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Alaska.
If it's Nature you're seeking, an Alaskan cruise is
the perfect choice. Incredible scenery, glaciers, whales,
fishing, native culture, and of course, shopping!
You'll can sail with the finest premium fleet in Alaska, with award-winning five-star service, spacious staterooms, sumptuous dining, and first-rate entertainment.
Our Alaska is a land of unimaginable natural wonders: the Northern Lights, homecoming salmon, soaring eagles, breaching whales, magnificent Mt. McKinley. You'll discover some of America's premier wilderness National Parks: Denali, Glacier Bay, Kenai, Katmai, and Misty Fjords. Each is wild and untamed, serene and beautiful. As a leader in Alaskan cruise vacation travel, SevenSeas offers you many choices to make your dream vacation to the Great Land come true.
The best way to see all
of Alaska and the Yukon - the wilderness and wildlife,
glaciers and Gold Rush country - is on a cruise tour.
We offer fascinating itineraries ranging from 8-21 days
and dozens of land options and recreation to add to
your adventure. Aboard our cruise tours, you'll get
a true feel for what Alaska is all about by exploring
some of her most beautiful locales, like Talkeetna,
Alyeska, Denali National Park, Fairbanks and more. A
spectacular cruise along the coast of Alaska combined
with a fully escorted land tour into the magnificent
Alaskan interior is a vacation you will never forget.
There's nothing between
you and the wonders of Alaska when you step out onto
a open-air observation platform. Only rail cars have
this special feature. This is the place to stretch your
legs as well as your imagination as you take in the
amazing Alaskan scenery. Imagine
the views of the Matanuska Valley, home of 70-pound
cabbages and strawberries the size of plums. Gliding
past the Susitna River, the Alaska Range with its five
towering peaks and crossing mighty bridges like the
one crossing Hurricane Gulch (at 265 feet, it's the
tallest on the Alaska Railroad), is a once-in-a-lifetime
thrill. Travel to Denali National
Park aboard Alaska's top-rated luxury train, Princess'
own Midnight Sun Express. Stay overnight in one of the
exclusive Princess wilderness lodges. Go
fishing for salmon, see migrating caribou or Kodiak
Bears, visit Arctic Eskimo villages.
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You
haven't fully experienced Alaska unless you've been
to Denali National Park. Its boundaries encompass an
amazing six million acres -- the size of the state of
Massachusetts. Home to Mt. McKinley, North America's
highest peak soaring an unbelievable 20,320 feet into
the sky, the Park hosts an array of wildlife -- from
moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears to gray
wolves and red foxes. Located only one mile from the
Park's entrance, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is
the premium riverside accommodation in the area.
Princess
Alaska. Princess' |
The only thing predictable about one of our premier,
week-long Alaska cruises is exquisite service, exciting
excursions and a magnificent transport through the last
great wilderness.
We make sure you
experience the best that Alaska and the Yukon
have to offer in a way you'll never forget. Right up
close. Ride the finest luxury railcars, our full-domed
McKinley Explorer, to Denali National Park. Alaska
and the Yukon offer so much to see and experience. There
are wilderness national parks whose very names spark
the imagination: Denali, Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords and
Gates of the Arctic. There is magnificent wildlife like
grizzlies and moose, wolves and caribou, whales and
eagles. There are historic towns like Sitka, Skagway,
Ketchikan, Juneau and Seward. Cruise West Alaskan Deals. The Cruise West Advantage - Smaller is Better. Cruise West small ship Alaska cruises. What do you see when you imagine Alaska? A pod of whales appearing as if out of nowhere? A glacier so blue you'd swear it couldn't be real? A bear watching you from the water's edge -- just as curiously as you're watching him? Alaska is all of this -- and more. And there's no better way to experience it than aboard Cruise West's smaller ships. All of our Alaska cruises can be combined seamlessly with Cruise West land tours in Denali National Park and Preserve, Fairbanks and Anchorage. So no matter what you’re after, you’re bound to find an Alaska vacation that fits your interests, your timeframe and your budget. | |
| Whether
you wish to see the majestic glaciers or explore the
Alaskan wilderness, Seven Seas Travel has a wide variety
of Alaska cruises & cruise tour travel options that
can be specially designed for your summer vacation schedule. |
Holland
America Line - Alaska.
Expect the unexpected on our Alaska glacier cruises
and Alaska Inside Passage cruises - a massive glacier
caves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears
the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color.
Please note that the State of Alaska has imposed a fee
for all cruises entering Alaskan waters. The fee is
not specific to any port of call, but instead applies
to all cruises entering Alaskan waters. The fee, like
any other GTF, is fully refundable in the event of cancellation
of the cruise. The fee applies both to new bookings
and to those currently booked. The fee is $50 per person
for the first and second guest sharing a stateroom and
$46 for the third through eighth guest sharing a stateroom.
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Q. When does the Alaska cruise season start & end?
A. The first cruise ships sail to Alaska starting in May and the last cruises finish up the season in September. And though the weather can be unpredictable during the months that mark the bookends of the Alaska cruise season, even shoulder season is a good time to visit. The shorter daylight hours during May and September (as opposed to the nearly 16 to 18 hours of daylight in mid-summer) also means that you’re more likely to see animals. The wildlife tends to come out more on cloudy days, when it’s a little bit cooler, maybe a little bit misty. For the smallest crowds and best prices, May and September are best.
Q. When and where can I see whales and other wildlife?
A. Alaska is a scenic wonder, but after all it is wilderness - it is not a zoo. Year round, whales most often can be found in the southeast region near Skagway and Juneau, and in Glacier Bay. You may see some wildlife while on an Alaska cruisetour - whales, bears, eagles, caribou, moose, otters, seals, and more. Wildlife viewing usually is best in May and September, throughout Alaska. July and September are the best months to glimpse bears at Katmai National Park. To have a good chance at seeing bears at fairly close range, go during the salmon spawning season. Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises and cruisetours offer excursions specifically designed to optimize guests' opportunities to see wildlife.
Q. When and where is the best time to go fishing?
A. We recommend the Great Alaska Fish Camp, in the Kenai area, where visitors can fish for many different species. The most common are king salmon, with runs peaking in the second and third weeks of July, and halibut, which are most abundant during the first three weeks of June. In addition, fishing is available throughout Alaskan waters with open seasons varying from place to place.
Q. Is it cold, even in the summer?
A. In commonly traveled areas such as Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage, the Gulf Coastline, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks the temperature typically is in the mid 40s in May and September, and up to the mid 60s June through August. And, Alaska can see temperatures rise to the 80s and 90s in the summer. It's best to plan for all types of weather,though, since weather patterns and temperatures can change quickly. Windy and rainy conditions are not uncommon in Alaska throughout the cruise season. If you want to spend time on deck while the ship is under way, the temperature can feel much colder, especially if you are near the bow. For the warmest days, travel in July or August.
Q. What should I pack?
A. Dress for comfort. Because of the variable weather conditions, casual clothes that can be layered easily are highly recommended. Bring a jacket if traveling to glaciers or the Arctic, which can be cool and windy. Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes are a must. Guests who are taking a cruise can pack a bag with appropriate dress for the formal nights on the ship and have the bag held for their return from a cruisetour if traveling inland.
Q.
Where should I go in Alaska? A. That depends on what you want to see. Denali National Park, the interior and the Inside Passage are the most popular destinations. SevenSeasTravel.com offers several enticing cruises and tours to all of these destinations. To see glaciers you'll want to visit southeast Alaska. For native Eskimo culture, the Arctic is the right choice. And to travel the gold rush trail you'll want to visit the Canada's Yukon (Alaska is the gateway), including Dawson City and on up to Fairbanks.
Q. How can I learn about Native
American cultures?
A. The Native Heritage
Center in Anchorage has lots of information and, for
a more in-depth look, take one of the Arctic tours that
visit native Eskimo villages in Nome and Kotzebue. In
addition, cruise lines such as Holland America bring
in-depth knowledge and demonstrations of Native culture
on board the cruise ships. On all Holland America cruises,
an artist-in-residence from the Native Heritage Center
provides talks and demonstrations and a Huna lecturer
boards the ship in Glacier Bay to provide a unique perspective
on the area and wildlife.
Q. Is it expensive
to shop in Alaska?
A. It depends on
what you are shopping for. General merchandise that
is commonly available in the lower 48 does cost more
because Alaska is several thousand miles north for shipping
goods. Locally produced items will vary depending upon
their production costs.
Q.
How big is Alaska?
A. Alaska is by
far the largest US state. It is 586,412 square miles,
including 33,000 miles of coastline. Alaska is one-fifth
the total size of the Lower 48 states; 488 times larger
than Rhode Island; two and a half times larger than
Texas; and bigger than the next three largest states
in the U.S. combined. Alaska's population is 622,000
(August 2000). Nearly half of the state's residents
live in Anchorage. Alaska has .93 square miles for each
person in the state. By comparison, New York has .003
square miles per person.
Q.
Where is Denali?
A. Denali is 238 miles
North of Anchorage and 120 miles South of Fairbanks.
Although Mt. McKinley, in Denali National Park, often
is shrouded in clouds, it occasionally is visible from
Anchorage.
Q. Where is the Yukon?
A. One third the size of Alaska with 33,000
residents and located next to Alaska, the Yukon Territory
is in Canada and boasts some of the most beautiful nature
in the North, including the peaks of Kluane National
Park and the Yukon River. It was, in fact, the discovery
of gold in the Yukon that spurred a turn-of-the-century
Gold Rush and transformed Alaska into a staging area
for many a fortune seeker heading north.
Q.
Can I take a bus from Seattle to Anchorage (or to anywhere
in Alaska)?
A. Although it might be
possible to take a bus, it's not practical at all. It
would take several days over some very rough roads.
It is 2,435 miles (nearly the distance across the United
States) from Seattle to Anchorage. Many Alaska cities,
such as Juneau and Ketchikan, are accessible only by
air or sea. We suggest going by air, on an Alaska cruise
or by Alaska state ferry. Alaska is vast and traveling
between cities often is an all-day trip.
Find Out
More About Other Alaskan Destinations?
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