Dreaming of a trip to Alaska this coming summer? We thought you might enjoy reading a little bit about the cruisetour options available on an Alaska sailing. A cruise tour is a great way to extend your cruise vacation by adding a land trip before or after your cruise. Cruisetours combine cruises with land tour to inland destinations that the ships can’t always reach. To view Cruise tour options, please click here. Or if you want an expert to contact you about an Alaska cruise tour please send me an email Heidi@allthingscruise.com
There are some very interesting things about taking a cruise tour vacation to Alaska:
Nature lover? Wildlife abounds on these cruises- sea lions, whales and migratory sea birds-
Glacier Bay, also called the inside passage
Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines, and deep sheltered fjords, Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of Alaska’s Inside Passage and part of a 25-million acre World Heritage Site-one of the world’s largest international protected areas
Frederick Sound (also called Prince Frederick Sound or Prince Frederick’s Sound) is a passage of water in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska that separates Kupreanof Island to the south from Admiralty Island in the north. The sound may also be known as the Russian transliteration Fridrikhe Zund. Everywhere you look there’s an island, a fjord, or a scenic town along the water’s edge back dropped by forest and misty rocky heights.
In the summer, the humpback whales gather in the hundreds to feed, and the waters teem with sea lions and migratory seabirds.
If you are looking for a truly unique wildlife-based shore excursion, consider this Private Bear Viewing:
Private Bear Viewing at Hyder with Misty Fjords Flightseeing
Our Price: $3590 (private charter for up to 6 guests)
Tour available from July 15 – August 15
http://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/Alaska-Ketchikan-Excursions-p/akktseaberhyd.htm
(This excursion is a particular favorite of mine, but there are lots of options when it comes to bear viewing- take a look! )
This flight is for the discerning visitor who seeks to couple a unique bear viewing opportunity with the unbelievable beauty of the Misty Fjords National Monument. This is a one-of-a-kind flight that takes you deep into the Misty Fjords Monument, north and east from Ketchikan, culminating at the quiet headwaters of Portland Canal, a 70-mile-long saltwater fjord that forms the southern boundary between Alaska and British Columbia.
You land near the quaint town of Hyder, which borders Steward, BC, where a local guide will pick you up by bus and introduce you to this beautiful little waterfront community. Hyder is surrounded by picturesque mountains and has a rich fishing and mining history, living up to its nickname as the “Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska.”
Next stop is the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Deck, where, in addition to viewing brown and black bears gorging on spawning salmon, you may see herons, harlequin ducks, bald eagles and beavers. Bring your camera to record a wildlife experience few have the chance to see! Please note that there will be others at the viewing platform, although the platform is quite large with plenty of viewing space.
Tour includes a full one and a half hour at the platform. Weather permitting; your pilot will fly over a nearby valley for a breathtaking aerial view of the Soule, Through, Chickamin or Salmon Glaciers.
The Northern Lights
One of the most appealing and a unique thing about visiting Alaska is the opportunity to see the Northern Lights: The Aurora Borealis. The aurora is active all year, but is at maximum effect in August and September for cruisers, when the Alaska night sky is especially dark.
The Wild West?
Although the history of Alaska is very rich, the Wild West atmosphere still exists to some degree, however, the main reason people like to go there is to see the endless beauty of nature found in Alaska.
The coastal areas are beautiful but some of the most interesting cities and sights are often inland.
About Cruise Tours
All of Alaska, (plus Europe and Australia/New Zealand) cruise tours are 100% escorted by expert tour guides and have been designed to maximize your time spent sightseeing on many of the inclusive tours, as well as give you the opportunity to explore on your own. And in most cases, you can decide to take the land tour portion either before or after your cruise.
The land portion of the cruise tour includes accommodations in some of the finest hotels in Alaska, 4- and 5-star hotel properties in Europe and Australia/New Zealand, as well as many inclusive activities such as city tours, a visit to Denali National Park in Alaska or a Quicksilver catamaran tour to the Great Barrier in Australia.
Sailing in Glacier Bay
There are many cruise tours to choose from, depending on your destination and cruise itinerary. Here are three Alaska cruisetours to consider if you are planning a cruise in 2013:
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Century 10-night Pre-Whistler Cruisetour – May 2, 2013
Spend time in Vancouver, British Columbia, then travel to Whistler by motorcoach for days and evenings of independent activities before departing on a 7-night Alaskan cruise.
Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas 10-night Post-Alaska Cruisetour – July 12, 2013
Spend time after your 7-night Alaskan cruise in the city of Anchorage, then on to the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, then overnight in Denali, back to Anchorage and on to home.
Princess Cruises Coral Princess 10-night Denali Explorer – August 4, 2013
Spend time in Anchorage then on to the McKinley Princess Lodge before Denali Park activities, then on to your 7-night cruise that ends in Vancouver, British Columbia.
There are so many cruisetour options to choose from, you will want to look for yourself at: http://www.crowncruisevacations.com/sf/interior.asp
Please note: CrownCruiseVacations is the agency of record for bookings of any cruisetours associated with this search tool.