Star Collector: Alaskan Frontiers & Japan’s Hidden Mysteries

Sail from Vancouver through the pristine wilderness of Alaska, visiting ports like Ketchikan, known for its Native heritage and towering totem poles, Juneau, gateway to the majestic Mendenhall Glacier, and Sitka, where Russian and Tlingit history meet. Scenic cruising highlights include Tracy Arm and Kenai Fjords, where you can venture even closer to nature on Signature Expeditions with Zodiacs launching directly from Star Seeker. After exploring the frontier town of Wrangell, steeped in gold rush history, embark on a transpacific crossing that offers 11 unhurried sea days, a rare opportunity to recharge and focus on passion projects while savoring Windstar’s thoughtful hospitality. Your arrival in Japan brings you first to Sapporo, where modern energy, historic canals, and Hokkaido’s rugged landscapes create a dynamic introduction. From there, the voyage transforms into a mystery cruise, where ports are revealed just 36 hours before arrival—reminding you that it’s not only about where you’re going, but who you’re sailing with; let Windstar be your trusted guide as you uncover new-to-Windstar ports and small-ship exclusives before concluding in Osaka, gateway to Kyoto’s timeless temples and gardens.

Vancouver’s location at the mouth of the Fraser River and on the waterways of the Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet and all their tributaries makes this busy seaport an easy place for meeting. It is one of Canada’s most populated, most ethnically diverse cities that is a popular filming location. Visit the interesting neighborhoods of Gastown, Granville Island and Chinatown. Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge and stroll through Stanley Park. See the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology. There is an amazing variety of things to see and do here.

Transiting Seymour Narrows is a memorable highlight of any Inside Passage journey. This narrow channel in British Columbia is known for its strong tidal currents, which can reach up to 15 knots. Because of the fast-moving water, ships can only transit during slack water—a short period when the tide shifts and currents are at their weakest. Since slack water times vary daily with the tides, each transit is carefully timed for safety and comfort. Before and after navigating the Narrows, the ship cruises through the Canadian Inside Passage for several hours, passing serene channels lined with dense forests and dotted with small, remote islands. This stretch is an underappreciated and unexpected favorite for many guests—offering peaceful, scenic views and a true sense of the wild Pacific Northwest.

Dubbed the Salmon Capital of the World, Ketchikan is the southeastern-most town in Alaska and is home to the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles that are found throughout the city and at four major locations: Saxman Totem Park, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, and the Totem Heritage Center. Other attractions of Ketchikan are Creek Street, a boardwalk road built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek and the Waterfront Promenade that skirts the bustling shoreline with inviting whale-tail benches to take in the view.

Cruising Misty Fjords/Rudyerd Bay in Alaska offers an awe-inspiring adventure through one of nature’s most pristine landscapes. Towering granite cliffs rise dramatically from mirror-like waters. The mist-shrouded environment evokes a sense of ancient mystery and tranquility, while diverse wildlife, including seals and eagles, adds to the experience. Navigating these majestic fjords provides an unforgettable glimpse into Alaska’s raw, untouched beauty, where every turn reveals a new, breathtaking vista

One of the oldest towns in Alaska, Wrangell is located near the mouth of the Stikine River. Much of its history can be seen in the impressive collection of totems scattered throughout the town. Highlights here are the amazing Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park where you can find primitive rock carvings and just 30 miles away is the Anan Wildlife Observatory with the largest pink salmon runs in the Inside Passage, and a platform from which you can look for eagles, harbor seals and black bears.

Depending on the day’s conditions, you will cruise Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm. Both glacial fjords feature icebergs drifting serenely by and towering granite cliffs, carved by millennia of glacial activity. Here, you can witness impressive calving events as icebergs thunder into the water. The surrounding wilderness, with its rugged terrain, offers a pristine backdrop for spotting wildlife like seals and mountain goats.

Haines is one of the most popular Alaska cruise ports and one of the best places for hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing, especially bald eagles.  Within the Haines city limits Fort William H. Seward is a nationally recognized historic landmark, with some of its structures open to the public. Other cultural offerings in Haines include the Alaska Indian Arts Center where traditional craftsmen offer demonstrations of their work, the Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center where local Tlingit people are featured, the Hammer Museum, dedicated to the history of the hammer and the Tsirku Canning Company Museum with memories of Haines’ salmon canneries.

Located on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaskan panhandle, Juneau sits at sea level below steep mountains between 3,500-4,000 feet high. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow, and two of them – Mendenhall Glacier and Lemon Creek Glacier are visible from the local road. A unique feature of Juneau is that it is the only U.S. capital that has no roads connecting it to the rest of the state.

Sitka is one of the oldest and most culturally significant communities in Alaska, filled with rich Tlingit, Russian, and early American settler history. Sitka is famous for its spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, the copper-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Pioneer Home and the Russian Bishop’s House. It contains 22 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is where the contract of sale was signed transferring Alaska from Russia to the United States.

As you navigate through the park's pristine waters, you'll sail by majestic glaciers, where stunning ice formations and calving events captivate the eye. Towering cliffs frame the fjords, creating a dramatic contrast with the glacial blues. Wildlife enthusiasts will delight in spotting marine life against this stunning backdrop.

Seward, (Anchorage’s gateway) is sandwiched between the Kenai Mountains and the Kenai Fjords National Park. It is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities, with Mount Marathon rising majestically behind the town. Even though Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, it is also home to 1,500 moose, surrounded by national parks full of wildlife.

Sapporo is best known for its beer and the skiing in the region still using the ski hills and jumps from the 1972 Winter Olympics.  As Japan’s 5th largest city there is plenty to see and do here. Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, Odori Park, Pkurayama Ski Jump, the Curb Market full of seafood and Shiroi Koibito Park with its chocolate factory.

 

 Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.

 Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.

 Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.
 

 Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.

 Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.

Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.

 Today is a surprise! Prepare to be captivated as anticipation builds with the unveiling of our mystery port, revealed only 36 hours before our ship arrives at its destination. Rest assured that you’ll still explore new places, meet amazing people and make unforgettable memories — because that’s what you do on a Windstar cruise.
 

Osaka is the gateway to Kyoto with great street food, bright lights and delightful night life. Its main historic landmark is the 16th century Osaka Castle surrounded by a moat and many flowering trees. Kyoto is famous for its numerous Buddhist temples, gardens, imperial Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It is also known for formal traditions like kaiseki dining (multiple courses of precise dishes) and geisha entertainers.