Alaska Cruise Specialists - Alaska cruises
Some say Alaskan cruises were born when 27-year-old writer Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore documented her first trip to Glacier Bay aboard “The Idaho” in 1883. Of course, naturalist John Muir had been raving about Alaska’s wilderness for years. After Scidmore’s Alaskan adventure, she wrote about the mountains, forests, glaciers and bay in a series of newspaper and magazine articles, which later became a book. America was captivated by this pristine frontier. Now there are over 15 cruise lines that have sent almost a million passengers to Alaska.
Thousands of miners left Seattle to pain for gold and fortune in Alaska during the 1890s. Today, more than 835,000 passengers are expected to pass through Seattle on their way to Alaska on Alaskan cruises. Most come for the quiet, untainted scenery or the rare wildlife sightings. Some visit to learn about the American Eskimo, to take an Alaskan husky dogsled excursion or to feast on Alaskan king crab. With so many quaint port towns and over fifteen cruise lines heading to the glacial waters this season, why not make Alaska your next vacation destination?
There are, of course, many other activities that draw people to Alaskan cruises. Some say “Why Alaska? Wouldn’t you rather go somewhere warm like the Bahamas or Hawaii?” For starters, you can’t see glaciers somewhere warm. Sure, they’re cold — but for people who live near the mountains already, nothing compares to mountains of ice that have existed since pre-human times. If Al Gore’s predictions are accurate, these behemoth ice caps may one day disappear. Also, where else can you pan for gold, catch a 4.5-pound salmon, traverse by dogsled or purchase traditional Huna native artwork?
New in 2008, Holland America is offering more authentic Alaskan cruises, with the addition of expert travel guides on all Glacier Bay-bound ships. The guides will provide native Alaskan narration and recant some of their personal experiences of “local culture, history, art and flora and fauna.” There will be unique presentations throughout the week, educating passengers on Alaska’s wildlife, the gold rush, volcanoes, glaciers, early explorers and the native Huna people. National Wildlife Preserve guides will take visitors through the parks, offering up their expertise at no additional charge, for a more meaningful and enlightening experience.
If you’re looking to book Alaskan cruises, then you can choose a mega-ship like Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean. Or you may want a mid-size vessel like Regent Seven-Seas Cruises or Silversea Cruises. Smaller vessels include American Safari Cruises (36 passengers), Cruise West (120), Discovery Voyages (20), Majestic America (220), Maple Leaf Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions or The Boat Company.
Alaskan cruises are a great way to get around the 49th state. Cruising.org can point you in the right direction for a cruise in Alaska. Or try the Online Vacation Center at (800) 329-9002, which offers sharp discounts; as low as $699 for a seven-night excursion aboard premium cruise lines like Holland America. To board the ship, you may need to fly to Seattle or Vancouver, although flights are less expensive than flying directly to Anchorage, Alaska.
