Fridtjof Nansen, 17 Night Alaska and British Columbia - Inside Passage, Bears and Aleutian Islands (Southbound) ex Seattle, Washington, USA

Day 1
Scenic Seattle
Begin your adventure in the Emerald CityYour expedition cruise starts with an overnight stay in Seattle. If you can, why not arrive early and see what the Emerald City has to offer. Take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go.   For a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers! If you have the time to go farther afield, we recommend booking a Pre-Programme with us and discovering some of the region’s natural highlights.   

Day 2
Your expedition begins
Launch your adventure in historical NomeToday, we fly you from Seattle to Nome for the start of your expedition cruise.  Set at the tip of the Seward Peninsula, overlooking the Bering Sea, Nome is perhaps the most famous Gold-Rush town in Alaskan history. There are artifacts from this era to be seen everywhere, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the-century steam engines, and old railroad tracks. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions, including an attempt by air to reach the North Pole in 1926. It’s a fitting place to launch your grand Alaska adventure.  

Day 3-6
Exploring the Bering Sea
Discover wild nature and remote communities Over the next four days, we’ll head across the Bering Sea towards Nome. You’ll have two exploration days and two days at sea.For the exploration days, your Captain will choose the best location based on the conditions at the time. Possible destinations include the rugged island of St Paul, home to the largest Unangan community in the US. It’s also an Important Bird Area, with species such as the Pribilof Sandpiper and Tufted Puffin nesting here. We might also explore wild St. Matthew Island where abandoned buildings lie between black sand beaches and wildflower-dotted tundra. You may even spot the rare McKay's Buntings which breed and nest exclusively on this island. During the sea days, look out for puffins, auklets, and murrelets, especially closer to the coast. If you’re lucky, you might glimpse the Red-legged Kittiwake, only found in this part of the world.  Enjoy panoramic views from our Explorer Lounge & Bar, the infinity pool, or the outdoor hot tubs. Or learn more about the region's geography, climate and birdlife from the Expedition Team in the Science Centre. 

Day 7
Discover Dutch Harbor
Learn the fascinating history of America’s biggest fishing portThe US’s largest fishing port, Dutch Harbor is a fascinating place to visit. As we sail towards it you may see Mount Makushin, a sometimes-steaming volcano reaching almost 6,000 ft.  Here, you’ll learn about the local Indigenous Unangax̂ people at the Museum of the Aleutians. Visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral or tour the WWII museum commemorating the battle that took place here in 1942.  Scout for Bald Eagles and puffins. Foxes, lemmings and wild horses thrive on land and whales, sea lions and porpoises in the waters. Dutch Harbor is where the reality television series The Deadliest Catch was filmed, following crab fishermen at work under extreme conditions. 

Day 8
The ghost town of Unga
Experience a deserted Alaskan townWild and deserted, Unga Village is an abandoned yet fascinating settlement on the southern end of Unga Island.  It was settled by the Unangax̂ people in 1833 but was abandoned in 1969 as subsistence fishing proved insufficient to support living here. Today, the few wooden buildings that remain are the only evidence that people once lived here.  Pink lousewort, fireweed and other wildflowers surround the abandoned shacks as nature has gradually taken over. Experience the eerie beauty of this place during a nature landing with our small expedition boats. 

Day 9
Remote bays of the Alaska Peninsula
Explore rugged scenery in an untamed wildernessThe Alaska Peninsula is an untamed wilderness and a haven for wildlife. The region is characterised by its raw coastal landscapes, towering mountains and secluded bays.  Join your Expedition Team for close exploration of hidden bays and inlets along the shoreline, offering the opportunity to scout for bears, Bald Eagles, and marine species like sea otters and humpback whales. Learn about the geological evolution of the region, appreciating how natural forces have sculpted the unique topography around you. 

Day 10
Brown bears in Katmai
Spot brown bears in Katmai National ParkYour adventure continues in the four-million-acre Katmai National Park, which has over a dozen active volcanoes. Katmai is also home to more than 2,000 protected brown bears – the largest concentration in the world.  We’ll safely scout for bears from the deck or in our small expedition boats. They might be foraging for berries, digging for clams or catching fish in the stream. Depending on conditions, we might visit either Geographic Harbor, Kinak Bay or Kukak Bay.  

Day 11
Verdant Kodiak
Explore the home of the Alutiiq peopleKodiak Island, known as the ‘Emerald Isle, features lush temperate forests, mountains, and a rugged coastline. Its wetlands are home to a variety of bird species and wildlife, including the island’s most iconic residents - Kodiak bears. Around 3,500 of them live in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which covers two-thirds of the island. We’ll search for whales, sea otters, and seals, and, if we’re lucky, catch a glimpse of Kodiak brown bears in their natural habitat, all set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska’s wilderness. 

Day 12
Across the Gulf of Alaska
Enjoy a day of relaxation and birdwatching at seaYour cruise continues across the Gulf of Alaska. It's the ideal time to enjoy onboard facilities such as the infinity pool, hot tubs, and sauna. Go for a run, hit the gym, or enjoy a massage in the spa.  In the Science Centre, the Expedition Team invite you to join lectures about subjects such as Alaska’s wildlife, geology, glaciology, history and culture.  Relax in the Explorer Lounge & Bar and share a drink with your fellow guests, or just sit back and enjoy the view. See if you can spot all three species of North Pacific albatross. The Laysan and Black-footed Albatross are often sighted, but the Short-tailed Albatross is harder to spot.  

Day 13
Glaciers of Icy Bay
Spot wildlife in these glacier-fed watersToday is an exploration day in Icy Bay. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall – can be seen from this bay. If conditions allow, you’ll explore in our small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.  From Icy Bay you can admire striking, jagged Mt St Elias, known for its steep vertical relief, it has the second tallest peak in the US and third tallest in the US and Canada at over 18,000 ft. In the Gulf of Alaska for we’ll scout for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters and harbour seals often seen in these waters.  

Day 14
Blended cultures of Sitka
Take in Sitka’s views and mix of culturesSurrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea or air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe volcano.  Inhabited by the Łingít people for 10,000 years, the town was settled by Russian explorers around the turn of the 19th century before being sold to the United States after Russia lost the Crimean War. Today, Sitka has roots in all three cultures.  A visit to the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House is recommended. Admire ornate Haida and Łingít totem poles at Sitka National Historical Park and enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.  

Day 15
Wrangell's petroglyphs
Visit one of Alaska’s oldest harbour townsWe continue cruising the Alaskan islands towards Wrangell.  The traditional homeland of the Łingít people for 8,000 years, Wrangell has in the past two centuries come under the control of Russia, then Britain, and is now part of the US.  Visit the local museum to learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past. Cross over to Shakes Island, where the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the story of the Indigenous Łingít people.  Only one mile out of town, you’ll find Petroglyph Beach, which has ancient carvings etched into the large rocks along the shore. Created by the Łingít people, they are believed to be over 1,000 years old. Hikers will enjoy the nature trails, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River, and the foot of Mount Dewey at the edge of the temperate rainforest. 

Day 16
Unspoiled Misty Fjords
Revel in a wilderness where wildlife thrivesPart of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snowcapped peaks. The revered naturalist writer John Muir described the area as one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen.  Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in our small expedition boats or take kayaks out. Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You’ll scan for mountain goats, black and brown bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall’s porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles. 

Day 17
Canada's Inside Passage
Enjoy sublime scenery as we sail the Inside Passage The Inside Passage coastal route takes us through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long.  Our smaller expedition ship allows us to reach areas that larger vessels can’t, meaning you’ll get to explore lesser-travelled channels with breathtaking scenery. Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of whales, including humpback, fin, minke and perhaps even orcas.  

Day 18
A taste of Vancouver
Disembark in British Columbia’s iconic cityYour expedition cruise ends in Vancouver, a beautiful city at the foot of the Rockies. Wander Gastown, Vancouver’s Victorian quarter or walk around beautiful Stanley Park, which offers a stunning view of the city.  Vancouver has a flavour all its own – and so does its global cuisine. Before your onward journey, we recommend you dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy for a taste of the city's buzzing atmosphere.    

MS Fridtjof Nansen is the latest addition to Hurtigruten’s fleet of custom built ships – and the next generation expedition ship. She will explore some of the most spectacular corners of the globe.

Featuring Hurtigruten's revolutionary battery hybrid powered propulsion system, MS Fridtjof Nansen will be a near identical twin to her sister ship MS Roald Amundsen.

Combining state of the art technology and premium on board experience with Hurtigruten’s 125 years of experience and unparalleled destinations, the two Norwegian built ships introduces the next generation of adventure travel.

The stunning scenery will be reflected in a rich and comfortable interior design. Scandinavian materials from nature, such as granite, oak, birch and wool will be used to create relaxed and stylish cabins and public areas. All cabins are outside, 50 % will have private balconies, aft suites will feature private outdoor hot tubs with spectacular views.

The core of the onboard experience is the Nansen Science Center, an edutainment venue to guests and crew meet to create a deeper understanding of the areas we explore. Nansen Science Center will also be the on board HQ for the Expedition Team.
MS Fridtjof Nansen's three restaurants will host a variety of dining options, with menus drawn from our rich Norwegian and Nordic tradition, as well as international cuisine and local inspiration.

Whether enjoying your meal at Aune Main Dining, Fredheim – the informal international meeting place, or the specialty restaurant Lindstrøm, you will indulge in low key yet refined, modern Norwegian Nordic cooking – where our honest and delicious cuisine reflects our destinations.

After a day of exploring new destinations, guests can relax and rejuvenate in the elegant Explorer Lounge, a large gym and Wellness center, or enjoy the scenery and sunsets on the massive in- and outdoor Observation Decks with the aft infinity pool and hot tubs as one of the highlights.

Each expedition voyage is accompanied by a hand-picked team of specialists and modern-day explorers. Highly experienced, passionate and knowledgeable, the Expedition Team will be your guides and guardians on your voyage of exploration, instructing you on safety, sustainability and science.

MS Fridtjof Nansen will feature a variety of custom built expedition equipment, including kayaks, a fleet of Blueye underwater drones and Expedition Boats for safe landings in remote areas.

HX Expeditions is a leading global expedition cruise line offering immersive journeys to the planet's most remote and extraordinary destinations. From the icy wilderness of Antarctica and the Arctic to the unique ecosystems of the Galápagos and Alaska, HX delivers authentic small-ship experiences designed for curious travelers seeking adventure, discovery, and meaningful connections with nature.

Operating a modern fleet of purpose-built, sustainable vessels, HX puts environmental responsibility at the heart of every expedition. Guests explore fragile ecosystems with expert-led guidance from naturalists, scientists, and local specialists, ensuring journeys are both educational and transformative.

With an emphasis on small groups and personalized service, HX provides access to hidden places unreachable by larger ships, delivering comfort, authenticity, and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Whether witnessing the Northern Lights or exploring pristine shores, HX Expeditions invites travelers to experience the world’s wildest corners in a responsible and impactful way.