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Planning...
Start Your Journey.
How To Choose The Best
2009 Alaska Cruise Tour
That's Just Right For You.
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When you plan your Alaskan vacation,
do you plan to encounter a striking landscape, a place
so expansive that it shelters more than
six hundred-fifty species of flowering plants and
thirty-seven mammal
species? Do you envision your Alaskan tour to include a
dizzying six million acres filled with large caribou,
moose, and grizzly bears, and offset with startlingly
small flowers, miniaturized to suit Alaska's short
growth season?
Cruise tours
offer the best of both worlds, combining a seven-day
cruise with a three-to-seven-night land tour. All you
have to do is decide where in Alaska that you'd like to
go. With so many cruise tours to choose from, there's
bound to be one that's just right for you! |
We’re here to help.
Need some assistance
planning
your cruise? Simply give us a call. That’s all you have
to do. One of our experienced Personal
Alaska Cruise Advisors can
assist you with your Alaska adventure,
Just
call 800.365.1445. |
How do I choose an itinerary?
There are two major
routes.
Choose a seven day roundtrip Vancouver-to-Vancouver cruise
that includes such ports of call as Juneau, the capital of
Alaska; Ketchikan, a colorful fish packing port; Glacier Bay
National Park ( or Hubbard Glacier or Sawyer Glacier ); and
Skagway, ( some cruises also stop at Sitka, Haines or Icy Strait
Point ).
Choose a seven to ten day itinerary from
Vancouver to Whittier ( Northbound ) or Whittier to Vancouver -
Southbound If you plan to take a land tour along with your
cruise, known as a cruisetour of Alaska, then this itinerary is
the one you choice.
There are nine major cruise lines sailing
large and small cruise ships in Alaska, they are:
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Alaska Cruise Tips
2 nights at Denali give you
the time to take the full 8 hour Tundra Wilderness Tour
into Denali National Park, and thus maximize your
chances to see grizzly bear, caribou, dall sheep and
more. |
Princess Cruise Line:
- Anchorage to Vancouver - see College
Fjord, Glacier N.P., Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
(7 days)
- Vancouver to Anchorage see Ketchikan,
Juneau, Skagway, Glacier N.P., and College Fjord. (7
days)
- Seattle Inside Passage Cruise visits
Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Victoria, Tracy Arm, and
the Sawyer Glaciers. (7 days)
- San Francisco Inside Passage Cruise - see
Victoria, Juneau, Tracy Arm Glaciers and two of the
following: Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Haines or Icy
Strait Point. (10 days)
- Plus over 30 land and cruise combinations, known
as cruisetours.
Royal Caribbean/Celebrity:
- Vancouver to Hubbard Glacier Round Trip -
See Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
(7 Nights)
- Vancouver to Seward (Northbound) - See
Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point,
Hubbard Glacier. (7 Nights)
- Seward to Vancouver (Southbound) - See
Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Juneau, Icy Strait Point,
Ketchikan. (7 Nights)
- Seattle to Tracy Arm Fjord Round Trip -
See Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, Prince Rupert.
(7 Nights)
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Plus over
30 land and cruise combinations, known as
cruisetours.
Holland America Line:
- Alaskan Explorer Cruises - roundtrip from
Seattle. Friday departures: visit Glacier Bay
National Park, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and
Victoria, B.C. (7 Days)
- Alaskan Explorer Cruises - roundtrip from
Seattle. Saturday departures: visit Hubbard Glacier,
Yakutat Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria,
B.C. (7 Days)
- Alaskan Explorer Cruises - roundtrip from
Seattle. Sunday departures: visit Glacier Bay
National Park or Hubbard Glacier, Yakutat Bay,
Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. (7
Days)
- Glacier Bay Inside Passage Cruises -
roundtrip from Vancouver. Visit Juneau, Skagway,
Ketchikan, Glacier Bay & Sawyer Glaciers/Tracy Arm.
(7 Days)
- Glacier Discovery Cruises - between
Vancouver and Anchorage. Sunday departures: visit
Glacier Bay/College Fjord plus Ketchikan, Juneau and
Skagway or Haines. (7 Days)
- Glacier Discovery Cruises - between
Vancouver and Anchorage. Friday departures: visit
Hubbard Glacier, Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point
and Skagway or Sitka. (7 Days)
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Plus over
30 land and cruise combinations, known as
cruisetours.
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Get cruise or cruisetour
coverage starting at $30.
Click on the
AIG Travel Guard logo for details. |
Special Cruises Only
Offers
Exciting discoveries and early booking savings
on 2009 Alaska Cruises.
Head northbound or south on one-way cruises that
explore the spectacular sights of the Inside
Passage, as well as the glacier-clad shores of
Alaska. Spend a day immersed in magnificent
Glacier Bay, witness the sun rise or set on
peaks rimming College Fjord, discover charming
Juneau, Skagway, or Haines, and Ketchikan. As
an example, Alaska cruises deals discounted 66
percent! Holland America’s seven-night Glacier
Discovery cruise sails August 31 from
Vancouver. Interior rooms normally priced at a
whopping $1,619 are going for $549. What a
cruise deal! More examples....
Looking
for a cruisetour?
Quick View
Search
for:
Princess | Holland
America
| Royal
Caribbean
| Celebrity
|
Meet
Wool y-D...
It's not just his need to wander across
the tundra that makes him get up and go.
He loves sniffing out a great deal. He's
got a nose for it, if you know what we
mean. Welcome to
Wooly-D
Mammoth's Place, where
you'll find a variety of cruise deals to
your favorite places. The cruise deals
change, some sell-out, others expire, so
check back often and join him on his
quest for the world's best cruise deals.
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NEW:
If you know of a good
deal, share it.
Send me
your suggestion.
If its a great deal I'll post it
for everyone to see. If it's
just a plain old price-break,
I'll just toss in the tar pits
and take off again in search of
better deals.
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If you see this
picture of me, next to a
posting: |
 |
it's a really big
deal! |
|
 Hi,
I'm Wooly-D Mammoth and
dedicated to finding the lowest
prices possible for you -- I've
never met an Alaska cruise deal
I didn't love.
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How do I choose a ship?
More than 30 ships from 9 major cruise lines sail in Alaska's
waters. The ships range from small ships (800 to 1500
passengers) to full-size (2400 or more passengers) to even
smaller ships with fewer than 200 passengers. The small size
and full size ships offer a variety of entertainment and onboard
activities. Smaller ships allow you to explore up close
Alaska's natural and cultural activities. They get closer to
shore and enter some fjords that are too small or narrow for the
larger ships. Small ships do not have nightclubs, casinos,
shops and spas. Choose your ship based on what kind of cruise
experience you desire.
Here are some recommendations. Want to get up-close?
Try a Cruise West Cruise where the focus is clearly on
wildlife viewing and exploring the wilderness, Cruise West's
Spirit of Oceanis offers a higher level of comfort than the
other small ships in Alaska while still giving you an
intimate, casual, up-close small-ship experience.
Looking for Luxury?
Regent Seven Seas' Seven Seas Mariner offers a great
experience.
How about a cruise tour?
Holland America Line and Princess
are the leaders when it comes to cruisetours. They have
deluxe motorcoaches, private railcars, and many years
experience in Alaska. Princess focuses more on the
Denali/Fairbanks, Cooper River, Artic and Kenai Peninsula
routes, while Holland America has many itineraries that get
you to the Yukon Territory. |
Alaska Cruise TipsWhen’s
the best time to see whales?
Whales begin their Northbound migration Alaska in
February with the the cows and calves beginning
around April and continue their trek through May. If
you visit Alaska between June and early September,
you may see Humpback and Minke Whales, Orcas,
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Dall's and Harbour
Porpoises. Between June and July, you have your best
chance of seeing bubble-netting Humpbacks.
When you're cruising in Alaska, it's not uncommon
to see whales right from the deck of the ship or
your private balcony. To increase your chances of
seeing whales, you may want to take an optional
whale watching tour that will take you and group of
other passengers on a small boat in search of whale
pods. Your boat may follow a pod and get close to a
whale as it makes a terminal dive or comes up for
air.
Whales will begin their Southbound trek in late
October and continue through December.
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Let's Get
Started.....
Step 1 – Determine How Long A
Vacation.
Choose just the cruise only or the number of days on land that you
would like to add to your 7 night cruise:
3 nights - Provides a quick overview of Alaska's interior
highlights
4 nights - Features Alaska's Highlights and the option of
a longer stay
5 nights - Explore Alaska's Heartland at a more
comfortable pace.
6 to 8 nights - The most relaxing cruise tours available
Step 2 – Decide Where You
Want to Go.
See the most popular spots such as
Anchorage, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, or take off and
explore areas like Copper River, Kenai Peninsula, Prudhoe Bay,
or the Yukon.
Step 3 – Choose your Tour
before or after Your Cruise.
To start with your cruise, choose a Northbound sailing. To
explore Alaska first and finish with a cruise, choose a
Southbound sailing.
Step 4 – Decide When You Want to
Travel.
The Alaska season is May to September, with the best prices for
early and late summer dates.
One of the best times to visit Alaska is in the shoulder
seasons, May and September. Alaska has a short visitor season
and during the peak summer months, availability is limited,
particularly in the popular destinations such as Denali Park.
Generally, the earlier you reserve space, the better. Alaska
does not handle the volume of tourists that many other National
Park destinations experience, so availability can be limited. By
reserving you space early, you are more likely to be able to
choose the accommodations you really want to experience.
Princess Alaska Lodges' often see peak travel dates full be
October of the previous year.
The advantages of early season travel are numerous. The
weather is consistently good in May and drier throughout much of
the state. Warm spring days aided by long hours of daylight
bring Alaska's wildflowers out in full bloom. The wildlife
viewing is also excellent in May since the larger animals are
migrating and in lower elevations where the snow has
disappeared. Alaska is not as crowded and you are able to take
advantage of early season specials and lower rates statewide.
Princess Alaska Lodges, offers lower rates during the early the
season.
Prices by Season. They go up as the summer gets long.
1. Economy Season: May and September
2. Mid-priced Season: Early June and late August
3. High Price Season: Late June, July, and early to mid-August
September is also a prime time to visit Alaska. Fall comes
early to Alaska and many of the deciduous trees are blazing
yellow and red by Labor Day. Combine the bright yellow colors of
the aspen and willow trees with the blazing red tundra plants
and you have the best fall colors experience Alaska has to
offer. You will see why Polychrome Pass in Denali National Park
earns it name! As a backdrop, the tallest mountains will have
fresh snow on their peaks while the lower elevations are still
dry. Wildlife search opportunities also improve in late season,
as the larger mammals begin feeding in the lower elevations in
an attempt to pack on as much winter weight as possible. Weather
is characterized by large temperature swings between warm days
and chilly nights. In fact, it gets dark enough in the Interior
of Alaska to see the Northern Lights!
Although winter blows in right on the heels of summer up
north, early September generally remains a fine time to explore
the Last Frontier, with crowds and prices both on the decrease.
Worth considering are several Princess "cruise tours" that cover
coastal Alaska by ship and the scenic Anchorage-Fairbanks
corridor by road and rail.
Combine a weeklong Vancouver-Whittier cruise on the Sapphire
Princess with a three-night land extension that ends in
Fairbanks. Fares start at $1,662. or explorer Kenai, followed by
a more leisurely exploration of Denali and Fairbanks. Prices
start at $2,162. These cruise tour fare examples include
fuel surcharges, plus accommodations and touring on the land
portion. Gratuities and round-trip transportation between home
and Vancouver or Fairbanks are additional.
| How
Much Does It Cost? |
| Cruises Only... |
- A 7-day Alaskan
cruise on a mass-market ship starts at
$599-$1,199 per person, double occupancy;
air fare is extra. Prices on luxury ships begin
at $799-$1,999, and jump to
$2,499-$5,599 per person for a private
suite.
- Smaller ships
offer a more intimate experience and can visit
out-of-the-way ports; prices start at
$1,800-$5,899 per person double occupancy
for an 11-14 day cruise.
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What's included for that kind of money? |
- You get a day (
sometimes more ) of viewing glaciers,
either sailing through Glacier Bay National
Park, Hubbard Glacier or Tracy Arm. Cruise
Traveler Magazine presents an in-depth look at
Alaskan cruises.
- Larger ships (
2500-3000 passengers ) offer loads of
entertainment options, such as restaurants,
spas, casinos, gyms, swimming pools and more.
Smaller ships such as Cruise West provide a more
casual educational or nature-oriented trip.
- It may be worth
paying extra for an outside stateroom or balcony
because there's so much to see. For the Inside
Passage, try for a cabin on the right side
(starboard) for a northbound route and the left
(port) for a southbound route.
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Additional costs: |
- Port charges and
taxes can add $100-$250; in most cases
they're included ( buried ) in the cruise line
quoted price.
- Shore excursions
( sightseeing tours ) can cost $20-$600
depending upon the offer. It's cheaper to book
directly with a ground tour operator at the port
of call than through a cruise line. Use the
internet to find them and book in advance.
- Visit Denali
Park National Park or other park areas before or
after a cruise and you will taking a "cruisetour".
Cruisetours are usually 4-10 days long and add
an average of $999-$1,999 or more per
person, above the price of your cruise.
- Tipping adds at
least $10 a day per person. Some cruise
lines, include tips in the price, but that's
when you pay more to cruise on a luxury cruise
line.
- While
mass-market ships offer lower fares, they may
charge for special shows, restaurants, spa
treatments or other onboard activities, as much
as doubling the cost. On luxury ships, most
everything is included expect bar drinks and
shore excursions.
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Money Saving Tips
Early Booking Discounts -- For Alaska, the best savings are
if you book in advance. Rates can be found at 25% to 30% off
the brochure rate. Starting prices for 2009 are about $599
for an inside cabin on an early season 7 day cruise. You
will however have to pay as much as $9-15 a day per person
for a fuel surcharge, depending upon the cruise line.Most
Alaska cruise lines will market special deals, often sold by
top-producing travel agents. If you want to wait for a last
minute discount you might save as much as 50%, but the
choice of stateroom and itinerary will be very limited,
especially if you are considering a cruisetour as most will
be sold out if you wait too long. Planning your Alaska
cruise or cruisetour vacation well in advance and taking
advantage of early booking discounts is the best way to go.
Discounts for Third and Fourth Passengers -- Most ships
offer highly discounted rates for third and fourth
passengers sharing a cabin with two full-fare passengers,
even if those two have booked at a discounted rate. You may
find special rates for kids, seasonal or select-sailing
discounts, and cruises that may include free or discounted
airfare.
One of the best ways to get a cruise deal is to organize
a group of at least 16 people in at least eight cabins. The
savings include a discounted rate, and at least the cruise
portion of the 16th ticket will be free.
Step 5 – Choose Your Stateroom.
The least expensive are inside staterooms or upgrade to an ocean
view stateroom, Balcony stateroom, or mini-suite.
When it comes to reserve your stateroom, here
are some useful tips.Avoid staterooms that are near
dining and kitchen areas, near service elevators/stairs.
Don't book a stateroom that is above or below the disco,
showrooms and lounges. Stay away from housekeeping areas,
the spa and the workout areas.
Do book a stateroom that is surrounded by others and that
is not near any public place or service area.
*Typical
pictures and descriptions
Certain
staterooms may vary by cruise line/cruise
ship in size, configuration and amenities
Photos represent
typical arrangements.
Questions Of The
Day....Why should I consider a
balcony stateroom?
There is nothing like having a
balcony stateroom. Weather you're
sailing along the Inside Passage or
viewing Hubbard Glazier, you can view
mountains, wilderness, forest, glaciers,
and perhaps a humpback whale or a pod of
Orca whales.
TIP: When sailing by a glacier, the
decks are packed with passengers
maneuvering to snap a picture of a seal
floating on a piece of ice or getting a
video of a calving glacier. Why not
enjoy the same view from your own
private balcony.
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Suite
With Balcony* |
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This
deluxe room with breezy balcony
provides ample space to feel at
home. Includes a separate sitting
area with sofa bed, two TVs,
refrigerator with wet bar, walk-in
closet, and bathroom with tub and
shower. Its two modular twin beds
can be made up into one queen-size
bed. Approximate size: 470 sq. ft.,
including balcony. |
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Mini-Suite With Balcony* |
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In
addition to this room's two modular
twin beds, which can be made up into
one queen bed, it has a separate
sitting area with sofa bed, balcony,
two TVs, refrigerator, spacious
closet, and bath with shower.
Approximate size: 280-302 sq. ft.,
including balcony. |
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Oceanview Mini-Suite* |
The
ocean-view window, separate sitting
area with sofa bed, refrigerator
with wet bar, walk-in closet, two
TVs, and bathroom with tub and
shower are special features that
define this room. Its two twin beds
can be made up into one queen-sized
bed. Approximate size: 280-302
sq.ft. |
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Oceanview Double With Balcony* |
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This
room features a sitting area with
desk, balcony, refrigerator, TV,
spacious closet, and bath with
shower. The two twin beds can be
make up into a queen-size bed.
Approximate size: 217-248 sq. ft.,
including balcony. |
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Oceanview Double* |
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A
coveted feature of this room is its
picture window. It also has a
refrigerator, TV, spacious closet,
writing desk, and bath with shower.
The twin beds can be made up into
one queen-size bed. Approximate
size: 162-212 sq. ft. |
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Interior
Double* |
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This
room's modular twin beds can easily
be made up into one queen-size bed
for optimum flexibility. Includes a
refrigerator, TV, spacious closet,
and bath with shower. Approximate
size: 156-166 sq.ft |
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STEP 6 - Seek Planning and Destination Expertise.
Valuable first-hand expertise
about Alaska cruises and cruisetours is important.
Not everyone has the same
expectations and dreams in planning their trip of lifetime
experience to Alaska. Perhaps you want to visit Denali National
Park. Or you might want to experience Alaskan train travel and
majestic mountain sightseeing. Or go fishing at a mountain lake
on a float plane trip. Or do you want to see grizzly bears in
their natural habitat.
No matter what your own
expectations are for a cruise or cruisetour to Alaska, we can
help.
Perhaps a pre-designed
cruisetour offered by the cruise lines is what's best, or you
want a custom designed land package that simply connects with a
cruise, or perhaps just the land tour without a cruise.
Whatever your expectations, our
valuable experience in traveling to Alaska will help you plan
your perfect vacation. We're not limited to just a few
trips found in one cruise line brochure. We recommend what we
think is best for our guests, not the cruise line. Whatever
your particular preferences, we have the expertise to recommend
the type of cruise or cruisetour that best meets your needs and
expectations.
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Alaska Cruise TipWhen
should I reserve my Alaska Cruise Vacation?
The number of cruise ships sailing to Alaska is
restricted to minimize the impact on the environment
and tend to sell out early, especially for July and
August. Early booking discounts are offered by most
cruise lines. You will want to take advantage of
these by booking as early as possible. Balcony
staterooms are very popular on an Alaska cruise and
tend to sell out first.
Staterooms on the "favorite side", port or
starboard, depending up which way you sail, also go
fast. Families or groups wanting staterooms close
together or staterooms able to sleep 4 should be
reserved as early as possible.
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If you are looking for more
information, we can help with.....
- Savings , pure and simple:
Our large volume of Alaska cruises and cruisetours that we
offer and sell, get you reduced rate cruises at prices
normally offered only to large groups, but which we are able
to offer to both individuals and to groups. For groups
occupying eight or more cabins, additional savings...and our
exclusive: Mini-group rates for 2 or more couples or a
family of 4 or more!
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Land tour "free-time:
recommendations: Learn how to spend your free time while
visiting Alaska's major cities, towns, national and state
parks.
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Shore Excursion
Recommendations: We can help you choose the right ones.
Step 7 - Have Questions?
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Our team of professional
Alaska Cruise Advisors
welcomes your questions. Let us share our Alaska
experience with you. |
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Want More Information?
Click on the Cruise Line name highlighted on the right.
Want to Get a FREE
price Quote, Click on the Whale's Tale symbol below.
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2009 Cruises & Tours
Price Quote Request
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For cruises
only or a land and cruise combination ( known as a
cruisetour ), choose a Cruise
Line below.
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Money-Saving Tips
Form a Group. Save and sail to Alaska!
Did you know the
most overlooked way to stretch your dollar is to form your own
Alaska cruise group. Traveling with family or friends, can
lower costs enough so you can travel even when the economies not
that good. Of course, most of us don't have the time - or
inclination - to make the calls and do the research for an
entire group.
.jpg) It's
a big job. However booking a group
cruise is easy for a professional travel agent. Your agent can
create a package that works for you, while your group will
realize across-the-board savings from group discounts that your
agent discovers.
Get All The Details |
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.jpg) Exclusive
Mini-Group Rates.
2 Couples or more extra
savings. Families of 4 or more. Save
even more!
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Notes From The Great Outdoors
"We just finished another
incredible 14 day cruisetour itinerary for 2008. Now I'm
getting ready to help a couple decide which one of 68
cruisetours we offer. I've already heard exciting chatter
about our guests seeing more of Alaska and really getting
off the beaten path. And believe me, between glacier
trekking, biking through Denali National park, and a rail
tour on the Wilderness Express, these folks are going to be
impressed."
Bob Andrews,
Explorations Coordinator
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Chicago Tribune
"Book Alaska cruises early,
ships are crowded"
Read
the article
More "In
The News" |
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Plan Ahead:
2009 Alaska Cruises and Cruisetours are now on sale
Reserve the best staterooms, balcony views and tours now. Get
your best savings by booking early!
Timing Is
Everything: The wide array of cruise lines and Alaska
cruisetours that are available create an equally large variety
of prices. The lowest fares tend to fall during the months of
May, and September, while prices rise substantially in June,
July & August. If you are flexible, you can save money by
sailing during May and September.
Good Deals Go
Fast: There are Alaska
cruises in May as low as $649 per person for 7 days! Offered on
the ships of Princess and Holland America. Of course, they are
for an inside stateroom, but at these prices they will go fast.
The Layered
Look:
The weather in
Alaska is unpredictable, so dress like an onion! Go with the
“layered” look so you can peel. Standing in front of a Glacier
is much like standing in front of your freezer with the door
open. Tuck a pair of light gloves in your pocket!
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Sample Savings
Cruisetours (
cruise and land tour )
| Inside
staterooms |
from: |
$1375 |
| Brochure
fare |
from: |
$2749 |
| You
Save..... |
50%! |
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Cruise Only (
7 days - North or Southbound )
| Inside
staterooms |
from: |
$499 |
| Brochure
fare |
from: |
$1399 |
| You
Save..... |
64%! |
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