Last Updated on 06/02/26 by Rose Palmer
Southeast Alaska is an extremely popular cruise destination, and rightly so. The snow-capped mountains and glacier-carved fjords provide a stunning backdrop for small towns that can only be reached by ship.
After four big ship cruises to Alaska, I thought I had seen it all. But my recent Windstar cruise took me off Alaska’s beaten path and gave me experiences only possible on a small ship like the Star Seeker.
“180 Degrees from the ordinary”
My cruise to Alaska on the Star Seeker was my first experience sailing on a Windstar ship. I describe the Star Seeker in detail in my post “A Detailed Windstar Star Seeker Review – Yachting 180 Degrees From Ordinary.”
In this article, I describe my experiences in each location of my Alaska itinerary. Windstar’s motto is “180 degrees from the ordinary,” and that is what I discovered on this sailing. This Star Seeker Alaska experience was a blend of traditional cruising with good food, entertainment, and excellent service, combined with some of the adventurous elements of an expedition cruise.
Windstar has partnered with EYOS Expeditions, which provided the expertise and experienced personnel needed for the adventure side of an Alaskan cruise. Knowledgeable expedition staff gave instructive lectures throughout the week and led guests on zodiac and kayak excursions that took us up close and personal to the scenery.
My Windstar cruise to Alaska
Day 1 – boarding in Vancouver, BC
Boarding at the Canada Place Cruise Ship terminal was quick and easy. Of course, it helped that there was only one other smallish ship in port along with the Star Seeker.
After boarding, I made my restaurant reservations at the Star Grill and at Basil and Bamboo (necessary even though both were included in the fare). I also reserved spots on the excursions I was interested in.
Right on time, we set off toward Alaska!
Day 2 – at sea cruising the Seymour Narrows
I woke up to the wooded wilderness of Vancouver Island passing outside my balcony, with the scenery reflected in calm ocean waters as we slowly travelled through the Seymour Narrows. With its experienced captain and crew, a small ship like the Star Seeker easily maneuvered the challenges of this narrow channel, providing us with rare, stunning views.
By the afternoon, we were in open water, heading toward Ketchikan, Alaska, our first port stop. And even though the wind kicked up some high swells, the Star Seeker’s stabilizers kept us quite steady. The expedition staff used this opportunity to present informative lectures about Southeast Alaska and whales.
Day 3 – Ketchikan, AK
We arrived in Ketchikan at 2 PM, and to our pleasant surprise, we were the only ship in town (an extremely uncommon event during the Alaska cruising season). Even though I have been to Ketchikan many times, I always find something new to do. This time I booked Windstar’s Rainforest Canopy and Totem Park tour.
A half-hour drive took us to Herring Cove and the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. The tour started with an easy three-fourths-mile nature walk through the rainforest, where the ground and trees were covered in deep moss and lichen, especially the hanging Old Man’s Beard lichen.
The path left the forest and led to a boardwalk over grasslands next to the Herring River. When the salmon are running in late summer, the river and its grassy banks become overrun with bears looking to feast and get fat. We were very fortunate to have a brief visit from a mother black bear and her two cubs, an unusual early-season sighting.
The tour ended at an old (and somewhat restored) sawmill, where a traditional totem pole artist described his work. Nearby, a blacksmith artist explained how he made knives, especially the traditional Ulu knives. Outside the sawmill, the facility also preserved the first Tsimshian totem pole park.
Back in town, I took some time to check out the historic Creesk Street district, followed by a late dungenous crab lunch at the popular Alaska Fish House.
Day 4 – Misty Fjords National Monument, AK
While I was sleeping, the Star Seeker sailed into Misty Fjords National Monument, specifically Rudyerd Bay. With near-vertical granite cliffs covered in dense evergreen forests, only a small ship like the Star Seeker could go so deep into this long, glacier-carved fjord.
True to its name, the day was rainy and misty. The national monument is a designated wilderness and is part of the Tongass National Forest, one of the largest coastal rainforests remaining on Earth.
Because the Star Seeker was small enough, our ship cruised far into the fjord, and then we explored the rest of the scenery up close by Zodiac or kayak. On any other big cruise ship, you have to take a whole-day boat excursion from Ketchikan to see a portion of the monument.
My day started with an early morning zodiac tour that took us even farther into the fjord. With only 6 guests per Zodiac, this adventure felt very safe and comfortable.
We toured the fjord with its nooks and crannies for a little over an hour, getting close to shore and waterfalls as our guide instructed us on the geology, the flora, and the fauna. We kept a lookout for wildlife and encountered a few harbor seals resting on the shoreline.
Despite the rain, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the Zodiac tour. Layers topped by waterproof pants, jacket, hat, and gloves gave me the weather protection I needed. After all, southeast Alaska is a rain forest, and it’s called Misty Fjords for a reason.
My day in Misty Fjords National Monument was the perfect example of Windstar’s small ship advantage in Alaska.
Day 5 – Wrangell, AK
I discovered that Wrangell was a rare town that still felt very authentically Alaskan. Since it can only dock one ship per day, Wrangel wasn’t overrun with tourists, other than our group.
On the Island Heritage Discovery excursion, I learned about Wrangell from our local Tlingit guide as she took us to three different cultural experiences.
We started with a visit to Chief Shakes Longhouse, a faithful example of a Tlingit clan house. We were privileged to be invited inside, where we learned about the Tlingit culture and the details of this beautiful structure.
The second stop was the Wrangell Museum, where the original house posts from the Chief Shakes Longhouse are now preserved. The museum had good displays that took guests through the history of Wrangell from its first Tlingit settlement through the conquests by Russians, British, and Americans. From sea otter pelts to gold to salmon, Wrangell was a continuing source of wealth and exploitation by many.
The final stop was the fascinating Petroglyph Beach to see the unique Tlingit stone carvings. Our guide told us that the reason for the many stone carvings found here has been lost, but it was still interesting to discover so many different designs.
After the tour, I strolled a few blocks along Front Street to check out the shops before walking back to the ship.
Day 6 – Sitka, AK
After so many rainy days, it was a treat to wake up to sunny blue skies, and Sitka was the perfect spot for perfect weather. The snow-frosted mountains framed the city and the harbor like a string of pearls sitting in a turquoise Tiffany box.
On this day, I chose the Wildlife Quest and Fin Island Lodge excursion. After tendering into town, a small catamaran took us the 20 minutes to Fin Lodge for a buffet lunch that highlighted king crab, one of my favorites. On the island, we were also fortunate to see bald eagles in the trees and mink swimming in the sea.
After lunch, our captain continued the cruise with more wildlife explorations. We found humpback whales and saw their flukes as they took a deep dive, sea lions lazily sleeping on a buoy, and sea otters contentedly floating in the calm waters.
Back on land, there was time to walk around town for shopping and a peek into the Russian Orthodox Church.
The day wasn’t over, though. As we left the area, I had unending views of snow-covered peaks out my balcony window as we sailed around Baranof Island (I was on the port side).
Day 7 – Endicott Arm
When the captain announced that we would be entering Endicott Arm around 6:15 in the morning, I set my alarm so that I wouldn’t miss the views. After an unusual blue-sky day in Sitka, this morning we were back to the typical overcast, liquid-sunshine Alaskan weather.
Our slow cruise up the fjord took us past pine-covered mountains with their snow-topped peaks peeking out of the mist and clouds. As we sailed further up the channel, sheer, steep granite walls began to enclose us on both sides, and icebergs appeared in the water next to our ship
The captain and his crew parked the ship a couple of miles from the Dawse Glacier. While other bigger ships quickly came and went throughout the day, we stayed here all day as groups took excursions on kayaks and Zodiacs.
I love having the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery outside my balcony all day. For a little while, I felt like I was a part of the landscape, not just passing through (like backpacking, but infinitely more comfortable).
When it was my turn to hop onto the Zodiac, I was excited to have the chance to get even closer to the ice. For a little over an hour, our expedition leader skillfully maneuvered us around the icebergs and bergy bits (yes, that is a real scientific term), getting us as close as was safe.
I’ve done glacier tours before, but they were always in bigger boats with lots of other people. This was a private tour with just our little intrepid group in front of a vast field of ice. What made it even better was that the rain held off until I was back on the ship.
The cruise out of the fjord was equally beautiful as the captain and pilot took their time so we could continue to enjoy the views.
Day 8 – Haines, AK
I chose to stay on the ship while in Haines since I had been here before on a long road trip in Alaska. Windstar offered some interesting-sounding tour options in Haines that took guests to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. The town was fun to explore as well, especially Fort William H. Seward.
My favorite activity, though, was driving the Haines Highway, a Designated Scenic Byway. There is an Avis car rental office a few minutes’ walk from the cruise dock, which makes it easy to drive the highway to the summit in Canada for the day. A passport is necessary to get through the border controls for Canada and the US.
The rest of the day continued with more scenic cruising as we headed toward Juneau.
Day 9 – disembark in Juneau, AK
Sadly, today I had to say goodbye to the Star Seeker and her wonderful crew. I booked a ship transfer to the airport, which made the start of my journey home a very easy and seamless process.
Alaska is my favorite US state to visit, and I have cruised here before. However, the Windstar cruise gave me some new experiences that made this an extra special cruise. From the wonderful Star Seeker small ship experience to the unique zodiac excursions, this has been my most memorable Alaskan cruise yet.
The Windstar website has the most up-to-date information on Alaska cruises and other cruises around the globe.
Other Alaska cruising stories:
Tips for planning an Alaskan cruise: After Cruising to Alaska Many Times, These are My Tips for Planning an Alaskan Cruise
Alaska cruise excursions: My Many Alaska Cruise Excursion Experiences
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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