14-Day Alaska Cruise & Canadian Rockies Adventure

Our journey begins on Thursday afternoon at the International Departures Terminal of Istanbul Airport. We meet the Ejder Turizm representatives and complete check-in. We depart from Istanbul (IST) at 14:50 on Türk Hava Yolları (THY) flight TK 075, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft. After a direct, nonstop flight lasting approximately 12 hours, we land at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at 17:10 that same afternoon, thanks to the time difference. Vancouver, on Canada's Pacific coast, is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the ocean on one. With nature and urban life side by side, Vancouver often ranks among the best cities to live in. Vancouver International Airport, which has been named the world's best airport many times, features large-scale First Nations artworks and nature-themed aquariums. A private transfer takes us to our 4-star hotel in downtown Vancouver. We spend our first night in a room overlooking Burrard Inlet.

We begin our Vancouver tour in the morning with Stanley Park. Covering 405 hectares on a peninsula, Stanley Park is larger than New York's Central Park and is one of the world's largest urban parks. The park has cedar trees that are hundreds of years old. As we walk along the Seawall, the ocean stretches out on one side and mountain ranges on the other. The First Nations totem poles in the park's interior are centuries-old wooden sculptures reflecting the mythology of the Coast Salish tribe. Next, we visit Granville Island Public Market on Granville Island. Created by transforming a former industrial area, this food hub has stalls selling fresh seafood, cheese and bread, as well as artists' studios. In the late afternoon, we head to Gastown in central Vancouver, founded in 1867 by a bartender from Yorkshire nicknamed Gassy Jack. We walk along the cobbled streets and listen to the Steam Clock, which sounds using steam every 15 minutes. We stay overnight at a 4-star hotel in Vancouver.

In the morning, after luggage is collected at the hotel, we head to Canada Place, a Vancouver landmark. The pier's white sail-shaped roofs and the docked Discovery Princess come into view from a distance. The Royal Class ship entered service in 2022 and has a capacity of 3.660 passengers. On board are 19 restaurants, 5 swimming pools, an outdoor cinema, Princess Theater and Lotus Spa. Check-in takes place at around 11:30. Luggage is sent directly to the cabins while passengers board with their small bags. After a welcome cocktail in the Atrium, passengers settle into their cabins and take part in a safety drill. At around 16:30, Discovery Princess sounds its horns and slowly leaves Vancouver Port. It passes under Lions Gate Bridge and heads towards the Inside Passage. Dinner is served at a table reserved for the Turkish group in Concerto Dining Room. In the evening, you can watch a musical show at Princess Theater or listen to live jazz at Crooners Bar. Overnight accommodation is in a cabin on Discovery Princess while cruising through the Inside Passage.

When we wake in the morning, the harbor view has given way to coastal scenery, with mountains rising on either side as we pass hundreds of small islands and green bays. The Inside Passage, a 1.500 km inland waterway along the coast of British Columbia, is one of the world's most sheltered coastal routes. Ships follow this route without entering the open ocean. Along the way, coastal mountain ranges come into view as the morning mist clears. We spend the first full day of our cruise at sea, getting to know the facilities on board. A massage at Lotus Spa, the Sanctuary adults-only terrace and Princess Casino are among the day's options. In the afternoon, an Alaska expert on the Discovery at Sea program tells us about the scenery we will see later in the journey. In the evening, we dress up for Formal Night and attend a gala dinner at Concerto Dining Room. The menu features Alaska king salmon, lobster and the chef's special desserts. We end the day on deck. At this northern latitude, the late May sun sets at 22:00, creating a twilight unlike what we are used to. We stay overnight in our cabins aboard Discovery Princess.

On our third cruise day, we arrive in Ketchikan, our first port in Alaska. This small, colorful fishing town is known as the Salmon Capital of the World. Creek Street is a wooden boardwalk supported by timber pilings over a creek. Colorful wooden houses where fishermen and gold prospectors lived in the early 1900s line the walkway. Saxman Native Village is home to Alaska's largest collection of totem poles. Here, we learn about the Tlingit tribe's centuries-old woodcarving tradition by watching local craftspeople at work. For lunch, we can try Ketchikan's well-known fish & chips at a waterfront restaurant or return to the ship. If we get the chance, we can take the optional Misty Fjords seaplane tour to see the fjords from the air. At 16:00, as the ship leaves Ketchikan, local musicians on the dock play Alaskan melodies. We spend the night in our cabin aboard Discovery Princess.

Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is the only capital in the world with no road connection. Surrounded by mountains and glaciers, the city can only be reached by plane or ship. The main stop on our itinerary is Mendenhall Glacier, which is 21 km long and just 20 minutes from the city. With blue and white ice masses breaking off into the glacial lake, this area offers Alaska's most accessible glacier experience. From Mendenhall Visitor Center, we will follow the Nugget Falls walking trail to see the waterfall flowing into the glacial lake up close. If we are lucky, we may also spot black bears and bald eagles around the glacier, as sightings are likely during this season. We will have lunch at Tracy's King Crab Shack. The Alaska king crab served here is among the freshest and largest crab in the USA, with claws the size of a human arm. We will then take the Mount Roberts Tramway to an elevation of 549 metres for a bird's-eye view of the capital. Those who wish can take an optional Whale Watching boat trip into the fjords to observe humpback whales and orcas. This is the season when whales arrive at their northern summer feeding grounds.

Skagway is a gold rush town whose population reached 30.000 overnight during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. Wooden buildings from the early 1900s can still be seen in the town. Today's itinerary includes a journey on the White Pass & Yukon Route railway. Built in 1898 to help prospectors reach the Klondike, this narrow-gauge railway is considered one of the steepest train routes in the world. Along the way, we travel along steep cliffs, over suspension bridges and through tunnels. We see Bridal Veil Falls and Pitchfork Falls along the route and take in the surroundings from the summit of White Pass at an elevation of 873 metres. Back in Skagway, we walk along Broadway Street to see the wooden shops, saloons and Red Onion Saloon dating from the gold rush era. During our visit to Skagway Museum, we learn the stories of the people who came to the town. Of the 100.000 adventurers who reached the town, only 30.000 made it to the goldfields, while the rest became lost in the mountains. We have lunch at Skagway Brewing Company with local Alaska beer. Afterwards, we try gold panning at Klondike Gold Dredge. The ship departs at 20:00. We go to bed early to prepare for the next day.

Early in the morning, our ship enters Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only a limited number of cruise ships are allowed to enter the park. Park Rangers from the U.S. National Park Service join us on board. Throughout the day, they make announcements on deck, sharing the names and history of the glaciers and information about the area's wildlife. We arrive in front of Margerie Glacier, the first large glacier. This freshwater glacier is 34 km long and 76 metres high. A large piece of ice breaks off the glacier's face and falls into the water. This event, known as calving, produces a deep rumble and a large wave. Grand Pacific Glacier, John Hopkins Glacier and Lamplugh Glacier are also in the same area. The different shades of blue in the glaciers are related to the density and age of the ice. The darkest blue ice has lost the air trapped inside it over hundreds of years, becoming compressed and solid. We have lunch in the ship's restaurant with panoramic windows, overlooking the glaciers. The menu features Alaska king salmon, halibut and a special Glacier Bay dessert. In the afternoon, we head to Tarr Inlet.

We follow the southern route of the Inside Passage toward Vancouver. As an extra, we enter Endicott Arm and approach Dawes Glacier to view the glaciers as we sail. In the morning, a massage session exclusively for the Turkish group is arranged at Lotus Spa. Afterwards, we relax in the Sanctuary outdoor adults-only area. We have lunch at Sabatini's Italian restaurant, one of the ship's free specialty restaurants. The menu features handmade pasta and Mediterranean dishes. In the afternoon, we watch the Voice of the Ocean musical show at Princess Theater. In the evening, we attend the Captain's Farewell Cocktail event. At night, we watch the stars from the open deck in the Movies Under the Stars area. The sky is particularly clear at this northern latitude. We end the final evening of the cruise reflecting on the glacier and mountain views we have seen along the way. We stay overnight in a cabin on Discovery Princess.

In the morning, we dock at Canada Place in Vancouver. As an organized Turkish group, we disembark with priority, collect our luggage from the port terminal and head to YVR airport. We take the 12:45 domestic flight to Calgary, the eastern gateway to the Canadian Rockies. From YYC airport, we travel by private air-conditioned coach for 130 km along the Trans-Canada Highway. Along the way, the outline of the Rocky Mountains gradually appears on the horizon. As we enter Banff, we see the 2.998-metre summit of Cascade Mountain beside the Bow River. This view is one of Banff's landmarks. At around 18:00, we check in at the 4-star Banff Park Lodge hotel. The room balconies overlook the mountains or the Bow River. On our first evening in the Canadian Rockies, we have dinner at a local restaurant on Banff Avenue. Our domestic flight from Vancouver (YVR) to Calgary (YYC) departs at 12:45 and takes approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. Our accommodation is at the 4-star Banff Park Lodge or a similar hotel.

After a hot Canadian breakfast at the hotel, departure is at 08:00. This early start allows you to see Lake Louise in the morning light before the crowds arrive. After a 60 km journey, you arrive at Lake Louise. Victoria Glacier and mountain ranges rise behind the lake. The scenery is reflected in the lake's turquoise water and features in many photographs. A walk along the Lakeshore Trail beside the lake offers views of the historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1890, the hotel is known as the diamond of the Rockies. Next, you travel to Moraine Lake, 14 km away. Set against the Valley of the Ten Peaks, the lake appeared on the back of Canada's former 20-dollar banknote. Moraine Lake owes its turquoise colour to rock dust, known as glacial flour, produced as glaciers grind down rocks. You follow the Rock Pile walking trail up to a panoramic viewpoint over the lake. Lunch is at a restaurant with mountain views in Lake Louise Village. On the return journey to Banff, you take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain (2.281 m). The gondola reaches the summit in 8 minutes.

We set off early in the morning and spend the day along the Icefields Parkway. Named by National Geographic as one of the world's most beautiful driving routes, this 232 km road stretches from Banff to Jasper. Along the way, we see glaciers, waterfalls, lakes and mountains. We visit Bow Lake at the foot of Crowfoot Glacier. The lake is the source of the Bow River, and its water appears deep blue in the morning light. We then walk to the Peyto Lake viewpoint. Named after mountaineer Bill Peyto, who came to the area in 1898, the lake has a distinctive shape resembling a wolf's head when viewed from above. Peyto Lake is one of Canada's most famous lakes. Our next stop is the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. From here, we take Ice Explorer vehicles with large wheels and high ground clearance onto Athabasca Glacier. We walk on the 365-metre-thick ice sheet, stepping onto ice that has accumulated over 10 thousand years. We also visit the Glacier Skywalk at the same site. From the glass walkway extending over the cliff at a height of 280 metres, we look down into the valley below. For lunch, we have Canadian salmon at the Columbia Icefield facility, then visit Sunwapta Falls.

After a morning transfer to Calgary Airport, return to Vancouver on the 08:30 domestic flight, which takes 1 hour 35 minutes. Leave your luggage at the airport. During the day, visit the boutiques on Robson Street, the gourmet food stalls at Granville Public Market and the Vancouver Art Gallery with a private guide for some final shopping and sightseeing in downtown Vancouver. Lunch is served at a traditional Pacific Northwest restaurant in downtown Vancouver. The menu features Vancouver's signature dish, BC spot prawns (fresh local shrimp), and Pacific salmon. Return to Vancouver Airport at around 16:00 and check in with Turkish Airlines. Flight TK 076 departs at 19:05. Before boarding, browse the duty-free shops and have a final coffee. The nonstop journey to Istanbul with THY takes approximately 12 hours 40 minutes. Dinner and breakfast are served on board, with time to watch films and sleep. The domestic flight from Calgary (YYC) to Vancouver (YVR) departs at 08:30 and takes approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. THY TK 076 is a direct, nonstop flight from Vancouver (YVR) to Istanbul (IST). The stated departure time is 19:05 and the arrival time is 17:05 (+1).

We land at Istanbul Airport on Wednesday afternoon at 17:05. After passport control and baggage collection, we return home. The memories that remain from our journey are the silence of Glacier Bay's ice walls, the green waters of Lake Louise, the view across Moraine Lake, the walk on Athabasca Glacier and the long twilight on evenings aboard Discovery Princess.