Seward

See big, bold and genuine Alaska! Follow its scenic highways and famed Alaska Railway into rustic towns and through majestic Denali National Park, visit an Iditarod dog kennel, and view breathtaking, snow-mantled mountains.

Day 1

After flying into the Anchorage airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Anchorage for the evening. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Meals are on your own.

Official hotel check in time is at 4:00pm. Should you have an early arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee a room is available when you arrive.

Day 2

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive north from Anchorage on the George Parks Highway, which winds through the kind of scenery that defines the Alaskan interior: tundra, soaring mountain peaks, glaciers, forests, wild rivers, and vast expanses primarily inhabited by animals such as moose, grizzlies, foxes and birds.

Upon reaching Talkeetna, whose downtown is a National Historic Site, you will have a short time to explore before boarding an Alaska Railroad train. As you travel the 4.5 hours to Denali, seating is upstairs in the Dome where you will enjoy views from all sides of the railcar and lunch is included downstairs in the dining room. Once you reach Denali, you will be transferred to the Grande Denali Lodge or similar, which perches on the edge of a bluff less than a mile from the entrance to Denali National Park.

Following an enlightening private lecture on Denali, your evening is open for dinner on own before you overnight at the lodge.

NOTE: Guests on Explorer's August 14th, 2024 Sailing will stay at Denali Park Village as Grand Denali Lodge is not available.

Day 3

The day starts with an early breakfast at the lodge and then the Denali Natural History Tour. Focusing on the rich natural and cultural history of the park, this program includes several interpretive stops and an hour off-bus experience. Begin with a stop to learn about the creation of the Denali Park Road with the film “Across Time and Tundra.”

Next visit Savage Cabin, the original ranger’s cabin, provides a living history into how the cabin was once used and how it continues to be used today.

Finally, you will make a stop at Primrose Ridge to experience a memorable Alaska Native presentation that will enlighten you with how the land has been used for nearly 10,000 years. All along the way your naturalist driver-guide will provide a great introduction to the landscape, geology, and history of Denali National Park and Preserve. NOTE: Tours are conducted in school busses.

NOTE: due to a massive landslide and subsequent damage to certain roadways in the park, there may not be an opportunity to upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness Tour depending on how far along the Park is with reconstruction on the roadways. Your Tour Director will be able to provide more information while you are on the tour.

Upon returning to the lodge, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, before overnighting at the lodge.

NOTE: Guests on Explorer's August 14th, 2024 Sailing will stay at Denali Park Village as Grand Denali Lodge is not available.

Day 4

After breakfast at the lodge, you will drive from Denali on the Parks Highway, which (weather permitting) affords magnificent views of Mt. Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. In time, you will visit an Iditarod Sled Dog Kennel and learn about this truly Alaskan competition. NOTE: this is not a ride with the dogs.

Traveling from Anchorage to Nome on the Bering Sea coast, each Iditarod team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover 1,150 miles of Alaska’s most rugged terrain in 10 to 17 days. Add temperatures well below zero, scouring winds, and long hours of darkness, and it is no wonder that the Iditarod is called the last Great Race on Earth.

Continuing on from the kennel, you will journey along the shoreline between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Turnagain Arm to Girdwood, eventually checking in to the Hotel Alyeska or similar. The rest of the day and evening are yours to enjoy as you please.

Day 5

After breakfast at the resort, you may want to ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska on the aerial tramway for a spectacular view of the surrounding area with its seven glaciers (not included).

After lunch (on own), enjoy a stop at an organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife. The center is a home and refuge for many animals; bear, moose, elk, and other wildlife that call Alaska home. Depart for Seward on the road that passes through some of America’s most spectacular scenery and holds three scenic designations: USDA Forest Service Scenic Byway, Alaska Scenic Byway, and All-American Road.

Upon arriving in Seward, you will embark your ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

Day 1

Fly into Ted Stevens International Airport and transfer to the Marriott Hotel in Anchorage or similar hotel. Check in is 4:00pm. If you prefer an early check-in, you may purchase hotel accommodations for an extra night.

This day is at leisure and meals are on own.

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

6:00am Buffet breakfast at the hotel

8:00am Depart Anchorage for Talkeetna

11:05am Board Deluxe Dome Railcar for Denali National Park (lunch included on train)

3:45pm Arrive at the Grande Denali Lodge, steps from Denali National Park

5:30pm Reception with private lecture

PM Open evening for dinner on-own or optional activities

Overnight at the Grande Denali Lodge or similar hotel

NOTE: Guests on Explorer's August 14th, 2024 Sailing will stay at Denali Park Village as Grand Denali Lodge is not available.

DAY 3

6:00am Buffet breakfast at the lodge

7:00am Approximate Departure for Denali Natural History Tour

12:00pm Approximate Return from Denali Natural History Tour

Lunch on own

PM Open for optional activities

Overnight at the Grande Denali Lodge or similar hotel

NOTE: Guests on Explorer's August 14th, 2024 Sailing will stay at Denali Park Village as Grand Denali Lodge is not available.

DAY 4

6:00am Buffet breakfast at the lodge

8:00am Depart Denali

12:00pm Arrive at Happy Trails Kennels for presentation

Box lunch provided with sandwich, pasta salad, cookie and bottle of water

2:00pm Depart for Anchorage

3:30pm Arrive in Anchorage for brief city tour

5:30pm Arrive at the Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood

PM Open evening for optional activities and dinner on own

Overnight at the Hotel Alyeska or similar hotel

DAY 5

6:00am Buffet breakfast at the resort

AM Open for optional activities

Lunch on own

12:15pm Depart for Seward

12:45pm Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

3:30pm Arrive in Seward and embark the ship

Accessibility:

This program is wheelchair accessible. Please notify RSSC if a tour coach with lift or accessible rooms are required as rooms are limited and vehicles need to be secured in advance.

Expected Weather:

Approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit

What to Bring:

Warm clothing, Rain jacket, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, camera, chargers

Local Currency:

US Dollar

Electricity:

The electric current in the United States is 110 volts. You may need a converter if you have 220-volt devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements:

None for US Citizens

Hotel addresses:

Marriott Anchorage Hotel – 820 W 7th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501

Grande Denali Lodge or Denali Park Village

Hotel Alyeska – 1000 Arlberg Ave, Girdwood, AK 99587

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

HOTELS AND LODGES

The best available hotels and lodges in Alaska are used throughout the land program. They are comfortable and rustic. Guests accustomed to the level of services at an international five-star hotel will find that the same services are not available in Alaska. Due to peak season in Alaska from May through September, it may be difficult to change rooms during the hotel stay as all hotels have very high occupancy. Hotels are subject to change.

Program includes:

•One night at the Marriott Hotel in Anchorage or similar (Standard double room)

•Two nights at the Grande Denali Lodge or Denali Park Village (Standard double room)

•One night at the Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood or similar (Standard double room)

•Denali Natural History Tour in Denali National Park

•Full breakfast daily

•One lunch and one box lunch

•One reception and lecture on Denali

•Deluxe Dome Rail tour

•Tours and sightseeing as per the program

•Fully escorted

•Luggage handling and all associated gratuities

•Airport transfers as applicable

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Gratuities for tour director and motor coach driver

•Personal expenses

•Any meals not listed above

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

ADDITIONAL TOURING

While you are in the Denali area at the beginning of the tour program, your guide will present additional touring programs for sale. These tour options vary from week to week and therefore can’t be pre-purchased. However, your guide will do everything possible to help you secure space. Additional tours cannot be pre-reserved through RSSC.

BAGGAGE

As your baggage will travel on many different modes of transportation, please choose sturdy cases that have been properly tagged with personal identifications, both inside and out. It is important to keep all valuables and documents on your person. As amenities such as elevators and baggage handling are limited at some locations, we suggest you only carry one bag per person while on the land tour. Alternately, your tour director will collect any pieces that you do not want to take on and off the bus each day and it will be stored on the motor coach in a locked bay. Please pack accordingly and bring any medications and documents with you.

Alternatively, you may wish to contact Luggage Forward to make your own luggage transfer arrangements (at own cost) from your home to the ship - www.luggageforward.com

Phone: 877-231-5131

CLOTHING AND CLIMATE

With a broad variety of weather possibilities, we encourage you to bring clothes that are suited to layering. Daytime attire in Alaska is strictly casual. Comfortable, supportive walking shoes are a must. The following items should be included: water-repellant coat or jacket, collapsible umbrella, rain hat, lightweight windbreaker, and sweaters. It could be warmer inland with summer temperatures in Denali reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

ALTITUDE

Travel in Alaska is generally at lower elevations. The maximum altitude is 2,800 feet in Denali National Park.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather conditions are unpredictable. While the cruise line and its appointed ground operators will do everything possible to assist with alternative arrangements, we cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred if a land program, tour or private arrangement made through the cruise line is disrupted due to adverse weather.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The published itinerary is based on component suppliers expected to be operating for the land program. Changes to the availability of flights, flight and tour schedules or other itinerary components out of the cruise line’s control may require an adjustment to the final itinerary. The local ground operator will handle meal vouchers, train tickets, or tour tickets included in the program. The cruise line reserves the right to substitute hotels, if necessary.

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released. Arrangements for accommodation and transfers will be at the expense of guests.