka spruce and western hemlock, with a wide, branching canopy that dictates what can survive in the shady understory. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Make a port stop in the quaint Norwegian-style fishing village of Petersburg. Once back on board 'Safari Explorer,' your journey leads you through the Wrangell Narrows, a passage that's been dubbed "Christmas Tree Lane" for the red and green navigational markers that indicate the route. The area is home to rich salmon runs, bald eagle, harbor porpoise and seal. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Today's focus is on remote waterways, hidden villages and wilderness cruising. Explore Chief Shake Island's Tlingit tribal house in Wrangell. As you continue cruising, keep an eye out for seal and porpoise on your way to Canoe Pass, a silent, hidden cut between two islands that is ideal for kayaking. Tucked behind a fortress of broken islands, Meyer's Chuck lies undetected by most who pass this way. Stop for a look at this surprising community made up of a handful of fishermen, artists and bush pilots. Walk the cedar-planked boardwalks that are the "streets" of the village and meet the locals. Spend the night at anchor in a remote cove, where you have time to investigate by kayak or inflatable raft with your expedition leaders and naturalists. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Explore Misty Fjords National Monument, one of Alaska's greatest natural and cultural treasures, with its 3,000-foot sheer-walled granite cliffs, sea bird rookeries and fascinating geologic history. Wildlife at home here include brown and black bear, harbor seal and bald eagle. Your expedition leader is on hand to educate and offer insight into the flora, fauna and other details of the natural history here. Anchor deep inside the dramatic fjords and dine among lofty mountains and the echoes of waterfalls. Later, arrive in Ketchikan and embark on a walking tour of Alaska's "First City." Stroll famous Creek Street and browse the town's shops. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Cross the Canadian border and begin exploring British Columbia's Inside Passage. Pause for an up-close view of the dilapidated buildings of the former cannery town of Butedale as they silently and slowly edge toward the icy waters of Princess Louisa Channel. As you head southward, fishing communities give way to forested mountains and intricate waterways. You find yourself following in the wake of explorers such as James Cook and George Vancouver, noting their journal entries as you go. Along the way, you are bound to cross paths with seal and sea lion, dolphin and porpoise as you observe birds on their southward migration. Learn about native influences that shaped the history of these remote and sparsely populated islands, such as Cormorant Island, home to the tiny community of Alert Bay and the world's largest totem pole. Search for the large concentration of orca in Johnstone Strait before passing through Seymour Narrows along the coast of Vancouver Island. MY 'Safari Explorer'

Journey toward the beautiful, forested San Juan Islands that dot the seascape along Washington's coast. Settle in to the rhythm of the sea as you cruise the island passages in search of orca who call these waters home. During your time in the San Juan Islands, visit the port of Friday Harbor where you have time to stroll through the town's many intriguing shops, or the Whale Museum. Later, gather on board for a farewell dinner and a slide show commemorating your journey. MY 'Safari Explorer'

During breakfast, your ship passes through the Hiram-Chittenden Locks and docks at Seattle's historic Fishermen's Terminal to disembark. Transfer to the Seattle airport or a local hotel.