North Pacific Crossing

Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan’s liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities. From Yokohama, it’s a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan’s second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you’ll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. Tokyo is the largest city on earth and packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side. Tokyo’s historic gardens and neighborhoods of traditional homes on narrow lanes speak to a timeless Japan that has survived into the 21st century.

Connue pour ses marchés et sa pêche en haute mer, Kushiro est également votre passerelle pour la belle région du Japon est de Hokkaido. Promenez-vous parmi les étals du marché de Kushiro Washo et dégustez des spécialités locales de fruits de mer; visitez la Réserve Japonaise de Kushiro Crane, et voyagez à travers la campagne luxuriante de émerveillez-vous devant la beauté translucide du lac Mashu dans le Parc National Akan.

Kodiak is all about bears. And what bears! This unique subspecies named for the Kodiak Archipelago where they are found evolved in isolation for around 12,000 years and can reach heights of 3 meters, or 10 feet, when standing on their hind legs. One of the world’s largest carnivores, the bears have a diet that goes far beyond meat (they can sleep for up to eight months, then wake up ravenous to feast predominantly on grass, plants, berries and fish). About 3,500 live on this tiny island, meaning you have a great chance of seeing one, if not many, from May through October! Shrubs and bushes cover the rolling hills here, giving Kodiak its Emerald Isle nickname. It was once a prime native hunting ground for the Alutiit, but their population plummeted after Russian traders and fur trappers settled the area in the late 1700s. Bought by the United States in 1867, Kodiak grew into a commercial fishing center. Today both the island and the hardworking town that shares its name attract anglers, hunters, adventure travelers and nature photographers. Top highlights include the Baranov Museum, the Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church and the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve offers some of the most dramatic scenery and wildlife experiences in the world. Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, is home to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, highlight of your scenic cruise up this Alaskan fjord. Watch for breaching humpbacks alongside your ship, bears along the beaches, and so much more as Holland America Line and National Park Service Rangers guide you through the best Alaska Glacier Bay cruise adventure you’ll ever have.

Située au pied des grands sommets sur le canal Gastineau, la ville de Juneau a l’énorme glacier de Mendenhall et l’immense champ de glace de Juneau à sa porte arrière. Juneau est le lieu pour laisser courir votre imagination. Explorez la luxuriante Forêt Nationale de Tongass. Visitez les boutiques rustiques de la ville. Ou sortez faire du kayak, traîneau à chiens, canot, randonnée pédestre, observation des baleines, vol d’observation ou pêche. Il n’y a pas de fin à l’aventure en raison des longues heures d’ensoleillement. Montez à bord du Mt. Tramway Roberts dans un endroit idéal pour la randonnée et prendre une photo souvenir.

Construit sur ​​l’eau et escaliers échaudés montant, Ketchikan s’accroche aux rives des goulets de Tongass et drape les montagnes avec un air joyeux. Outre les attractions principales – Creek Street, le Musée Historique de Tongass, le Parc Totem Bight State et le Village Saxman, essayez une voyage aérien aux brumeux fjords nationaux à couper le souffle – une aventure transformante à ne pas manquer. Ces fjords d’eau profondes laissées par les glaciers ont laissé des imposantes falaises de granit de milliers de kilomètres au-dessus de la mer et d’innombrables cascades dans les eaux placides. Les photos souvenirs vous allez prendre des pontons de l’avion valent le déplacement.

Galeries, boutiques, marchés colorés publics, restaurants de toutes les ethnies: vous trouverez tout cela dans cette ville portuaire pleine de vie. Visitez le quartier animé de Chinatown et le Stanley Park, avec ses 1000 hectares de forêts, de jardins, de lacs et de pelouses en plein cœur de la ville. Exemple d’excursion: meilleurs endroits de Vancouver et l’île de Granville; Stanley Park et ​​la montagne scénique de grouse.