Alaska Cruises Central » Alaskan Cruise

Tips for an Alaskan Cruise

Brigitte — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:31 +0000

Bring sneakers! – or running shoes or tennis shoes or some sort of boots with good traction. It can get a bit slippery on deck when it is misty, and the odds are, you will spend a lot of time on deck, sun or no sun, viewing the jaw-dropping scenery. Sneakers or similarly comfortable shoes are also perfect for many shore excursions.

Bring binoculars – If you forget these, you will be kicking yourself again and again. From passing whales to wildlife on the shore to eagles in the sky above, there is constantly something to look at with binoculars. They also are great for glacier viewing, allowing you to see the glaciers breaking up in fascinating detail. Buy a cheap pair if you have to or borrow them from a friend, but whatever you do, remember to bring them.

Plan your shore excursions ahead of time – Investigate your shore excursions online. Not only will you be able to spend the time to find the very best excursions to match you fitness level and interests, but you can also find the best prices this way (you can save by cutting out the middle man and booking directly through a tour company), which brings me to my next tip…

Match your shore excursions to your port arrivals and departures – This might sound obvious, but it is vitally important. You’d be amazed how many people end up staying in port past the time of their ship’s departure, only to have to pay for a helicopter trip to the ship or the next port. This can be VERY expensive. So make sure your excursions finish well in advance of the time your ship will leave that port – of all my Alaska cruise tips, this one will definitely save you the most hassle.

Book a cabin with a balcony – they cost more, and those cheaper prices for the inside cabins sure can be tempting, but of all cruises, you want a room with a balcony on an Alaskan cruise. The scenery is simply amazing, and you will never have to miss any of it if you have a view. Trust me, this is well worth the extra cost, if you can at all afford it.

Bring layers of clothing – It can get very chilly in the mornings in coastal Alaska, and can remain cool even into the early afternoon, especially on cloudy, misty, or rainy days. But the sun can and often does burn through the clouds in the afternoons, and suddenly it can go from quite cool to quite comfortable, so it’s great to have a rain proof windbreaker over a sweater, with a short sleeve shirt underneath for when the sun comes out. Jeans are great for on-deck glacier and fjord viewing.

Disney’s Alaskan Cruise

Brigitte — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:02:49 +0000

We knew the Disney Cruise to Alaska was coming but now we have more details as we know the sailing dates. For more information go to www.disneycruise.disney.go.com

Disney Cruise Lines is offering a 7 night Alaskan Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder. The cruise takes you and your family from Vancouver, Canada, along the Pacific Ocean’s Inside Passage, to 3 picturesque Alaskan ports and back—with 3 full days at sea. The ports include Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Breathtaking natural beauty awaits, including rugged mountains rising from the sea, tidewater glaciers and pristine fjords.

Month	Departure Date
2011
May	03, 10, 17, 24, 31
June	07, 14, 21, 28
July	05, 12, 19, 26
August	02, 09, 16, 23, 30

Cheap Alaska Cruise- Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Sun

Brigitte — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:20:47 +0000

If you are looking for an Alaskan Cruise, 7 Blue Seas has a 7 Night Alaska with Sawyer Glacier tour on Norwegian Cruise Lines with the Norwegian Sun starting from $599.

The cruise is recommended for:

Active, value-conscious, young-hearted passengers of all ages

Passengers looking for an unstructured cruise atmosphere

Families, couples, newlyweds

First time cruisers

DATE		PORT		ARRIVE		DEPART

	DAY 1		VANCOUVER				05:30 PM
	DAY 2		Cruising Inside Passage
	DAY 3		Ketchikan		06:00 AM		02:00 PM
	DAY 4		Juneau		07:00 AM		01:15 PM
			Cruising Sawyer Glacier
	DAY 5		Skagway		07:00 AM		09:00 PM
	DAY 6		At sea
	DAY 7		Cruising Inside Passage
	DAY 8		VANCOUVER		08:00 AM

For booking or more information, call 1-800-242-1781

Juneau, Sitka, and Skagway Ports of Call On An Alaskan Cruise

Brigitte — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:36:55 +0000

Juneau: Alaska’s state capital, Juneau offers many unique attractions for visitors, including Mendenhall Glacier just outside of town, the most visited glacier in the world, as well as cultural landmarks and attractions devoted to Alaska’s history and economic industries.

Sitka: Just south of Juneau, Sitka is a quintessential Alaskan town, complete with a rich local history and multiple cultural venues for interested visitors. Because the town lacks a large dock, fewer megaships visit this port of call and it is generally less crowded than other Alaskan destinations.

Skagway: North of Juneau along the Lynn Canal, Skagway was a pivotal departure point for thousands of 1890s prospectors in search of fortune. Today, it is a treasure for cruise passengers, with a wide variety of attractions, from a genuine ghost town to modern golf courses.

7 Night Alaska & Sawyer Glacier Special

Brigitte — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:56:47 +0000

Cruisesonly.com is offering a great special on a 7 night Alaskan Cruise starting at $449 for an interior room. Check out their itinerary and their website for more information on a great deal.

Highlights:

The NCL Star is built for “Freestyle Cruising” with 10 restaurants and 9 bars and lounges.

Numerous cuisines/restaurants to choose from including Tex Mex at Endless Summer, succulent steak at Cagney’s and light fare at Blue Lagoon.

Work up a sweat on the basketball court, jogging track, fitness center and golf driving net.

Past guests love the extremely friendly staff, top-notch entertainment, multiple dining options and immaculate public areas.

Cruise Itinerary:

Day

Ports of Call

Arrival

Departure


1	Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia	—	4:00 p.m.

2	Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska	—	—

3	Ketchikan, Alaska	7:00 a.m.	3:00 p.m.

4	Juneau, Alaska	7:00 a.m.	1:30 p.m.

4	Cruise Sawyer Glacier	—	—

5	Skagway, Alaska	7:00 a.m.	5:00 p.m.

6	Prince Rupert, British Columbia	4:00 p.m.	10:00 p.m.

7	At Sea	—	—

8	Seattle, Washington	8:00 a.m.	—

Your Package Includes:

Your package includes shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, fabulous entertainment and daily activities, on-board meals and some beverages, port charges and more. It does not include shore excursions, personal expenses, gratuities, or alcoholic beverages. Government fees and taxes are not included and can be as much as $300 per person, depending on the length of your cruise.

Alaskan Cruise Ship Experience

Brigitte — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:04:25 +0000

Alaska is a really unique and beautiful place and taking an Alaska cruise will provide you with an experience like none other. Alaska is by far the biggest state by territory yet it has the smallest population of any state in the U.S.. This is perhaps why many people consider this to the be the last great frontier in America. Most people are drawn to the environment of mystery and challenge. An Alaskan cruise may be just what you are looking for whether you want to whale watch, fish, or just relax.

If you’d rather eat your wildlife than photograph it, an Alaska fishing cruise may be for you. Alaska is know for great fishing. Salmon and halibut are abundant. You might even discover a cruise line which allows you to throw a fishing line over the side during a trip. There are so many cruise packages from which to choose. These packages range from budget conscious to extravagant. During an Alaska cruise, you will experience amazing scenery and astonishing wildlife.

The Alaskan waters boast to contain the largest concentrated population of humpback whales anywhere. Traveling to Alaska will allow you to observe this beautiful scenery. So many individuals take their Alaska cruise vacation not quite knowing exactly what to expect. They will view the natural interaction of wildlife as it has remained since the dawn of time. What they will discover is natures beautiful surroundings and the natural interaction of animals in their surrounding natural environment, which is largely undisturbed by humans or contemporary technology.

If you are not really interested in whales, you will find a splendid variety of animals and birds. A wildlife viewing cruise will allow you to see a beautiful diversity of plants and species. Be prepared for an up close view of bears and mountain goats. What you will discover is your Alaska cruise will provide you with an amazing cross section of scenery and wildlife and an equally extensive variety of ways to enjoy them.

For persons interested in a more intense visit, you should seek a cruise to match your energy level. The more tranquil traveler will find many vacation package options that provide optimum exposure to the peaceful qualities the Alaska coastline has to offer. All this takes is a little bit of research on which vacation package to choose. No matter what type of visit you seek, you can find it on your Alaska Cruise.

Alaskan Cruise Ship Health Inspections

Brigitte — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:14:10 +0000

Amid reports of viral infections of cruise ships, potential cruise line passengers have raised concerns about the health conditions on cruise lines. The National Center for Environmental Health maintains a searchable database that contains vessel sanitation inspection reports for the whole year. For ships working Alaska waters, look for inspection dates between April and September. Many of the ships sail in other areas during the winter; those inspections are available too.

The NCEH report provides the followoing information:

the vessel’s name,
the number of passengers and crew,
the ship’s owner,
the port where the inspection was made and the inspection date.
the inspection score and summarizes the violations