Settle into your hotel and enjoy time to explore Juneau. Downtown, peruse unique shops, excellent museums, and native heritage sites. Ride the enclosed tramway up the steep mountainside for spectacular views of forested islands, quiet coves, and rugged coastal mountains.

Before boarding, enjoy a guided exploration of Juneau, which concludes at the ship. Be treated to a Welcome Reception as you begin your Alaska journey.

Juneau City Exploration - Complimentary Excursion
On this tour through the city of Juneau, your guide will share the colorful history of Juneau's gold rush era and point out buildings of historical significance.  
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Nestled at the northern end of the Lynn Canal, the mountains rise steeply from the shoreline and seem to wrap around Haines. View the bears regularly feeding on salmon along a river on the edge of town.

Bald eagles are the stars of more than 260 species of birds in the adjacent Chilkat Valley. Enjoy a variety of activities, including a guided wildlife expedition, a private kayaking and rafting tour, or a visit to a bald eagle rehabilitation center.

Historic Haines Exploration - Complimentary Excursion
Enjoy a historic walking tour led by a local guide who will give you an insider’s look at life in this small Alaskan town. Start at Fort William H. Seward, the first permanent Army base in Alaska. Learn about the rich history of the Chilkat Valley, including the pre-contact days of the Tlingit, the arrival of the missionaries, the US Army and Ft. Seward period, as well as more modern times. Admire the views from Officer’s Row, and visit Soap Suds Alley and the Parade Grounds. Explore the famous Hammer Museum, one of the prime attractions on Main Street. Hear stories about local controversies and the challenges of remote Alaskan living.
Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Valley of the Eagles Nature & Wildlife Expedition - Complimentary Excursion
Knowledgeable and experienced local naturalists will guide you through the "Valley of the Eagles" to take in Alaska's nature and wildlife in six different wildlife habitats: ocean, estuary, river, lake, muskeg, and rainforest. Nestled between rugged glaciers and snow-capped mountains, the fertile Chilkoot Valley provides you with the potential to observe a wide variety of wildlife including brown bears, bald eagles, whales, seals, and river otters.
Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Discover Haines Exploration Shuttle - Complimentary Excursion
This convenient shuttle will transport you from the ship to the center of Haines and back. At your leisure, explore the rich history, scenic beauty, and vibrant culture of this enchanting Alaskan town. This daily shuttle runs on a continuous loop.
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Relish a day of scenic cruising along the Inside Passage. Savor delicious cuisine, enjoy festive onboard activities and illuminating presentations, or relax and be spoiled by the gracious hospitality of the all-American crew. As you glide smoothly aboard the new American Constellation, the only fully stabilized small cruise ship in the region, enjoy every modern comfort and convenience. 

Nestle beside the large windows in one of the many lounges to revel in the scenery as you make new friends. Relax in the luxury of your stateroom, featuring a wall of windows, or sit on your private veranda as the captain maneuvers the ship beside churning waterfalls, backcountry lodges, or magical coves. 

Thousands of humpback whales migrate for the nutrient-rich waters, as do orcas, sea lions, seals, dolphins, and porpoises. Watch for gliding or breaching whales or even an incredible sighting of “bubble-net feeding” as the whales work to feed in tandem. Along the shoreline, you may spot black and brown bears and Sitka black-tailed deer. 

There is no place in the world quite like Glacier Bay National Park. The park sprawls majestically over 3.3 million acres of dynamic topography. Thousands of glaciers descend toward the bay, which is surrounded by the Fairweather Mountain Range, known to collect more than 200 feet of snow annually.  

American Cruise Lines is one of a few cruise lines that allowed privileged access to this natural wonder. Savor a day cruising through this 60-mile bay as you delight in the diverse and stunning surroundings. Sip on cocoa as the ship floats beneath massive glaciers. Gaze in amazement at hundreds of seals hauled out on floating icebergs and massive chunks of ice breaking off and collapsing into the water. Enjoy awe-inspiring sights as your onboard presenter shares stories about the unique aspects that make this place remarkable.

From the comfort of your private balcony, watch for abundant marine and shoreside wildlife, including otters, seals, sea lions, black and brown bears, mountain goats, and many birds. 

Interpretive Glacier Bay Program - Complimentary Excursion
The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is like no place else on earth. The park includes magnificent glaciers, towering snow-capped mountains, abundant wildlife, and miles of pristine coastline. Experience all of Glacier Bay’s beauty from the comfort of the American Constellation. A National Park Service Ranger will board the ship for the day and will provide expert narration as we cruise through Glacier Bay, identifying wildlife including orcas, humpback whales, brown bears, and bald eagles. Your tour will include a stop at a majestic tidewater glacier where you may hear the sounds of a calving glacier. American Cruise Lines has also made special arrangements to have an Huna Tlingit Cultural Interpreter join us on board who will share with you the fascinating human history and family stories of Glacier Bay’s native clans and people.
ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes
 

Discover this unique Alaskan town that ascends beautifully up the hillside, with a harbor ornamented with lovely islands. Local museums feature artifacts and exhibits about the area’s long and rich history as an ancestral home of the Tlingit natives, the capital for Russia’s fur-trading enterprise, and the site of the formal transfer from the Russian empire to the United States on October 18, 1867. 

Choose from dozens of attractions listed on the National Register of Historic Places, seven of which are National Historic Landmarks. Surrounded by rainforest, mountains, and sea frames, this island community is teeming with wildlife, including brown bears, bald eagles, and all five species of Pacific salmon.

Wrangell’s cozy little bay offers a broad view of the attractive town along the long valley descending from the backdrop of coastal mountains. The Stikine River empties into the ocean in braided rivulets across a wide delta to the north of town. Salmon runs attract wildlife, and observation areas enable you to safely watch eagles, seals, black bears, and brown bears feasting on the spawning fish.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ride a jet boat up the river, an important route during the Gold Rush. On exploring the town, savor the flavors of fresh salmon and halibut, participate in native Tlingit culture, or stop and pick from the wild bushes of blueberries and huckleberries.

Wrangell Experience - Complimentary Excursion
Discover the highlights of this truly Alaskan town and see its colorful history and native culture come to life while visiting the Petroglyph State Historic Site and the Wrangell Museum with its 5,000+ historic photos, native artifacts, Tlingit Petroglyphs, and fishing, mining and logging displays.
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

 

Cruising between Wrangell and Petersburg, the ship travels through the Wrangell Narrows – a deep, narrow waterway resembling a fjord with steep and verdant shorelines gliding alongside the ship. Delight in a tasty snack and beverage as you nestle in to admire the scenic landscapes.

Bask in stunning views of glaciers, strings of cascading waterfalls, and wildlife ranging from marine mammals to various waterfowl, shorebirds, and seabirds. Enjoy activities with your ship staff, listen to an enlightening presentation from the guest speaker, and sample the chef’s regional creations.

As your ship docks in Petersburg, admire the surrounding mountains, which rise to the sky, white and gleaming. Founded more than 100 years ago by Norwegian fishermen, Petersburg is an authentic Alaskan fishing town, with most families making their living from the sea. Be warmly welcomed by locals and excursion guides who are proud to share the treasures of their hometown and honor the culture of those who first settled here.   

For a spectacular view, take a flightseeing excursion and soar over massive glaciers, majestic valleys, and mystic bays. Explore the charming shops and quaint downtown museums, or hike along the waterfront to enjoy the surrounding wilderness. Charter a fishing boat for the afternoon in the adjacent Frederick Sound or delight in a jet boat adventure to nearby LeConte Glacier Bay.

Petersburg Walking Exploration - Complimentary Excursion
Explore this vibrant fishing town on a walk led and narrated by our local guide. View the scenic waterfront adorned with boats, both new and weathered, and stroll along the historic streets lined with homes decorated with flowery Norwegian Rosemåling. Along the way, learn about the early settlers, Sons of Norway Hall, Sing Lee Alley, commercial fishing, and the Norwegian heritage of Petersburg.
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Petersburg Dock Walk - Complimentary Excursion
Petersburg’s location is in the heart of southeast Alaska, making it ideal for major industry commercial fishing. Led by local fishermen and fishery biologists, enjoy a one hour narrated dock walk through Petersburg’s boat harbors. Enjoy discussion of various fishing boats, methods of fishing, permits, processing and more.
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Discover Petersburg Exploration Shuttle - Complimentary
This convenient shuttle allows you to discover Petersburg independently as you shop and stroll through this charming fishing town. At your leisure, explore this island community which continues to make a living from the sea. Running daily on a continuous loop.
Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes


 

After several days of exploration, a cruising day is a perfect opportunity to relax and recharge as you enjoy marvelous views of Alaska’s natural wonders. Sail through glacier-carved fjords framed by sky-piercing mountains that frame your cruising route and provide a dramatic backdrop as they rise from sea level to more than 15,000 feet. View numerous scattered islands, forested down to the waterline.

Your captain will position the ship for the best up-close viewing of whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises, and puffins. Bald eagles and seabirds may also be spotted flying overhead.

This day of cruising offers an array of scenic highlights as your small ship meanders the narrow channel of the Tracy Arm Fjord. Throughout the 25-mile journey, the waterway averages only about a mile wide, framed by steep vertical cliffs stretching more than 3,000 feet high. Pockets of valleys reveal views of larger, snow-capped peaks featuring mountainsides adorned with ancient forests and swaths of sparkling glaciers. 

Hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the cliffs and tumble into the water. The miraculous journey is further heightened as the ship arrives at the faces of the stunning twin Sawyer Glaciers, which once combined to carve out this incredible waterway. Seals lounge with their young on small ice floes. During glacier viewing, the crew prepares a delicious hot chocolate bar with an array of toppings and liqueurs.

The area is almost unchanged since naturalist John Muir visited in 1879 and described this special place as "shut in by sublime cliffs, nobly sculptured, and adorned with waterfalls and fringes of trees, bushes, and patches of flowers."

After an exciting adventure exploring the best of Alaska, end your journey where it began, in Juneau. Enjoy breakfast on board before departing the ship.

You may stay longer in this enchanting destination, which is brimming with incredible wildlife viewing, shopping, eateries, and breweries in Alaska’s capital.