What draws so many people to cruise the rugged coastline of
Alaska? The coastline itself is a major draw, with thousands of miles of
stunning scenery that segues from majestic mountain peaks to rainforest,
glaciers, and Arctic tundra. And, there’s beautiful wildlife – including
whales, seals, seabirds, eagles, moose and bears – that you can often see from
the ship.
In addition, Alaska’s ports of call are fascinating and surprisingly
diverse. Ketchikan is a center of Tlingit Indian culture; Skagway maintains the
character of a Gold Rush-era town; and Sitka preserves important pieces of its
history as a Russian settlement.
While the cruise lines that visit Alaska offer lots of
variety in cruise length, itineraries and style of ship, there are two basic
types of Alaskan cruises:
Inside Passage
cruises. These cruises are typically roundtrip, departing from Seattle,
Wash., or Vancouver, British Columbia, which both offer fantastic opportunities
for pre- or post-cruise sightseeing. The Inside Passage is a relatively sheltered
waterway, dotted with islands and edged by breathtaking coastal scenery. Common
ports of call include Ketchikan and Skagway, and sometimes the city of Juneau.
Gulf of Alaska
cruises. These cruises also depart from Seattle or Vancouver, but the
greater distance to be covered by the ship means that many are one-way. In
addition to the Inside Passage, you can expect to explore Sitka, Glacier Bay, Hubbard
Glacier, College Fjord, and perhaps the Kenai Peninsula before disembarking in
Seward, Whittier or Anchorage (or, select a reverse itinerary and end in
Seattle or Vancouver). Occasionally, a cruise line will offer longer Gulf of
Alaska cruises that depart from San Francisco, Calif.
Before or after cruising the coastline, many Alaska cruise
passengers want to explore Alaska’s interior, tool. Some cruise lines combine
land tours with their Alaskan cruises to create “cruisetours.” Popular choices
for the land portion of an Alaskan cruisetour include Denali National Park, the
Kenai Peninsula, Wrangell-Elias National Park or the Yukon Territory.
Talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert,
soon to get more information about 2014 Alaska cruises and cruisetours.
