Holland America Alaska Cruise

Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Whether you're celebrating America's wilderness, or returning to a favorite spot beneath the stars, you'll find exactly what you're after among these classic Alaskan voyages.  The Alaskan Adventurer, new for 2010, sails round trip from Seattle and includes visits to both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park on most sailings.  The Discovery Cruise & Denali adventure combines a breathtaking cruise with a journey inland to Denali National Park and North America's highest mountain, Mount McKinley.  On the Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay cruise you can watch in wonder as whales, puffins and tidewater glaciers come into view.  Onboard you'll bask in the attention of a gracious and attentive crew, marvel at the panoramic views, indulge in exceptional cuisine and revel in a never-ending selection of entertainment and activities.

The 7 day Alaskan Explorer cruises via Glacier bay is onboard the ms Oosterdam, and prices begin at $699 pp for an inside stateroom on May 9; Jun 6; Jul 4; Aug 1 & Sept 12, 2010.  Prices do not include port charges & taxes and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Every one of these sailings will include a $100 ship board credit for the cabin PLUS a $100 beverage card per stateroom.

Discovery Cruise & Denali Adventure is 12 days aboard ms Statendam from $1,29 pp for an inside cabine for May 16th, June 13, Jul 11, Aug 8 and Sept 5th. 

Receive a $100 shipboard creidt AND a $200 beverage card per stateroom.

On the 14 day Alaskan Adventurer cruise aboard ms Amsterdam, an inside cabin is priced from $1,999 pp on Jun 14, Jul 12 and Aug 9, 2010. 

Every one of these sailings will include a $100 ship board credit for the cabin, complimentary dinner for two at the Pinnacle Grill and one complimentary massage per person. 

What's New in Alaska for 2010

Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Alaska season is just a few months away! From May through September, cruise ships sail to scenic Alaska on a variety of itineraries.

New Itineraries in Alaska for 2010.

• Holland America - ms Amsterdam sails a new 14-day itinerary round-trip from Seattle, May 17 to September 6, 2010. The Alaskan Adventurer cruise includes three Glacier viewing days at Tracy Arm for the Sawyer Glaciers, Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. Rare port calls include Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak along with the popular Inside Passage ports of Skagway, Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, Alaska plus Victoria, BC.
  
• Celebrity Cruises - Infinity will sail new, seven-night Alaska Tracy Arm fjord cruises round-trip from Seattle, May 21 through September 17, 2010. Infinity will sail the spectacular Tracy Arm Fjord with its steep walls to reach the Sawyer Glaciers. Port calls include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska plus Victoria, BC. Departing Fridays from May 21 through September 17, 2010.

Icy Strait Point Alaska

Posted on Saturday, January 30, 2010

Alaska has a new cruise port. Icy Strait Point is a one-stop shop for many of the things people go to Alaska to see. Located on the same Island as Hoonah, Alaska's largest Huna Tlingit village opened to non cruisers on day trips from Juneau in 2008, but the vast majority of its visitors come on cruise ships. Visiting Icy Strait independently requires a twenty minute flight from Juneau. Icy Strait's wildlife tours will almost guarantee seeing animals. Whale-watching tours have had sightings 100% of the time so far and on wildlife-viewing trips last season, bears were spotted 85% of the time.

What also sets Icy Strait apart is that it is owned and run by locals and indigenous Alaskans.  Icy Strait is not only about wildlife. Its tribal dance show is highly rated by visitors. Since this is the site of a former fish cannery, its sportfishing trips take aspiring fishers to some of the best spots in southeast Alaska.

A cozy museum occupies the cannery that once sent salmon to all parts of the US. Guests can walk around a restored canning line and learn about the history of commercial fishing in southeast Alaska as well as about Alaskan history and native culture.

In a refreshing change, this is not a port with seven identical-looking watch and jewelry shops lining the main street. There is no main street. There are shops set in the restored cannery that sell everything from slamon jerky to locally made crafts, but no two stores offer the same products. Another nice feature is that passenegrs can walk right off the dock and onto a pristine nature trail. Also right off the dock is an eternal flame where passengers can listen to an elder Tlingit talk about Tlingit traditions, such as why it's good luck to throw the cedar wood chip given to every Icy Strait Point visitor into the fire.

Kenai: Where Alaskans Go to Vacation

Posted on Sunday, January 03, 2010

Homer, located on the pristine waters of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet, boasts a unique landform the locals call "The Spit." Fifteen thousand years ago , the thick ice that covered the bay bull-dozed a five-mile-long gravel bar into the surrounding waters. When the ice retreated, the bar remained. Today, it hosts a picturesque settling where visitors can stroll and shop.

It's easy to see why the Kenai Peninsula is a favorite even among Alaskans. The lush, primeval forest host legendary rivers running with salmon. The glistening waters of glacier-scoured Kenai Fjords National Park are home to whales, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters. The Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge and Kenai Wildlife Refuge provide more seabird habitat than anywhere else in the world. Imagine exploring these wonders on an optional wildlife cruise through Kachemak Bay with lunch at the Rookery Restaurant. Or try kayaking or halibut fishin.

This exciting Homer and Kenai Peninsula cruisetour takes you far off the beaten track with just one group of fellow travelers. Experience the enchanting Land's End Resort at the tip of the Homer Spit, the second-longest salmon-filled Kenai River. The optional activities from Homer spotlight the world-class halibut fishing, the charm of the local artists' colong, and more natural beauty than almost anywhere else in Alaska. Come experience the best of Alaska all in one place.

Shopping:

-Gold-nugget jewelry and items carved from jade -Woven baskets of beach grass, bark or baleen -Native seal-oil candles, beaded mittens, fur mukluks and hand-carved masks -Alaskan delicacies - canned and smoked salmon, wild berry products and reindeer sausage

Be sure to look for the "Made in Alaska" logo, which indicates an item genuinely produced in Alaska. The Silver Hand logo identifies the item as a Native Alaska handicraft.

Tombstone Park Alaska

Posted on Friday, December 25, 2009

Explore a subarctic landscape of saw-toothed peaks where wooly mammoth and scimitar tigers once roamed. This remnant of ancient Beringia preserves sites dating to Alaska's earliest habitation and protects unspoiled habitat for migrating caribou, foraging grizzlies, soaring eagles and travelers in search of a more personal wilderness experience.

Travel through the millennia with your fellow adventurers. Your seldom seen destination, an hour-and-a-half outside of Dawson City, invites exploration. Tombstone Park, a spectacular, untrammeled region, has stayed wild for two billion years. Here, where the first human inhabitants crossed over a primeval land bridge, archaeological sites unveil timeless treasures, unique geologic features reveal unbounded nature, and captivating mammals and birds bring it all to life.

Imagination soars to the pinnacles of the park's namesake mountain.

Curiosity stirs at the sight of unique permafrost landforms. Diverse ecological niches from carpeted tundra to naked, dragon-backed ridges soothe the soul. And our informative driving tours and guided hikes immerse you in scenic splendor. The vistas are endless, the valleys are broad, and wildlife is all around you. See it, feel it, and never forget.