Holland America just announced another wowzer of an Alaska itinerary
Holland America is out with yet another epic Alaska itinerary that is unlike anything we've seen before.
The 18-night "Great Bear Rainforest and Alaskan Explorer" voyage, as the line is calling it, will bring an extended sailing up the coast of Alaska to small towns that most cruise lines never visit. It will also include a rare multiday passage along the western coast of Canada.
Among the most unusual calls planned for the voyage, which will kick off Sept. 16, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be day visits to the small fishing town of Homer, Alaska, known as the halibut capital of the world, and mountain-ringed Valdez, Alaska.
Neither of the towns, which are home to populations of just 6,040 and 3,805 people, respectively, draws many cruise ships — in part because of the time it takes to reach them from Vancouver and other Alaska cruise hubs.
The remote Alaska town of Kodiak, on Kodiak Island, is also on the itinerary. The island is particularly known for its large population of Kodiak bears — the largest subspecies of brown bears.
The trip also will include an overnight stop in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Few ships on Alaska cruises ever visit Anchorage due to the distance of travel required to reach it through the Cook Inlet.
All the above destinations are too far north to reach on a typical seven-night cruise to Alaska out of Vancouver or Seattle. Only far longer sailings to Alaska, which are rare, typically include them.
Holland America's new itinerary, which will take place on 1,432-passenger Zaandam, also will include stops in the relatively little-visited Alaskan town of Wrangell, as well as Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan, the latter three being more common stops on Alaska cruises.
Visits to two of Alaska's iconic glacier destinations, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Hubbard Glacier, also are on the schedule.
Related: The 6 best Alaska cruise shore excursions — from heli-hiking to whale watching
Still, perhaps the most impressive piece of the voyage will take place as Zaandam begins the voyage northward to Alaska.
The ship will spend two full days exploring the immensely scenic narrow channels that cut through the western edge of British Columbia — most notably, the super-tight Grenville Channel (so narrow you feel like you can reach out and touch its sides as you cruise through it), as well as the Seymour Narrows.
They are waterways that once formed the heart of what was known as the "Inside Passage" to Alaska, but they have been mostly bypassed by cruise vessels for decades.
As it sails the region, Zaandam will pass by the Great Bear Rainforest, Bella Bella and Princess Royal Island, among the region's best-known sites.
On the way back southward to Vancouver, Zaandam also will call for the day at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, allowing passengers time for shore excursions into the Great Bear Rainforest.
The Grenville Channel and the other narrow waterways through which Zaandam will travel formed the safe route to Alaska during the gold rush days of the 1800s, when the passage was plied by steamboats. But it fell out of favor with Alaska-bound vessels over time as ships became bigger and were willing to brave the open ocean to reach Alaska faster.
Cruise ships sailing to Alaska in recent decades have almost always bypassed this old route in favor of arriving in Alaska more quickly and spending more time there.
For the most part, the only time cruise vessels have entered these old Inside Passage channels recently has been when there have been storms affecting the seas in the open ocean outside the passage.
The new trip is just the latest from Holland America that includes added time in the Great Bear Rainforest region. Two other shorter sailings announced earlier this year for 2025 and 2026 also will explore the area.
Fares for the newly announced voyage start at $3,029 per person, including taxes, fees and port charges. More information on the new sailings is available at Holland America's website.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.