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Alaska Vacation Cruises and Tours!
Alaska 2006: Cruise Lines Add More Ways Than Ever To Explore The Last Frontier
Article by: M.T. Schwartzman
A couple I know went to Alaska aboard the Sapphire Princess. They liked it so much, they booked a return trip for the following year. Such is the lure of Alaska: The call of the wild beckons you to come back again and again.
Alaska cruising is on a roll, and the numbers tell a story of growth as big its "The Great Land" itself. Before the start of the 2004 season. the Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau projected an estimated passenger count of 850,000, By the end of September, the actual figure was more than 880,000. The growth rate for the season was 14 percent, the bureau reported--the highest it had been since 1998. This year that number should easily exceed 900,000--and given the industry's average growth rate, arrivals could hit one million by the close of the 2006 season.
Much of that growth is being fueled by the addition of more and ever bigger ships. Leading the way is Holland America Line, which brings eight ships to Alaska for the first time ever, including two Vista Class ships making their first appearance in Alaska, the Westerdam and Zuiderdam. Also new for 2006 is a revamped lineup from Princess Cruises, which deploys its biggest Alaska vessels, the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, on the "Voyage Of The Glaciers," thereby increasing capacity on the Gulf of Alaska route that has become the company's signature itinerary. Royal Caribbean International is the latest fine to homeport a ship in Seattle, bringing to nine the number of vessels sailing out of the Emerald City. And Silversea Cruises returns for what has turned into a biennial series of voyages to Alaska.
On the shore side, Celebrity Cruises has introduced its Xpeditions series of shore excursions to Alaska with a new "fire and ice" helicopter-and-Zodiac tour to Mt. Garibaldi and Howe Sound; other Xpeditions feature backcountry treks through the Alaska wilderness in search of black bears. Elsewhere, both HAL and Princess are adding accommodations to their Denali-area properties for 2006. Princess plans 228 rooms for its wilderness lodges, while HAL intends to build a new 135-room wing onto the McKinley Chalet Resort.
At the same time, a longtime Alaska favorite will be retired: Crystal Cruises is saying sayonara to the Crystal Harmony, which sailed from San Francisco, as the ship is being re-assigned to the company's Japanese parent, NYK Cruises. However, San Francisco-originating passengers can still cruise aboard Celebrity's Infinity or the Regal Princess. The latter returns to Alaska one more time before her scheduled transfer to sister line U.K.-based P&O Cruises, and her July 5 sailing marks Princess's maiden call at Icy Strait Point.
Small-ship cruise lines are offering new choices too. Cruise West has an expanded roster of itineraries, ranging from three days to three weeks. In recent seasons, the company has added stops in Elfin Cove, Hyder, Metlakatla, and Savoonga to its lineup of remote destinations. Altogether, the company now calls at 24 ports in Alaska and the Russian Far East. "We're always striving to improve and find new programs," says Cruise West chairman and CEO Dick West. "We keep trying new things to make it interesting," he adds, but always in keeping with the fine's philosophy of "up-close and personal." For 2006, the line has "more Glacier Bay permits than any other cruise fine," according to a company official, and will use them in part to operate new three- and four-night cruises roundtrip from Juneau, which spend one full day in the park.
Another small-ship operator, Glacier Bay Cruiseline, brought back the speedy 49-passenger catamaran Executive Explorer for the 2005 season, re-introducing one of Alaska's more unusual passenger vessels. Lindblad Expeditions may have lengthened versions of its cozy Sea Bird and Sea Lion ready for the 2006 season; while on the expedition front, Clipper Cruise Line adds a new 14-day "Islands Of The Russian Far East" to its program of Bering Sea adventures aboard the Clipper Odyssey. American Safari Cruises has received permission from the National Park Service to offer its own new itinerary featuring two full days in Glacier Bay.
While cruise lines are expanding their choice of itineraries, they also are enhancing the onboard experience to make it more "Alaskan." In the past, programs have been added to provide enrichment through naturalist lectures, artist-in-residence programs, junior ranger activities, and local performers. Most recently, HAL introduced its "Going Wild For Salmon" promotion, an extension of the line's fleetwide culinary arts program. Alaskan salmon is now the focal point of special events, cooking demonstrations, and seminars. In addition, each cruise features an extensive menu rotation of salmon dishes. "Our guests can experience Alaska with their eyes, their ears, and their palates," notes Rick Meadows, HAL's senior vice president of marketing and sales.
To accommodate the burgeoning growth in cruise arrivals, Alaska's port communities are looking toward the future. In Juneau, the waterfront can presently accommodate four ships at two city-owned berths and two private docks. A pair of tender landings allow for two more ships anchored in the harbor. Ketchikan can accommodate two or three ships tied up on Front Street, with another one or two anchored offshore. Both communities are in the process of developing multi-million-dollar redevelopment projects for expanding their docking facilities in the near future.
Juneau and Ketchikan offer a multitude of shore excursions that show off their history, ecology, heritage, and culture. In Ketchikan, you can hop in a '55 Chevy, ride a Harley-Davidson, or board an amphibious DUCK (part bus and part boat) for tours of the city and its environs. In Juneau, the latest trend is to mix-and-match the capital's various sights, so passengers may sample two attractions in one outing. For example, they may combine the Mendenhall Glacier, located 13 miles from downtown, with a salmon bake or a brewery tour. Exact combinations vary by cruise line.
Not far behind Juneau and Ketchikan (in terms of passenger arrivals) is Skagway, which offers the legacy of the Klondike Gold Rush and unique shore excursions like the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway, which has been blowing its steam whistle since the days of '98. More adventuresome types can try their skill at rock-climbing, which isn't as extreme as it may seem. "We've had people in their 70s. We've had kids that were eight years old climb with us," reports Darsie Culbeck, director of Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School, which runs the tour. "There are areas that are really easy, and a first-time grandma can make it up." On the other hand, those looking for a genuine challenge will find it. "People who are physically fit and who have climbed before, we can put them to the limit," he says, "so we have a whole range."
In Sitka, the only major Alaskan port without a dock for big ships, passengers will find a distinctively different ambiance: Here they can sign up for a variety of excursions focusing on the region's native and Russian heritage. Another unusual opportunity is to voyage beneath the sea aboard a semi-submersible sightseeing boat, which always is a crowd-pleaser, says Deborah Rear, manager of Sea Life Discovery Tours. "It's so different--it's not what people expect--and that's why it's going over so well. They get onboard and say: Wow, that's really interesting."
As mentioned above, Icy Strait Point, Alaska's first (and only) master-planned cruise destination, continues to draw interest from the major cruise lines. Callers in 2006 include Celebrity, RCI, Princess, and HAL--which has 18 calls scheduled on Gulf of Alaska cruises aboard the Statendam.
Passengers looking for more than just a cruise have the option of extending their travels with a land tour, either before or after their shipboard journey. Destinations include Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska's two largest cities. In between lies Denali National Park, home to Mt. McKinley--at 20,320 feet, the tallest peak in North America. Within sight of the mountain are two rustic-style yet luxurious lodges, designed just for the sake of visiting cruise passengers. The closer of the two, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, has unobstructed views of "The High One," just 40 miles away. Another good choice is the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which offers equally spectacular panoramas from a distance of 62 miles.
Travel to these locales usually involves' a ride on the historic, state-run Alaska Railroad, which traverses the center of the state like a spine. Private railcars (owned by the cruise lines) often are used for the purpose. Specially designed for viewing the passing scenery, they offer panoramic windows, plush comfortable seating, and narrative interpretation of the sights along the way. Such creature comforts are available on tours operated by Princess, HAL, Celebrity, RCI, and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Looking for something more adventurous? Then chart a course through the Canadian Yukon or deep into the Alaskan backcountry. HAL specializes in tours that cross the border into Canada, venturing up the Yukon River into Klondike territory and the storied lands immortalized by the likes of Jack London and Robert Service. Princess offers the remote wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias, the largest national park unit in the United States, where the company runs its own Copper River lodge. It's a rare opportunity to enjoy unspoiled wilderness, and truly explore the boundaries of America's "Last Frontier."
PC CRUISES
Every spring and fall, cruises depart for North America's Pacific Coast. Often the per-diems are lower, which is why such repositioning cruises are considered to be one of the best values in cruising.
These PC cruises (Pacific Coast) begin with a variety of attractive embarkation points, such as San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Fall cruises often embark in Vancouver or Seattle. Usually, PC cruises are one-way rather than roundtrip, since the whole point (from the cruise-line point of view) is to move the ship from one homeport to another. As a result, they tend to cover a good swath of territory, which is typical of open-jaw or one-way itineraries.
Such cruises may also include unusual ports-of-call, like Astoria, on the Oregon side of the Columbia River's mouth, or Campbell River, a new call for cruise passengers on the coast of Vancouver Island. Another new stop is Nanaimo, where red-coated Canadian Mounties welcome visitors to this former outpost of the Hudson's Bay Company. NCL has one of the more extensive lineups of Pacific Coast cruises. Other lines with a variety of choices include Celebrity, HAL, and RCI.
The best place to research these repositioning cruises is on each cruise line's web site (see "Alaska Cruise Lines" links top of page), since they are one-off and maybe hard to find in the larger brochures. Travel agents can also be helpful, as they have the latest information on special rates for onetime departures. RSSC, for example, this past season offered two-for-one fares on its 13-day repositioning cruise aboard the Seven Seas Mariner from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
ALASKA CRUISE LINES
The Alaska cruise season runs from early May through late September. Traditional Inside Passage itineraries stick to the panhandle or southeastern region. Gulf of Alaska itineraries add the south-central portion of the state. Cruises are seven days unless noted; for exact departure dates and itineraries, contact your travel agent or the following cruise lines.
American Safari Cruises, 19101 36th Ave. W./Suite 201, Lynnwood, WA 98036 (www.amsafari.com). American Safari has the 12-passenger Safari Escape, 12-pax Safari Spirit, and the 22-pax Safari Quest--three of the smallest ships sailing the Inside Passage. Itineraries run eight, nine, and 15 days. Departure points include Seattle, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, and Prince Rupert (Canada).
American West Steamboat Company, 2101 Fourth Ave./Suite 1150, Seattle, WA 98121 (www.americanwest steamboat.com). American West offers historically inspired cruises aboard the 235-pax Empress of the North, the only paddle-wheeler cruising the Inside Passage. Itineraries run seven nights roundtrip from Juneau or 11 nights between Juneau and Seattle.
Carnival Cruise Lines, 3655 NW 87th Ave., Miami, FL 33178 (www.carnival.com). Carnival travels "The Glacier Route" between Vancouver and Whittier aboard the 2,124-pax Carnival Spirit. Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Vancouver are scheduled at the very beginning and end of the season.
Celebrity Cruises, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132 (www.celebrity.com). Celebrity expands its lineup of Alaska cruises with a choice of seven-, 10-, 11-, 12-, or 14-day cruises aboard the 1,870-pax Mercury, 1,950-pax Infinity, and 1,950-pax Summit. A sprinkling of three- and four-day cruises is also offered. Departures are scheduled from Seward, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco--even one from Ensenada (Mexico).
Clipper Cruise Line, 11969 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146 (www.clippercruise.com). The 138-pax Yorktown Clipper and the 128-pax Clipper Odyssey feature eco-cruises and expedition cruises respectively. The former sails roundtrip from Juneau or between Juneau and Seattle; the latter explores the Bering Sea on extended-length expeditions. Itineraries run eight, 12, or 16 days.
Cruise West, 2301 Fifth Ave./Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98121 (www.cruisewest.com). Alaska's leading small-ship operator offers a little bit of everything: traditional Inside Passage cruises, Gulf of Alaska cruises, Bering Sea expedition cruises, and short cruises of Prince William Sound or Glacier Bay National Park. The company's fleet of seven ships ranges in capacity from 70 to 114 passengers.
Glacier Bay Cruiseline, 2101 Fourth Ave./Suite 2200, Seattle, WA 98121 (www.glacierbaycruiseline.com). Glacier Bay has re-introduced the 49-pax Executive Explorer, the only high-speed catamaran traveling between the ports of the Inside Passage. The company fields three other "adventure class" vessels: the 87-pax Wilderness Discoverer, 69-pax Wilderness Adventurer, and 31-pax Wilderness Explorer.
Holland America Line, 300 Elliott Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119 (www.hollandamerica.com). For the first time ever, HAL brings eight ships north to Alaska. Making their Alaskan debut in 2006 are the new Vista Class 1,848-pax Westerdam and Zuiderdam. Returning favorites include the 1,848-pax Oosterdam; the 1,440-pax Volendam and Zaandam; plus the 1,258-pax Statendam, Ryndam, and Veendam. Itineraries include Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska cruises. Departure points offer a choice of Seattle, Vancouver, or Seward.
Lindblad Expeditions, 720 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10019 (www.expeditions.com). Lindblad specializes in eco-cruises of the Inside Passage for the environmentally inclined aboard the sister ships Sea Bird and Sea Lion, which at presstime were tentatively scheduled to be lengthened during a drydock in late 2005. Sailings are scheduled for a week or more.
Norwegian Cruise Line, 7665 Corporate Center Dr., Miami, FL 33126 (www.ncl.com). NCL sails seven-day Inside Passage cruises exclusively. Departures are scheduled aboard the 2,224-pax Norwegian Star, 2,002-pax Norwegian Sun, and 1,748-pax Norwegian Wind. Itineraries depart roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver.
Princess Cruises, 24305 Town Center Dr., Santa Clarita, CA 91355 (www.princess.com). Princess reshuffles the deck for 2006--the 2,674-pax Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess join the 1,970-pax Coral Princess and Island Princess sailing the Gulf of Alaska one-way between Vancouver and Whittier. Departing roundtrip from Seattle are the 1,950-pax Sun Princess and Dawn Princess on the traditional Inside Passage route. The 1,590-pax Regal Princess reprises her 10-day roundtrips from San Francisco, which in 2006 includes an inaugural call at Icy Strait Point.
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, 600 Corporate Dr./Suite 410, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334 (www.rssc.com). RSSC operates a series of 16 Gulf of Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Whittier aboard the 700-pax Seven Seas Mariner.
Royal Caribbean International, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132 (www.royalcaribbean.com). Royal Caribbean sails the Inside Passage roundtrip from Vancouver on the 2,100-pax Serenade of the Seas. Gulf of Alaska cruises travel between Seward and Vancouver on the 2,100-pax Radiance of the Seas. New for 2006 are Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Seattle, on the 2,000-pax Vision of the Seas.
Silversea Cruises, 110 E. Broward Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 (www.silversea.com). After a one-year hiatus, Silversea returns for a series of 10 departures to Alaska and the Pacific Coast. Cruises sail aboard the 382-pax Silver Shadow.
Created on 02/07/2006 08:16 PM by Admin
Updated on 02/09/2006 03:58 PM by Admin
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