A Primer for Cruising Alaska
A Primer for Cruising Alaska
You have found the magnetic pull of Alaska's beauty and natural aura too much for your dreams to resist! It is now time to conquer that urge to travel, to explore. Set your sights on a luxury cruise and experience all that the state of Alaska has to offer the senses.
Alaska cruises are very different from other cruises the world over because you can be almost constantly in sight of land, on both sides of the ship, with incredible and continuous close-up views of lush temperate rainforest, large fjords and quaint inlets, and soaring mountain peaks.Can you now imagine why many travelers call an Alaska cruise the most fulfilling and the ultimate cruise experience?
Most every established cruise line repositions a large part of their fleet up to Vancouver every summer from approximately May to September. Among this collection of ships are some of the newest and most impressive vessels in the world. The beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and its renowned natural harbor, is from where almost every ship begins and/or ends her mostly week-long Alaska cruises. Notable exceptions are periodic sailings to or from Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA.
Alaska cruises largely come in two distinct 7 night varieties: 1) the Inside Passage cruise which sails roundtrip from Vancouver, and 2) the Glacier Route, which are voyages that travel one-way either northbound from Vancouver to Seward (Anchorage), Alaska or the reverse southbound and involve an extra flight. Both offer the opportunity to see magnificent glaciers up close, as well as charming ports of call, all while cruising among majestic fjords, rainforest, and possible wildlife sightings. Which of the two itineraries you choose for your cruise will determine how much of Alaska you want to see. Both cruises will usually include a stop in three of the four most notable Alaskan ports: the capital Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Sitka; and both cruises also tend to feature one day's up-close glacier sighting, either Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, or Sawyer Glacier.
The Inside Passage of coastal British Columbia and Alaska is a calm inland waterway protected from the mighty Pacific Ocean by numerous offshore islands. The tranquil natural scenery along the Inside Passage is so beautiful and breathtaking that it has to be counted as a large part of the whole reason in taking an Alaska cruise in the first place. These cruises that sail roundtrip from Vancouver mainly visit the towns (such as those ports mentioned above) and coastline of Alaska's Panhandle, the most scenic and historic region of the state. Glacier Route cruises, also known as Gulf of Alaska cruises, do not double-back to Vancouver and instead (dis)embark at the port of Seward, thus going beyond the Panhandle and across the Gulf of Alaska, allowing for the chance to visit Prince William Sound and possibly featuring the addition of College Fjord to the cruise itinerary. Some say that this allows the traveler to see twice as much of Alaska, but by cruise ship this is not necessarily the case. Plus, Glacier Route cruises require the time and expense of an added flight to or from Vancouver or an extra connection from one's home city. To really appreciate and fully experience Alaska one should take a land tour (or, 'cruisetour') beyond Anchorage into the heart of Alaska, which is only possible on these one-way itineraries. While also giving the chance to see other centers such as bustling Anchorage and rugged Fairbanks, the real draw of the interior is Denali National Park. Here is found the tallest peak in North America, Mount McKinley, at 20,320 feet high. Many of the cruise lines and other tour companies have exclusive lodges in the park and offer some great tours through the wilderness.
The state of Alaska has beckoned travelers ever since the last Ice Age. The First Nations people arrived from the west via the long-lost land bridge from Siberia. Many millennia later the Russians followed, carried by religious zeal and territorial expansion. The Gold Rush soon lured many to this remote region, and to this day Alaska has retained both its natural beauty and pioneer spirit. You too can explore this great frontier, all from the comfort and convenience of a fabulous cruise ship... exciting, yet relaxing: the best of both worlds!
When booking an Alaska cruise, we at www.AlaskaCruiseExperts.com always recommend purchasing an oceanview stateroom with a balcony, so as not to miss any of the beautiful scenery along the way. Many of the newest ships have mostly outside oceanview accommodations anyway, and consequently these staterooms have become very affordable. Onboard, all the deluxe amenities of a luxury vessel are at your fingertips. Just imagine soaking in a bubbling hot tub, drink in hand, all while your ship is surrounded by massive walls of ice and calving glaciers!
For reprint permissions, please contact:
Blaine Lambert, Cruise Holidays of Vancouver, 1-800-565-2784 http://alaskacruiseexperts.com/ blaine@cruiseexpertsonline.com
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