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You could be among the lucky people to
cruise the Alaskan coast and tour the interior this year. For you, and for many
others, an Alaska trip offers the promise of one thing: incredible scenery. If
you have visions of untamed wilderness, soaring bald eagles and humpback whales
flapping their tails in the water you not likely to be disappointed.
If you take a one-week, 2,300-mile cruise, beginning in Seattle or
Vancouver, you will cruise Alaska's Inside Passage. A visit to the 49th
state offers landscapes that are stunning, and you will be impressed by the
rugged coast, blue sea and plentiful wildlife. The mountain and glacial
vistas are spectacular
A highlight of your trip may be a cool
morning spent leisurely meandering among the majestic icebergs in Tracy Arm, a
30-mile fjord beginning at the base of the Sawyer Glacier. Steep granite slopes
scale the banks of the narrow inlet, which is some 900 feet deep. Most of cruise
ships go deep into the fjord for a 360 degree view and then turn around before
heading back out to sea.
Cruise ships these days offer the best
way to see Alaska. Take a typical cruise experience such as sailing on Sapphire
Princess, a sparkling 113,000-ton, 2,600-passenger ship first launched in 2004.
First, you will find this ship ( as most ships will ) offers plenty of things
to do: lectures, shopping, bars, restaurants, swimming pools, hot tubs, movies,
live shows, wine-tasting, yoga, massages, dancing, and much much more.
And once you get ashore, the choice of
activities is mind-boggling. You can hire a helicopter for a hop to a glacier,
hitch a ride on a dog sled, hike in a rain forest, view amazing native art,
enjoy salmon fishing and go whale watching.
Large cruise ships sail the Alaska
coast from May through September, but we recommend booking Alaska cruises early
because of high demand. Most people book in January and February, followed by
October. An Alaska cruise is the perfect way to sample the Last Frontier. A
good part of Alaska is best seen from the water, but adding a land tour
completes the experience. Alaska cruises, once a haven for the retired, have
become popular family vacations.
Ketchikan
One Port of call is Ketchikan, near the southern end of the Tongass National
Forest. You might want to visit Totem Bight State Park. The park boasts one of
the largest collections of totem poles in the world. Next, walk the streets of
Ketchikan for souvenirs and soaked up some local history on Creek Street, once
home during the Gold Rush to many brothels. ( Don't work parents, they're not
there anymore ) Also visit the gallery at the Southeast Alaska Discovery
Center. Ketchikan is the rainiest town in southeast Alaska, getting 155 inches
a year, so carry a rain coat or plastic poncho just in case.
Juneau
Another port of call is Juneau, where you can tour Glacier Gardens, a temperate
rain forest foray highlighted by a ride up a steep peak providing a great view
of the Gastineau Channel. The Mount Roberts Tramway near the cruise dock offers
a similar vista in Juneau, the state capital. Drop by the jam-packed Red Dog
Saloon in the heart of Juneau's tourist district to savor the flavor of days
gone by, when Gold Rush drew thousands of prospectors to Alaska in 1880's. If
you want to see ancient ice up close can take a shuttle bus to nearby Mendenhall
Glacier.
Skagway
This colorful gold-rush town is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. You ship will dock near the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. Take a
ride on the train for 20 miles of twists and turns, across bridges and through
tunnels, to a 2,865-foot summit and back. Thousands of men seeking their fortune
took the same rugged route on foot when gold was discovered in Yukon, Canada, in
1897. With ample windows and a railed enclosure on the platforms between cars,
passengers with cameras eagerly captured vivid reminders of the breathtaking
rail ride. The railroad, which eclipsed 430,000 passengers this year, is one of
the most popular shore excursion in Alaska.
If your going to Alaska you should
consider a Cruisetour. Alaska
Cruise tours range from 10-17 nights and include your 7-night Alaska cruise.
Most cruisetours feature an inclusive tour into Denali National Park, a 6.3
million acre park home to 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley the highest peak in North
America. and one of the largest wildlife habitats in the world.
And if you are really adventurous you
can go north to the artic circle or south to watch the bears catch Salmon at
Katmai.
Any way you choose, an Alaska cruise or cruisetour is a breathtaking vacation
experience and whole lot more.
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Alaska Cruise Advisors.
Comprehensive
information on Alaska Cruises, Alaska Cruisetours and Alaska Cruise Tour
destination information, discount cruises to Alaska, Alaska cruise tour deals,
price quotes, Alaska cruise and Alaska cruises and Alaska cruise tour
information.
Alaska Cruise tours range from 10-17
nights and include your 7-night Alaska cruise. Most cruisetours feature an
inclusive tour into Denali National Park, a 6.3 million acre park home to Mt.
McKinley and one of the largest wildlife habitats in the world.
Alaska Cruise Advisors
Expert advise from the people who've been there.
We know Alaska |
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