The Canadian and Inside Passage Cruise
Wednesday 14th May to Thursday 29th May 2008
Travelling by rail is one of the most fantastic ways of seeing Canada. We travel onboard the famous The Canadian and watch as this vast beautiful country unfolds before our very eyes, all from the comfort of the beautifully restored carriages built in the 1950s. To make the trip that extra bit special the Park car offers 360-degree views of Canada’s impressive landscapes. Can there be a better way to see the Rockies? Our tour takes in the City of Toronto then crosses the Prairies and Rockies to Vancouver. We cruise the silent, hidden world tucked away between Vancouver in British Columbia and Juneau in Alaska known as the Inside Passage. This world famous waterway abounds in serene channels, which pierce the magnificent coastal mountains allowing us access to some of the world’s most undisturbed wildlife including whales, eagles, porpoises and bears. A trip of a lifetime!
Wednesday 14th May
Fly to Toronto
We leave London Heathrow late morning on a scheduled flight to Toronto, arriving mid afternoon, and transfer to the four-star Fairmont Royal York Hotel for one night.
Thursday 15th May
The Canadian
We board Canada’s premier train the Canadian and travel Silver and Blue class, which offers the highest quality accommodation, superb meals and impeccable service. From the comfort of our armchairs we will see today the lake district of northern Ontario. We sleep on the train for two nights. Our bedrooms provide an entirely private, onboard haven of peace and quiet. Each double bedroom features a large window, two armchairs, a small WC, fan, electrical outlet, private washroom, sink and mirror. (B L D)
Friday 16th May
Winnipeg
Today, we continue through the lake district until 27 hours after leaving Toronto, and nearly 1,100 miles away, we cross the border into Manitoba and reach its capital Winnipeg later in the afternoon. There is an hour here to stretch our legs. Leaving, our train starts to cross the vast prairies, an undulating plain that spans the three provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. (B L D)
Saturday 17th May
Glaciers and Lake Louise
Our train pulls out of Edmonton, capital of Alberta, as we have breakfast and passes through rolling countryside until it starts climbing into the Rockies. We are due to arrive in Jasper early afternoon, where a coach will be waiting to take us on a Rocky Mountain adventure through Jasper Park, the wildest of the mountain parks, and we will see the world famous Columbia Icefields with its many glaciers. The park is internationally-renowned for wildlife viewing, and is home to some of North America’s rare wildlife, including eagles, grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. Our coach make a number of stops for us to take pictures. We arrive at the Royal Canadian Lodge in Banff late afternoon and check in for two nights. (B L)
Sunday 18th May
Day in the Rockies
This is a free day perhaps to relax in the hotel and be pampered in the spa and later explore the shops along Banff Avenue. Perhaps visit the other attractions in the area, taking a cable ride up Sulphur Mountain, at 7,486 feet above sea level, where there are restaurants, shops, observation decks and walking trails into the surrounding area. (B)
Monday 19th May
The Canadian
We return to Jasper by coach stopping at Lake Louise on the way. Set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier it is probably the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies.
We re-join The Canadian at 15:30 to continue our journey through the Rocky Mountains. We will enjoy spectacular landscapes of forested valleys, high snow-capped peaks, rugged escarpments, glaciers, pine forests, rivers and turquoise lakes. (B D)
Tuesday 20th May
Vancouver
Our train arrives at Vancouver Station where a coach will take us on a guided tour. Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver nestles in and around the slopes of impressive mountains. We visit the natural beauty of the thousand acres of Stanley Park with its woodlands of cedar and fir. The morning tour includes the chance to see the world’s only steam clock, the famous Gastown Steam Clock, built in 1977 based on an original 1875 design. The afternoon is free for us to explore and eat out in this lovely city, perhaps to visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s classical Chinese garden, the only full-sized one outside China. We stay overnight in Vancouver. (B)
Wednesday 21st May
The MS Ryndam
We set off for the harbour at midday to board our cruise ship and later to set sail for the Inside Passage, a waterway sheltered from the ocean by a host of little islands and only accessible by sea and air. The Ryndam is a spacious ship of the Holland America Line with elegance at every turn, from a string quartet serenade in the splendid Rotterdam Dining Room to the two-deck Vermeer Show Lounge. It prides itself on its superior service to its guests. It is an experience not to be missed! (B L D)
Thursday 22nd May
The Inside Passage
We spend a day cruising the scenic Inside Passage seeing rugged capes, cliffs and fjords and never-ending dramatic scenery along the two thousand miles of channels, passes, straits and islands.
Late evening we navigate the tight passage of the Seymour Narrows and the Grenville Channel.
(B L D)
Friday 23rd May
Juneau, Capital of Alaska
After calling into the fjord-like Tracey Arm, we are due to arrive in Juneau, capital of Alaska, after lunch. One of the top attractions in Juneau is undoubtedly the Mendenhall Glacier. The face of the glacier is roughly a hundred feet high, over a mile wide and over six miles long. There are a huge number of eagles in southeast Alaska.
Just look up, and you should see one! Watch for humpback whales that inhabit the waters of the northern end of the Inside Passage. If you’ve had enough of wildlife, take time out to relax by shopping at some of Juneau’s speciality shops. Our ship departs after dinner. (B L D)
Saturday 24th May
White Pass and the Yukon Railway
We arrive at Skagway which is in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Here there is an option to ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railway from Skagway to White Pass summit (at extra cost). Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railway is one of the most scenic in the world. It offers a breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites.
(B L D)
Sunday 25th May
Cruise Glacier Bay
Today we cruise Glacier Bay. The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, rivers and lakes. We see a temperate rainforest of spruce trees growing to 120 feet. As we edge forward, the spectacular glaciers reveal themselves and the ship is faced by a world of ice. (B L D)
Monday 26th May
Visit to Ketchikan
Situated at the southern end of the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is in the middle of lush forests, unspoiled islands, lakes and fjords.
A salmon stream flows past the town’s historic ‘Creek Street’. It is home to many museums, galleries and shops. There will be time to make an optional visit to the Totem Heritage Centre, displaying native Indian totems. (B L D)
Tuesday 27th May
Cruise the Inside Passage
We continue to cruise the Inside Passage on our journey south. (B L D)
Wednesday 28th May
Back to Vancouver
We arrive back at Vancouver in the morning.
Our coach awaits to take us on another fascinating tour of North Vancouver including the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and a ride up to Grouse Mountain on the Skytrain. In the afternoon we transfer by coach to the airport before flying back to London Heathrow. (B)
Thursday 29th May
Arrival in the UK
We arrive into London Heathrow around midday.
Fly to Toronto
We leave London Heathrow late morning on a scheduled flight to Toronto, arriving mid afternoon, and transfer to the four-star Fairmont Royal York Hotel for one night.
Thursday 15th May
The Canadian
We board Canada’s premier train the Canadian and travel Silver and Blue class, which offers the highest quality accommodation, superb meals and impeccable service. From the comfort of our armchairs we will see today the lake district of northern Ontario. We sleep on the train for two nights. Our bedrooms provide an entirely private, onboard haven of peace and quiet. Each double bedroom features a large window, two armchairs, a small WC, fan, electrical outlet, private washroom, sink and mirror. (B L D)
Friday 16th May
Winnipeg
Today, we continue through the lake district until 27 hours after leaving Toronto, and nearly 1,100 miles away, we cross the border into Manitoba and reach its capital Winnipeg later in the afternoon. There is an hour here to stretch our legs. Leaving, our train starts to cross the vast prairies, an undulating plain that spans the three provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. (B L D)
Saturday 17th May
Glaciers and Lake Louise
Our train pulls out of Edmonton, capital of Alberta, as we have breakfast and passes through rolling countryside until it starts climbing into the Rockies. We are due to arrive in Jasper early afternoon, where a coach will be waiting to take us on a Rocky Mountain adventure through Jasper Park, the wildest of the mountain parks, and we will see the world famous Columbia Icefields with its many glaciers. The park is internationally-renowned for wildlife viewing, and is home to some of North America’s rare wildlife, including eagles, grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. Our coach make a number of stops for us to take pictures. We arrive at the Royal Canadian Lodge in Banff late afternoon and check in for two nights. (B L)
Sunday 18th May
Day in the Rockies
This is a free day perhaps to relax in the hotel and be pampered in the spa and later explore the shops along Banff Avenue. Perhaps visit the other attractions in the area, taking a cable ride up Sulphur Mountain, at 7,486 feet above sea level, where there are restaurants, shops, observation decks and walking trails into the surrounding area. (B)
Monday 19th May
The Canadian
We return to Jasper by coach stopping at Lake Louise on the way. Set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier it is probably the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies.
We re-join The Canadian at 15:30 to continue our journey through the Rocky Mountains. We will enjoy spectacular landscapes of forested valleys, high snow-capped peaks, rugged escarpments, glaciers, pine forests, rivers and turquoise lakes. (B D)
Tuesday 20th May
Vancouver
Our train arrives at Vancouver Station where a coach will take us on a guided tour. Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver nestles in and around the slopes of impressive mountains. We visit the natural beauty of the thousand acres of Stanley Park with its woodlands of cedar and fir. The morning tour includes the chance to see the world’s only steam clock, the famous Gastown Steam Clock, built in 1977 based on an original 1875 design. The afternoon is free for us to explore and eat out in this lovely city, perhaps to visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s classical Chinese garden, the only full-sized one outside China. We stay overnight in Vancouver. (B)
Wednesday 21st May
The MS Ryndam
We set off for the harbour at midday to board our cruise ship and later to set sail for the Inside Passage, a waterway sheltered from the ocean by a host of little islands and only accessible by sea and air. The Ryndam is a spacious ship of the Holland America Line with elegance at every turn, from a string quartet serenade in the splendid Rotterdam Dining Room to the two-deck Vermeer Show Lounge. It prides itself on its superior service to its guests. It is an experience not to be missed! (B L D)
Thursday 22nd May
The Inside Passage
We spend a day cruising the scenic Inside Passage seeing rugged capes, cliffs and fjords and never-ending dramatic scenery along the two thousand miles of channels, passes, straits and islands.
Late evening we navigate the tight passage of the Seymour Narrows and the Grenville Channel.
(B L D)
Friday 23rd May
Juneau, Capital of Alaska
After calling into the fjord-like Tracey Arm, we are due to arrive in Juneau, capital of Alaska, after lunch. One of the top attractions in Juneau is undoubtedly the Mendenhall Glacier. The face of the glacier is roughly a hundred feet high, over a mile wide and over six miles long. There are a huge number of eagles in southeast Alaska.
Just look up, and you should see one! Watch for humpback whales that inhabit the waters of the northern end of the Inside Passage. If you’ve had enough of wildlife, take time out to relax by shopping at some of Juneau’s speciality shops. Our ship departs after dinner. (B L D)
Saturday 24th May
White Pass and the Yukon Railway
We arrive at Skagway which is in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Here there is an option to ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railway from Skagway to White Pass summit (at extra cost). Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railway is one of the most scenic in the world. It offers a breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites.
(B L D)
Sunday 25th May
Cruise Glacier Bay
Today we cruise Glacier Bay. The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, rivers and lakes. We see a temperate rainforest of spruce trees growing to 120 feet. As we edge forward, the spectacular glaciers reveal themselves and the ship is faced by a world of ice. (B L D)
Monday 26th May
Visit to Ketchikan
Situated at the southern end of the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is in the middle of lush forests, unspoiled islands, lakes and fjords.
A salmon stream flows past the town’s historic ‘Creek Street’. It is home to many museums, galleries and shops. There will be time to make an optional visit to the Totem Heritage Centre, displaying native Indian totems. (B L D)
Tuesday 27th May
Cruise the Inside Passage
We continue to cruise the Inside Passage on our journey south. (B L D)
Wednesday 28th May
Back to Vancouver
We arrive back at Vancouver in the morning.
Our coach awaits to take us on another fascinating tour of North Vancouver including the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and a ride up to Grouse Mountain on the Skytrain. In the afternoon we transfer by coach to the airport before flying back to London Heathrow. (B)
Thursday 29th May
Arrival in the UK
We arrive into London Heathrow around midday.
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Price
| Price per person | £3270 |
| Single supplement | £895 |
Accommodation on the "Canadian"
All of our accommodation is in bedrooms (not sleepers) giving more space and privacy. Double bedrooms have comfortable armchairs by day with cosy upper and lower berths by night. Each room has its own washbasin, WC and clothes hanging space. Single bedrooms are similar but with a single bed. There are showers in each car.The Ryndam Cruise Ship features:
- The elegant Rotterdam Dining Room two-tiered dining room
- Pinnacle Grill and the poolside Lido Restaurant
- Two swimming pools, ocean spa and fitness centre
- Casino and movie theatres
Accommodation is in extra large grade outside staterooms with twin beds (convertible to a king size double), sofa, writing desk, a proper window (not porthole), bath and shower. (Approx 197 sq ft)
Meals are available on board all day up to midnight and it is all included.
Meals are available on board all day up to midnight and it is all included.
Price includes:
- Scheduled flights, London to Toronto and Vancouver to London
- 4 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation in quality hotels
- 4 days silver and blue class rail travel on the “Canadian” including full board
- Other meals as shown
- Sightseeing tour of Vancouver
- 8 days Inside Passage cruise (full board)
- All transfers and the services of a tour manager throughout
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner