Have you ever seen a glacier "calve". When these gigantic chunks of ice crash and fall into the water, it's impressive! 

The Inside Passage from Vancouver up to Juneau or Skagway offers myriad glacier sightings, as well as up close and personal encounters with bald eagles, whales, seals, the occasional bear, and other wildlife that populate these northern reaches of our continent.

The water is calm and depending on the size and itinerary of your ship, you'll find yourself ducking into hidden, quiet inlets, exploring the Scandinavian influence of Petersburg and the native Inuit culture of tiny Metlakatla, or just gazing at the majesty of this vast landscape.  Itineraries vary with some ships traversing the distance from Seattle to Juneau and back, while others travel in one direction from Vancouver all the way up past Prince William Sound to anchor in Seward for access to Anchorage and Fairbanks. 

Most people choose to add a few days in the central interior section of Alaska and visit Mt. Denali (Mt. McKinley) and the wild Denali forest.  Additional excursions are possible to the Aleutian Islands like Kodiak or Kenai Peninsula. 

For the best results, plan on a 2-week visit, if you can.