Alaskan Cruises – A Wildlife Adventure
Looking into Alaskan cruises this summer? Despite the growing number of people interested in taking an Alaskan vacation, the cruising patterns have remained relatively unchanged. The most traditional Alaskan cruise is an “Inside Passage” route that takes passengers from Vancouver to southeast Alaska and back in seven nights and eight days, with port calls in two to four towns, which might include Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway, or Glacier Bay National Park. The second type of cruise is the seven-night, one-way “Gulf and Glaciers” route that leaves from Seward or Whittier and tours the inside passage sights, with the addition of Prince William Sound. Thirdly, some cruises are just one-way, seven-night trips between Alaskan towns, such as Juneau and Sitka. Lastly, an expedition voyage can include Aleutian island, sub-Arctic ports and Russian territory as well.
“People go to Alaska to see wildlife for a reason, but you see it in many ways and in many circumstances,” said Erik Elvejord, spokesman for Holland America Line. “Don’t expect a lineup of bears when you hit the pier, or pods of whales everywhere the ship goes.” Seeing wildlife in Alaska while on a cruise is all about careful planning, Alaskans say. While animals won’t be flocking toward the ship, you can visit one of the port stop towns for guaranteed sightings. Carnival Cruise Lines recommends the Sea Otter Quest in Sitka, for example, because there’s a 100% guarantee you’ll see these playful creatures. Holland America recommends the Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest in Auke Bay because humpback and orca feeding grounds are located right amid the Alaskan cruise route. Bears can be a little more hit-or-miss, wildlife experts say. You can take a $100 “Bear Search” at 7am in Icy Strait Point, although there’s no guarantee you’ll spot one. Or you can take a $300 – $1,600 fly-in adventure to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island, Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park or the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where bears reliably come to feed on salmon.
This summer, you can find some great deals on Alaskan cruises if you know where to look! Since so many people flood Europe during the summer, you can find great savings. For instance, Holland America Line offers 7-night premium cruises (with stops in Juneau, the Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria), with prices starting at $699, down from $1,629! Summer is actually a great time to visit Alaska because the bears are out catching spawning salmon, there are many summer festivals, the flowers are in bloom, the days are longer and the weather’s mild.
Alaskan cruises are a great way to get around the 49th state. Cruising.org can point you in the right direction for a cruise in Alaska. Or try the Online Vacation Center at (800) 329-9002, which offers sharp discounts; as low as $699 for a seven-night excursion aboard premium cruise lines like Holland America. To board the ship, you may need to fly to Seattle or Vancouver, although flights are less expensive than flying directly to Anchorage, Alaska.
By Travel Editor
