Come aboard the Holland America Westerdam in Seattle, WA, for a convenient roundtrip Seattle adventure. Puget Sound delivers incredible Pacific Northwest scenery, more than enough reason to choose Seattle as an Alaska departure port.

You will cruise the San Juan Islands from Seattle. The San Juan Islands are a wildlife-rich archipelago and popular vacation spot amongst locals. From the comfort of your cruise, watch for soaring eagles, harbor seals, and both humpback and orca whales. Both whale species appear to be making a comeback in recent years and scientists are cautiously optimistic. However, dwindling salmon populations remain a concern for the Puget Sound resident orcas. Cruises to San Juan Islands often lead to whale sightings, especially between March and October for the famous resident orcas of the J, K, and L pods.

Stephens Passage is a straight line through Southeast Alaska in a landscape that comes with very few straight lines. It’s not only people and ships that use the passage: Concentrated in and around its waters is a greatest hits of Alaskan wildlife, from humpback whales, the whoosh of their breath loud enough to be heard almost a kilometer away, to giant sea lions.

The southern reaches of Stephens Passage start at the edges of Frederick Sound, one of the best whale-watching areas in the state. The sound narrows and as you are funneled into the passage, the mountains come right down into the sea.

The water of the passage is very deep, well over 1,000 feet in places. But in this landscape cut by the last ice age, you really have to measure to the mountain peaks for true scale: They climb to summits at 5,000 feet, their slopes covered with forests and meadows.

Juneau is known for its outdoor recreation, fresh seafood and fine dining. The city itself is pleasant, but the real highlight of a visit to Juneau is tracking down some wildlife. You can hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles. Most sightseeing and whale-watching tours head north to Auke Bay. Bring a good pair of binoculars to get the best view of these majestic and surprisingly graceful creatures. The sleepy, misty city of around 32,000, mostly fishermen and small-business owners, has a frontier town vibe and is Alaska’s number-one tourist destination.

A storied past mixed with jaw-dropping scenery sets Sitka, Alaska, apart from other ports. Located on Baranof Island surrounded by the Sitka Sound’s icy blue water, it not only boasts lush scenery and captivating wildlife, but offers a unique glimpse into Alaska history. Russia controlled Alaska from the mid-1700s until the United States purchased it in 1867.

On a Sitka shore excursion, stop by the visitor center of the Sitka National Historical park to peruse fascinating collections of Russian and Native Alaskan artifacts, and then join a ranger-led tour of the battlefield where Russia fought the native Tlingit people. 

Surrounded by the Tongass National rain forest, nature abounds in Sitka. A walk up Castle Hill offers the ideal vantage point to take in Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. Visits to the Fortress of the Bear and Alaska Raptor Center are in order for any animal-lover. Both provide the opportunity to see Alaska wildlife, such as bears or raptors up-close, but safely.

A British-influenced city plunked in the rugged Pacific Northwest. Victoria ranks high for quality of life—you’re always a stone’s throw from a windswept beach or a pint at a convivial pub—and it’s the perfect swirl of city life and nature. The influence of the First Nations culture is also strong in Victoria, with totem poles taking a front-and-center position on the Inner Harbour and in Beacon Hill Park and extensive galleries devoted to the First People at the Royal Columbia Museum.

The Victoria, British Columbia cruise port is just a pleasant walk or cab ride away from the Inner Harbour.