Culture & History

Alaska cruises with Tlingit interpreters and visit Haida Gwaii

On our 7-night itinerary, Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness our onboard cultural interpreter gives you additional eyes through which to see Glacier Bay, the ancestral home of the Huna Tlingit. Through stories and artwork the spirit of the indigenous people of the region will animate the scenery before you. Sitka, the 4th largest city in Alaska by population, was originally settled by the Tlingit people over 10,000 years ago. A Russian settlement began in 1799, and a point of our exploration of the present-day life of the town will be Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral with its picturesque spire.

Go even deeper into the indigenous life of the region on our 14-night Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii. We have been granted special permission to visit Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte islands and in particular, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. We are the only above 22-passenger ship to be allowed in to these ancestral lands in over two decades, providing our guests a rare immersion in Haida art, history and culture. We’ll see artifacts, canoes and totem carvings at the Haida Heritage Centre and Museum. And we’ll have the opportunity to view ancient totem poles at Skedans, and learn about the spiritual beliefs and respect for nature integral to Haida culture.

Also on this journey, at the community of Alert Bay, we’ll visit the U’mista Cultural Centre for a traditional First Nations performance and encounter with the Kwakwaka’wakw people.