A WHALE OF A TIME

Starting from Vancouver on the Pacific west coast of Canada, a week's journey north through the jaw-dropping Inside Passage has it all. One thousand miles of spectacular fjords, pristine glaciers, Klondike Gold Rush mining towns plus enough wildlife to keep Sir David Attenborough happy.

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Humpback whales, orcas, seals, sea otters and bald eagles abound, and if you're lucky, you might even glimpse a black or brown bear.

DAYS 1 & 2:

Vancouver to Juneau

Brits have been marvelling at the sights of the Inside Passage since Captain George Vancouver and HMS Discovery pitched up in 1794 to chart the Pacific north west for the Crown. Two million tourists a year now cruise the thousands of islands and countless coves of this spectacular land which boasts the world's largest temperate rainforest, the Tongass.

And as we sail north on our first full day at sea, it's not long before we spot our first humpback whale... an unforgettable moment.

First the spout of water from the head, then a glimpse of body before the tail flicks up and the giant beast disappears on a deep dive for food in the krill-rich icy waters.

You'd be forgiven for spending the entire day looking for whales and orcas but as the weather gets chillier, it's also a chance to get your bearings aboard the ship.

Holland America Line has been sailing these waters for 75 years and was the first cruise line to take tourists to the 49th state. It was also first to land the Responsible Fisheries Management certificate.

Its Pinnacle-class vessels like the Koningsdam are ideal for such seven-day jaunts. It has all you need but isn't so big that you get lost every time you leave your cabin, with a relatively modest 2,650 passengers.

HAL started in 1873, taking immigrants to the New World from Rotterdam, and the firm is proud of its Dutch heritage.

There's a Grand Dutch Café on board with traditional beers and delicacies. Also unique to the Pinnacle-class ships and worth checking out in the evenings are BB King's Blues Club for live R&B and the Rolling Stones lounge.

DAY 3:

Juneau, Alaska