The Inside Passage is the protected waterway system that runs 1,500 miles along the Pacific coast of North America from Puget Sound in Washington State to Skagway, Alaska — a labyrinth of channels, fjords, straits, and narrows between the BC mainland and the chain of offshore islands that includes Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and the Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska. Sailing through it aboard Brilliant Lady is one of the most extraordinary scenic cruising experiences available anywhere in the world.
What the Inside Passage Is
The islands and their channels shelter the Inside Passage from the open Pacific, creating a maritime highway that has been used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years and by coastal shipping since European contact. The passage was the route of the Klondike Gold Rush ships in 1897–1898. It is also a 1,500-mile continuous wildlife corridor: humpback whales, orca, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, porpoise, salmon, bald eagles, bears, and the full richness of the temperate rainforest ecosystem visible continuously from the ship’s decks throughout the transit.
The Scenery
Inside Passage scenery operates at a scale that makes most other scenic cruising feel modest. The channel walls are often forested cliff faces rising directly from the water to several thousand feet. Glaciers visible in the high valleys above. Waterfalls dropping from hanging valleys. Islands covered in old-growth Sitka spruce and western red cedar. The water color varies from deep fjord blue in the open channels to milky glacial green in the glacier-fed sections. On calm days the reflections are mirror-perfect. In misty weather the effect is otherworldly.
Wildlife from the Ship
The Inside Passage delivers wildlife viewing from the ship’s decks on a continuous basis throughout the transit. Key encounters:
- Humpback whales: Feeding in the productive waters of the passage throughout the summer season. Visible from deck multiple times on most transits.
- Orca: Both resident (fish-eating) and transient (marine mammal-eating) orca pods move through the passage regularly.
- Dall’s porpoise: The fastest cetacean in the Pacific, bow-riding at 30+ mph. A regular presence throughout the transit.
- Bears: Brown and black bears are visible on the lower shorelines, particularly in salmon stream areas.
- Bald eagles: Everywhere. On navigation markers, in the trees, soaring overhead.
The Best Viewing Positions on Brilliant Lady
The forward decks and the running track give the widest panoramic views of the passage. The Roundabout bar has panoramic lounge seating with floor-to-ceiling windows specifically designed for Inside Passage scenic cruising. The red hammock balconies on the Sea Terrace cabins provide the most private and intimate viewing experience. VV provides interpretive commentary from the bridge during particularly dramatic sections of the passage.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Plan to be on deck for the Inside Passage transits. The ship spends considerable time in the passage on most Alaska itineraries. This is not a time to be in the spa or the restaurant. Be on deck.
- Binoculars make a significant difference. The whale spouts visible at distance, the bears on shorelines, and the detail of the cliff faces all reward binocular attention.
- Early morning and evening light are the best for photography. The passage in the golden hour before sunset or after dawn provides the most dramatic light on the cliff faces and the most peaceful viewing atmosphere.
Ready to Sail the Inside Passage?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Every VV Alaska itinerary includes Inside Passage transits and we consider them among the most extraordinary experiences in the fleet.
Book your Virgin Voyages cruise at CruisePlanner.pro — and sail one of the great waterways of the world
