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Railbookers · Independent rail and cruise vacation

Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Rail and Sail

15-day Canadian Rockies rail trip and 7-day Alaska cruise

Illustration of Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Rail and Sail

Railbookers operates this 15-day, 14-night independent rail and cruise vacation across the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. Two nights each in Banff and Jasper include a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain and a sightseeing tour of the Icefields Parkway, with its Columbia Icefield and the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk. From Jasper, the Rocky Mountaineer's navy and gold carriages carry travelers in SilverLeaf Class through the Fraser Valley and the Coast and Cascade Mountains, with overnight stops in Kamloops and Vancouver. An Amtrak Cascades train then continues to Seattle, where travelers board the Norwegian Encore for a 7-day cruise, docking in Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, and Ketchikan before Victoria and a return to Seattle. Because excursions such as the Banff Gondola and the Icefields Parkway tour are included but the trip is otherwise independent, this suits travelers who want the Canadian Rockies and Alaska's glaciers covered in one long journey without a full-time tour guide.

What to know before you look closer

  • Railbookers offers 28 accommodation options across the trip's cities and tiers, from mid-range lodges such as the Fox Hotel & Suites in Banff to the historic Fairmont Banff Springs, so the specific hotel depends on which tier and property you choose.
  • The Banff to Jasper leg on day 3 is a sightseeing tour along the Icefields Parkway, a road rather than a rail journey, so part of this rail-and-sail trip is covered by road.
  • The Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island on day 4 and a Rocky Mountaineer class upgrade are listed as optional extras, not included in the base price; the day 15 transfer from the cruise port to your hotel or the airport is also listed as optional.
  • The evidence lists only 6 meals (2 breakfasts, 4 lunches) as included outside of the cruise itself, so travelers should budget for other meals during the Banff, Jasper, Kamloops, Vancouver, and Seattle portions of the trip.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Banff

    Banff, AB

    Transfer from Calgary airport to your hotel in Banff.

  2. Day 2overnight: Banff

    Banff, AB

    Explore Banff by taking a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain, with 360-degree views of the surrounding landscapes.

  3. Day 3overnight: Jasper

    Banff to Jasper

    Set out to explore on an exciting tour of the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper. See the magnificent Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier, and step out onto the glass-floored platform of the Glacier Skywalk.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Jasper, AB

    Experience the wild wonders of the Canadian Rockies during your included tour of Jasper, including Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, and an optional cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.

  5. Day 5overnight: Kamloops

    Jasper to Kamloops

    Board the famous navy and gold carriages of the Rocky Mountaineer, settling into SilverLeaf Class. Enjoy the dramatic passing scenery of Fraser Valley and the Coast and Cascade Mountains.

  6. Day 6overnight: Vancouver

    Kamloops to Vancouver

    Re-board the Rocky Mountaineer this morning and settle in for another day of stunning scenery. Disembark in Vancouver and travel to your hotel for a one-night stay.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Seattle

    Seattle, WA

    Board the Cascades train in Vancouver to Seattle. Once in Seattle, travel on your own to your hotel and check in.

  8. Day 8overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Overnight Onboard The Norwegian Encore

    Your transfer this afternoon will take you to the cruise port. Board your Norwegian cruise ship.

  9. Day 9overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Overnight Onboard The Norwegian Encore

    While at sea, continue enjoying life onboard Norwegian.

  10. Day 10overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Juneau

    Dock in Juneau, Alaska, for an entire day of exploring. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier lies only 12 miles outside Juneau.

  11. Day 11overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Skagway

    Sail into beautiful Skagway. Visit the Skagway Museum, Centennial Statue, the historic downtown, or head down to Pullen Creek and watch the salmon run.

  12. Day 12overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Overnight Onboard The Norwegian Encore

    Sail to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a United Nations World Heritage Site. Get glimpses of Mount Fairweather, the Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers.

  13. Day 13overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Ketchikan

    Spend the day in Ketchikan. Visit Harbour View Park, marvel at hand-carved totem poles, or dine on fresh halibut and salmon.

  14. Day 14overnight: Norwegian Encore

    Victoria, BC

    Dock in Victoria, located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Enjoy a stroll along the scenic Inner Harbour.

  15. Day 15

    Your Journey Ends in Seattle

    Disembark the cruise ship and take your optional transfer from the cruise port to King Street Station, your hotel, or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A gondola ride climbs to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, with 360-degree views over Banff.
  • Day 3The Icefields Parkway tour passes the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier, including a walk onto the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk.
  • Day 5The Rocky Mountaineer's navy and gold carriages carry travelers in SilverLeaf Class, with dramatic scenery through the Fraser Valley and the Coast and Cascade Mountains.
  • Day 10A full day is spent docked in Juneau, Alaska, near the Mendenhall Glacier.
  • Day 12The ship sails into Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a United Nations World Heritage Site, with views of Mount Fairweather and the Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers.

Included

  • One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations from Vancouver to Seattle on the Cascades®
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation in Banff
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation in Jasper
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Kamloops
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Vancouver
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Seattle
  • Transfer from Calgary airport to Banff hotel
  • Transfer from Seattle Hotel to cruise port
  • 6 meals (2 breakfasts, 4 lunches)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, for part of the trip. The Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Class covers Jasper to Kamloops to Vancouver, and Amtrak Cascades covers Vancouver to Seattle. The Banff to Jasper leg on day 3 is a road tour along the Icefields Parkway, not a train.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
Railbookers lists it as an independent rail and cruise vacation with included excursions, such as the Banff Gondola and the Icefields Parkway tour.
What are the two main modes of travel?
A rail journey through the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper, Kamloops, Vancouver) followed by a 7-day Alaska cruise aboard the Norwegian Encore, sailing from Seattle to Glacier Bay and back.
What hotels are used?
Railbookers offers 28 accommodation options; named examples include the Fairmont Banff Springs and Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff, and The Crimson Jasper and Forest Park Hotel in Jasper.
What is not included?
The Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island and a Rocky Mountaineer class upgrade are listed as optional extras. Only 6 meals (2 breakfasts, 4 lunches) are listed as included outside of the cruise.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $7,169 USD for the 15-day, 14-night trip.

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