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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail and cruise holiday

Canada by Rail and Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise

22-day rail journey across Canada, then Alaska cruise from Vancouver

Illustration of Canada by Rail and Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise

The Railway Touring Company's 22-day Canada by Rail and Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise combines two classic Canadian sleeper trains with a week-long cruise through Alaska. The journey begins in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where travellers board The Ocean for an overnight passage to Montreal, then continue by high-speed rail to Toronto before embarking on The Canadian, a four-night sleeper crossing the prairies and Rocky Mountains to Vancouver. There, the group transfers to the Holland America Line's MS Koningsdam for a seven-day Inside Passage voyage, calling at Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan while cruising Glacier Bay National Park. Throughout, a Tour Manager provides guidance, and most meals, hotels, and internal transfers are included. The itinerary balances travelling days (especially the long train segments with cabin rest) against free days in Montreal, Vancouver, and other cities, making it suited to repeat rail travellers, couples seeking shared comfort, and those who prefer structured, all-inclusive escorted travel without independent navigation.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price includes scheduled flights from London Heathrow; a ground-only option (Halifax to Vancouver, excluding UK flights and first/last-day transfers) is available at a lower rate.
  • Shore excursions during the cruise are not included and are extra cost.
  • The optional White Pass and Yukon Railway excursion at Skagway incurs an additional charge.
  • Only one departure is published: August 2026. Confirm dates and availability with The Railway Touring Company before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Halifax

    Flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Flight from London Heathrow to Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving mid-afternoon, and check in to the hotel.

  2. Day 2overnight: Halifax

    Free day in Halifax

    A free day to enjoy Halifax and its natural harbour.

  3. Day 3railovernight: On board The Ocean (sleeper cabin)

    'The Ocean' to Montreal

    Board 'The Ocean' luxury train at Halifax Station for the journey through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the lower St. Lawrence River valley to Montreal, with sleeper cabin accommodation.

  4. Day 4overnight: Montreal

    Free day in Montreal

    Arrive in Montreal in the morning with a free day to explore the city before checking in to the hotel.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Toronto

    Montreal to Toronto

    A high speed rail connection to Toronto along the St. Lawrence River valley and west of Lake Ontario, arriving mid-afternoon.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Toronto

    Niagara Falls

    A morning train to Niagara Falls, spanning the border between Ontario and New York State, with the day spent at the falls before returning to Toronto by service train.

  7. Day 7railovernight: On board The Canadian (sleeper cabin)

    The Canadian departs

    Board Canada's premier train 'The Canadian' for a sleeper journey, with cabins featuring a large window, two chairs and a private washroom.

  8. Day 8overnight: On board The Canadian (sleeper cabin)

    Crossing Canada

    A day relaxing on The Canadian as it crosses four time zones through spectacular scenery, stopping at Gogama and Hornepayne.

  9. Day 9overnight: On board The Canadian (sleeper cabin)

    Winnipeg

    Cross from Ontario into Manitoba, reaching Winnipeg, then travel west across the Prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

  10. Day 10overnight: On board The Canadian (sleeper cabin)

    The Rocky Mountains

    Arrive at Edmonton, then climb into the Rockies and arrive in Jasper for a short break before continuing towards Vancouver.

  11. Day 11overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver

    Arrive at Vancouver Station and check in to the hotel for two nights, with time to explore the city.

  12. Day 12overnight: Vancouver

    Free Day in Vancouver

    A free day to explore the sights and attractions of Vancouver.

  13. Day 13overnight: On board MS Koningsdam

    Cruise - The Inside Passage Alaska

    Transfer to the harbour and board the Holland America Line cruise ship MS Koningsdam for the voyage to Alaska via the Inside Passage.

  14. Day 14overnight: On board MS Koningsdam

    The Inside Passage

    A relaxing day cruising the Inside Passage, viewing rugged capes, cliffs, glaciers, fjords and forests, navigating the Seymour Narrows and Grenville Channel late in the evening.

  15. Day 15overnight: On board MS Koningsdam

    Juneau, capital of Alaska

    Cruise into Tracy Arm Fjord to see the Sawyer Glaciers, then arrive in Juneau, known for its surrounding glaciers, including the Mendenhall Glacier, and the Tongass National Forest.

  16. Day 16railovernight: On board MS Koningsdam

    Skagway; White Pass and Yukon Railway

    A day in the historic Gold Rush town of Skagway, with an optional ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railway (built in 1898) to White Pass summit at extra cost.

  17. Day 17overnight: On board MS Koningsdam

    Cruise Glacier Bay

    Cruise in Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, viewing tidewater glaciers and temperate rainforest.

  18. Day 18overnight: On board MS Koningsdam

    Visit to Ketchikan

    Visit Ketchikan, the 'Salmon Capital of the World', on Revillagigedo Island, surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, with attractions including Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Village.

  19. Day 19overnight: On board MS Koningsdam

    Cruise the Inside Passage

    Continue cruising the Inside Passage south towards Vancouver.

  20. Day 20overnight: Vancouver

    Return to Vancouver

    Arrive back in Vancouver in the morning and stay overnight in a centrally located hotel, with dinner together.

  21. Day 21

    Free time in Vancouver

    Free time to explore Vancouver, including Gastown, Granville Island and Stanley Park, before transferring to the airport for the flight to London Heathrow.

  22. Day 22

    Arrival in the UK

    Arrive at London Heathrow in the afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Board The Ocean at Halifax Station for a sleeper journey through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick down the lower St. Lawrence River valley to Montreal.
  • Day 6Morning train excursion from Toronto to Niagara Falls at the border between Ontario and New York State, returning by service train the same day.
  • Day 7Board The Canadian at Toronto for a four-night sleeper journey westward across the prairies and into the Rocky Mountains.
  • Day 15Cruise into Tracy Arm Fjord to see Sawyer Glaciers before arriving in Juneau, surrounded by the Mendenhall Glacier and Tongass National Forest.
  • Day 17Cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, viewing tidewater glaciers and temperate rainforest.

Included

  • Scheduled flights from London to Halifax and from Vancouver to London
  • 8 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in quality hotels
  • A day's rail travel with overnight accommodation on 'The Ocean' luxury train
  • A visit to Niagara Falls
  • 4 days on 'The Canadian' luxury train with overnight accommodation on the train
  • Other meals as shown in the itinerary
  • 7 days Inside Passage cruise
  • All transfers
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Not included

  • Shore excursions on the cruise
  • Alcoholic drinks outside of meal times on The Ocean, The Canadian and the cruise ship
  • Optional White Pass and Yukon Railway excursion at Skagway (extra cost)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes sleeper cabin accommodation on The Ocean (Halifax to Montreal, one night) and The Canadian (Toronto to Vancouver, four nights). A day trip to Niagara Falls involves a high-speed rail connection from Toronto. The optional White Pass and Yukon Railway excursion at Skagway costs extra.
Is this escorted or independent?
Fully escorted. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout the 22 days. Flights, hotel accommodation, rail journeys, most meals, and cruise passage are included.
Which trains are featured?
The Ocean (Via Rail) runs Halifax to Montreal in a sleeper cabin. The Canadian (Via Rail) runs from the Toronto area through Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Jasper to Vancouver in a sleeper cabin with a large window, two chairs, and private washroom. A high-speed rail connection links Montreal and Toronto. The White Pass and Yukon Railway (1898 heritage line) is an optional extra at Skagway.
What hotels are included?
The itinerary specifies eight nights in quality hotels: two nights in Halifax, one in Montreal, two in Toronto, two in Vancouver, and one in Vancouver on return. Hotel names and star ratings are not detailed in the published itinerary.
What meals are included?
Bed and breakfast at all hotels is included. The itinerary notes 'other meals as shown in the itinerary'. Alcoholic drinks outside of meal times on The Ocean, The Canadian, and the cruise ship are not included.
When does the tour run?
The Railway Touring Company lists one departure: August 2026. The price is 11,950 GBP (approximately 15,959 USD) for the Standard package including flights from London.

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