The only way to see all of the best that Alaska has to offer is on a cruise!
Alaska is majestic land of stunning glaciers, rugged landscapes, and sweeping colorful valleys. It is one of the last few areas of the world where Mother Nature has been left alone so that wildlife is abundant and living in its natural state. And with close to 34,000 miles of shoreline, Alaska is definitely a coastal state.
Alaska cruises are very different from other cruises in the world 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, quaint inlets, and soaring mountain peaks. Can you now imagine why many travelers call an Alaska cruise the most fulfilling as well as the ultimate cruise experience? Alaska cruises largely come in three distinct 7-night varieties:
1. Inside Passage Alaska cruise, which sails roundtrip from Vancouver
2. Seattle Alaska roundtrip cruise, which generally sails on the outside passage
3. Alaska Glacier Route cruise, which are voyages that travel one-way - either northbound from Vancouver to Seward or Whittier (near Anchorage) in Alaska, or the reverse southbound.
All these offer the opportunity to see magnificent glaciers up close, as well as charming ports of call, while cruising among majestic fjords, rainforest, and possible wildlife sightings. Which of the three itineraries you choose for your Alaska cruise will determine how much of Alaska you want to see. All Alaska cruises will usually include a stop in three of the four most notable Alaskan ports: Juneau, Alaska's capital, as well as Skagway, Ketchikan, and Sitka. All of these Alaskan cruises also tend to feature one day's up-close glacier sighting, of 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 Alaska cruises that sail roundtrip from Vancouver mainly visit the towns (such as those ports mentioned above) and the coastline of Alaska's Panhandle, which is the most scenic and historic region of the state.
The Seattle Alaska roundtrip cruises tend to sail on the outside far off the coast of Vancouver Island and do not allow for the scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities of the Inside Passage cruises. These itineraries often include the same ports of call as the Vancouver roundtrip cruises, and will include one of the more southern glaciers like Sawyer Glacier or Hubbard Glacier.
Glacier Route cruises, also known as Gulf of Alaska cruises, do not double-back to Vancouver and instead disembark at the port of Seward or Whittier, thus going beyond the Panhandle and across the Gulf of Alaska, which allows for the chance to visit Prince William Sound and possibly feature the addition of College Fjord to the cruise itinerary. An Alaska cruise is the ideal way to see coastal Alaska. However, to complete the picture and see the "Heart of Alaska" you need to travel into the interior of Alaska. We recommend an Alaska cruise tour (also known as a cruisetour), which is an Alaska cruise plus a three to six day escorted land tour. Alaska cruise tours include travel by motorcoach or by special designed glass domed rail cars on the Alaska Railway. These Alaska cruisetours allow you to visit Fairbanks and spend time in or near Denali National Park. Here in Denali one can find the tallest peak in North America, Mount McKinley, standing at 20,320 feet high.
CruiseOne is the only thing you’ll need to plan your next cruise vacation; offering most major cruise lines, the very best direct prices along with excellent personal service, all at no additional cost to the traveler. Contact Kathy & Eric Freer, your Local Independent Cruise Specialists at (321) 735-0202 or toll free at (888)882-5793, or via the web at www.GetLostAtSea.com for more information.
