Northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier 7 Nights • Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska • Ovation of the Seas

If you’re sailing on a cruise out of Vancouver, definitely spend a few days discovering all the cool sights and activities this vibrant Canadian city has to offer. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot. Located in British Columbia’s lower mainland region, hugging the Burrard Inlet, this northern gem offers the perfect mix of outdoor adventures and metropolitan delights. Start your day with a fresh and hearty breakfast at a local farmers’ market, then soar above the city on the Skyride cable car to Grouse Mountain’s 3,700-foot-tall summit and stay at the to enjoy one of the best of Vancouver views. If you’re craving adventure in the great outdoors, climb to St. Mark’s Summit for more incredible views of majestic Howe Sound. The trailhead is just a 30-minute drive from Vancouver. If you’d rather explore on the water, visit Horseshoe Bay and hop on a wildlife-spotting boat tour. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, dolphins and whales as you zip past towering cliffs and rocky isles.

Your ship departs promptly at 6:00 pm, so plan to arrive at least 2-3 hours early to account for checking in and boarding protocols. During this time, many of the ship's amenities are open and operating, so feel free to start your holiday early.

Cruises to Ketchikan open the gateway to Alaska's cultural, historical and natural treasures. For a more structured day, head to the visitor's center to book tours for fishing, kayaking, hiking, the delightful lumberjack show and more. To continue exploring, walk down the wharf to Creek Street, where you'll find shops and restaurants packed with salmon products, winter jackets, native arts and crafts and similar souvenirs. At your leisure, follow the signposts to the Cape Fox Funicular, a tram that trundles you up the hill to a delightful café with panoramic vistas. You can catch the tram back down or meander down the hillside, taking in the rainforest's ambiance. On the way down, you'll pass the traditional lands of the Taant´a Kwáan and Sanyaa Kwáan of the Tlingit First Nations. Pop in at the Totem Heritage Center and stand in awe of Alaska's largest collection of 19th-century totem poles. A little further on is the "married man's trail," which takes you along the creek, past the fun "fish ladder" — rapids which salmon jump upstream — and ends at the infamous Dolly's House Museum.

Sitka truly offers the best of Alaska. Its small-town appeal stems from a unique blend of Russian, Tlingit and American history. Volcanic Mount Edgecumbe is postcard-worthy and its rare wildlife includes orange-beaked puffins. Whether you’re hiking Baranof Island trails or listening to tribal stories passed down for generations, in Sitka the midnight sun never sets on adventure.

Once the starting point for gold stampeders heading for the promised land of the Yukon, Skagway symbolizes the spirit of Alaska. And now — it’s your turn to hunt for bold. Embark on the trail of the fortune seekers on a vintage train ride with dramatic, sweeping views at every turn. Trek through the dense rainforest and windswept valleys of Chilkoot Trail and follow in the footsteps of Klondike pioneers. Or stroll the charming downtown streets studded with historical buildings. Whatever you get up to in Skagway, it’ll be a day you’ll never forget.

At 76 miles long and seven miles wide, North America’s largest tidewater glacier makes even the largest ships in the region feel small. Watch massive chunks of Hubbard Glacier’s translucent blue ice crash into the bay with a bang like a cannon shot, a sound the Tlingit people call “White Thunder.”

With the Kenai Peninsula as its backyard, Seward serves as a spectacular outdoor playground. You can hike Caines Head Trail’s pebbled beaches and mountain bike Lost Lake Trail’s alpine meadows. Reel in trophy-size salmon on a guided sport fishing trip, or go flightseeing over bright-blue Exit Glacier. In Seward, adventure stems out from every direction.

The cruise might have ended, but there are still some great activities to enjoy in the area. If you flew into this port, be mindful of your departure flight time and plan accordingly.