Day 1 – Arrive Toronto

Welcome to Toronto, the starting point for your rail journey across Canada. Your package includes a transfer from the airport to your hotel. Our choice of the Fairmont Royal York puts you into one of Toronto’s most popular historic hotels. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Royal York opened in 1929, introducing visitors to the largest hotel in Canada and the tallest in the British Empire! The hotel has so many pleasing features, that you can amuse yourself without ever leaving the hotel. Enjoy the elegance of their gracious lobby, their beautiful pool and spa, delicious dining, and unique shops. However, do plan to go outside and explore the many famous sights and attractions only minutes from the hotel.
Overnight – Fairmont Royal York

Day 2 – Toronto Sightseeing/VIA Rail Toronto to Vancouver (D)

Your train departs later this evening so you will have all day to enjoy this cosmopolitan city. We have included a city tour that allows you to hop on and off at various attractions throughout the city. This will allow you to pick and choose what interests you the most. This evening we have included dinner at Joe Badali’s restaurant (fixed menu). The restaurant is close to the hotel and train station making it a perfect place to have a wonderful meal between the city tour and boarding the train. The train is scheduled to depart at 10:00pm.

Plan to be at the rail station one hour prior to boarding. The rail station is just across the street from the Fairmont Royal York. If you need assistance with your luggage, let the bell desk know that you will be departing on VIA Rail’s Canadian in Sleeper Touring Class. VIA Rail has a special check in area for Sleeper Touring Class passengers. Here you can present your tickets to the VIA staff and check the luggage that you want to travel in the baggage compartment.

Nothing shows you Canada like a trip on the train. Your bedroom is VIA Rail’s “top of the line” accommodations. Your sitting room by day converts to upper and lower berths at night. Once aboard the train, the staff will see that you are settled into your room. As a Sleeper Touring Class passenger, your fare includes all meals, use of any of the lounges and access to the domed skyline care for spectacular viewing. The VIA Rail staff will brief you on the dining schedule. Seating in the domed skyline cars is on a first come, first served basis. Hot tea and coffee is available in the lounge area throughout the day and evening.
Overnight – VIA Rail Sleeper Car

Days 3, 4, & 5 – Enroute to Vancouver

As you travel east to west, you will travel through five of Canada’s Provinces. Starting in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, the train heads north through the Canadian Shield. This region of billion-year-old rock lies between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. Here, ancient glaciers scoured thousands of lakes and filled them with remarkably clear water. On their rocky shores, outcroppings of granite, pink, grey, and black form rounded boulders that breathtakingly tower over the tracks. As you pass through this area of forests, lakes, and streams it is not unusual to see bear or moose. As the train crosses into Manitoba, you enter a land of forests and lakes. Many of the 200 lakes were formed by meteor craters. This wealth of trees and water made Winnipeg, located at the junction of the Red, Assiniboine, and Seine Rivers the capitol of Canada’s fur trade. Saskatchewan shows you the unique beauty of the prairie lands. Cross into Alberta heading towards Edmonton, home of the world famous West Edmonton Mall. Midway between Edmonton and Jasper you have your first view of the Rockies and the promise of what is yet to come. This is an excellent time to get a seat in the domed viewing car. Following Jasper, you continue through what is considered the jewel in the crown of this wonderful rail trip, the Canadian Rockies. As you continue west the train crosses into British Columbia and the Rockies give way to fertile fields and eventually to the Pacific Ocean where Vancouver is perched.
Overnights – VIA Rail Sleeper Car

Day 6 – Arrive Vancouver

You are scheduled to arrive into Vancouver at 9:30am. Transportation from the rail station to your Vancouver hotel is included. Both hotels are beautiful and centrally located in the heart of Vancouver. Due to your early arrival, your room may not be available for check in, so leave your bags at the hotel and set out to explore Vancouver. Visit Gastown, a lovely 19th century restoration offering a selection of excellent restaurants and shops. Other places to visit while in Vancouver are: Stanley Park, the Aquarium, Granville Island, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, colorful Chinatown, BC Place, the Sunken Gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory.
Overnight – Fairmont Waterfront Hotel or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Day 7 –Vancouver

Your hop on/off city sightseeing ticket is good for 2 consecutive days, giving you all day to explore Vancouver. This will allow you to go back and spend additional time at places you visited earlier or visit some of the other interesting places on the route.
Overnight – Fairmont Waterfront Hotel or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Day 8 – Holland America Cruise/Inside Passage

The Fairmont Waterfront is located directly across from the pier. If you are staying at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver it will be a short taxi ride to the pier. Welcome aboard the ms Volendam, your home for the next week while cruising the inside passage of Alaska. You will feel like a welcomed guest the moment you board the ship. Lunch will be available to boarding guests.
Overnights – All overnights will be aboard Holland America’s ms Volendam

Day 9 – Cruising the Inside Passage

Relax and enjoy the passing scenery, as well as the many activities offered during your cruise.

Day 10 – Cruising Tracy Arm/Juneau

Tracy Arm is a narrow, 26 mile-long fjord with dramatic glacier settings. Lush rain forests recede to reveal bare canyon rock and waterfalls everywhere. Icebergs of every size and shape are making their way to the sea. At the end of this waterway are two reminders of the Ice Age – The twin Sawyer Glaciers. Mountain goats and seals are common sights with the sighting possibility of bears or whales.

This afternoon you will arrive in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on the Gastineau Channel, the town of Juneau has the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields at its back door. Juneau is the place to let your imagination run wild. Explore the lush Tongass National Forest, visit the rustic shops in town or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hide, whale watch, “Flightseeing” or fish. There’s no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. Climb aboard the Mt. Roberts Tramway for a great spot to hike and take a dramatic souvenir photo. Don’t forget to visit the world famous Red Dog Saloon in town!

Day 11 - Skagway

Skagway is everyone’s picture of what Alaska must have been like during the Gold Rush. It is also famous for being the home to The White Pass and Yukon Railroad. It is a very memorable trip. There are also many other shore excursions to choose from. Visions of the Klondike days are plentiful with old time saloons, shops, memorabilia, and costumed people throughout town.

Day 12 – Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising

The trip to Glacier Bay takes you through scenery that is breathtakingly beautiful. You travel through passages that bring you close to the rock walls and under high cliffs. The highlight is seeing “calving”; you hear a loud crash and then see a huge chunk of the ice break off into the water. A stunning event you will never forget.

Day 13 - Ketchikan

Native heritage plays a large role in Ketchikan culture. For example, the largest collection of totem poles in the world is found in Ketchikan at Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village and the Totem Heritage Center Museum.

Day 14 – Cruising the Inside Passage

The ship’s fun-loving crew will keep you busy and entertained throughout your cruise.

Day 15- Vancouver/Home

Enclosed with your travel documents is a transfer voucher from the pier to the airport. The pickup point is just outside the Pan Pacific hotel. We hope you enjoyed your visit to Canada, and that it will be one of many return trips.

(If you need an extra night due to your flight schedule, we will be pleased to assist with the arrangements.)

Additional Links

• Package is offered on select dates
• Rates are in US Dollars, per person, double occupancy
• Airfare from most US cities is available, please ask our staff for assistance
• If you have not reached your 60th birthday, a non-senior supplement will apply