Canada by Rail and Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise

Travelling by train is one of the finest ways to see Canada. We travel on the famous “Ocean” and “Canadian” trains and watch as this vast and beautiful country unfolds before our eyes. Can there be a better way to see the wide open spaces of the Prairies or cross the world famous Rocky Mountains, where the railway routes are amongst the most beautiful in the world? Our tour includes time spent in the cities of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. We cruise the Inside Passage between Vancouver in British Columbia and Juneau in Alaska. This is a coastal route for ocean going vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific Coast of North America. Cruise ships using this world famous waterway provide unrivalled views of the rocky coastline; allow glimpses of the world’s most undisturbed landscapes; take you wonderfully close to glaciers; and offer opportunities to see rare wildlife such as whales, eagles, porpoises and bears. This is a trip of a lifetime!

Monday 8th September
Flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia

We take a flight from London Heathrow to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and arrive in the mid afternoon. We transfer to the city and check in to our hotel for the next two nights. Halifax has one of the world’s great natural harbours which has given it a rich maritime history. (D)

Tuesday 9th September
Free day in Halifax
Spend the day enjoying all that Halifax has to offer. (B D)

Wednesday 10th September
“The Ocean” to Montreal
This morning we board a luxury train at Halifax Station for the journey to Montreal. “The Ocean” has operated for more than a century along a very scenic route in eastern Canada. We can relax and enjoy the superb scenery as we travel through Nova Scotia, the forests of eastern New Brunswick, and the lower St. Lawrence River valley. Our accommodation will be in sleeper cabins. (B L D)

Thursday 11th September
We arrive in Montreal in the morning
Today you will have a free day to enjoy Montreal and explore the many attractions and sights of this vibrant city. Check-in to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (D)

Friday 12th September
Montreal to Toronto
Today, you will board a high speed connection to Toronto. We travel in comfort with spacious seating and along a route following the St. Lawrence River valley and to the west of Lake Ontario. Light meals and refreshments are available to purchase during the journey. We have a mid afternoon arrival in Toronto where we transfer to a hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (D)

Saturday 13th September
Niagara Falls
Today, a real highlight awaits, you board a morning train and depart to Niagara Falls. Travelling through the Canadian countryside to one of the most famous destinations in the world. Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls and spans the border between the Province of Ontario and the State of New York in the United States. Spend the day immersed in the wonder and beauty of this iconic location. Afterwards, you board a service train and travel back to Toronto. Where you will once again enjoy dinner at your hotel. (B D)

Sunday 14th September
The Canadian
After breakfast, you will board Canada’s premier train “The Canadian”, travelling Sleeper train. We sleep on the train for four nights in cabins which feature a large window with blind, two chairs, and a private washroom with small WC and sink. (B L D)

Monday 15th September
Crossing Canada
“The Canadian” is a transcontinental passenger train operated by Via Rail Canada which crosses four time zones on it’s 4,466 km (2,775 miles) journey. After breakfast, we spend the day relaxing on the train as it travels through spectacular scenery where the sheer size and drama of the landscape makes it much more than ‘countryside’. This is big country, empty but for scattered small communities like Gogama which is typical of the settlements along this section that were created in order to service locomotives. We stop at Hornepayne, which began as a railway town but where today the major industry is wood. We eat on-board “The Canadian” and spend another night in our cosy on-board bedrooms. (B L D)

Tuesday 16th September
Winnipeg
We are now in the Central Time zone and cross the border from Ontario into Manitoba before reaching its capital Winnipeg. The city was originally the hub of the Canadian fur trade due to its strategic location at the junction of three rivers. Today the “Peg” is a city as diverse as the whole of Canada and a destination for architecture, rivers, history, arts, and museums. Leaving Winnipeg we travel westwards crossing the Prairies, the huge undulating plains that span the three provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. (B L D)

Wednesday 17th September
The Rocky Mountains
During the night we pass into the Mountain Time zone and early in the morning our train arrives at Edmonton. Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is located in the beautiful North Saskatchewan River valley. We continue our journey passing through rolling countryside before climbing into the Rockies and arriving in Jasper. Here we have a short break to stretch our legs before we continue our journey to Vancouver. (B L D)

Thursday 18th September
Vancouver
Our train arrives at Vancouver Station today. Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is surrounded by mountains. You will check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation for the next two nights. Spend the rest of the day exploring this vibrant city. (B D)

Friday 19th September
Free Day in Vancouver
Today you have a free day in Vancouver. Spend the day exploring the many sights and attractions that Vancouver has to offer. Overnight accommodation will once again be at your hotel in Vancouver. (B D)

Saturday 20th September
Cruise – The Inside Passage Alaska
We transfer to the harbour in the afternoon and board the Holland America Line cruise ship MS “Koningsdam” for the voyage to Alaska. We shall navigate the Inside Passage, a world famous waterway which is sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by a host of little islands and only accessible by sea and air. (B D)

Sunday 21st September
The Inside Passage
The fabled Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sea-lanes in the world, and one of the few where deep-draft vessels can sail close to steep mountain walls. We spend a relaxing day cruising the Inside Passage viewing rugged capes, cliffs, glaciers, fjords, forests and never-ending dramatic scenery along the two thousand miles of channels, passes, straits and islands. Late in the evening we navigate the tight passage of the Seymour Narrows and the Grenville Channel between Pitt Island and the mainland. (B L D)

Monday 22nd September
Juneau, capital of Alaska
This morning we cruise into Tracy Arm Fjord where seals and whales make their home and the shoreline is spotted with waterfalls created by melting snow-caps. The dramatic Sawyer Glaciers at the end of the fjord are framed by mountains and are habitat for bears, wolves, deer and moose. Shortly after lunch time we arrive in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. The city is unusual in that there are no roads connecting it to the rest of Alaska, it can only be accessed by air or water. It is known for the surrounding glaciers and lush rain forest that make up the Tongass National Forest, the largest in the USA. Juneau is known for its adventure activities and one of its top attractions is the massive Mendenhall Glacier which is about 19 km (12 miles) long. Our ship departs after dinner.
(B L D)

Tuesday 23rd September
Skagway; White Pass and Yukon Railway
We arrive at Skagway and spend the day in the historic Gold Rush town that was the gateway to the Klondike. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park tells the story and preserves some of the original structures. Today there is an option to ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railway to White Pass summit (at extra cost). Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railway is one of the most scenic in the world, offering a breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites. Our ship leaves Skagway late in the evening. (B L D)

Wednesday 24th September
Cruise Glacier Bay
Today we cruise in Glacier Bay where the spectacular scenery and wildlife make it a highlight of the cruise. The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped rugged mountains, wild coastlines, and deep sheltered fjords. We shall see a temperate rainforest of spruce trees growing to 120 feet high and our ship will spend time in front of a glacier. Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world. It is an incredible experience to watch a colossal chunk of ice split off from a glacier and thunder into the sea, the impact shooting water hundreds of feet into the air. (B L D)

Thursday 25th September
Visit to Ketchikan
Ketchikan is a major port located on Revillagigedo Island and surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. The area contains deep water fjords which were created by retreating glaciers, leaving granite cliffs towering thousands of feet above the sea and countless waterfalls plunging into placid waters. Ketchikan clings to the shores of the Tongass Narrows, with many shops and houses built right out over the water. The town calls itself the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’ and a salmon stream flows past the town’s historic Creek Street. The town is home to many museums, galleries and shops and its main attractions are the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park with its display of native Indian totems, and Saxman Village. Our ship sails in the early evening. (B L D)

Friday 26th September
Cruise the Inside Passage
Today we continue to cruise the Inside Passage on our journey south. (B L D)

Saturday 27th September
Return to Vancouver
We arrive back at Vancouver in the morning after your unforgettable Alaskan cruise.
This evening we stay in a centrally located hotel for your final night in Canada where you will enjoy dinner with your fellow passengers. (B D)

Sunday 28th September
Free time in Vancouver
There will be free time to explore Vancouver this morning, a city of rich cultural diversity where North America and Asia meet. An integrated transport system of buses, rapid transit (SkyTrain) and passenger ferry (SeaBus) serve the three parts of the city: the Westside, the Eastside and city centre. Gastown (Chinatown), the market area of Granville Island, the beaches of Stanley Park, and the Strait of Georgia are all of note. In the afternoon we transfer to Vancouver airport for the flight back to London Heathrow. (B)

Monday 29th September
Arrival in the UK
We arrive at London Heathrow in the afternoon.

The Cruise Ship MS Koningsdam features:
• The elegant Dining Room
• Pinnacle Grill
• Lido Market
• Swimming pool, ocean spa and fitness centre
• Casino and movie theatre
• Accommodation is in VA or VC Verandah Staterooms (Upgrades available)
• Meals are included and are available on board (drinks are not included outside of meal times and will need to be purchased separately). Normally only water is provided during mealtimes in the restaurant)
• All shore excursions are not included

The Ocean – Luxury Train:
• Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included whilst on board (alcoholic drinks are not included)
• All cabins are equipped with a toilet & washbasin some with showers. For those cabins without a shower, there are separate showers in the carriage

The Canadian – Luxury Train:
• Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included whilst on board (alcoholic drinks are not included)
• All cabins are equipped with a toilet & washbasin. There are no ensuite shower facilities in the cabins, these are outside in the carriage

All of the cabins on The Ocean and The Canadian for double occupancy are twin cabins with stacked single beds.

Please note, there is no Observation Car on The Ocean.