Destinations South East Alaska - Northwest Navigation Co.

Southeast Alaska

Southeast Alaska-- "The Great Land." Fjords, waterfalls, glaciers, and snow-capped peaks make up the surroundings.

Humpbacks, orcas, seals, sea lions, and porpoises abound. For those who enjoy birding, there are scoters, harlequin ducks, murrelets and of course ravens, bald eagles and many more. You will even get occasional glimpses of bears feeding near the shore as we pass by and whales bubble netting.

Unlike most cruises, we generally travel only during daylight hours, so you won't miss any of the sights. We search out quiet secluded anchorages that bring you into the heart of Alaskan wilderness. When we are anchored we have plenty of time for going ashore for wilderness hikes and kayaking most mornings and afternoons.

Each scheduled trip that departs from Juneau is 7-days long. We also offer custom cruises for people who are interested in trips as short as 4-days or for as long as you would like and we offer custom Alaska vacations for people with groups of 6 or fewer.

Our food is amazing. On all of our trips, each day you will be treated to gourmet meals prepared on board. Enjoy just-out-of-the-oven sourdough bread and a bowl of Whiskey Crab soup on deck while you watch whales in Frederick Sound or wake up to fresh squeezed orange juice, handmade croissants (from scratch aboard the boat and never from a box!) fresh fruit and caribou sausage for breakfast. Each day aboard the David B is special and we work to make sure your meals are as spectacular as the wildlife and scenery that surrounds you in this truly “Great Land.”

Juneau

Juneau is the busy capital of Alaska. It was founded as part of the Gold Rush when Richard Harris and Joseph Juneau discovered gold in the 1880s.

Our trips typically start out by boarding the David B in Juneau at noon and cruising Stephens Passage to our first night's anchorage. We often stop at Taku Harbor where you can visit the site of old Hudson's Bay Company outpost as well as walk through the ruins of an abandoned cannery. The second, third and forth days on our itinerary are flexible. We will cruise through Frederick Sound and watch for humpback whales. From Frederick Sound we will decide if it is off to Baranof Warm Springs or to Petersburg.

The Baranof Warm Springs are located at the tiny settlement of Baranof, Alaska. The natural pools themselves are situated dramatically near the side of a roaring waterfall. On our way to Baranof Warm Springs we usually spend days two, three and four cruising along Admiralty Island and Baranof Island, watching for whales, bears, kayaking and hiking. Our anchorages include such places as, Gambier or Pybus Bays on Admiralty Island. Admiralty Island itself, is a National Monument. The island’s native name is Kootznoowoo and means fortress of the bear. This very important bear habitat has the highest concentration of brown bears per square mile in North America and makes it a great place to search for and to observe bears.

If we decide to visit the unspoiled fishing community of Petersburg we often spend the second night in Pybus Bay looking for bears. In the morning we will then cruise through Frederick Sound watching whales before continuing onto Petersburg. In the evening of our third day, after spending time in Petersburg walking through muskegs and visiting small family owned shops we usually spend the night at Ruth Island Cove in Thomas Bay. This is a beautiful spot for kayaking with views of the Cosmos Range of mountains and the Patterson Glacier. On the fourth day we usually venture to back Admiralty Island to watch bears in Snug Cove. This wide cove is a great place for crabbing, bear watching and kayaking. Day five we will spend in the area of Holkham Bay. Here we are often treated to the sights and sounds of humpback whales and bald eagles, as well as both brown and black bears. The sixth day of the trip we will choose either Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm to cruise for a chance to watch the powerful beauty of a tidewater glacier as it calves into its deep-water fjord. The last day we will leave Holkham Bay and return to Juneau.

Throughout your cruise on the David B, you will be spoiled by all the fabulous cooking. Everyday there is fresh baked muffins, scones, or croissants and sourdough bread to accompany rich gourmet meals of fresh seafood, meats and hand-made pasta not to mention deserts that you will want to savor every bite of.

Ketchikan

Some of our trips depart from Ketchikan, we head north to Juneau on a 7-day cruise that highlights the beauty of Southeast Alaska. Along the way we will stop at quiet anchorages and visit small villages and towns like Meyers Chuck and Petersburg. Our first evening is spent in Meyers Chuck. A quiet community of forty-some houses and a post office, it is a great place to stop and meet up with locals. The second day is spent cruising to a quiet anchorage in Zimovia Strait. The third day we usually make a call at Petersburg to walk though town or take a stroll though the muskeg to see unique vegetation. After a couple of hours in Petersburg we then head off to Thomas Bay for the evening. The fourth day is reserved for whale watching in Frederick Sound. On the fifth day we will head to Holkham Bay and spend the night at Tracy Arm Cove or Wood Spit for shore walks, kayaking, whale watching, birding and bear viewing. In the morning of the sixth day we will head down either Endicott Arm to view Dawes Glacier or Tracy Arm to view either North or South Sawyer Glaciers. All three are tidewater glaciers and are magnificent to watch as they calve into the cold waters. Along the way we will watch for seals, orca whales, arctic turns and marbled murrelets. The last day we will leave Holkham Bay and cruise up Stephens Passage to Juneau. Along the way we will watch for humpback whales and large uniquely shaped icebergs that have floated free from the confines of Holkham Bay.

If you have extra time…

Juneau is a great place to spend an extra day. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center is just a couple of miles out of town and not only has a beautiful glacier, but also has lots of information on the local ecology. If you are interested in Tlingit culture, take the Mt. Roberts tram to experience native storytelling and artwork. There are also fantastic short hikes with great views and lots of native flora.

Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island. The island, named for Juan Vicente de Guemas Pachaco de Padilla Horcastias y Aguayo, Conde de Revilla Gigedo, is in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. The spot where downtown Ketchikan is located was originally a summer fishing camp used by the Tlingit until the 1880s when a saltery was established and then a salmon cannery. Eventually Ketchikan became the salmon canning capital of the world. You can still see the influence of Ketchikan’s fishing and native heritage with a walk to Creek Street or a visit to the Saxman Village where you can learn about the Tlingit culture.

Whole Boat Reservations

Do you have a group of up to six people you would like to come to Alaska with? If so, give us a call at 877-670-7863 or send us an email for special pricing for the whole boat.