Alaska to Tokyo Crossing

Welcome to Vancouver for your pre-cruise night in one of the world’s most beautifully situated cities. Stroll the seawall in Stanley Park, wander the galleries of Granville Island, or find a waterfront table in Gastown as the sun sets over the North Shore Mountains. Tomorrow, you board Norwegian Jade for an ocean crossing unlike any other.

Your private transfer brings you to the cruise terminal, where Norwegian Jade is waiting. As the ship slips beneath the Lions Gate Bridge and out into open water, the skyline of Vancouver gives way to the forested islands of the Inside Passage. Alaska begins tomorrow.

A full day cruising north through the Inside Passage – the sheltered waterway that winds between the islands and mountains of British Columbia. Keep your binoculars handy: humpback whales, orcas and bald eagles are all regular sightings along this stretch. The mountains get higher and the forests get denser as you head toward Alaska.

Ketchikan is Alaska’s “first city” – the southernmost port in the state and your introduction to the Last Frontier. The town clings to the hillside above Tongass Narrows, with Creek Street’s stilted boardwalk houses perched above a salmon stream. Visit the Totem Heritage Center for one of the world’s largest collections of original totem poles, or take a floatplane flight over the Misty Fjords for a bird’s-eye view of Alaska’s wilderness.

Sitka was once the capital of Russian America, and that heritage is still visible in the onion-domed St Michael’s Cathedral at the heart of town. Walk through the Sitka National Historical Park, where totem poles line a rainforest trail along the water’s edge, or join a wildlife cruise to spot humpback whales, sea otters and brown bears against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. It’s one of Alaska’s most atmospheric small towns.

One of the most anticipated days of the voyage. Norwegian Jade spends the morning cruising slowly past the face of Hubbard Glacier – a towering wall of blue ice over 10 kilometres wide and rising 40 metres above the waterline. Listen for the thunderous crack of calving ice as car-sized chunks break away and crash into the sea. Dress warmly and get on deck early – this is the kind of moment that stays with you long after you’re home.

Whittier sits at the head of Prince William Sound, ringed by glaciers and accessible only by sea or through a single mountain tunnel. It’s a small, end-of-the-road kind of place – most of the town’s 200 residents live in a single building. From here, optional excursions take you deeper into Prince William Sound by boat, where tidewater glaciers calve into sheltered fjords and sea otters float on their backs in the kelp.

Kodiak Island is wild, remote, and home to the largest brown bears on earth – the Kodiak bear, which can stand over 3 metres tall. Even from the port, the island’s scale is impressive: volcanic peaks, spruce forests and a coastline carved by centuries of storms. In town, the Baranov Museum tells the story of Kodiak’s Russian colonial past, and the fishing harbour is worth a wander – this is one of the busiest commercial fishing ports in the United States. It’s your last stop on North American soil before the Pacific crossing begins.

Alaska falls behind as Norwegian Jade turns west into the open North Pacific. The ocean crossing to Japan begins – roughly 4,500 kilometres of open water ahead. It’s a rare and exhilarating feeling: no land, no shipping lanes, just you and the ocean. Settle into the ship’s rhythm, claim your favourite spot, and enjoy the space to do absolutely nothing.

Day two on the open Pacific. With no port to rush to, the ship becomes the destination. Book a spa morning in the Thermal Suite, challenge someone to a game at the sports court, or try a new restaurant – Brazilian at Moderno Churrascaria or Japanese teppanyaki feel particularly apt mid-Pacific.

Three days at sea and the vastness of the Pacific becomes a companion rather than a backdrop. Ocean sunrises and sunsets are uninterrupted by land from horizon to horizon – something few people ever experience. If conditions allow, keep an eye out for albatross soaring alongside the ship.

Today the ship crosses the International Date Line – you’ll skip a calendar day entirely, jumping from one side of the world’s timekeeping to the other. It’s an invisible line in the middle of the Pacific, but crossing it on a ship feels like a genuine milestone. Many cruise lines mark the occasion with a small ceremony onboard. You left North America behind; Japan lies ahead.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea.

The final day of the Pacific crossing. As the ship edges closer to Japan, the ocean takes on a different character – you may notice more seabirds, a change in the light, or the first distant shapes of fishing vessels. Onboard, these are luxuriously unhurried days: long breakfasts, afternoon reading, sunset drinks at the pool bar, and the quiet pleasure of being truly away from it all.

After time at sea, Japan appears. Hakodate, on the northern tip of Hokkaido, is a spectacular landfall – a historic port city at the foot of a mountain, with some of the best seafood in the country. Take the ropeway to Mt Hakodate’s summit for a panoramic view that’s ranked among Japan’s top three, walk the star-shaped ramparts of Fort Goryokaku, and start your morning at the famous Hakodate Market with a bowl of kaisen-don made to order from the freshest catches imaginable.

One final day at sea as Norwegian Jade makes her way south along the Pacific coast of Honshu toward Yokohama. After Hakodate’s quiet charm, tomorrow’s arrival in greater Tokyo will be a dramatic contrast. Enjoy the last evening onboard – the crossing is nearly complete.

Norwegian Jade docks in Yokohama, completing a transpacific crossing of over 7,000 kilometres. From the port, Tokyo is just 30 minutes by train. Your two included hotel nights give you time to explore properly – today, consider Yokohama itself: the stunning waterfront at Minato Mirai, the atmospheric Chinatown (Japan’s largest), or the Ramen Museum for a delicious introduction to regional noodle styles.

Two full days in one of the world’s most extraordinary cities. Visit the Meiji Shrine and its forested grounds in Shibuya, explore the Tsukiji Outer Market for the freshest sushi breakfast of your life, ride the bullet train to Hakone for views of Mt Fuji, or simply lose yourself in the electric energy of Shinjuku at night.

Tt’s time to head home – or extend your stay – your Cruiseabout Travel Advisor can arrange additional hotel nights, rail passes, or touring packages to keep the journey going.