I absolutely love Alaska. America’s 49th state
isn’t just beautiful, it exudes a sense of scale, mystery, discovery and frontier
that can make ordinary life feel very far away.
When my husband and I had the opportunity to return to this
majestic wilderness via cruise ship again, we jumped at the chance. After all,
it had been 10 years since our last visit. This time however, we experienced a very
different seven-day sea journey to Alaska, one that showcased the beauty and
legacy of the region, bringing together Holland
America’s deep Alaska expertise with the cultural knowledge of HISTORY
Channel’s Chief Historian, Dr. Kimberly Gilmore.
HISTORY Channel's Dr. Kimberly Gilmore (Photo Credit: Michael Kompanik)
The collaboration with the HISTORY
Channel enhances Holland America’s long-term mission in providing authentic
experiences in all of its destinations. This integrity and authenticity are a
perfect match to providing guests more detailed information about this stunning
region, offering true experiences that shed light on a destination’s past and sparking
interest about places to explore around the globe.
Dr. Gilmore explained the reasoning behind Holland America’s
association with the HISTORY Channel with the collaborative plan, stating,
“Holland America is built around authentic cruise experiences. Because the
cruise line already has a deep commitment to history, our relationship adds
another layer, taking the port experience to a whole new level.”
She added, “It’s a process we’re planning to take to other
regions, and we’re excited to continue providing content platforms with added
information to continue to enrich the guest experience together as more and
more travelers are wanting to have these real-life tactile experiences.”
Holland America on the other hand is using the partnership
to create history-focused itineraries and shore excursions. The idea is “don’t
just visit a historic place — understand the story behind it.”
Ketchikan, Alaska (Photo Credit: Janeen Christoff)
The Cruise Itinerary
The seven-day Alaska Explorer Cruise sailed roundtrip from
Seattle, through Alaska’s inside passage on the MS Eurodam, calling on ports in
Juneau, scenic cruising through Glacier Bay with stops in Icy Strait Point,
Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria British Columbia, Canada.
Throughout the trip, Dr. Gilmore offered large multimedia presentations
that included “Making History Every Day Exploring Alaska Through the Centuries”
along with intimate coffee and happy hour conversations with
question-and-answer sessions available to all Eurodam guests. The transit to
the majestic glaciers through Glacier National Park was further enhanced by a
group of national park rangers and a Native American park liaison that provided
informative programs on the flora, fauna, Native American culture, and geology
of the bay, including its shrinking glaciers. It was obvious all these
awe-inspiring activities were exceptionally well-received by guests, with each
session drawing more and more interest from travelers. The impact of the
glacier and the National Park establishment to the Tlingit People as told by a
Native American personally affected was deeply insightful.
Glacier National Park, Alaska (Photo Credit: Michael Kompanik)
Curated Land History Experiences
On a previous Alaska cruise (though not with Holland
America), my husband and I along with a group of four other couples thoroughly
enjoyed our first-time visit to this “last great wilderness.”
This summer trip however, had a totally different feel given
the HISTORY Channel and Holland America’s curated experiences at select port
stops along the way. Detailed pre-port visit presentations set the stage for
each destination, providing a much more immersive and profound understanding of
Alaska’s fascinating history.
Dr. Kimberly Gilmore and author at AJ Mine, Juneau, Alaska (Photo Credit: Michael Kompanik)
Juneau
In Alaska’s capital and third-largest city, the Yukon and Alaskan
Gold Rush, circa 1896-1906 becomes the human impact story as our small group
embarked on a specialty curated tour of the AJ Mine and Gastineau Mill with Dr.
Gilmore. Here, guests can relive Juneau’s mining heritage on the unique
underground tour of what was once the world’s largest producing mill. Donning
hardhats, we proceeded into the mine with our local guide along a boardwalk and
then into a 360-foot tunnel where an experienced miner demonstrated hard rock
mining techniques and acquainted us with the mining lifestyle and equipment.
After the fascinating tour, our group wandered through the on-property historic
displays before trying our luck at gold panning. We found some gold, but, no,
we didn’t hit the mother lode.
Native American Tlingit Performers at Saxman Native Village, Ketchikan (Photo Credit: Michael Kompanik)
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is famous for its colorful totem poles and rugged
frontier spirit. The history of the local
Native American Tlingit people in Ketchikan is much older than the city itself
as the modern town grew up around a Tlingit homeland and seasonal fish camp
long before miners, American settlers and entrepreneurs arrived by the late 19th
century.
The Native history isn’t just the preface to Ketchikan’s
story. It is its foundation. Our Saxman Native Village tour provided a genuine,
up-close look at the rich living history of Southeast Alaska’s Native
Americans. Our introduction to the culture began at the Beaver Clan House for a
traditional Tlingit song and dance performance with vibrant costumes and
Tlingit chants that included both children and adults. We were touched by the
presentation, especially seeing the younger generation so interested in their
native cultural ways.
At the working Native carving center, master carvers and
apprentices worked on large cedar projects, explaining the tools, designs,
paint and symbolism involved in their creations. Finally, at Saxman Totem Park
that boasts the largest gatherings of totems in the world, guides help unravel
the fascinating mysteries and stories behind these towering, majestic poles.
Saxman Totem Park, Ketchikan (Photo Credit: Noreen Kompanik)
Future Partnership and Plans
While the cruise line continues to operate and select the
guides for its shore excursions, the HISTORY Channel provides the collaborative
historical curation and storytelling to turn cruise destinations into living
history lessons. Rather than simply checking these places off as a sightseeing
list, cruise passengers now have the opportunity to experience cultural
immersion, destination enrichment and time to explore the places they visit
while armed with this knowledge.
My husband and I were so thrilled to have had this collaborative
experience, and of course the first question we asked in a forum after the
journey was “What are plans for the future?” Holland American reps explained
that the partnership is still expanding and though they didn’t identify future
destinations, they assured guests that additional HISTORY-curated itineraries
and excursions were being developed and would be announced soon, continuing
through 2026 and 2027, and possibly beyond.
Our take on the overall experience is that travelers into
history and deep dive experiences will find these collaborative trips richer,
more meaningful and utterly unforgettable.
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