Inside Passage is a scenic port of call on Alaska cruise itineraries from May through September, with Holland America, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Line among the lines sailing these waters.
The Inside Passage threads through southeast Alaska and coastal British Columbia, forming the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Towering, glacier-carved peaks rise directly from the sea, framing narrow channels once traveled by Indigenous peoples and later by prospectors bound for the goldfields. Misty Fjords National Monument and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve anchor the route’s dramatic scenery, with cascading waterfalls, hanging glaciers, and dense old-growth forest lining the shore.
Days spent sailing this passage are given over to open-deck observation rather than organized stops, since the waterway itself is the destination. Humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and bald eagles frequently appear along the way, rewarding patient watchers with binoculars in hand. Calm, protected waters make for smooth cruising, and unobstructed views are best from the ship’s outer decks in the early morning or at dusk.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Inside Passage.
Stake Out an Outer Deck
Claim a spot along the rail at sunrise or dusk when light rakes across the fjords and wildlife tends to surface most often. Bring layers and binoculars, since the best sightings favor patient, quiet watching over organized activity.
Watch for Whales and Orcas
Humpbacks, orcas, and sea lions regularly surface in these protected waters, often within sight of the ship without any need to go ashore. Keep a camera ready, as sightings can be brief and unannounced.
Take in Glacier-Carved Scenery
Watch old-growth forest, hanging glaciers, and waterfalls slide by as the route passes near Misty Fjords and Glacier Bay. Check the day's program for narration or naturalist commentary that points out landmarks as they appear.
