Alaska Cruise Expert Guide

The Alaska cruise is a breathtaking adventure that you'll never forget. Giant snow-capped mountains, sparkling glaciers, thick pine forests rising up from the shoreline and abundant wildlife vie for your attention in this dramatic landscape. Towns and villages brimming with history tell a story of the Great Land that will endear Alaska to you forever.

An Alaska cruise typically departs from Seattle in Washington State or from Vancouver in British Columbia. Winters are very harsh in Alaska, so the main cruising season is confined to the summer months, typically between May and September.

The most popular Alaska cruise route takes passengers on a one week round-trip up the Alaskan coastline and through the Inside Passage. This route takes in the ports of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka in the extreme southeast of Alaska. Other cruise routes run to Prince William Sound near the city of Anchorage, and also along the Alaska Peninsula and into the Bering Sea. These longer cruises are often one-way, requiring passengers to make their return journey by train or plane.

Ketchikan is well worth a visit alone for the Tongass National Forest - the most northerly rainforest on the North American continent. It is more than eight times the size of the Yellowstone National Park, and offers the ultimate in adventure tours where you'll find rich salmon runs and grizzly bears. Ketchikan is also home to the world's largest collection of totem poles. These can be found at the Totem Heritage Center Museum.

Juneau, often known as 'little San Francisco', is Alaska's capital. Here you can experience life in a true northern city. The Mendenhall Glacier is sure worth a visit, as is the Sawyer Glacier a little further to the South.

Skagway is Alaska's gold-rush town. It is well preserved and offers access to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Disembark at this port and view the way of the world famous White Pass railroad, before panning for gold in this northern outpost. And when you're done with the gold, why not take time out to watch the whales near Sitka - a haven for these beautiful creatures all year round.

For the more adventurous, an Alaska cruise can take in Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. Known as Alaska's 'Emerald Isle' Kodiak Island takes visitors back to the time when the first inhabitants settled on the island more than 7,500 years ago. You can even locate Alaska's oldest parish here on Kodiak Island...

John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1 source
for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.azcruises.com now to book your very own dream Alaska Cruise vacation.

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Royal-Caribbean-Open-Office-Australia/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BB21A9E45-E2D3-4CBA-B863-D60D63B90F15%257Dcid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNGzn4pX7RCx6c6msX0isEAq-a9cEQRoyal Caribbean to Open Office in Australia in Response to Rise in b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr12 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b bcruise/b experience.quot; Next year, Rhapsody of the Seas will embark on its third season in the South Pacific and Australia. Rhapsody of the Seas will bsail/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7760216.stmcid=1276269345ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNE9H-1uY5DLRFqs0ZxnoCT25qOepgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=JvVBzgBbVmUJimgurl=newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45259000/jpg/_45259636_nautica.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2BBC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout%3Fp_l_id%3D61139%26CMPI_SHARED_articleId%3D1757019%26CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId%3D1757019%26CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated%3D1757019%26CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId%3D1757019%26CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId%3D1757019cid=1276269345ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNEdOQ7nte-zLbc46mXVO_z_ycGOkAbCruise/b lines react to pirate attacks/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTTG live,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Hebridean International bCruises/b is “seriously considering” axing a bsailing/b next April from Oman to Egypt – it’s first to call at the Saudi Arabian city of b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DsWcGp2HCqJEcid=1276269345ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNFv_hjmvfs2zYeu0P32jYspwIIPLgVideo: US Ship Rebuffs Pirates/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCBS/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/sWcGp2HCqJE/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/sWcGp2HCqJEtype=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm%3FID%3D2963cid=1276269345ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNFUpx4TMEhgNM-x47LaCP9Nf14h3ACould Pirates Attack Your bCruise/b Ship?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCruise Critic/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/02/world/main4642093.shtmlcid=1276269345ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNELsGnlmeSF976GkBzUmfSmv5PKogUnder Fire, US Liner Outruns Pirates/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCBS News/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276269345hl=ennobrall 653 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.homeandawaymagazine.com/content.cfm%3Fa%3D972cid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNEZgyWi2kgy7DWWSZeJpGqr6vWOYAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=AZcZjmPJ_aIJimgurl=www.homeandawaymagazine.com/admin/photos/KidsCruiseFree_JF09_1.jpg width=59 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Home and Away/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.homeandawaymagazine.com/content.cfm%3Fa%3D972cid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNEZgyWi2kgy7DWWSZeJpGqr6vWOYAKids bCruise/b Free, Ships Add Balconies/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHome and Awaynbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Marge Peterson Kids bsail/b free this winter on Costa bCruises/b when traveling with their parents. This value is available on all 12 seven-day b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.miamiherald.com/business/international/story/795498.htmlcid=1276792673ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNEPkNKW5CitNa9lDITGyNHIxPkqNQbCruise/b lines slash prices to entice consumers/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMiamiHerald.com,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1That dictates that bcruise/b ships bsail/b full with two passengers per berth; often, they fill the third and fourth berths available in cabins. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/3532921/Cruising-holidays-in-hard-times.htmlcid=1276433897ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNGOajbImxFK9kwaI8eWS82Uxy9RyAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=j2Qcz1N6DxMJimgurl=www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01122/cruise-sydney_1122944c.jpg width=80 height=50 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Telegraph.co.uk/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/3532921/Cruising-holidays-in-hard-times.htmlcid=1276433897ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNGOajbImxFK9kwaI8eWS82Uxy9RyAHolidays in hard times: bCruising/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTelegraph.co.uk,nbsp;United Kingdomnbsp;-/font nobrDec 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1But remember, bcruise/b companies cannot afford to bsail/b with empty cabins, and as the bsailing/b date nears they will become more desperate. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sail-world.com/news.cfm%3FNid%3D51318%26SRCID%3D4cid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNGyOT2EJkXNGPyORf93R44wPc2Cfwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=WTwCjvL87I8Jimgurl=sail-world.com/photos/std_Great%2520Australia%2520Ocean%2520Race.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Sail World/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sail-world.com/news.cfm%3FNid%3D51318%26SRCID%3D4cid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNGyOT2EJkXNGPyORf93R44wPc2CfwbSailing/b - Things you have to do before you die!!/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSail World,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobrDec 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1This is an event for #39;Grand Prix#39; racers, the multitude of amateur racers, and the bcruising/b enthusiast. by bSail/b-World.com - 6:32 AM Mon 1 Dec 2008 GMT./font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-trips-tips-b_1130_p_r_tnov30,0,585477.storycid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNHFl436XKX3AvpQ3XyG15h-VPzYxATravel deal: Music bcruises/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChicago Tribune,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrNov 30, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-11 quot;Playboy Jazz bCruise/b,quot; also on the Westerdam, with Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves and Keb#39; Mo#39; holding sway on a round-trip Caribbean bsailing/b from Ft. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Sailing-in-Hawaii-at-Kings-Cup/51418cid=0ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNFOtlOSZDCuAVd-2rhHiQSyFCrQuwbSailing/b in Hawaii at Kings Cup/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSail World,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1As bCruising/b Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Matt Allen said after winning the IRC Division 1 aboard his Beneteau 44.7 Ichi Ban, ‘Today it was like bsailing/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Cruise-Deals-eCruisescom-Offers-Air/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BDF2CC542-5885-41B9-97B6-2AC7D8806313%257Dcid=1274352386ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNFxg27TYMNTNQOYIvgSwrMoQoKaFgbCruise/b Deals: eCruises.com Offers Air-Inclusive bCruise/b Bargains on b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrNov 25, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b eCruises.com protects its customers#39; investments by providing complimentary travel protection on the bcruise/b segment, guaranteeing worry-free bsailing/b for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/3496732/Cruise-lines-offer-big-winter-discounts.htmlcid=1272861826ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNF2c7_FkzzZLx6Vre3PtyTIft06aQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=lGDpjzSwrFoJimgurl=www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01118/fred-olsen_1118727c.jpg width=80 height=50 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Telegraph.co.uk/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/FourDayCruises-112408.cfmcid=1272861826ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNE3teEOK-2wLXQTtgML2FBmC5lTEA4-day bCruises/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCruiseMates Cruise Guide,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 24, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Some 4-day bcruises sailing/b from Miami even go beyond Key West all the way to Cozumel! That is just one port short of a 7-day bcruise/b, but on Carnival b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Celebrity-Solstice-Enters-Service-With/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B99D40F7C-3EDA-43E3-8C64-D54C3E721E19%257Dcid=1272861826ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNH-IoYFzo2gQJdXITML5u67WePsfgCelebrity Solstice Enters Service With Applause From Press and Trade/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzsolstice1123sbnov23,0,3709398.storycid=1272861826ei=Cog1SdWOPKCQ6APkkai1Awusg=AFQjCNElSrCVk-BIlycdOlnmVOoG1Iy3xgUpscale Celebrity bCruise/b Lines struggles for attention/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSun-Sentinel.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1272861826hl=ennobrall 49 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
cruising sailing - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Cruising---What Everyone Should Know

August 7, 2005 -- Taking a cruise is now one... Read More

Sit Back and Relax on a Crewed Yacht Charter Vacation

Ever wanted to really put yourself to the test and... Read More

Carnival Cruise Expert Guide

A carnival cruise is one of the best-loved types of... Read More

First Time Cruisers

If you are a first time cruiser you are in... Read More

How to Choose Alaskan Cruise-Tours with Princess Cruise Lines Vacation Packages

Are you planning to take a cruise- tour vacation to... Read More

New Zealand Cruise Expert Guide

New Zealand is a country guaranteed to surprise. Emerald green... Read More

Silversea Cruises! Committed To Elegance, Luxury, And Gracious Hospitality

Committed to elegance, luxury and gracious hospitality, Silversea Cruises is... Read More

Boat Winterization Services and Charges, Part II

Boat Winterization Services and Charges, Part IIIf you own a... Read More

Yacht Winterization Service Business

If you own a boat maintenance business you need to... Read More

Boat Detailing - Stainless and Chrome Cleaning

Good quality deck hardware of stainless steel or chrome is... Read More

Why a Cruise Vacation is YOUR Dream Holiday

Thinking you could use an escape from the wintertime blahs,... Read More

Cleaning Sails

Washing SailsOften you will see a beautiful sail boat with... Read More

Renting out Cruise Ships for Hurricane Victims, a Brilliant Idea Indeed

Who says FEMA is not doing their job. They just... Read More

Are you Ready for the Cruise of a Lifetime?

Cruises are one of the best ways to unwind and... Read More

Dock Cleaning Procedures

It is important when cleaning a dock that you use... Read More

What Is Best For You; An Inflatable Kayak Or A Hard-Shell Kayak?

If you are buying a kayak for the very first... Read More

School for Sails, by Capt. Cary Hanna

Gorgeous, acrobatic, and lit-up, Sailfish rank as the # 1... Read More

10 Thoughts On Picking a Cruise Ship Cabin

The best advice is to be informed about cabins and... Read More

Kid-friendly Cruises

Kids and vacation ? trying to find the perfect option... Read More

Boat Hull Cleaning; Equipment Needed

How do you clean the hull on a boat when... Read More

Online Shopping for Cruise Deals, Travel Deals & Great Vacation Packages!

Are you contemplating a travel vacation and don't know how... Read More

Alaska Cruise Ship Vacations

Alaska is one of the world's great cruise destinations, particularly... Read More

Want a Dream Career? Get a Job on a Yacht!

If you're the "outdoorsy" type, prefer to work on a... Read More

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises! Where Luxury Goes Exploring

Luxury goes exploring! How faithfully these words portray the elegance,... Read More

Family Cruise: Family Get-Together for Fun

Family Cruise: Happy Times you will not forgetA family cruise... Read More