With Skanda, you can join optional cruises with either Holland America or Celebrity cruises to take you through Alaska’s most intensely beautiful and rewarding sights for a truly once in a lifetime trip. Cruises in Alaska will take you from Vancouver and through the Inside Passage where you’ll see pods of whales, wildlife-filled fjords and staggering glaciers shaped over the course of millions of years by the force of nature. You’ll sail past mountains that are carpeted with lush forests and can arrange excursions to the shore to see the towering totems left by the native American peoples and onion-domed churches left by Russian settlers. You’ll sail onwards through vast open waters and onwards to the likes of the Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord to Ketchikan, Juneau and the dreamlike Glacier Bay National Park, which are without a doubt some of the most unique places on earth.
The cuisine in Canada changes as much as the scenery does, but in general, you’ll find a delicious and homely mix of European influences, seafood and local ingredients. Poutine (potatoes soaked in gravy and cheese curds) is a perfect dish for Canada’s wintery weather and is served all over Canada, but in cities such as Montreal you’ll also find Bagels and Shish Taouk (think vertical spit roasted kebab), while in Québec you’ll see that Maple Syrup is even more loved and adored than in the rest of Canada - with dishes such as Tire sur la Neige (taffy formed by pouring boiled maple syrup onto fresh snow) especially popular.
Etiquette here is very similar to both the USA and Britain, but with a slightly more refined French twist. In the French speaking parts of Canada though, such as Québec, learning a little French will go a very long way with the locals, some of whom, speak no English. Canadians are well known to be a little bit more reserved and polite than Americans, and in cities with more of a French flare, it’s not uncommon to see French formalities such as cheek and hand kissing - but one doesn’t have to indulge - it’s up to you (though don’t kiss anyone’s hand unless you know them well!)
Tipping is normal in Canada - especially in restaurants, taxis and hotels. As a guideline, it’s customary to tip approximately 15-20% on the total bill before tax, or a little less or more if you receive poor or exceptional service.
Bear watching in Alaska is an exciting aspect of any Alaska travel itinerary, but unlike moose, bears are rarely seen from the roadside—you must visit the backcountry
Alaska offers the best wildlife experiences, from grizzly bears digging for clams on coastal shores to humpbacks feeding in glacier-carved fjords. Southern Alaska’s untouched habitats provide rich opportunities to see moose, bald eagles, black bears, and sea otters—sometimes right from the roadside.
