Rockies Rail and an Alaska Cruise

About this excursion

£3999 per person (sharing a twin or double bedded room)

Discover Canada’s awe-inspiring scenery and premier cities on the Rocky Mountaineer before taking to the seas for a week-long cruise through Alaska’s pristine wilderness. Here, you’ll see stunning fjords and glittering glaciers, and keep a lookout for thrilling wildlife.

A Rocky Mountaineer rail journey through the Canadian Rockies provides unparalleled vantage points to some of the world’s most breath-taking scenery. Indulge all your senses as you wind through awe-inspiring landscapes, complemented by gourmet cuisine, vibrant storytelling, and impeccable service.

We complete our adventure at sea with days of luxurious relaxation and exploration as we sail along the outline of North America’s most scenic coastal landscape. Enjoy the facilities on board and make sure you spend plenty of time on deck keeping a watchful eye open for breaching whales, soaring eagles, inquisitive seals, and grizzly bears on the shoreline.

What’s Included:

• Return transfers from Milton Keynes and the airport
• Airport Lounge at London, Heathrow.
• Return flights from Heathrow with Air Canada
• 6 nights room only in hotels of a good standard plus 1 night in flight
• 7 nights full board on board Holland America Line’s Volendam
• 4 meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches on board Rocky Mountaineer
• Travelsphere Tour Manager (pre-cruise)
• Overseas transfers and other transportation
• Porterage

Included holiday highlights

• Tour of Banff, known for its hot springs
• Lake Louise, one of Canada’s most beautiful sights
• Two-day journey through the Rockies on board Rocky Mountaineer
• Enjoy the luxurious facilities on board your ship on a 7-night cruise

Day 1 UK/Banff

Depart on your scheduled flight to Calgary today. On arrival you will transfer to your hotel in Banff for a three-night stay.

Day 2 – Banff

This morning, head off on an included sightseeing tour of Banff. It will include attractions such as the classic Hoodoos of Bow Valley – imposing spires of rock, carved by wind and water, standing guard over the Bow River. Don’t miss Surprise Corner, either – so named because, as you drive out of Banff, the view suddenly opens out into a fantastic mountain vista, featuring the famous picture-postcard Banff Springs Hotel on your right. You’ll be glad you brought your camera.

Day 3 Lake Louise

Today, we’ll take you on a full-day included excursion to Lake Louise – a glacial, jade-green lake, surrounded on all sides by towering peaks, and described as one of Canada’s most beautiful locations. There are hiking trails along the side of the lake at Lake Louise from which to take in the stunning view on today’s excursion.

Day 4 – Rocky Mountaineer

You will bid Banff farewell today as you board the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train for an exciting two-day journey to Kamloops. On board, the SilverLeaf service includes breakfast and lunch served at your seat, while complimentary snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks are available throughout the journey. Beer and wine is included with your meals, and a full bar service is also available. Settle back in your roomy, reclining seat and enjoy the on-board commentary which will ensure you don’t miss any of the scenic grandeur of the Rockies. Your journey takes you past Lake Wapata, into two spiral tunnels down to Kicking Horse Pass, past Golden and through Roger’s Pass with its tunnels, snowsheds and glistening glaciers, past Craigellachie, Silverdale, and along the South Thompson river to Kamloops, where an overnight stay has been arranged.

Day 5 – Rocky Mountaineer

This morning you will re-board the Rocky Mountaineer and continue your journey from Kamloops to Vancouver, following the Thompson River. Eventually the Thompson merges with the Fraser River, which the train follows nearly all the way to Vancouver. After the town of Hope, the rugged canyons give way to the fertile fields of the Fraser River Valley. On arrival in Vancouver, you’ll leave the train and transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 6 – Vancouver

The city of Vancouver is located in one of the most beautiful settings in the world, surrounded by mountains, forests and islands. As Canada’s third largest city, it is a busy seaport and an important centre for fishing and timber industries. You are free to explore Vancouver at your own pace today. Alternatively, join our full-day optional tour of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. You’ll take a ferry across to the island, where you’ll visit the internationally-renowned Butchart Gardens, Parliament building, the impressive Empress Hotel, and see much of Canada’s British Victorian heritage.

Day 7 – Vancouver and Volendam

You will transfer to Vancouver harbour today and join your cruise ship, the impressive Volendam, which sets sail at 5pm. Before that you’ll have plenty of time to settle into your comfortable stateroom and explore the ship, your floating hotel for the next seven nights.

Day 8 – The Inside Passage

Ahead of you lie days of luxurious relaxation and exploration as your ship traces the outline of North America’s most scenic coastal landscape. Enjoy the facilities on board and make sure you spend plenty of time on deck keeping a watchful eye open for breaching whales, soaring eagles, inquisitive seals, and grizzly bears on the shoreline.

Day 9 – Tracy Arm and Juneau

Your ship will be cruising Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier (weather permitting) today, ahead of an early-afternoon arrival in Juneau, the capital of Alaska, where you’ll be free to explore the city and its surrounding natural wonders, such as the mighty Mendenhall Glacier.

Day 10 – Skagway

This morning you’ll arrive in Skagway, a lively relic of the famous Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Wooden sidewalks and turn-of-the-century buildings recall the riotous living of those days.

Day 11 – Glacier Bay

Today you’ll visit the scenic highlight of your cruise, Glacier Bay, where great ice castles float serenely in blue-green water, and glaciers ‘calve’, sending thousands of tons of ice crashing into the mirror-calm water with a thunderous sound – an unforgettable experience.

Day 12 – Ketchikan

You’ll arrive in Ketchikan early this afternoon. This quaint, weathered town clings to the mountainside, and you can soak up its spectacular setting by exploring Totem Poles Park, or simply by enjoying a lunch of fresh Alaskan salmon.

Day 13 – Cruising at Sea

Today you’ll cruise the Inside Passage back towards Vancouver as its scenic splendours continue to unroll before you, a wonderland of ice and rock, forest and river.

Day 14 – Vancouver/UK

This morning, your cruise comes to an end as you disembark your ship in Vancouver, and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Day 15 – UK

Today you’ll arrive in the UK.

Please note: This holiday includes walking in areas of rough ground, gradients and steps, often with no hand rails to offer assistance.
Upgrades Available

Rocky Mountaineer

You can upgrade from the Silver Leaf Service to the Gold Leaf Service for an additional £399per person. The Gold leaf Service will provide fully domed windows with panoramic views upstairs, private dining room on the lower-level with large picture windows, Gourmet a la carte meals and more luxurious hotels with premium room categories.

MS Volendam

An inside cabin is provided with your fare. There are various upgrades available – please ask for details and availability.

Volendam Dress Code

Daytime dress on Volendam is always resort casual, particularly in Alaska, where standard port-day clothes include jeans, hiking boots and sweatshirts. Evening dress ranges from casual to informal to formal. This is a traditional cruise ship; there are typically two formal nights on seven-night cruises, three on 10-night cruises. Formal equals dressy-dressy-dressy for women (gowns or cocktail dresses) and, for men, tuxedos or suits with ties. Informal nights mean pantsuits or dresses for women and jackets for men (ties optional). Casual dress in the evening is country-club casual, with women in slacks or skirts and nice tops and men in collared or button-down shirts and khakis.

Deposit - £400 per person based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room with private facilities

NB When booking, please add £20 for the Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) & £29 for the ESTA (US Visa) for our visit to Alaska.

Single Supplement – £1100

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