 Alaska.
If it's Nature you're seeking, an Alaskan cruise is
the perfect choice. Incredible scenery, glaciers, whales,
fishing, native culture, and of course, shopping!
You'll can sail with
the finest premium fleet in Alaska, with award-winning
five-star service, spacious staterooms, sumptuous dining,
and first-rate entertainment.
Our Alaska is a
land of unimaginable natural wonders: the Northern Lights,
homecoming salmon, soaring eagles, breaching whales,
magnificent Mt. McKinley. You'll
discover some of America's premier wilderness National
Parks: Denali, Glacier Bay, Kenai, Katmai, and Misty
Fjords. Each is wild and untamed,
serene and beautiful. As a leader in Alaskan cruise
vacation travel, SevenSeas offers you many choices to
make your dream vacation to the Great Land come true.
The best way to see all
of Alaska and the Yukon - the wilderness and wildlife,
glaciers and Gold Rush country - is on a cruise tour.
We offer fascinating itineraries ranging from 8-21 days
and dozens of land options and recreation to add to
your adventure. Aboard our cruise tours, you'll get
a true feel for what Alaska is all about by exploring
some of her most beautiful locales, like Talkeetna,
Alyeska, Denali National Park, Fairbanks and more. A
spectacular cruise along the coast of Alaska combined
with a fully escorted land tour into the magnificent
Alaskan interior is a vacation you will never forget.
 There's
nothing between you and the wonders of Alaska when you
step out onto a open-air observation platform. Only
rail cars have this special feature. This is the place
to stretch your legs as well as your imagination as
you take in the amazing Alaskan scenery. Imagine
the views of the Matanuska Valley, home of 70-pound
cabbages and strawberries the size of plums. Gliding
past the Susitna River, the Alaska Range with its five
towering peaks and crossing mighty bridges like the
one crossing Hurricane Gulch (at 265 feet, it's the
tallest on the Alaska Railroad), is a once-in-a-lifetime
thrill. Travel to Denali National
Park aboard Alaska's top-rated luxury train, Princess'
own Midnight Sun Express. Stay overnight in one of the
exclusive Princess wilderness lodges. Go
fishing for salmon, see migrating caribou or Kodiak
Bears, visit Arctic Eskimo villages.
| You
haven't fully experienced Alaska unless you've been
to Denali National Park. Its boundaries encompass an
amazing six million acres -- the size of the state of
Massachusetts. Home to Mt. McKinley, North America's
highest peak soaring an unbelievable 20,320 feet into
the sky, the Park hosts an array of wildlife -- from
moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears to gray
wolves and red foxes. Located only one mile from the
Park's entrance, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is
the premium riverside accommodation in the area.
From the moment you arrive
at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge you know you're
somewhere special. Bordering the south side of Denali
National Park on the banks of the Chulitna River, this
Lodge is a true wilderness retreat. Experience our serene
surroundings from the comfort of the Lodge or venture
outdoors to explore the wilderness. To assist you, we
have a Tour Desk staffed with Princess professionals
who are available to help you get an insider's look
at this special part of Alaska. A variety of exciting
outdoor adventures await you including fishing tours,
river rafting, a jetboat safari and even a thrilling
flight that takes you to the base of Mt. McKinley.
For a journey into the past, a "Yukon Gold
Rush" cruise tour offers a chance to visit Whitehorse
and Dawson City, well known for their major gold strikes
and turn-of-the-century atmosphere. Princess
Copper River Wilderness Lodge is an amazing resort.
Featuring spectacular mountain
views and breathtaking scenery of the Wrangell-St. Elias
National Park, the Copper River Princess Wilderness
Lodge is situated on 200 acres at the junction of the
Klutina and Copper Rivers. This
premier Princess Lodge features 85 rooms and suites
with either mountain or forest views; a two-level dining
area with excellent mountain and valley views; and the
focal point of the Copper River Princess Wilderness
Lodge- the Wrangell Room- with a staircase that takes
you to the mezzanine level where you can relax and enjoy
the majestic scenery provided by a two story wall of
windows.
The Kenai Princess
Wilderness Lodge is a world apart. The magnificent main
lodge is just as inviting as the guest rooms. The lobby
has vaulted ceilings and a fireplace surrounded by chairs
for relaxing and visiting with friends. Just beyond
the lobby is an expansive deck, optimal for viewing
the Kenai River valley and nearby mountains. Enjoy spirits,
appetizers and casual fare outdoors or inside at Rafter's
Lounge. Continue to the Eagle's Crest Restaurant where
the magnificent views, stone fireplace and tempting
cuisine make dining an unforgettable event. |
|  Princess
Alaska. Princess' Gulf
of Alaska Southbound & Northbound cruise vacations
offer seven-night cruises highlighting Alaska's
pristine tidewater glaciers and bountiful marine wildlife.
The northbound cruises start from Vancouver, British
Columbia to Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska.
The southbound is the reverse. Cruise the Inside Passage,
view massive glaciers & visit fascinating ports
along the way. This cruise between Vancouver, B.C.,
and Whittier, gateway to Anchorage, is a full itinerary
that's sure to please. Explore
the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.
Witness the wonders of Glacier Bay National Park. Sail
the Gulf of Alaska past ice-age attractions, including
16 blue glaciers in College Fjord. Plus, take in the
breathtaking beauty of Prince William Sound.
Princess
Alaska 2008. Long the
leader in cruising both Alaska’s Inside Passage
and its dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast, Princess
Cruises announces that its 2008 Gulf of Alaska program
will feature five vessels, including one which will
offer the most destination intensive itinerary in Alaska.
|
|  Holland
America Line - Alaska.
Expect the unexpected on our Alaska glacier cruises
and Alaska Inside Passage cruises - a massive glacier
caves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears
the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color.
The only thing predictable about one of our premier,
week-long Alaska cruises is exquisite service, exciting
excursions and a magnificent transport through the last
great wilderness.
We make sure you experience the best that Alaska and
the Yukon have to offer in a way you'll never forget.
Right up close. Ride the finest luxury railcars, our
full-domed McKinley Explorer, to Denali National Park.
Alaska and the
Yukon offer so much to see and experience. There are
wilderness national parks whose very names spark the
imagination: Denali, Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords and Gates
of the Arctic. There is magnificent wildlife like grizzlies
and moose, wolves and caribou, whales and eagles. There
are historic towns like Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau
and Seward. More
about HAL Alaska cruises & cruisetours.
Cruise West.
Cruise West small ship Alaska cruises. What do you see
when you imagine Alaska? A pod of whales appearing as
if out of nowhere? A glacier so blue you'd swear it
couldn't be real? A bear watching you from the water's
edge -- just as curiously as you're watching him? Alaska
is all of this -- and more. And there's no better way
to experience it than aboard our smaller ships. It's
truly like sailing on a good friend's yacht. We can
slip through narrow passages and get right up close
to the whales, glaciers, and all the other natural wonders
we encounter. And American
Safari Cruises offers luxury in the pursuit
of Alaskan adventure aboard five mega-yachts. Our style
of cruise vacations offers an alternative to traditional
large- and small-ship cruises by taking guests into
areas that are not accessible to most larger ships,
and on excursions, and to activities that are exclusive,
private, and unavailable to most other travelers. |
| Whether
you wish to see the majestic glaciers or explore the
Alaskan wilderness, SevenSeas Travel has a wide variety
of cruises and cruise tours that can be specially designed
for your summer vacation schedule. |
Please note that the State of Alaska has imposed a fee
for all cruises entering Alaskan waters. The fee is
not specific to any port of call, but instead applies
to all cruises entering Alaskan waters. The fee, like
any other GTF, is fully refundable in the event of cancellation
of the cruise. The fee applies both to new bookings
and to those currently booked. The fee is $50 per person
for the first and second guest sharing a stateroom and
$46 for the third through eighth guest sharing a stateroom.
Please feel free to contact SevenSeas Travel with any
questions at 800-951-5581. |
 Q.
When does the Alaska cruise season start & end?
A. The first cruise ships sail to Alaska
starting in May and the last cruises finish up the season
in September. And though the weather can be unpredictable
during the months that mark the bookends of the Alaska
cruise season, even shoulder season is a good time to
visit. The shorter daylight hours
during May and September (as opposed to the nearly 16
to 18 hours of daylight in mid-summer) also means that
you’re more likely to see animals. The
wildlife tends to come out more on cloudy days, when
it’s a little bit cooler, maybe a little bit misty.
For the smallest crowds and best prices,
May and September are best.
Q.
When and where can I see whales and other wildlife?
A. Alaska is a scenic wonder, but after
all it is wilderness - it is not a zoo. Year round,
whales most often can be found in the southeast region
near Skagway and Juneau, and in Glacier Bay. You may
see some wildlife while on an Alaska cruisetour - whales,
bears, eagles, caribou, moose, otters, seals, and more.
Wildlife viewing usually is best in May and September,
throughout Alaska. July and September are the best months
to glimpse bears at Katmai National Park. To have a
good chance at seeing bears at fairly close range, go
during the salmon spawning season. Holland America,
Princess, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises and
cruisetours offer excursions specifically designed to
optimize guests' opportunities to see wildlife.
Q. When and where is the best time to go fishing?
A. We recommend the Great Alaska Fish
Camp, in the Kenai area, where visitors can fish for
many different species. The most common are king salmon,
with runs peaking in the second and third weeks of July,
and halibut, which are most abundant during the first
three weeks of June. In addition, fishing is available
throughout Alaskan waters with open seasons varying
from place to place.
Q. Is it cold, even
in the summer?
A. In commonly traveled
areas such as Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage,
the Gulf Coastline, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks
the temperature typically is in the mid 40s in May and
September, and up to the mid 60s June through August.
And, Alaska can see temperatures rise to the 80s and
90s in the summer. It's best to plan for all types of
weather,though, since weather patterns and temperatures
can change quickly. Windy and rainy conditions are not
uncommon in Alaska throughout the cruise season. If
you want to spend time on deck while the ship is under
way, the temperature can feel much colder, especially
if you are near the bow. For the warmest days, travel
in July or August.
Q. What should I pack?
A. Dress for comfort. Because of the
variable weather conditions, casual clothes that can
be layered easily are highly recommended. Bring a jacket
if traveling to glaciers or the Arctic, which can be
cool and windy. Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes are
a must. Guests who are taking a cruise can pack a bag
with appropriate dress for the formal nights on the
ship and have the bag held for their return from a cruisetour
if traveling inland.
Q. Where should I go
in Alaska?
A. That depends on what you
want to see. Denali National Park, the interior and
the Inside Passage are the most popular destinations.
SevenSeas Travel offers several enticing cruises and
tours to all of these destinations. To see glaciers
you'll want to visit southeast Alaska. For native Eskimo
culture, the Arctic is the right choice. And to travel
the gold rush trail you'll want to visit the Canada's
Yukon (Alaska is the gateway), including Dawson City
and on up to Fairbanks.  Q.
How can I learn about Native American cultures?
A. The Native Heritage Center in Anchorage has
lots of information and, for a more in-depth look, take
one of the Arctic tours that visit native Eskimo villages
in Nome and Kotzebue. In addition, cruise lines such
as Holland America bring in-depth knowledge and demonstrations
of Native culture on board the cruise ships. On all
Holland America cruises, an artist-in-residence from
the Native Heritage Center provides talks and demonstrations
and a Huna lecturer boards the ship in Glacier Bay to
provide a unique perspective on the area and wildlife.
Q. Is it expensive to shop in Alaska?
A. It depends on what you are shopping for.
General merchandise that is commonly available in the
lower 48 does cost more because Alaska is several thousand
miles north for shipping goods. Locally produced items
will vary depending upon their production costs.
Q. How big is Alaska?
A. Alaska is by far the largest US
state. It is 586,412 square miles, including 33,000
miles of coastline. Alaska is one-fifth the total size
of the Lower 48 states; 488 times larger than Rhode
Island; two and a half times larger than Texas; and
bigger than the next three largest states in the U.S.
combined. Alaska's population is 622,000 (August 2000).
Nearly half of the state's residents live in Anchorage.
Alaska has .93 square miles for each person in the state.
By comparison, New York has .003 square miles per person.
Q. Where is Denali?
A.
Denali is 238 miles North of Anchorage and 120 miles
South of Fairbanks. Although Mt. McKinley, in Denali
National Park, often is shrouded in clouds, it occasionally
is visible from Anchorage.
Q. Where is
the Yukon?
A. One third the size of
Alaska with 33,000 residents and located next to Alaska,
the Yukon Territory is in Canada and boasts some of
the most beautiful nature in the North, including the
peaks of Kluane National Park and the Yukon River. It
was, in fact, the discovery of gold in the Yukon that
spurred a turn-of-the-century Gold Rush and transformed
Alaska into a staging area for many a fortune seeker
heading north.
Q. Can I take a bus from
Seattle to Anchorage (or to anywhere in Alaska)?
A. Although it might be possible to take
a bus, it's not practical at all. It would take several
days over some very rough roads. It is 2,435 miles (nearly
the distance across the United States) from Seattle
to Anchorage. Many Alaska cities, such as Juneau and
Ketchikan, are accessible only by air or sea. We suggest
going by air, on an Alaska cruise or by Alaska state
ferry. Alaska is vast and traveling between cities
often is an all-day trip.
  
Find out
more about other Alaskan destinations?
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