Alaska Inside Passage Cruise 7 Nights • Vancouver, British Columbia • Serenade 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 4:00 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 vacation early.

Your ship offers the perfect platform for viewing British Columbia’s Inside Passage. This archipelago spans 25,000 miles from Seattle to Prince Rupert near the Alaskan border. Here you’ll ply calm waters sheltered between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. Along the way catch a glimpse of breathtakingly rugged scenery, plus staggering wildlife like salmon sharks, white spirit bears, and millions of seabirds.

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.

Juneau is the largest U.S. state capital— and one of the hardest to get to. Flanked by mountains, tundra and rainforests, it’s basically inaccessible except by air or sea. Once you arrive you’ll find adventure in every corner. Go dogsledding over Mendenhall Glacier, or prospecting along centuries-old mining trails. In Juneau, the thrills are as endless as the surrounding wilderness.

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.

Fill your day in Prince Rupert with adventure to help you max out memories with your crew. Begin your day by exploring the village’s natural beauty on land or sea. Cast a line in local waters and try your hand at reeling in salmon and halibut — or travel further south into the rainforest near Butze Rapids Trail. When you get back to town, spend the rest of your shore time exploring Cow Bay. Sample some fresh seafood, shop for souvenirs and step back into history at local museums and art galleries before returning to your ship.

Kick off the afternoon lunching on xiaolongbao buns in Chinatown. Then explore the city’s cultural offerings at the Bill Reid Gallery or Vancouver Art Gallery. Get into some active adventure, whether it’s water-biking False Creek or mountain-biking the North Shore. Evenings are best spent dining and drinking in Yaletown’s hip warehouse district.

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.