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North Pacific Passage

No Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Cruise Advisor
Balcony
$11,510
Suite
$25,671
* Port charges, taxes and fees included
 Cruise Length
24 Days
 Cruise Starts
Vancouver
 Cruise Finishes
Tokyo
24 Day North Pacific Passage Itinerary (Viking)
Countries Explored: Canada, USA, Japan
Cruise Line
Viking
Ship
Departures
Passengers
930
Crew
465
Launched
2018
Cruise Code
VKNPP-R

Overview

Unravel the mysteries of Japan with local guides. Experience Tokyo, the capital of Japan and the world’s most populous metropolis. Cross the Bering Sea, tracing the legendary path of the first human migration to the Americas. In Alaska, cruise into glacier-strewn, mountain-ringed bays, stopping in former frontier towns to hear stories of trappers and lumberjacks. Overnight stays in Tokyo and Sapporo help you explore fully.

Itinerary

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Vancouver is one of Canada's most diverse cities and the influence of its multi-ethnic society is reflected in the city's multitude of restaurants and public settings, such as the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden at the heart of Chinatown. The city's cultural treasures reflect its indigenous community and embody the influence of European and Asian settlers. Its vibrant institutions run the gamut, from bustling markets to museums that chronicle the region's anthropology and rich art heritage.

Stretching some 500 miles along the Alaska Panhandle, the Inside Passage is a pristine wilderness of fjord-like channels. It winds its way through a vast maze of islands laden with emerald-green forests and strewn with glistening glaciers. Nature is at her most magnificent here, tranquil and hushed. Unspoiled waterways weave their way past tiny coastal villages and a breathtaking array of snowcapped mountains and pine-covered hills. Sea lions and otters reside in these waters, and moose and brown bears are often spotted as they wade along the coast.

Ketchikan is set among the soaring coastal mountains and sloping woodlands of the Tongass National Forest. The gateway into America's 49th state, it is known to travelers journeying north by ship as Alaska's “First City” and the “Salmon Capital of the World” for its thriving fishing industry. Ketchikan also embraces its rich and enduring Tlingit heritage; it is home to the most standing totem poles anywhere in the world. The artful icons are sprinkled throughout the town as well as its parks and cultural centers. 

Sitka has long been inhabited by the indigenous Tlingit people. Fur trading brought Russian settlers here in 1799 as part of a colonial merchant company. The town grew to become the capital of Russian Alaska, and remains of those days can be found in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and the Russian Bishop's House, the latter built by the Tlingit with guidance from Finnish carpenters in the 1840s. Today's Sitka is a delight to explore by foot, its streets dotted with inviting art galleries displaying artwork inspired by the region's natural beauty and rich heritage.

Glacier Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a breathtaking alpine paradise at the northernmost reaches of the Inside Passage. The Sitakaday Narrows lead into its waters, passing the pristine Beardslee Islands to the east. The bay feeds several inlets that wind their way deeper into the mountains, all surrounded by soaring ice-capped peaks and forested shorelines. Glacier Bay is part of a national park, a haven for wildlife including sea lions and otters, brown bears, moose, bald eagles and, in summer, humpback whales.

Surrounded by glacier-carved mountains and fed by the enormous Hubbard Glacier, Yakutat Bay spreads some 18 miles across at its widest point. On calm days, snow-covered slopes are reflected in the mirror-like bay, casting the entire scene in a soft, icy azure glow. Disenchantment Bay extends farther inland like a finger; at its farthest point, Hubbard Glacier creeps seaward from its source five miles away. The ice at the water's edge began its journey from near Mt. Walsh more than 400 years ago in the early 1600s.

Valdez enjoys a breathtaking setting at the tip of a deep-cut fjord in Prince William Sound. The glacial Chugach Mountains rise up all around the city, adding to its scenic allure. In its early days, the promise of gold attracted explorers and seekers of wealth, but the land proved barren. The town finally experienced its economic boom as North America's northernmost ice-free port. Today, it is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that carries oil south from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic coast.

Seward enjoys a magnificent setting between snowcapped peaks and Resurrection Bay, a pristine harbor ringed by mountains. The Alaskan city was named after Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state who defied public opinion to pursue the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Seward is steeped in marine culture, from its busy fishing port to the excellent exhibits and preservation efforts of the Alaska SeaLife Center. It is also the famed starting point of the Iditarod Trail, the dogsled race route originally laid to link Seward to inland Alaska.

Kodiak plays an outsize role on its namesake island home, known as Alaska's “Emerald Isle” for its green hillsides. It is the only link to the outside world, so all goods enter and leave through its port. Inhabited by Alutiiq natives for more than 7,000 years, it became the capital of Russian Alaska in the 18th century. Sea otter pelts were the major commodity of export until the animal was almost hunted to extinction. For 150 years, the native people fought for the beloved creature, sacrificing their lives to protect them. Today, the sea otter thrives here once again.

The Gulf of Alaska stretches from the Aleutian Islands to the Inside Passage. Teeming with marine life, it meets dramatic shores lined with the pristine wilderness for which Alaska is celebrated. The state's famed soaring mountains dominate the landscape, their ravines and peaks draped with snow. Lush green forests spill down steep slopes and gleaming tidewater glaciers stand like white monoliths at the water's edge. The tiny outpost towns and villages that dot the shoreline still rely on the sea for their livelihood, offering a glimpse into life in this unspoiled region.

Known simply as “Dutch” to locals, the charming town of Dutch Harbor is nestled on Unalaska, one of the Aleutian Islands. The Aleut people called this picturesque place home for nearly 10,000 years—long before the arrival of the Europeans. During the mid-1700s, Russia began trading furs and established a settlement here, trading as the Russian-American Company. The Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church, featuring its iconic onion domes, remains a recognizable landmark in Dutch Harbor and is a symbol of Russian influence on Aleut culture to this day.

Set sail into one of the world's most productive eco-systems. The Bering Sea boasts deep marine canyons that feature varied temperatures, creating upwellings of nutrients that attract countless hungry fish and predators. Meet fellow guests and listen to the soothing sounds of classical music in the Living Room, an ideal setting for relaxation. Enjoy a cup of coffee or sip on a refreshing cocktail. 

Crossing the International Date Line is a time-honored travel milestone long marked by ceremony. A journey west across this imaginary line between the poles moves time forward by 24 hours, effectively skipping a day. While traversing this meridian, it is tradition to celebrate the occasion by raising a glass to the event.

The Mighty Pacific Leg is one of the most anticipated crossings of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The crossing of the North Pacific Ocean, one of the last great wildernesses on the planet, is one of the race's highlights. Enjoy the amenities of your ship as you sail. Perhaps take a breath of fresh air on a brisk walk around the Promenade or begin your day with a workout in the well-equipped Fitness Center.

The Okhotsk Sea, one of the world's most biologically productive seas, is considered the “heart” of the vast Pacific Ocean, supplying the larger body of water with life-enriching oxygen, cold seawater and nutrients. Renew your body, mind and spirit in our Scandinavian-inspired Spa, a Nordic sanctuary of holistic wellness, today while at sea. Whether you unwind in the Sauna, refresh in the Snow Grotto or take a dip in the Thermal Pool, you will feel recharged and revitalized.

Sapporo is renowned for its traditional cuisine, green spaces, revered shrines and market culture. The city was developed with the help of President Ulysses S. Grant's commissioner of agriculture, who became an oyatoi gaikokujin, a foreign adviser, at Grant's request. Since then, Sapporo has been recognized for its ability to transform the natural world into the highest art. It is, however, perhaps better known as the city where miso ramen was invented; restaurants line the historic Original Sapporo Ramen Alley to celebrate the noodle's many forms.

Sapporo is located along the Ishikari Bay, an inlet of the Sea of Japan. It is not only the capital but also the largest city of Hokkaidō island, often referred to as the “Kingdom of Food.” As such, savvy travelers can be certain a visit to Sapporo will not leave them in want of tasty delights—particularly fresh seafood, for which the city has become nearly synonymous. From crab to salmon roe to sea urchin, some of the finest selection of seafood can be found in downtown Sapporo at the historic Nijo Fish Market, where visitors can indulge in sushi or a kaisendon.

The Tsugaru Strait links the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean, flowing between Japan's two major islands—Honshū to the south and Hokkaidō to the north. At its narrowest point, just 12 miles wide, green slopes rise on the Tsugaru Peninsula to the south and the coastal Matsumae to the north. Halfway through, a broad channel flows into Honshū to form Mutsu Bay. At the strait's other narrow point, the small town of Ōma rests on the northernmost tip of Honshū; opposite, Hokkaidō's Hakodate, with its namesake mountain watching over, is one of Japan's most modern cities.

Tokyo is a spellbinding blend of neon splendor and tranquil Shinto shrines, towering skyscrapers and meditative Zen gardens. Founded as the tiny fishing village of Edo, Tokyo's history was shaped by emperors and shoguns. As the Edo period progressed, it grew into one of the world's largest cities, as it remains today. Tokyoites embrace the traditional and the cosmopolitan here, both worshipping at the city's Asakusa Kannon Temple and frequenting the high-end retail stores of the Ginza district, all while the distant symmetrical cone of Mt. Fuji watches over the city.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.

Life Onboard Viking Orion

Viking Orion
Viking Orion

Launched in 2018, the Viking Orion is an all-veranda ship, part of a fleet of award winning, state of the art ships incorporating all the comforts & luxuries you would expect from Viking. Read more

The Thinking Person's Cruise
The Thinking Person's Cruise

Viking are destination experts. With no casinos or children on board, you can be assured that the focus is firmly on enrichment and education. Read more

And Relax
And Relax

After a day of exploration or just to enhance the relaxation of a day at sea, the on-board Spa will leave you feeling recharged and revitalized. Read more

Destination Focused Dining
Destination Focused Dining

Viking offer eight on board dining options. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available with lunch and dinner at no additional charge of fee. Read more

All Inclusive
All Inclusive

Viking proudly includes all that you need and nothing you do not. A variety of features and services valued at $200 per person per day are standard inclusions in your cruise. Read more

Onshore Experiences
Onshore Experiences

Viking include one complimentary shore excursion in every port of call. Enjoy exclusive entry to cultural treasures and seldom-seen collections around the world. Read more

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The ocean horizons are filled with possibility, with destinations to explore, cultures to welcome you and fantastic natural beauty to behold A glimpse into the world of Viking reveals enriching itineraries covering some of the most rewarding and fascinating locations on the planet Whether you choose to explore Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, North America,...more South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia or New Zealand, or experience one of our magnificent Grand Voyages, we look forward to welcoming you aboard a journey of discovery.

Availability Click on prices below to view cabin upgrades and details

Companion Fly Free
Sunday 14 Sep 2025
Tuesday 07 Oct 2025
Ship Viking Orion
Balcony
Save $235
$11,510
View Cabins
Suite
Save $524
$25,671
View Cabins
Companion Fly Free
Friday 04 Sep 2026
Sunday 27 Sep 2026
Ship Viking Venus
*This departure itinerary varies slightly. The finalised itinerary will be provided with final documentation.
Balcony
Save $278
$13,617
View Cabins
Suite
Save $584
$28,611
View Cabins
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Viking. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Viking. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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