Canada’s Rockies & Alaska Cruise

The best of the Canadian Rockies plus cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage equals the ultimate scenic sightseeing adventure! Nothing beats a combination of train and coach travel through the heart of the Rockies, the simple luxuries of cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage, and ample time at your leisure among breathtaking scenery.
Your 15-day rail-cruise holiday includes first-class sleeping accommodations aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian, a 7-night Holland America cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage, hotel accommodations, sightseeing, and more!

Tour Inclusions and Scenic Highlights

• One-way rail transportation aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian from Jasper to Vancouver
• Train accommodations for one night aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian in Sleeper Touring Class (first-class)
• Special in-room train amenities including shower kit, bottled water, and ear plugs
• Priority boarding from exclusive pre-boarding lounge
• 7-night round-trip Alaska cruise aboard Holland America’s ms Volendam
• All meals onboard the train and ship
• Hotel accommodations for two nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
• Hotel accommodations for one night at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
• Hotel accommodations for one night at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
• Hotel accommodations for two nights at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• One-way transfer from Calgary Airport to Fairmont Banff Springs
• One way-transfers from Banff to Lake Louise and Lake Louise to Jasper
• One-way transfer from Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge to Jasper railway station
• One-way transfer from cruise terminal to Vancouver Airport
• Banff sightseeing tour
• Vancouver city sightseeing tour
• Maps and destination information
• Hotel taxes and GST on applicable items

• Banff
• Lake Louise
• Jasper
• Vancouver
• Tracy Arm
• Juneau
• Skagway
• Glacier Bay
• Ketchikan

Tour Map

Itinerary

Day 1 - Calgary to Banff
Fly into Calgary’s international airport and transfer to the Fairmont Banff Springs Resort, your home for two nights. Once you’ve settled in to your accommodations, set off to explore the grounds of this grand hotel and get acquainted with the surrounding area. Make time during your stay in Banff to visit the Banff National Park and the Banff Upper Hot Springs, which are located inside the Park. Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Day 2 - Banff
Banff is a veritable outdoor playground filled with pristine ski slopes, hiking trails, and bike paths. Banff was originally settled by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880’s. Visit some of its most famous sights on your guided “Discover Banff” sightseeing tour. Learn about the history of the town as you visit some of its most scenic areas including Tunnel and Rundle Mountains, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and the Hoodoos as well as a ride on the Banff gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain. The views of the Bow Valley are simply stunning. Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Day 3 - Banff to Lake Louise
Take the morning to revisit some of your favorite spots in town or seek out new ones. This afternoon, travel west by coach to Lake Louise. Upon arrival at your famed accommodations, take time to stroll along the famous lake and explore the grounds. Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Day 4 - Lake Louise to Jasper
Take the better part of the day to explore this historic hotel and its impressive grounds. The original Chateau was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway over the course of several years as a means to entice wealthy travellers to holiday by rail in western Canada. Take advantage of picturesque photo opportunities around the tranquil lake with its shimmering turquoise waters and Victoria Glacier looming in the distance. Later, depart on a scenic drive to Jasper with the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge as your destination.* After settling in to your accommodations, take time to explore this scenic area. Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Day 5 - VIA Rail: Jasper to Vancouver
Spend the morning exploring Jasper and its famed National Park, or you may elect to take a ride on the Jasper Tramway for aerial views. Transfer to the railway station early this afternoon for a 14:30 departure aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian to Vancouver.

Board the train and settle into your first-class accommodations: a sitting room by day and room with two comfortable upper and lower berths by night. Take time to visit both the Skyline and Park cars for impressive panoramic views of the breathtaking scenery as you travel through the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver. Overnight train. (D)

Day 6 - Arrival in Vancouver
Arrive in Vancouver around 9:30 this morning. Spend the day exploring this diverse city at your leisure. With so much to see and do, the question isn’t what to do but rather how to see and do it all! Stroll the cobbled streets of Gastown, shop Robson Street, swing from the trees at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, visit towering Grouse Mountain, or seek out some of Vancouver’s Olympic sites. Dine in one of the city’s amazing restaurants this evening. Overnight Fairmont Waterfront Hotel or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. (B)

Day 7 - Vancouver Sightseeing
Today enjoy a Hop On/Hop Off bus tour of Vancouver, which includes some of the city’s most important sights including Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium, English Bay Beach, Granville Island, Chinatown, and the Robson Street shopping district in addition to many other attractions. Use the tour to learn about the city and its diverse neighborhoods as well as your means of transportation between Vancouver’s must-see destinations. Overnight Fairmont Waterfront Hotel or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Day 8 - Vancouver Cruise Terminal / Departure on Holland America Cruise
Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to the cruise ship terminal where you will board Holland America’s ms Volendam. Settle in to your accommodations and get acquainted with all that your ship has to offer. Overnight ship. (D)

Day 9 - Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage
Take today to enjoy some of the ms Volendam’s special features. You may wish to indulge in a hot stone massage, steam in a thermal suite, or enjoy a variety of other relaxation and beauty treatments in the spa, visit the Culinary Arts Center for gourmet cooking lessons, or enjoy the scenery as you lounge poolside. Overnight ship. (B, L, D) Day 10 - Cruising Tracy Arm and Excursion to Juneau
This morning finds you cruising the narrow Tracy Arm fjord, a deep waterway full of floating ice. At the end of the fjord are the massive Sawyer Glaciers. The area boasts both breathtaking scenery and an assortment of wildlife.

From Tracy Arm, cruise 72 kilometres south to Juneau for an afternoon excursion. The capital of Alaska is home to the immense Mendenhall Glacier and colossal Juneau Ice Fields. Juneau is also known for the lush Tongass National Forest, the largest U.S. national forest that includes islands, fjords, glaciers, and peaks of the Coast Mountains. Before you leave Juneau, make time to hop aboard the Mt. Roberts Tramway for a short hike to one of the area’s viewpoints for the perfect photo opportunity. Overnight ship. (B, L, D)

Day 11 - Skagway
Today’s excursion takes you to the Gold Rush town of Skagway. Admire the White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad, which heralds the town’s mining past. Pop into the town’s old-time saloons, browse the rustic shops, visit the Trail of ’98 Museum or the Gold Rush Cemetery, or embark on a shore excursion that will reward you with a taste of Skagway’s local flavor. Overnight ship. (B, L, D)

Day 12 - Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising
Surrounded by high cliffs, rugged rock walls, and a protected ecosystem, breathtaking Glacier Bay contains 16 glaciers, 12 of which reach shorelines and calved to produce icebergs. The area has more actively calving icebergs than anywhere else in the world! Watch in awe as it happens time and again. Overnight ship. (B, L, D)

Day 13 - Ketchikan
Today visit Ketchikan, located just 144 kilometres north of Prince Rupert. Learn about the town’s natural history and its proud heritage through the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park, and Saxman Village. One of the town’s most awe-inspiring sights is Misty Fjords National Monument, where granite cliffs tower hundreds of metres above the sea and countless waterfalls fall into the tranquil waters. It is truly a sight to behold! Overnight ship. (B, L, D)

Day 14 - Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage
Unwind from your days of sightseeing by relaxing onboard the ship today, enjoying the entertainment and amenities at your disposal and admiring the passing scenery as you cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage. Overnight ship. (B, L, D)

Day 15 - Vancouver
The ms Volendam returns to the port of Vancouver today. You may elect to extend your stay in Vancouver for additional sightseeing.

*Columbia Ice Fields tour and Ice Explorer ride available at an additional charge.

1. Dates & Pricing
2. Trains & Transportation
3. Accommodations

Accommodations

Fairmont Banff Springs: “The Castle in the Rockies,” as this hotel has come to be known, is modeled after a Scottish Baronial c astle. It is ideally located in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 768-room hotel includes 11 restaurants, a business centre, a spa, lap pool, an outdoor heated pool, indoor hot tub, golf course, and fitness centre.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise: Located in the heart of Banff National Park and within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic hotel features elegant rooms overlooking the Chateau grounds and hillside. Hotel amenities include Internet access, a business centre, 6 restaurants, a fitness centre, indoor heated pool, whirlpool, steam room, salon and spa.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge: A village of heritage log cabins connected by picturesque paths on a UNESCO World Heritage Site makes up the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Hotel amenities include a business centre; health club including a heated outdoor pool, hot tub and steam room; a salon and spa; and, seven restaurants and lounges.

Fairmont Waterfront: The 489-guest room hotel offers beautiful views of the harbor, mountains and city skyline. Guests have access to a business centre, outdoor pool, indoor whirlpool, steam rooms, and fitness centre. The hotel has two restaurants on its premises.

ms Volendam Interior Cabin: Interior cabins include two lower beds convertible to one Queen-size bed and shower

ms Volendam Oceanview Cabin: Ocean-view cabins include two lower beds convertible to one Queen-size bed, bathtub, and shower

ms Volendam Verandah Suite: Verandah suites include two lower beds convertible to one Queen-size bed, whirlpool bath and shower, sitting area, private verandah, mini-bar, refrigerator, and floor-to-ceiling windows.