E-mail a friendShip: Odyssey
Itinerary: Bridging the Bering Strait
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type |
| Destinations : Alaska, Arctic, Russia Activities : Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography |
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Explore this rugged region aboard the beautiful Clipper Odyssey. Whales cruise by, eagles soar above, and glaciers stand silently along the coast in an unbroken line of spectacular scenery.
Day 1 : Anchorage/Nome/ Embark Clipper Odyssey
Following breakfast at the hotel, morning motorcoach transfer from the Hotel Captain Cook to the Anchorage Airport. Fly to Nome, the famed ending point of the 1,049 mile Iditarod Dog Sled Race and one of Alaska’s furthermost outposts. Enjoy a short historical tour of Nome enroute to the ship, including a stop at one of the major watering holes for the finishers of the Iditarod. Following lunch this afternoon, we embark the luxurious Odyssey for our voyage through the Bering Sea and Alaska’s remote islands
Day 2 : King Island
King Island is in imminent danger of being washed into the Bering Sea. For centuries, King Island was occupied by the Inupiat Eskimos, known as “King Islanders” or “Ugiuvangmiut.” In 1959, the Bureau of Indian Affairs closed the Island’s school, forcing King Islanders to relocate with their children to Nome. Today, the last surviving Inupiat families are seeking to seasonally return to the Island. The King Island Native Corporation, which owns the land, is working to protect and rebuild the remaining structures which we will be fortunate to view on our visit here.
Day 3 : Provideniya, Russia / Bering Sea Cruising
This morning, we clear customs and formalities for Russia in Provideniya, Russia’s “Gateway to the Arctic” (losing one day as we cross the International Dateline). This afternoon we voyage across the Bering Sea toward the closest United States’ border with Russia.
Day 4 : Big Diomede/Cape Deshnev, Russia
This morning, we visit the island of Big Diomede, which is noted as the world’s easternmost land mass (just on the edge of the international dateline), separated by only two miles from Alaska’s Little Diomede Island in the middle of the Bering Strait. This is the closest distance between the United States and Russia. Later, we visit Cape Deshnev at the easternmost edge of the Chukhi Peninsula and Siberian Russia.
Day 5 : Yttygran Island / Provideniya, Russia
This morning we arrive at Yttygran Island. Experience for yourself the centuries-old mysteries of “Whalebone Alley”. This sacred place for native whalers has a haunted feel about it even today. 10,000 years ago, North America’s first peoples may have walked across the Bering Strait on a bridge of ice. Now, this narrow stretch of water separating Alaska from Siberia is a pathway for migrating marine mammals and seabirds. Small wonder that it’s been identified by the World Wildlife Fund as being of biological and cultural significance.
This afternoon, we clear Russian Customs outbound in Providenya as we prepare to return across the International dateline to Alaska (gaining one day).
Day 6 : St. Lawrence Island / Gambell, Alaska
Today visit St. Lawrence Island, where the distinct Yup’ik Eskimo culture and dialect, similar to that found in Provideniya and Siberia, is a reminder of the cultural transition from East to West across the former “Land Bridge” of the Bering Strait. Whalebones, fish-drying racks and umiaks (traditional walrus skin boats) are part of the landscape. View traditional dances, which also bear similarities to those of their Siberian cousins.
Day 7 : Hall / St Matthew Islands, Alaska
Tiny Hall and St. Matthew Islands are a virtual birders’ paradise. Many seabirds nest here, including the indigenous McKay’s Bunting. The cliffs of Cape Upright soar some 1,000 feet above the sea level providing excellent nesting areas for many of the island’s bird species.
Day 8 : St. Paul & St. George Islands in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska
The Pribilof Islands are home to the world’s largest breeding colonies of Northern fur seals. Many seabird species reside here including horned puffins, thick-billed murres and crested auks. The islands are also home to the world’s largest community of Aleut people. Having lived here for more than 200 years, you will be introduced to their remote way of life. The islands of St. Paul and St. George are the only inhabited islands within the Pribilof archipelago. We will go ashore at St. Paul, and we will view the bird cliffs of St. George from the sea.
Day 9 : The Great Upwelling / Unalaska / Dutch Harbor / Baby Islands
As the Odyssey arrives in the remote Aleutian Island’s, be on deck to view whales and seabirds common in this area. This is the area of The Great Upwelling, with micro-organisms rising from the sea floor, creating one of the best ocean feeding grounds in the world. We’ll stop to visit Dutch Harbor, the center of Alaska’s off-shore crab and halibut industry, and home to the Museum of the Aleutians, a beautiful Russian Church, and the WWII Memorial Park. This afternoon we’ll cruise amongst the Aleutian Islands and learn how volcanic activity beneath the seafloor formed the Aleutian archipelago, comprising 1,000 miles of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.
Day 10 : Unga Spit / Shumagin Islands / Alaska
Arriving at low tide, visit Unga Island where the low tide reveals the remnants of an ancient petrified forest. These date back 40 million years, revealing interesting details of the climate and topography of that time. The village of Unga, on the island of the same name, is now uninhabited, abandoned in 1969. We’ll explore the coastline and may see Arctic fox, bald eagles and seals. Then on to visit the seabirds of the neighboring Shumagin Islands.
Day 11 : Simidi Islands, Alaska
With the Shumagin Islands, the Simidi Islands are part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Covering 4.5 million miles of tundra, rainforest, volcanoes and beaches, the refuge comprises 75% of Alaska’s seabird population. Venture by Zodiac to explore the jagged cliffs and rocky shores of Aghiyuk Island.
Day 12 : Bear Island Fish Camp / Geographic Harbor & Kukak Bay, Katmai
Come ashore at a traditional family set net fish camp that has been in operation for four generations. Learn how a set net operation sends the catch, both fresh and canned, to market. Learn about the interesting “other lives” of this pioneer family.
At Geographic Harbor & Kukak Bay in Katmai National Park, we will cruise the shoreline in our Zodiacs to view the bears and birds. Katmai National Park is a place of otherworldly landscapes and an opportunity to get a first hand look at the incredible beauty of its numerous active volcanoes and abundant wildlife.
Day 13 : Kenai Fjords National Park
Today, the Odyssey makes its way through another magical place, Kenai Fjords National Park. Be on deck for this breathtaking tour of the fjords and glaciers of this extraordinary place.
Day 14 : Seward/Anchorage/Home Flights/Extensions
This morning, disembark the Odyssey in Seward for motorcoach transfer to the Anchorage Airport for homebound flights or continue to other Alaska destinations for optional private extensions.
NOTE: Due to rising fuel costs, a $20/night fuel surcharge will be assessed to your shipboard account onboard for departures starting in July 2008.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Odyssey
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Odyssey
The Odyssey was built in 1989 in Tsu, Japan, by Japanese craftsmen to the design of a master Dutch yacht designer, Studio Acht, and is eminently suited for the year-round itineraries in the Pacific. These range from as far south as New Zealand and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, to as far north as Japan, the Kuril Islands, and the Russian Far East, including the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Odyssey measures 340 feet long, 51 feet wide, and has a draft of 14 feet. Staterooms are all outside and average a generous 186 square feet in size, and are furnished with either twin or queen-size beds and a sitting area with a sofa. Each cabin features a spacious bathroom with tub baths and shower, individually controlled air-conditioning, in-room music system, ample wardrobe space, three-sided mirrors, personal safe, refrigerator, and television.
A fleet of Zodiac landing craft can be launched in minutes to take passengers ashore in places where no infrastructure exists. The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite navigation and communication equipment including telephone, fax, and email.
An outdoor swimming pool, dedicated jogging track, and two sun decks offer ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Inside, the spacious public areas of the ship include two lounges, a small library, and a single seating dining room.
An experienced cruise staff, physician, and onboard lecturers accompany all voyages to enhance the passengers’ enjoyment of the places visited.
All meals are prepared to order on board. The ship's chefs, graduates of the finest American culinary schools, combine the highest quality American ingredients with the influences and spices of the places the Odyssey visits. The resulting "fusion cuisine" provides a taste of the destinations visited.
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Category 1/ A-Deck A Deck Outside Double Cabin with sitting area, portholes Approx. 185 sqft |
Category 2/ Main Forward Main Deck Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window Approx. 175 sqft |
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Category 3/ Main Main Deck Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window Approx. 175 sqft |
Category 4/ Lido Lido Deck Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window Approx. 175 sqft |
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Category 5/ Bridge Bridge Deck Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window Approx. 230 sqft |
Category 6/ Balcony Suite Bridge Deck Outside Suite with private veranda Approx. 230 sqft |
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Owners Suite Bridge Deck Outside Suite with separate bedroom and private veranda Approx. 310 sqft |
