I’ll never forget what it was like to see an iceberg for the first time. There it was, just floating there, less than a hundred feet away. I just stared at it for a few moments; I honestly couldn’t believe it was real!
Granted, it was nothing like the massive and jagged ice blocks the size of buildings that I’d seen on TV in places like Antarctica (and that’s only what’s visible above the water!), but it’s still etched in my memory as a unique experience I’ll always remember.
About ten years ago, my parents took my sisters and I on a northern adventure that spanned two countries—one American state (Alaska), one Canadian province (British Columbia), and one Canadian territory (Yukon). This was going to be a 10-day journey, part cruise, and part land tour. Starting in Vancouver, B.C., we boarded Holland America’s Zuiderdam cruise ship and set sail for Juneau, Alaska.
The Inside Passage was extremely narrow at times. It was a miracle to me that a cruise ship as big as the one we were on could navigate through an environment like this without problems. I later learned that this web of waterways is one of only a few routes in the world where the water is deep enough for mega-ships to safely maneuver so close to land. However, one of the advantages of being on a cruise is not having to worry about navigation! We were able to sit back, relax, and stare out at the beautiful scenery as we passed by.
Holland America paints a vivid and accurate picture of what it was like, saying:
Inside Passage Alaska cruises glide through a dreamscape—from white-capped peaks to calving glaciers and deep fjords to forest-blanketed land as far as the eye could see.
The scenery was almost always postcard-worthy, and that was before we started seeing the spouts of whales as they surfaced to breathe off in the distance. A breaching humpback whale in the ship’s wake made the whole thing even more unbelievable. We felt fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time!
The further north we went, the more dramatic the landscape became. More snow began to appear on the mountaintops of the rocky walls lining both sides of the ship, and the water became more vibrant and turquoise in color. We soon entered Tracy Arm fjord, and I was mesmerized. What I saw was a mixture of green mosses and small trees growing up rocky cliff faces, a perfectly clear blue sky, and little waterfalls flowing down the mountains that surrounded the ship.
It was a surreal experience being in such an untouched and remarkable setting on a massive cruise ship. I remember thinking to myself that the ship was overtly out of place in this quiet and peaceful natural setting, but I was grateful for the chance to witness the pristine beauty of it all the same.
Until this trip, I’d never been on a cruise before, and I didn’t know what to expect. I generally shy away from crowds and like the freedom of exploring places at my own pace when I travel. We all wondered how we’d do with the pre-planned itinerary and somewhat strict timelines of the cruise, but once again, we were pleasantly surprised. If you got tired of being blown away by the landscape, there was always something to do onboard or something delicious to eat.
Between the ship’s endless amenities, the unbelievably beautiful natural scenery of the route, and the surprise wildlife sightings, my whole family enjoyed it much more than we expected. Just be sure to dress warmer than you think you’ll need to, regardless of whether it’s “summer” or not. I found that one out the hard way!