Alaskan Cruise Information

Each year over 250,000 people take a cruise around Alaskan shores. In the last few years, Alaskan cruises have become a popular way for people to visit Alaska and enjoy its natural beauty. The cruises provide a combined ability for travelers to enjoy the beauty of Alaskan lands and take part of many entertainment activities that are available on cruise ships.

The two most popular routes for Alaska cruises are the Vancouver roundtrip and Seattle roundtrip. Cruises with those two routes generally take 7 days and have various stop points in Alaska depending on cruise lines, ships, and itineraries. However, there are many other routes for Alaska cruises. Some of the other popular routes are San Francisco roundtrip, Whittier to Vancouver, Vancouver to Whittier, Seward to Vancouver, and Vancouver to Seward.

There are many cruise lines that offer Alaska cruises ranging from some of the biggest cruise lines in the world to small cruise companies with 1 or 2 ships that offer custom Alaska cruises. Princess Cruises and Holland America Cruise Line have the most comprehensive Alaskan cruise offerings. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are also fairly well represented in the Alaska cruise market.

Generally, Alaskan cruise season runs from May to September of each year. In other months, the weather in Alaska and surrounding region is too cold for a fun cruise vacation. Most of the rooms on cruise ships are usually booked by the end of March. Thus, the earlier one decides and buys a cruise, the more opportunities there would be for room choice. Also, travel agencies sometimes offer promotions or discounts for early birds.

For more information about Alaskan cruise options, price comparisons and other discussions please visit our website: http://www.al-cruise.com

Alaskan Cruise or NOT

You have every reason to say it was a spectacular trip after you go on a 7 day Alaskan Cruise off the Alaskan shores. You can even enjoy the beauty of Alaskan Land and also take part in the many entertainment activities that are available on cruise ships. Taking an Alaskan Cruise will dwell you in the wilderness of Alaska, enjoy the magnificent landscapes and oceans of Alaska.

An Alaskan Land cruise is an amazing exploration of Alaska, its culture and the people. The culture and the view are a few of the most intriguing and worth a while experiences. Going on a land cruise might be more expensive but nevertheless, you will notice a lot of benefits from a land tour. Mountain lodges, adventure into the Alaskan Forests, mountain trains, fishing expeditions, wild waterways you name it, its worth a while.

Alaskan cruise Lines are a great extravagant experience and exposure. If you a seafood fanatic, the smell of succulent crab will grab you by the throat straight to the Cruise Kitchen. You can even enjoy the experience and adventure of catching some of the sea creatures like crabs, fish etc. Dungeness crabbing is a treat indeed, its a chance to get into the seawater, sightsee, and explore what crab-catching is all about.

Be prepared to be pampered when taking an Alaskan Cruise whether with a family, personal honeymoon or wedding cruise. On the cruise, enjoy the pool, attend a show, watch a movie, kick back in the lounge, spend time in the casino, take gold lessons, or relax with a massage at the spa. While docked you can enjoy time on the beach, shop at duty free shops, scuba, snorkel or windsurf in the ocean. Romantic activities are also available including family oriented activities.

There are endless activities that you can enjoy while taking an Alaskan Cruise.

About the Author

Strive Mazunga is a webmaster and administrator of Alaskan Cruises Info Online at http://mradsenseready.com

Holland American Alaskan Cruising - New Alaskan Cuisine April 2005!

Alaska is a place to experience not merely to visit or to see. Holland American Alaskan Cruising is the best way to experience the marvels of the Alaska coast. Add Holland America cruise tours to your Alaskan itinerary, and you have the makings of a once in a lifetime Alaskan adventure.

Announced in April of 2005, Holland America will launch a new Alaskan culinary experience to its seven ships bound for Alaskan cruising. HAL's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has developed a menu of Alaskan salmon dishes. Dubbed "Going Wild for Salmon", this feature is an extensive menu rotation of Alaskan salmon during each cruise. This Alaskan delight will also include on-board culinary events, cooking demonstrations and seminars.

Having spent time recently in Anchorage Alaska, Chef Rudi thought that the delicious Alaskan salmon should be brought on board. This will enhance the Alaskan flavor of cruising to Alaska aboard Holland America.

Chef Rudi and his staff have developed about 50 distinctive Alaskan salmon recipes. Every night, a whole range of Alaskan salmon dishes will be available. The "Going Wild for Salmon" menu choices will be available 5 nights a week on board their Alaskan cruises. Holland America now offers more Alaskan salmon dishes than any other cruise line to Alaska.

These dishes will include appetizers and entrees. Just the sound of the dishes makes your mouth water - Thin Alaskan Salmon Scallops with Fresh Herb Dressing; Hazelnut Crusted Alaskan Salmon with Sorrel Sauce; Alaskan Salmon and Lobster Chowder; Alaskan Salmon Baked in Phyllo with Shitake Mushrooms & Champagne Sauce. Are you full yet?

Holland America is always looking for ways to deepen the Alaskan experience. Alaskan cruisers can now experience Alaska with their eyes, ears and their palate. A leader in Alaskan cruising, Holland America will sail seven ships on 134 cruises to Alaska in 2005. Their premium ships offer elegant spaciousness and fewer passengers than other major cruise lines.

For more information on Alaskan cruising and Holland America cruises, check out some of our other interesting articles. To check out the fantastic deals see our merchant links for Alaskan cruise discounts. Compare the offers, find the best deal and book your Alaska cruise on-line. Then all you have to do is get excited!

Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount-cruises. This site is your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and deals! Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com
to check out the best cruise values. For more cruise related articles check browse through our article map at http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com/articles.htm to find the article pages of most interest!

Caribbean and Alaskan Cruise Ship Vacations and Excursions: It's All There For You!

Think CRUISE if you are looking for a great escape. You can explore the Caribbean, the Mexican coast or Alaska on board a cruise ship. Enjoy many on shore excursions and on board activities or relax in your own stateroom. You have never been indulged with food as much as you will be on a cruise ship. New ships are being added to cruise lines such as Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Holland/America, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and Windstar. This means plenty of selection for you. Never have there been so many choices for a cruise vacation or so many opportunities to get the best cruise prices!

Whether your cruise is a family vacation or a wedding cruise and honeymoon, be prepared to be pampered. There will be all sorts of things to do on the ship. You could enjoy the pool, spend time in the casino, attend a show, enjoy a movie, take golf lessons, kick back in the lounge, or relax with a massage at the spa. There are so many cruise activities, if you can think it; I bet there is a cruise line that provides it!

You get to explore different countries and cultures through on shore activities or excursions. During an on shore trip you can spend time at the beach, or in a rain forest; shop at duty free or local markets; snorkel or scuba or windsurf in the ocean; explore the ocean in a submarine or the beach by jeep; or party on a boat or pirate ship. Romantic activities or family oriented activities are available. You can take time to talk with the natives and experience their cultures at local restaurants or venues.

On board ship you will experience wonderful restaurants with fabulous presentations of food and drinks. Usually there will be the more traditional meals in the evening at reserved seating times. Dress up, glitz up, and enjoy the Captain’s dinner. Other meals are less formal. but no less spectacular. Snack or theme type food is usually available 24 hours a day.

If you have a special interest, no doubt there is a special cruise for you: singles cruises, Christian cruises, blues cruises, family-oriented cruises, gay and lesbian cruises. There are cruises with lessons and lectures and workshops.

You can get married on a cruise ship or at port and enjoy your honeymoon on the cruise. Most of the cruise lines will provide wedding service complete with a wedding coordinator. Even more family oriented lines provide this service along with adult only areas of the ship. If you are looking for love, in love, or celebrating love a cruise ship is the place to be.

There are so many reasons to consider and then book a cruise for your vacation. You can do just as much as you want, or just relax and enjoy. Whatever your taste or style there is a cruise vacation waiting just for you.

Now that you are convinced that a cruise vacation is for you, use an online travel agency to do some of the looking for you. All the major cruise lines will have information about the various cruises available, all at one website.

So now you have your game plan to get the best cruise prices. When you get ready to book your cruise don't forget to check out all the fun activities to enjoy on your perfect vacation.

My Favorite Vacation Included An Alaska Cruise Package

So where did you go for your favorite vacation? Did you go to another country or to the beach, perhaps? Did you fly, drive, or take a train? My favorite vacation, ever, was an Alaska cruise package that was bought for me by my favorite uncle.

When I graduated from college my uncle decided to reward me with an Alaska cruise package. I was a bit skeptical about this because I always viewed Alaska as a very cold place and I am not incredibly fond of the cold. I must tell you though, this was the best vacation ever.

Alaska is so beautiful and surprisingly not as cold as I thought it would be. My uncle is one of those crazy, single, always in a new place type of guys. He likes to follow the party and the excitement. He gave me a few pointers on the cruise and they all worked out very well for me.

The first thing he told me was that, since you have to pick the time that you each every night on the cruise, you want to pick the latest time possible. That is if you want to be with the younger party type of crowd. If not, pick the first time because the food is most fresh then.

I went with the latest time and I met some really cool people. Most of them were single and we had a blast. I would highly recommend an Alaska cruise package for your next vacation. You will come home with some absolutely amazing memories and photos. You will be in awe the entire time of the beauty of Alaska, and you will never forget your vacation.

Have you always dreamed of going on an Alaskan cruise? Book your Alaska cruise package for the lowest price available at the following website today:

Book your Cruise Here

How to Get a Discount Cruise Deal on a Caribbean or Alaskan Cruise

There are ways to get a great discounted Caribbean or Alaskan cruise. Cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, Holland/America, Windstar, Carnival and Celebrity offer last-minute deals, seasonal sales, and sometimes discounts for repeat customers. You can search all the cruise lines on the internet for cheap deals. Or you can make good use of your time by using an online cruise agency who has several cruise lines for you to compare. They may also be able to arrange any necessary flights or overnight stays for you in a package deal.

If you are willing to be flexible about the dates you travel you can usually get a better discount. Mid-week prices are often less. If you are flexible about where you go, you can often get a better deal. Booking early is often a way to get a better price. Let Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival and the other cruise lines compete for your business.

Booking late is another way to get a good discounted deal. But you have to be willing to be flexible as to where you go and what cruise line you use. On line travel agencies often post last-minute deals that are truly great deals. Going early or late in the cruise season is another way to get a great deal. There will be more competition for you by the major cruise lines like Celebrity, Holland/America and Norwegian. They want your business.

If you are looking for a great deal on a great vacation, going on a Caribbean or Alaskan cruise may be the thing for you. When you consider the luxury of the accommodations and food that you will get on board ship, along with the free activities, a cruise is a great deal. Then if you can get it at a discount, it’s even better!


So now you have your game plan to get the best cruise prices. When you get ready to book your cruise don't forget to check out all the fun activities to enjoy on your perfect vacation.

See Alaska By Cruise Ship This Summer

Sometimes I think that even if nobody new ever went on a first-ever cruise to Alaska, the cruise industry would stay busy with Alaskan cruises just taking people who've already been there back again...and again.

The largest state in a very large country, Alaska is probably not the place you think it is. First, it is a vast land where civilization exists in outposts against a wilderness background. There are many parts of Alaska where animals outnumber people.

The wilderness theme crops up where you would least expect it. Try to get in and out of the state's capital city, Juneau, and you find that you need to do it by boat or plane. The place is not accessible by car.

Flying is altogether a normal way of going from point A to point B in Alaska. The state has made flight-seeing popular since so many great natural attractions were best accessed from the air.

Alaska also has a railroad system that was built specifically to show off the state's enthralling natural beauty. Though not extensive, you can travel by rail in Alaska in dome-topped luxury club cars and see the mountains, valleys, and wildlife from the comfort of a luxury vehicle.

That's not such a very different concept from cruising, where you can sail by glaciers, mountains, wildlife, and postcard-perfect scenery all without leaving the comfort of the balcony of your stateroom. (If you like to travel inside stateroom to save money, you can watch this from the many public rooms on the ship.)

If you cruise to Alaska, expect to find chilly temperatures, even in summer. Factor in the breeze off the water and the chill when the sun sets and you can see why a cruise to Alaska requires you to take what passes for winter wear in some of our more southern states.

Of course, that has never stopped adventurous souls from appreciating Alaska. The state has a very diverse history. First, it's the only part of the United States that was ever once part of Russia. You may find Russian artifacts, habits, and even souvenirs in some places. When Seward bought Alaska for the U.S. in the 19th century, the deal was negotiated with Russia.

Early in its American history, Alaska became the sight of a gold stampede as lots of miners headed north to make their fortunes. A few even planned to pan for gold.

Today, Alaska is more concerned with "black gold," or its native oil reserves. Despite abundant natural wealth and beauty, life and even tourism in Alaska isn't always easy. Many products and services in Alaska are expensive, at least by lower-48 standards. The climate is cold and can be hostile, so travel requires a lot of advanced preparation and some physical hardiness.

That's why an Alaskan cruise makes sense, particularly for those modern-day adventurers who aren't so sure they want to climb a mountain of ice to see a glacier or struggle along an unpaved road in an off-road vehicle in the snow to get to the next town.

When shopping for an Alaskan cruise, look at the excursions that are offered. Most cruise ships offer plenty of time for you to soak up on-board activities, so you should take advantage of whatever shore excursions best match your interests.

Want to see polar bears? Go whale watching? Go fly fishing? Flight-see around a glacier? Shop for native art? Drive a dog sled? Most Alaskan cruises offer great excursions like these.

Some cruise shoppers penny pinch for excursions, but it is usually a better deal to penny pinch on a stateroom. Here's why. The biggest part of your bill in seeing Alaska is getting there. That's your cruise fare. Once you're there, you may be able to flight-see or whale watch or do other once-in-a-lifetime thing for a few hundred dollars.

Think of it this way. If you wanted to go fishing for Alaskan king salmon, right this minute, you'd have to get to Alaska and then charter a fishing trip.

If you wanted to whale watch today, you'd have to get to Alaska and then book passage on a whale-watching expedition.

On the cruise, you're already there. You're just paying a supplement or up - charge for these incredible experiences. If you have to economize, you're better off making do with a smaller or inside stateroom and getting the excursions.

Years from now, you won't remember your cruise so much from what your room was like but rather the excursions you had.

Mandy Karlik loves to travel and wishes she was on a cruise ship to Alaska right now. If you're not on an Alaskan cruise, either, find out how to get there by going to http://www.thecruise-shopper.com

The Best Way To See Alaska Is On An Alaskan Cruise

Nothing is more fun and exciting than taking a cruise. But why not go one step further and take a cruise in Alaska. It is just a matter of making up your mind that it is time to take an Alaskan cruise and see one of the natural wonders of the world. An Alaskan cruise will be a beautiful memory.

There are various ways to cruise in Alaska; here are a just few of them:

• Alaska Inland Cruise – you will have the chance to visit all the inland wonders of Alaska. You will surely be captivated with icebergs and glaciers. It is truly amazing to see walls of ice that are thousands and thousands of years old. When you see the icebergs “calving” you will be awed. The Alaskan inland cruise is offered by all of the Alaskan cruise ships.

• Alaska Day Cruise is just what it states, a tour on a day cruise. You can have a face to face with a huge wall of ice on an Alaskan day cruise. Or experience the beauty of dancing humpback whales. Of course, this is only practical for people who are doing a land package in Alaska.

• Alaska Celebrity Cruise – this is the so-called first class cruise of Alaskan ships. You will experience more royal treatment with a Celebrity cruise. On the other hand, this is a little more expensive among all the Alaskan cruises.

The usual attractions that passengers love about Alaskan cruises are the humpback whales, deep sea fishing and sailing through the Fjords and glaciers. The sights you will see will amaze you. Nothing can compare to the magic of Alaskan cruises. This is the only place where you will see the mighty glaciers and experience incredible wildlife.

The Alaskan cruise package that you choose will also determine the length of your stay. Usually, most Alaskan cruises are seven-day cruises. This is enough time for you to explore the intriguing ports of Alaska. However, the length of your stay can also be extended to as long as 14 days.

The other option is to book a day or two pre or post-cruise package where you can stay in Anchorage or even Vancouver. Many of the cruise lines run what is called land tours. This is where you take your cruise than you board a train that will take you through Alaska to places like the Denali National Park. It includes first rate accommodations and usually lasts 10-14 days including your Alaskan cruise.

Consider the size of the ship before you book your Alaskan cruise. On a smaller ship you will have less passengers and less competition for the incredible views. The smaller ships can also get into smaller coves that are less traveled.

On the bigger ships with more than a thousand passengers, it is harder for you to get out of the crowd, get a closer look, or even touch one the glaciers. But be aware that on the larger ships you will find more amenities.

Find the best Alaskan cruise that will fit your needs. When taking an Alaskan Cruise be sure to book some of the Alaskan cruise tours offered by the cruise line. Some of the tours offer amazing trips like a helicopter ride where you will land on one the glaciers. If you want to experience a real adventure, book the tour where you go dog sledding. (Book it early –it sells out fast). Go to a salmon hatchery and watch the bears eating the fish.

Nothing will ever compare with an Alaskan cruise; this will be a cruise of lifetime.

What are you waiting for?

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com, http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com, and http://www.CruisingTips.com

Taking an Alaskan Cruise - What to Pack

Packing in general can be a hassle. But when going on an Alaskan cruise, it can be even harder because of the colder weather. Here are some general suggestions to make this task a little easier.

Casual clothing – You will want to take some casual clothing for the daytime. This will include jeans, cords, turtlenecks, and sweaters.

Dress in layers – If you dress in layers, you can add or subtract layers as the weather dictates.

Outerwear – You probably will not need a heavy down coat if you dress in layers, however, you will need a jacket.

Dinner wear – You will want to dress up for dinner each night. If you stick to a core wardrobe color, you can mix and match. Use bold accessories such as pins, necklaces, and scarves to change up the look.

Shoes – Try to plan your wardrobe around one basic color so that your shoes will match everything. Of course, dinner shoes will be different from every-day shoes.

Misc – Remember to take your camera and binoculars. Don’t forget the film and extra batteries. An umbrella may also be needed.

By packing this way, you may be able to get everything into one suitcase and a backpack that you can carry with you on the plane. You’ll be prepared and worry free!

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet

About Susan and Debbie: Susan and Debbie are internet marketers. You can review more articles and Web sites on Alaskan cruises by visiting http://www.gocruisevacations.com

Discount Alaska Cruises

The prices of Alaskan cruises are generally higher than cruises to other locations such as the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Despite that, their popularity is ever-increasing, and the growing demand naturally pushes the price higher. However, there are many ways of obtaining discounts on Alaska cruises.

One of the surest ways to get a good discount on Alaskan cruises is to book during the winters. Though Alaska has extreme winter conditions from December to January, a cruise can be booked in October when the winters are just setting in. Winters are off-season and the cruise lines try to make the most of it. Hence, the off season cruises are low in price, in an attempt to attract people. A weekend Alaskan cruise can be available for less than $500 during the winter.

Most ships that cruise in Alaska during the summer turn to warmer southern locations in the winter. Generally, these ships have to move southward without passengers. Such rerouting ships may conduct one-way southbound cruises to earn some money. Rerouting cruises are very cheap compared to regular cruises. However, rerouting cruises have their disadvantages. Rerouting ships do not give much scope for exploration, and many locations that are part of regular cruises are missed by rerouting cruises. Also, people booking for these cruises have to manage return journeys on their own, and airfares may be exorbitant.

Sometimes people who have made bookings for cruises cancel their reservations. Such reservations are then available as last-minute cruises. As the time for the cruise approaches, the price of the cruise gets cheaper. Websites of cruise lines advertise such sudden vacancies, and people looking for a discount cruise can take advantage of such opportunities.

Booking a package deal, such as a cruise tour, provides a discount to the cruiser. A package vacation includes transport (to Vancouver, Seattle, Seward, or Whittier), lodging, food, and other facilities that normal cruises provide. Being reserved for a package entails high discounts sometimes, if a large group such as a family, friends, or staff is booked together.

Many credit cards have ongoing travel schemes for people who book cruises. Clubs and associations also provide such discounts for cruises.

Alaska Cruises provides detailed information on Alaska Cruise Lines, Alaska Cruise Reviews, Alaska Cruise Ships, Alaska Cruise Specials and more. Alaska Cruises is affiliated with Alaska Vacation Packages.