You will never forget this extraordinary close-up view of the 49th state. Our journey begins in Seward, where you can hike to the fjords and dine on fresh halibut, then cruises past the Hubbard Glacier, the longest tidewater glacier in North America. Now we head for Skagway, with its Gold Rush-era buildings, then Alaska's original capital, Sitka, where the onion-shaped dome of Saint Michael's is a visual reminder of the days when this was Russian territory. Icy Strait Point is next, for the thrills and spills of the world's largest ziprider and other outdoor activities. Onwards to Ketchikan, where many of the buildings balance on stilts over the water. Now we enter Canadian waters, passing through the Seymour Narrows before arriving in the lively city of Vancouver.